Calliphora maestrica Peris, Gonzalez-Mora, Fernandez

Whitworth, Terry, 2010, Keys to the genera and species of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of the West Indies and description of a new species of Lucilia Robineau-Desvoidy, Zootaxa 2663, pp. 1-35 : 8

Calliphora maestrica Peris, Gonzalez-Mora, Fernandez , and Peris

Figs. 9–18

Calliphora maestrica Peris, Gonzalez-Mora, Fernandez, and Peris, 1998 : 49.

This species was originally described from the Sierra Maestra region, Cuba based on four female specimens. Five males and ten females were examined to characterize this species. The authors described the unusual condition in this species of only two katepisternal setae (see Fig. 9 ) and noted it has an orange basicosta which is found in only one other New World Calliphora , C. vicina . The genitalia in both sexes are highly modified and unlike any Calliphora in the Nearctic or mainland Neotropical Region.

Diagnosis. Basicosta orange, a character shared only by C. vicina in the New World; two, rather than three katepisternal setae which is the condition found in all other known New World Calliphora ; male frons exceptionally broad, 0.29 of head width, nearly as broad as female frons (0.33 of head width); male surstyli forceps-like, cerci fused and withdrawn into base of surstyli; ovipositor unlike other Calliphora in the Neotropical Region.

Measurements. Male frons exceptionally broad, 0.29 (0.028–0.30/5) of head width, only slightly narrower than female frons width, which is 0.33 (0.32–0.33/5) of head width.

Male genitalia. Surstyli forceps-like, cerci fused and withdrawn between bases of surstyli ( Fig. 10 ). When surstyli are pulled down, posterior end of phallus and pre- and postgonites are exposed ( Fig. 11 ). Phallus ( Figs.12–13 ) with epiphallus strong and curved down, at base joining distal part of basiphallus. Paraphallus ends in a hook curved sharply downward and acrophallus long and slender; it is unclear if there are lateral ducts, although pale curved channels in Fig. 13 may represent them. Hypandrium as in Fig. 14 . Pregonite has a dense row of about 10 setae; postgonite robust and has a single tiny seta ( Fig. 15 ). Ejaculatory sclerite large and fan-shaped ( Fig. 16 ). ST 5 of the male very broad ( Fig. 17 ).

Female genitalia. T6 very short and broad for Calliphora with a wide, weakly sclerotized area in middle, and an inverted v-shaped notch posteriorly ( Fig. 18 ). Posterior margin of the sclerite has a row of strong setae which extends up the edge to the paired spiracles; there are no microtrichia on this segment. ST6 broad, with wide rows of setae posteriorly and laterally; with microtrichia on the posterior quarter of segment. T7 divided medially by a Y-shaped area of weak sclerotization; posterior edge of each half has inward extensions. ST7 large and somewhat oval with hind portion almost isolated by a membranous area, posterior edge has a strong row of setae. T8 halves widely separated; ST8 reduced to two small triangular sclerites with setae posteriorly.

Material examined. Dominican Republic (5 males, 8 females, CMNH): 1 male, 2 females, Independencia, Sierra de Bahoruco, Lama del Toro. 5.3 km sw El Aquacate, 29–30 March, 2004, C. Young, R. Davidson, J. Rawlins, pine forest; yellow pan trap 2316 m; 3 males, same area as above, 7– 8 Nov., 2002, W.A. Zanol, C.W. Young, C. Starensic, J. Rawlins, hand collected in meadow in pine woods; 1 male, 1 female, San Juan, Sierra de Neiba, 9.4 km ssw, El Cercado, 18–19 Nov., 2004, C. Young, J. Rawlins, C. Nunez, V. Verdecia, meadow in mature pine forest, yellow pan trap, 1973m; 3 females, Vega Cordillera Central Reserve, Balle Neuvo La Nevera, 15.1 km se Valle Nuevo, 25 May, 2003, R. Davidson, C. Young, C. Nunez, P. Acevedo, in cloud pine forest, hand collected, 2252m; 1 female, same as previous site except 5.2 km ESE Valle Nuevo, 23 May, 2003, 2288m; 1 female, RD–255, La Comparticion, Pico Duarte, PN Armando Bermudez, La Vega Province, July 1, 2004, D. Perez, 2,450–3087m. Jamaica ( BMNH): 1 female, Jan., 1930, no exact location or collector. Cuba ( USNM): 1 female, Cumbre-Pico Turquino, July 22, 1922, S.C. Bruner and C.H. Ballou.

Distribution. Specimens were examined from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 13. 8. Calliphora vicina, katepisternal formula 2: 1. 9 – 13. Calliphora maestrica. 9. katepisternal formula 1: 1. 10. Posterior view of male genitalia. 11. Left lateral view of genitalia; abbreviations, Phal = phallus, Post = postgonite, Pre = pregonite, Sur = surstylus. 12. Left lateral view of phallus. 13. Dorsal view of phallus.

FIGURES 14 – 18. Calliphora maestrica. 14. Hypandrium. 15. Pre- and postgonites. The postgonite possesses a small basal pore with a very fine seta that is not visible in the image. 16. Ejaculatory sclerite. 17. Male abdominal sternites. 18.