Microchrysa splendens ( Schiner, 1868 ) Fachin & Hauser, 2018

Fachin, Diego Aguilar & Hauser, Martin, 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Himantigera James, 1982 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae: Sarginae), including the description of two new species and a key to the known species, Zootaxa 4531 (4), pp. 451-498 : 480-486

Microchrysa splendens ( Schiner, 1868) comb. nov.

( Fig. 131 , holotype, NMW)

Chrysonotus splendens Schiner, 1868: 62 (original description). Type locality: Venezuela (see comments below). Holotype ♀ [NMW].

Material examined. Type material: HOLOTYPE ( Fig 131 , A–C), ♀ labeled: “ Lindig / 1864 / Venezuela [printed on white paper]”; “ splendens [handwritten on white paper] / Alte Sammlung [printed on white paper]” (NMW).

Geographic distribution. Venezuela.

Comments. This species is here transferred to the genus Microchrysa because it has a broad upper frons that is as wide as each eye, a postocular region that is well developed, vein M is not distinct throughout its length, and veins M 1 and M 3 are very weakly developed, being much fainter than M 2 and M 4.

This species is bigger and darker than others known Neotropical Microchrysa , and it is less shiny, not having the green or blue metallic sheen on its head that is commonly seen in other Neotropical species such as M. bicolor ( Wiedemann, 1830) . Only M. obscuriventris, McFadden in James & McFadden, 1982 (examined) is as dark as M. splendens ( Schiner, 1868) comb. nov., but in M. obscuriventris the whole abdomen is completely dark brown with some metallic purple reflections, all legs are yellow and the discal cell slightly smaller, while in M. splendens comb. nov., the abdomen does not seem to be entirely dark dorsally, it has at least the last three hind tarsomeres dark brown and its discal cell is larger. The other five known species of Microchrysa in Neotropical region need to be urgently revised.

The type locality of this species as indicated in the original description is “South America”. However, the original label of the type ( Fig. 131 ) reads “ Venezuela ”.

Figures

FIGURE 131. A–C. Chrysonotus splendens, female, holotype [NMW].