Oxysarcodexia peltata (Aldrich, 1916)

(Figs 219–221)

Sarcophaga peltata Aldrich, 1916: 216; Puerto Rico, Mayaguez. Holotype male, female allotype, four male paratypes and four female paratypes in USNM (not examined).

Diagnosis. Male. Length 9.0 mm. Postocular plate with golden pollinosity. Ocellar bristles well developed. Thorax and abdomen with golden pollinosity; T5 partly with golden pollinosity. Two well-differentiated posterior and 1–3 smaller anterior post-sutural dorsocentrals. Apical scutellar bristles absent. Legs brownish. T3 with 1 pair of lateral marginal bristles, T4 without median marginal bristles and with 1 pair of lateral marginal bristles. ST5 with deep median cleft with margins almost parallel and with scattered bristles at apex of arms. Cercus, in lateral view, bent backwards with normal apex (i.e., as broad as median area) and concave margin. Cercus with bristles ventrally only in distal third. Cerci with distal third narrower than middle part in posterior view; diverging. Cercal prong with stout spine-like bristles. Pregonite with expanded base and sudden narrowing at apex, which is darker than base. Postgonite with expanded base, gradually narrowing to apex; unicolorous. Distiphallus with smooth ventroapical margin, conical apex, straight dorsal outline, large dorsoapical swelling and lateral lobes. Vesica symmetrical, with angular median projection of main branch; distal lobes reduced, with filaments, tapering, partially membranous, with spines on both dorsal and ventral surfaces.

Remarks. See under O. aurata . The female of O. peltata has T7 membranous (Tibana & Mello 1985).

Distribution. NEARCTIC. USA (Florida). NEOTROPICAL. Bahamas (Andros, Cat I, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Great Inagua, New Providence), Cuba (Havana), Dominica, Guadalupe, Jamaica, Mexico (Jalisco, Tabasco), Panama, Puerto Rico, San Andrés Islands, Santa Lucia.

Biology. The only known ecological information about O. peltata is its relationship, presumably as a highly effective pollinator, with the mangrove Laguncularia racemosa (L.) C.F. Gaertn. ( Combretaceae) (Sánchez-Núñez & Mancera-Pineda 2012).

Material examined. [ ♂] Est. Cent.Agr. De Cuba 8089 / Sarcophaga peltata Ald. / R. Panke / 1/9/1920 [NHMD] // [♂] [Mexico] Carrizal, Guerrero W. G. Downs, Coll. / Oxysarcodexia peltata (Aldrich) Det: H. S. Lopes ♂ [MNRJ] // [♂] La Habona, Murianao Cuba [unreadable word] ueco 20.XII.67. E. Rohdendorf / Oxysarcodexia peltata (Aldr.) B. Rohdendorf det. 1970.4 [MNRJ] .