Paragrallomyia pseudoalbibasis new species

(Figs. 35–38)

Description: Body length 7 mm; wing 5 mm. Head and abdomen dark brown, thorax black. Palpus dark brown except for white outer face. Clypeus dark brown with sparse pale microsetulae. First flagellomere dark brown. Fronto-orbital plate dark brown. Row of katepisternal setae brownish. Fore tibia dark brown. Fore tarsus mostly white, tarsomere one brown on basal half only. Hind femur mostly brown, white on basal quarter and with a small angled preapical white ring. Tergites dark brown. Oviscape dark brown.

Head: First flagellomere covered by pale microsetulae. Frontal vitta with a darkened spot anterior to ocellar plate. Frontal vitta flat, not swollen anterior to ocellar plate. Epicephala merging immediately posterior to ocellar plate (Fig. 35). Epicephalon somewhat swollen above frontal vitta level.

Thorax: Mesonotum with lines of thin brownish microsetulae. Anterior half of postpronotal lobe bare. Femur covered with sparse black microsetulae. Mid and hind tibia flattened, sulcus on outer face strongly pronounced and curved (Fig. 37). Female cervical sclerite with a white oval swollen on posterior end. Cell r 4+5 open at the tip of the wing.

Female abdomen: Single spermathecal duct with an apical rounded swelling. Single spermatheca cylindrical, with sparse small finger-like swellings on apical half (Fig. 36). Paired spermathecal duct swollen apically before splitting into stems. Paired spermathecal duct stems tapered on basal third, followed by a rounded swelling and a tapered apical third with small finger-like processes. Paired spermathecae oval, and with an apical nipple-like swelling. Male abdomen: Copulatory fork with small inner basal lobes, less than half as long as the arms (Fig. 38). Ejaculatory apodeme bigger than epandrium and with a thin blade, length subequal to sperm pump. Phallapodeme short, not extending to anterior limit of hypandrium. Distiphallus long, longer than epandrium and with a tapered phallic bulb. Distal distiphallus short and thin, 1/4 of length and almost half of width of basal distiphallus.

Type material: Holotype: COSTA RICA. Puntarenas, Corcovado Natl. Pk., san Pedrillo, 5–50 m, 8º 37’ 15 N 83º44’6 E, 13.VIII.2001, S. A. Marshall (1 ♀, DEBU00168174, MNCR) . Paratypes: BELIZE. Cayo Dist., San Ignacio, Maya Mt. Lodge, 17º 9’ N 89º4’W, dung trap, 7–8.I.1991, S. A. Marshall (1 ♂ DEBU00151711) ; COSTA RICA. Alajuela, Volcan Tenorio, N slope nr. Bijagua Biol. Sta., 700 m, 16–20. VI.2000, N. E. Woodley (1 ♀, DEBU00118457) ; Alajuela, Volcan Tenorio, N slope nr. Bijagua Biol. Sta., 700 m, rain forest, 19. VI.2000, M. Buck (1 ♀, DEBU00118536) ; Alajuela, Volcan Tenorio, N slope, trail to laguna, 800–900 m, rain forest, 16–20. VI.2000, S. A. Marshall (2 ♀, DEBU00118536, DEBU00118537) ; Guana, Estacion Pitilla, 9 km Santa Cecili, 700 m, ENE 1995, C. Moraga, L N 329950 380450 #4354 (1 ♂, INBIO CRI002131321, MNCR) ; Heredia, Estac. Biol. La Selva, 18–21.IV.2000, E. M. & C. F. Fisher coll. (1 ♀, Sequence MYCRO426-18, DEBU01088958) ; Heredia, F. La Selva, 3 km S Pto. Viejo, 10º26’N 84º01’W, 16.IV.1984, H. A. Hespenheide (1 ♀, DEBU) ; Puntarenas, Osa Peninsula 2.5 km S Rincon, ~ 50 m, 8º 42’ 1 N 83º30’50 W, 10–11.VIII.2001, S. A. Marshall (3 ♀, DEBU00168049, DEBU00168050, DEBU00168055) ; Puntarenas, Osa Peninsula 2.5 km S Rincon, ~ 50 m, 8º 42’ 1 N 83º30’50 W, trail nr. station, human dung, 10–11.VIII.2001, S. A. Marshall (4 ♀, 1 ♂, DEBU00168234, DEBU00168237, DEBU00168245, DEBU00168246, DEBU00168252) ; Puntarenas, R. F. Golfo Dulce 24 km W, Piedra Blanca, 200 m, II.92, Tp 2, P. Hanson (1 ♀, DEBU) ; San José, San Carlos, Riosparaiso Res., Pecari Stn. 16 km NNE Quepos, 400 m, 9º 33’ 53N 84º7’32 W, 12–15.IV.2006, S. A. Marshall (1 ♀, 1 ♂, DEBU00256639, DEBU00258115) ; San José, San Carlos, Riosparaiso Res., along trail from Rio Negro to Quepos, 9º 33’ 43N 84º7’38 W, 23.II.2006, S. M. Paiero (1 ♀, Sequence 404-18, DEBU00256599) ; San José, San Carlos, Riosparaiso Res., upper trail to Rio Negro, 1º forest, 26.II.2006, S. M. Paiero (2 ♂, Sequence MYCRO405-18, DEBU00256632) ; San José, San Carlos, Riosparaiso Res., Pecari Stn. 16 km NNE Quepos, 400 m, 9º 33’ 53N 84º7’32 W, 15.II.2003, S. A. Marshall (1 ♂, Sequence MYCRO427-18, DEBU00205712) ; San José, San Carlos, Riosparaiso Res., Pecari Stn. 16 km NNE Quepos, 400 m, 9º 33’ 53N 84º7’32 W, 15.II.2006, S. A. Marshall (1 ♂, DEBU00206731) .

Distribution: Belize, Costa Rica.

Etymology: The specific name reflects similarity with P. albibasis .

Comments: A very s imilar species to P. albibasis, however P. pseudoalbibasis can easily be recognized by the flattened mid and hind tibiae with the sulcus on the outer face strongly pronounced and curved. The long and thin ejaculatory apodeme blade also differs from the reduced blade of P. albibasis .