Elcaribe bahamaensis Webb, 2006

Webb, Donald W. & Metz, Mark A., 2006, A Revision of the New World Genera Brachylinga Irwin and Lyneborg and Lysilinga Irwin and Lyneborg (Diptera: Therevidae: Therevinae) with the Description of a New Genus, Elcaribe Webb, Zootaxa 1288 (1288), pp. 1-241 : 164-166

Elcaribe bahamaensis Webb spec. nov.

(Figs. 221, 235, 249, 263, 277, 291, 305, 319, 333, 345, 356)

Etymology

Ensis (Latin) = a suffix denoting place, locality, country. This species is named for the Bahama Islands from where specimens of this species have been collected and is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis

Elcaribe bahamaensis is taxonomically associated with E. glabrus in lacking an anterodorsal patch of dark, short setae on the gena; in lacking anteroventral and posteroventral macrosetae on the midfemur; in lacking elongate, dark macrosetae along ventromedial margin of the gonocoxite ( Fig. 235); and in having the gonocoxite in ventral and lateral views ( Figs. 235, 263) broad, only the apical fourth narrow and attenuate; and the posterior margin of the hypoproct (Fig. 221) emarginate. Elcaribe bahamaensis differs from E. glabrus in having the hypoproct quadrate (Fig. 221) and the gonocoxite in ventral ( Fig. 235) and lateral ( Fig. 263) views broad basally, tapered evenly to the apex with dark reddish brown macrosetae along the lateral margins; the ventral margin of the gonostylus (Fig. 277) straight with an expanded apical area bearing pale yellow macrosetae; and the dorsal apodeme ( Fig. 291) quadrate, slightly expanded anteriorly and flattened dorsoventrally in cross­section.

Description of holotype male (MEI 048178) Body length 4.7 mm.

Head. Length 0.62 mm. Ommatidia smaller ventrally and laterally. Frons gray, brownish gray dorsally; setae black. Antenna/head length 0.74; black, pruinescence on scape gray; scape length 0.16 mm, width 0.09 mm, length/width 1.8, scape/pedicel length 2.0, scape/flagellum width 0.56, setae dark reddish brown, dark yellow setae ventrally, sparse; pedicel length 0.08 mm, length/width 0.8; first flagellomere oval, attenuate apically, flagellum length 0.22 mm, width 0.16 mm, length/width 1.4, flagellum/scape length 1.4. Parafacial pruinescence gray. Maxillary palpus dark yellow; length 0.28 mm, length/width 5.6; setae white. Genal setae white. Occipital setae white becoming lanceolate, appressed dorsally.

Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 2 sa, 1 pa, 2 dc, 2 sc. Mesonotum pruinescence dull blackish brown; setae black, elongate intermixed with white, lanceolate, subappressed setae. Pleuron pruinescence gray; setae white on anepisternum, katepisternum, laterotergite, metanepisternum, lanceolate on scutellum. Wing. Membrane pale brown; veins brown; length 3.7 mm, length/width 2.8; pterostigma brown, narrow; cell m 3 open on left wing, closed at wing margin on right wing (closed, petiolate on other male specimens). Halter pale yellow. Legs. Femora dark brown, pruinescence white; ventral setae white on fore­ and midfemora, dark brown setae anteroventrally on forefemur; av 1:0:4, pv 0:0:0. Tibiae dark yellow, apex dark reddish brown. Tarsomeres 1–2 dark yellow, apex dark reddish brown; 3–5 dark reddish brown.

Abdomen. Dark reddish brown, pruinescence white; dorsal setae white, lanceolate, appressed; lateral setae white elongate. Terminalia (MEI 073537) dark yellow. Tergite 8 and epandrium (Fig. 221), setae pale yellow. Hypoproct (Fig. 221) quadrate, posterior margin emarginate; apicoventral surface flat. Sternite 8 ( Fig. 235), sides rounded, posterior margin moderately emarginate. Gonocoxite ventral view ( Fig. 235), medial margin with broad posteromedial lobe then tapering to narrow point; setae pale yellow, several dark reddish brown to black macrosetae medially and apically and an anterior patch of short dark yellow setae; dorsal view ( Fig. 249) gonocoxal bridge large; lateral view ( Fig. 263) basal half broad, rounded, tapering to apex; ventral lobe ( Fig. 235) lacking ventral spines. Gonostylus (Fig. 277), basodorsal lobe small, broadly rounded; ventral margin straight with expanded apical area bearing pale yellow macrosetae, not extending apically in distinct tuft; numerous fine short spines apically. Aedeagus with dorsal apodeme ( Fig. 291) quadrate, sides parallel, posterolateral margin rounded; ventral apodeme (Fig. 305) broad, moderately long, clavate anteriorly; distiphallus dorsal view ( Fig. 291) short, broad basally, tapered apically, lateral view ( Fig. 319) short, broad basally, subapical hood absent, apex curved ventrally at 90° angle; ejaculatory apodeme ( Fig. 291) dark yellow, anterior half slightly expanded laterally, not extending beyond anterior margin of dorsal apodeme, anterior margin truncate, in cross­section flattened dorsoventrally.

