Brachylinga attenuata 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 : 34-35

Brachylinga attenuata Webb spec. nov.

( Figs. 4, 27, 50, 73, 96, 119, 142, 165)

Etymology

Attenuatus (Latin) = drawn out, tapered. This name is used as an adjective and refers to the narrowed, extended gonocoxite, lateral view ( Fig. 73).

Diagnosis

Brachylinga attenuata is taxonomically associated with B. clausa in possessing setae on the katepisternum; in having the halter knob yellow; and in having the gonocoxite attenuate in ventral ( Fig. 27) and lateral views ( Fig. 73). It differs from B. clausa in having the posterior margin of the hypoproct rounded ( Fig. 4); the apex of the distiphallus ( Fig. 119) tapered to a point; the ventral apodeme ( Fig. 142) of the male aedeagus extending to anterior margin of dorsal apodeme; and the distiphallus in lateral view ( Fig. 165) recurved anteroventrally.

Description of holotype male (MEI 046047)

Body length 5.5 mm.

Head. Length 0.78 mm. Ommatidia smaller ventrally and laterally. Frons pruinescence gray, brownish gray dorsally; setae dark brown on dorsal half. Antenna/head length 0.60; scape and pedicel dark reddish brown, pruinescence gray, first flagellomere dark yellow, second and third flagellomeres dark brown; scape length 0.12 mm, width 0.10 mm, length/width 1.2, scape/pedicel length 1.7, scape/flagellum width 0.77, setae yellow, short; pedicel length 0.07 mm, length/width 0.7; flagellum length 0.28 mm, width 0.13 mm, length/width 2.2, flagellum/scape width 2.3. Parafacial pruinescence white. Maxillary palpus dark yellow; length 0.30 mm, length/width 5.0; setae pale yellow, elongate. Genal setae white. Occipital setae white becoming lanceolate, appressed dorsally. Postocular macrosetae dark reddish brown.

Thorax. Macrosetae dark reddish brown, 3 np, 2 sa, 1 pa, 2 dc, 2 sc. Mesonotum dark brown pruinescence brownish gray; setae dark brown, short intermixed with white, lanceolate, appressed setae. Pleuron and scutellum dark reddish brown, pruinescence white; setae white on propleuron, anepisternum, katepisternum, metanepisternum, laterotergite, and scutellum. Wing. Membrane pale gray, veins brown, pale yellow anteriorly; length 4.2 mm, length/width 3.2; pterostigma dark yellow; cell m 3 closed, petiolate. Halter pale yellow. Legs. Coxa setae white, present on posterior surface of midcoxa; macrosetae dark reddish brown. Fore­ and midfemora reddish brown, midfemur dark yellow apically, hindfemur dark yellowish brown, apex brown; ventral setae white on fore­ and midfemora; av 0:0:4, pv 0:0:2. Tibiae dark yellow, apex dark reddish brown. Tarsomeres 1–2 dark yellow, apex dark reddish brown; 3–5 pale brown.

Abdomen. Pale reddish brown, pruinescence white; dorsal setae white, appressed; lateral setae white. Terminalia . Reddish brown. Tergite 8 ( Fig. 4), narrow medially (0.02 mm); setae dark yellow, absent medially on posterior margin. Sternite 8 ( Fig. 27) quadrate, sides rounded, posterior margin emarginate. Epandrium ( Fig. 4), sides rounded; setae dark yellow. Cercus ( Fig. 4) ending basal to apex of hypoproct. Hypoproct ( Fig. 4), posterior margin rounded, ending distal to apex of cercus. Gonocoxite ventral view ( Fig. 27) broad anteriorly becoming attenuate apically; setae dark yellow, apical macrosetae black; dorsal view ( Fig. 50), posteromedial lobe and gonocoxal bridge absent; lateral view ( Fig. 73) attenuate, apex curved ventrally; ventral lobe ( Fig. 27) with ventral spines. Gonostylus ( Fig. 96), basodorsal lobe large, rounded; ventral margin curved ventrally, setae dark yellow, not directed apically in distinct tuft; fine, short spines absent laterally. Aedeagus with dorsal apodeme ( Fig. 119) oval, posterolateral margin rounded; ventral apodeme ( Fig. 142) tapered anteriorly, extending to anterior margin of dorsal apodeme; distiphallus ( Fig. 119) tapered apically with narrow dorsal carina, lateral view ( Fig. 165) recurved anteroventrally, lacking apicolateral spines; ejaculatory apodeme ( Fig. 119), anterior margin slightly emarginate.

Female Unknown.

Distribution The holotype of Brachylinga attenuata was collected in Ceara Mirim, Brazil.

Habitats and phenology Brachylinga attenuata was handnetted in October.

Specimen examined

The holotype male of Brachylinga attenuata is labeled “ Ceara Mirim, R.G. do Norte, Brazil, Outubro, 1940, D. C. Alves ” and is deposited in the USNM .