Dexosarcophaga varenna (Dodge, 1968) (Figs. 36­50)

Varcophaga varenna Dodge, 1968: 448 . Type locality: Panama, Barro Colorado Is.; male holotype, SEM.

Dexosarcophaga varenna; Lopes, 1973b: 482 (PT examined, synonymy established). Dexosarcophaga dominicensis Lopes, 1973b: 480 . Type locality: Dominica; male holotype, USNM. SYN. NOV.

Male – Total length = 5­6 mm.

Head – Fronto­orbital and parafacial plates gray with slightly yellowish microtomentum, with a row of black setulae along eye margin; frontal vitta black; frons 0.20 X head width; frontal row of 9­11 bristles; 1 reclinate fronto­orbital bristle, proclinate absent; outer vertical bristle not differentiated from the postocular setae; gena and postgena gray with black setae; antenna dark brown, first flagellomere with gray microtomentum, pedicel 0.3 X first flagellomere length, arista long plumose on basal 1/2; palpus black.. Thorax – Gray with slightly golden microtomentum in postpronotal and mesopleural areas. Prosternum with scattered setulae in posterior 1/2. Chaetotaxy: acrostichals 3­4 (weakly differentiated) + 1, dorsocentrals 3­4 + 4 (two posteriormost longer), intra­alars 2 + 2, supra­alars 2 + 3, postpronotals 3, postalars 2, notopleurals 4, scutellum with 2 marginals strong setae intercalated by 2 weak ones, 1 small apical, discals 1, meropleurals 7­ 9, katepisternals 3 (in a line). Wing hyaline, R1 bare, R4+5 setulose in basal 1/2 to crossvein r­m, costal spine not differentiated, third costal sector without ventral setulae. Legs black, mid femur with posteroventral apical ctenidium (3 spines), mid tibia with 1 setae in the apical half and 1 strong one ventrally in anterior face, hind tibia with 1 anteroventral setae.

Abdomen – Gray with the usual silver tesselation and slightly golden microtomentum in lateral; T1+2–3 without median marginal seta, T4 with a pair of median marginal setae; ST2 with long and dense black setae. ST5 with scattered black thin setae, posterior margin with a shallow concavity (Fig. 44).

Terminalia – Syntergosternite 7+8, epandrium and cercus dark brown; epandrium with some differentiate dorsal setae and syntergosternite 7+8 with 3 pairs of marginal setae (Fig. 36); cercus moderately curved forwards in profile (Figs. 36, 37); clavate surstylus with setae in anterior margin (Fig. 36); gonopod with enlarged base (Figs. 38, 39) and paramere narrow and slightly curved, with a strong setae on anterior margin (Figs. 38, 40); phallus with a distinct basiphallus, distiphallus with a pair of ventral tongue­like process and a pair of membranous and spinous small lobes in the dorsal surface (Figs. 38, 41, 45); juxta narrow and elongated, protecting the apices of lateral styli (Figs. 38, 41, 45); long lateral stylus with simple base and dentate apex (Figs. 41, 42, 45, 46); median stylus represented by a small double rugose lobe between the apices of the lateral styli (Figs. 41, 42, 45, 46); vesica well sclerotized, bearing a pair of median projections with serrate margin, bifurcated at apical portion with each arm ending pointed and serrate with a membranous inner prolongation, see in ventral view (Figs. 41, 43, 47).

Female – Total length = 6­8 mm.

Like the male in most characters, except for: frons broader, 0.24 X head width; 2 well developed proclinate fronto­orbital bristle; entire T6 with narrow hind region and series of marginal bristles; spiracle 6 situated in membrane and 7 within the sclerite; T8 divided in two broad and exposed plates, without setae; epiproct divided into two small plates, each one with 1 setae; ST6 broader than ST5; ST7 with longer bristles in posterior region; ST8 joined to ST7, with a sclerotized and setose posterior area with a little median anterior projection; membranous vaginal plate (Figs. 48, 49); spermathecae pyriform, finely striated (Fig. 50).

Material examined – Panama. Barro Colorado Is., 1 male, 7.III.1963, C.W. & M.E. Rettenmeyer ( V. varenna paratype) (MNRJ); Dominica. Clarke Hall, 2 males, 12­ 18.X.1964 P.J. Spangler ( D. dominicensis paratypes) (MNRJ); ibidem, 1 male and 1 female, 11­16.XII.1964 P.J. Spangler ( D. dominicensis paratypes) (MNRJ); ibidem, 1 male, 8­10.I.1965, W.W. Wirth ( D. dominicensis paratype) (MNRJ).

Distribution – NEOTROPICAL – Dominica, Panama.

Remarks – A detailed analysis of the type of D. dominicensis gave reasons to consider the nominal species as a junior synonym of D. varenna (Figs. 44­47). The shape and structural arrangement of the distiphallus of D. varenna and D. pusilla Lopes, 1975 suggest that these species may form a distinct species­group. Both species have a pair of small sclerotized tongue­like processes, connected to the internal part of the distal area and projecting from near the base of the lateral styli (Figs. 41, 45).