Variation (n=3).

Body length 4.7–5.7, 5.0 mm.

Head. Maxillary palpus dark reddish brown (MEI 073537).

Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 2 sa, 1 pa, 2 dc, 2 sc. Legs. Anteroventral macrosetae

1–4:0:4–5, pv 0:0:0.

Female

Similar to male except for following.

Variation (n=10).

Body length 5.2–8.3, 6.3 mm.

Head. Frons pruinescence pale brownish gray, silver ventrally; setae dark reddish brown. Antenna dark brown, base of first flagellomere dark yellow, pruinescence on scape gray. Parafacial pruinescence gray; narrow, black dorsoventral stripe and black dorsal band absent.

Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 2 sa, 1 pa, 2 dc, 2 sc. Legs. Anteroventral macrosetae 1–4:0:2–5, pv 0:0:0.

Abdomen. Dark reddish brown, posterior margin of tergites 2–5 dark yellow, tergites 6–7 dark yellow posterolaterally; dorsal setae dark reddish brown, appressed with whitish yellow setae laterally and across posterior margin of tergite 1. Terminalia (MEI 040930). Anterior margin of sternite 8 ( Fig. 333) with large, pointed projection. Furca (Fig. 345) oblong, length 0.42 mm, width 0.22 mm; posteromedial projection absent, anterolateral and anteromedial projections short, pointed. Common duct (Fig. 345) shorter than furca. Spermathecal duct (Fig. 345) expanded, sac­like posteriorly, apex darkened, then becoming thread­like.

Distribution

Elcaribe bahamaensis has been collected on various islands and cays in The Bahamas ( Fig. 356).

Habitats and phenology

Elcaribe bahamaensis has been handnetted, collected in yellow pan traps in Caribbean pine and palmetto scrub, in a power net trap, and in a boll weevil trap. Specimens have been collected from 31 January to 7 October.

Specimens examined

Type specimen. The holotype male of Elcaribe bahamaensis Webb (MEI 048178) is labeled "BAHMAMA IS.: Mayaguana I., Abraham Bay [22.38, ­72.96], IV–24–1983, Arnold S. Menke " and is deposited in the USNM. PARATYPES. THE BAHAMAS. ABACO CAYS. Allans Cay [26.467, ­77.083], 9.V.1953, E. B. Hayden, 1♀ MEI 040491 ( AMNH) ; Man of War Cay [26.6, ­77.01], 30.VIII.1971, H. Howden, A. Howden, 1♀ ME I 039705 ( CNC) . BERRY ISLANDS. Fraziers Hog Cay [25.6, ­77.73], 30.IV.1953, E. B. Hayden, 1♀ MEI 040499 ( AMNH) . CAT ISLAND. The Bight [24.32, ­75.41], 22.III.1953, E. B. Hayden, L. Giovannoli, R. L. Rabb, 1♀ MEI 040492 ( AMNH) . ELEUTHERA ISLAND. Rainbow Cay [25.333, ­76.45], 21–28.IV.1984, J. R. Wiley, 2♀ MEI 128293–4 ( FSCA) . GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND. Freeport, [26.539, ­78.638], 26.VIII.1965, J. B. Williams, 2♀ MEI 040237, 040239 ( CUIC) ; [26.533, ­78.7], 20–27.VI.1987, W. E. Steiner, M. J. Molineaux, R. Molineaux, 3♀ MEI 048172, 048183, 048197 ( USNM) , yellow pan in caribbean pine and palmetto scrub; Zanadu Beach , 23.VI.1987, W. E. Steiner, M. J. Molineaux, R. Molineaux, 1♀ MEI 048184 ( USNM) , power net. GREAT INAGUA ISLAND. Matthew Town [20.96, ­73.67], 31.I.1953, E. B. Hayden, L. Giovannoli, 2♀ MEI 040804, 048038 ( AMNH) . TURKS & CAICO ISLANDS. Grand Turk Island [21.46, ­71.14], 19.II.1953, E. B. Hayden, L. Giovannoli, 1♂ MEI 048030, 1♀ 040800 ( INHS) . NEW PROVIDENCE ISLAND. Nassau [25.065, ­77.339], 1.V.1963, C. E. Glasucock, 1♀ ME I 040873 ( USNM) . SALVADOR ISLAND. Jake Jones Road [24.04, ­74.49], 27.VI.1985, G. C. Eickwort, 1♂ MEI 073537 ( CUIC) ; 12.V.1981, R. Rutkauskas, 1♀ MEI 040930 (ME IC), trap in scrub growth. SOUTH ANDROS ISLAND. High Rock [to Bain] [26.621, ­ 78.283], 26.V.1983, W. H. Cross, 1♀ MEI 030499 ( MEM) , boll weevil trap. SOUTH BIMINI ISLAND. Lerner Marine Lab [25.733, ­79.25], 7.X.1947, J. A. Oliver, 1♀ MEI 040498 ( AMNH) .