Leptocera prolixofulva Buck, 2009

Buck, Matthias & Marshall, Stephen A., 2009, Revision of New World Leptocera Olivier (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae), Zootaxa 2039 (1), pp. 1-139 : 109-112

Leptocera prolixofulva Buck , new species

( Figs. 253–259 , 268 )

Description. Very similar to L. fulva , with the following differences ( Figs. 253–256 ): Posterior section of surstylus more yellowish (medium to dark brown in L. fulva ), with long medial bristle inserted far above level of apical series of strong spines (in L. fulva inserted about same level as uppermost spine); series of apical spines more or less horizontally oriented (rising posteriorly in L. fulva ); portion of surstylus between long medial bristle and series of apical spines more slender than in L. fulva . Postgonite ( Fig. 268 ) very similar to L. fulva .

Female terminalia ( Figs. 257–259 ) indistinguishable from L. fulva .

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( IZAV) and 7 ♂♂ paratypes ( DEBU, IZAV): VENEZUELA, Mérida, La Punta, Río Chana, 25.iv.1988, sweep, S.A. Marshall. Other paratypes: VENEZUELA. 1 ♂, San Esteban , xi.1939, P. Anduze ( USNM). Aragua: 2 ♂♂, Henri Pittier Natl. Pk., La Trilla , 200 m, 11–14.iv.1994, cacao plant., L. Masner ( DEBU); 2 ♂♂, Henri Pittier Natl. Pk., 12 km W Maracay on Choroní Rd., 1,290 m, 7.iii.1995, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU). Sucre: 1 ♂, 7 km NW San Vicente, 23.iii.1982, G.F. & J.F. Hevel ( USNM). Trujillo: 1 ♂, 10 km E Boconó, Laguna de Lucerdo , 1,760 m, 3.iii.1995, sweep, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU). ECUADOR. Prov. Guayas: 1 ♂, Bucay, 28 viii.1955, Levi-Castillo ( USNM); 2 ♂♂, Naranjal, xii.1955, Levi- Castillo ( USNM). Prov. Los Ríos: 1 ♂, Guare, viii.1955, Levi-Castillo ( USNM). Prov. Pichincha: 2 ♂♂, Río Palenque Station 47 km S Santo Domingo, 250 m, 17–25.ii.1979, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU, QCAZ); 1 ♂, same locality but 180 m, 29.iv–5.v.1987, primary lowland rain forest, malaise, L. Coote & B.V. Brown ( DEBU); 1 ♂, same as previous but 160 m, 30.iv–5.v.1987 ( ROME); 1 ♂, same but 160–190 m, 1–4.v.1987, screen sweep, L.D. Coote ( ROME). PANAMA. Canal Zone: 2 ♂♂, Kobbe Beach, vii.1967, mangrove, W.W. Wirth ( USNM); 2 ♂♂, Gamboa, Pipeline Rd. , vii.1967, malaise, W.W. Wirth ( USNM); 1 ♂, Barro Colorado I., vii.1967, W.W. Wirth ( USNM). Prov. Darién: 1 ♂, 5 km W Metetí, 9.i.1988, MacDonald & Schiefer ( MEMU).

Other material examined (females are inseparable from L. fulva ). PANAMA. Canal Zone : 3 ♀♀, Barro Colorado I., vii.1967, W.W. Wirth ( USNM) ; 1 ♀, Gamboa, Pipeline Rd. , vii.1967, malaise, W.W. Wirth ( USNM) . VENEZUELA. Aragua: 2 ♀♀, Henri Pittier Natl. Pk., La Trilla, 200 m, 11.iv.1994, L. Masner ( DEBU) ; 4 ♀♀, Henri Pittier Natl. Pk., 12 km N Maracay on Choroní Rd. , 1,290 m ( DEBU) . Mérida: 15 ♀♀, La Punta, Río Chana , 25.iv.1988, sweep, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU, IZAV) ; 1 ♀, 6 km S La Azulita , 3.v.1988, nr. road, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) . Trujillo: 1 ♀, 10 km E Boconó, Laguna de Lucerdo , 1,760 m, 3.iii.1995, sweep, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) ; 1 ♀, E of Boconó , 1,250 m, 1.iii.1994, roadside creek, open area, sweep, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) . Zulia: 1 ♀, Sierra de Perija , El Tucuco, 200 m, 20–23.iv.1981, primary rain forest, Townes & Masner ( DEBU) .

Etymology. The species name refers to the fact that the posterior section of the surstylus is extended between the strong medial bristle and the apical series of stout spines (Lat. prolixus: stretched out).

Distribution. Only known from Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador west of the Andes. From sea level to 1,760 m.

Discussion. The differences between this species and L. fulva are mentioned in the description. The partially sympatric L. rhadinofulva sp.n. differs from L. prolixofulva sp.n. in that the bristles of the apical series of the posterior section of the surstylus are more hair-like with fine tips, and the cercus is longer (slightly longer than the posterior section of the surstylus).

Figures

FIGURES 253–259. Leptocera prolixofulva sp.n. (Venezuela). Male terminalia (phallus and postgonites omitted): (253) lateral; (254) posterior, right cercus omitted; (255) ventral, cerci omitted; (256) sternite 5. Female terminalia: (257) dorsal; (258) spermathecae; (259) ventral. ce—cercus.

FIGURES 267–272. Postgonites and aedeagal complex of Leptocera fulva group. Postgonites of (267) L. dicrofulva sp.n. (Ecuador), (268) L. prolixofulva sp.n. (Venezuela). Aedeagal complex of L. fulva (Belize): (269) posterior; (270) anterior; (271) lateral; (272) dorsal. bcp—basal connection between postgonites, bp—basiphallus, dp—distiphallus, ea—ejaculatory apodeme, pa—phallapodeme, pg—postgonites.