Syneches walkeri Smith

Soares, Matheus M. M., Freitas-Silva, Rafael A. P. & Ale-Rocha, Rosaly, 2021, Review of Brazilian species of Syneches Walker (Diptera, Hybotidae, Hybotinae), with description of ten new species, Zootaxa 5049 (1), pp. 1-84 : 75

Syneches walkeri Smith

( Figs 48A–H , 56 )

Syneches walkeri Smith, 1962: 214 ; Smith, 1967: 11 (cat.); Yang et al., 2007: 315 (cat.); Menezes & Ale-Rocha, 2016: 433–435 , figs 92–98, 115, 123 (rev., distr.). Type locality: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Diagnosis. Large size, with strong aspect (6.0 mm) ( Figs 48A, B ). Antenna brown, but postpedicel varying from yellow to dark brown ( Figs 48C–E ). Prosternum fused to proepisternum. Scutum dc stripe with pruinescence gray to pale golden ( Fig. 48A ). Hind femur strongly swollen, brown to dark brown, with a yellow to dark yellow preapical ring, 1AV row of spiniform bristles inserted on short tubercles ( Figs 48F, G ). Wing sub-hyaline, pale brown; pterostigma brown quadrangular, posterior to apex of R 1, two infuscations (one at apex of Rs, other at apex of R 2+3); second section of M 1 longer than crossvein r-m ( Fig. 48H ).

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂ ( MZUSP) labelled: “[ BRAZIL], KM 47 EST[RADA] RIO [de JANEIRO]–S [SÃO] PAULO, 4.xi.1946, J. MIRANDA L.” “ Holotype Syneches walkeri , det. 1961 sp. n. K.G. V. Smith” “HOLÓTIPO” [red label] . Holotype condition: right hind leg lost, terminalia dissected.

Additional material examined. BRAZIL. Amazonas: Manaus , ZF-2, 7–8.i.1997, Torre 45m, Luz mista, mercúrio, R.L. Ferreira (1 ♀, INPA) ; idem, Reserva Ducke , x.2001, J. Vidal, Arm. Malaise (1 ♂, INPA) . Amapá: Rio Amapari , J. Lane col, 21.vi.1993, J. Lane col., comparado com o tipo, Det. Ale-Rocha (1 ♂, INPA) . Maranhão: (sic. C. N. Maranhão), REBIO-Res. Biol. Gurupi, 03°14′05″S 46°41′83″W, Arm. Luminosa , 01–06.iii.2011, F. Limeirade-Oliveira, M.M. Abreu & J.A. Silva, cols. (1 ♂, CZMA) .

Distribution. Brazil (Amapá, Amazonas, Maranhão *, Pará, Rio de Janeiro, Rondônia) ( Fig. 56 ); Suriname. Syneches walkeri is known to occur in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest biomes.

Remarks. Syneches walkeri is similar to S. catarinae and S. curvipes , as mentioned elsewhere (see also “Remarks” under S. catarinae ). Syneches walkeri displays remarkable morphological variation, with some specimens predominantly yellow, while others are predominantly dark brown to black. However, the pattern of the wing and the morphology of the male terminalia is similar in all specimens. One studied specimen was collected with a light trap set on the top of a tower (45 m high), located in a primary forest in northern Manaus, indicating that the species may also inhabit the canopy of the forest.

Figures

FIGURE 48. Syneches walkeri Smith, 1962. A–B. Habitus, lateral view. A. Holotype; B. Male from Maranhão. C–E. Head, lateral view. C. Holotype; D. Male from Maranhão; E. Male from Amazonas. F–G. Hind leg. F. Holotype, posterior view; G. Male from Maranhão, anterior view. H. Male from Amapá. Wing.

FIGURE 56. Syneches Walker. Geographical records of S. rafaeli Ale-Rocha & Vieira, 2008 and S. walkeri Smith, 1962 in Brazil.