Corethrella (Corethrella) ranapungens Borkent, 2008

Amaral, André P., Mariano, Rodolfo & Pinho, Luiz Carlos, 2023, Description of five new species of frog-biting midges (Diptera, Corethrellidae) from Brazil and examination of new morphological characters with utility for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies, European Journal of Taxonomy 874 (1), pp. 1-120 : 76-77

Corethrella (Corethrella) ranapungens Borkent, 2008

Fig. 36 ; Appendix 1

Material examined

BRAZIL – Bahia State • 3 ♀♀, adults; Rio de Contas, Parque Natural Serra das Almas , “ Brejo do Junco ” [reed marsh]; 13°32ʹ19ʺ S, 41°52ʹ36ʺ W; 1202 m a.s.l.; 3 Dec. 2019; A.P. Amaral leg.; frog-call trap (chorus); CE-MHS • 1 ♀, adult; Lençóis, Trilha Ribeirão do meio ; 12°34ʹ26ʺ S, 41°23ʹ28ʺ W; 395 m a.s.l.; 18 Aug. 2019; A.P. Amaral leg.; frog-call trap ( Bokermanohyla oxente ); CE-MHS .

Description

Female adult (n = 4)

HEAD. Sensilla ( Fig. 36A ): Ocular row with 1 thick offset seta at ventral part and 11–14 setae extending posteriorly. Subocular row not well-defined; vertex and interocular space with several setae. Postgenal row with 5–6 slender setae located mid-posteriorly. With 2–3 thick ventromedial setae.

THORAX. Sensilla ( Fig. 36B ): Antepronotum with 4–7 intermediate setae on anterior margin, with 1 intermediate and 3–4 slender setae laterally. Postpronotum with 1 thick dorsal seta, with 1 intermediate and 2–4 slender more posteriorly. Scutum, prescutal area with 2 thick and 0–1 intermediate setae loosely aligned dorsoventrally, near prescutal suture; 2–3 intermediate and 3 slender setae more anteriorly. Antealar area with 3 thick/intermediate setae vertically aligned near prescutal suture, 6–7 thick/intermediate setae clustered posteroventrally; 15–18 slender setae spread from ventral to dorsal portions.Supraalar area with 1 thick and 2 intermediate setae anteroposteriorly aligned, with 4–6 slender setae surrounding. Dorsocentral row, posterior part with group of 3–4 thick offset setae; 17–24 thick/ intermediate and approximately 15–23 slender completing row. Scutellum with 10 thick setae. Posterior anepisternum bare. Anepimeron with 6–10 slender setae.

WING. R 3 /R 1: 0.64 (0.62–0.67); R 2+3 /R 2: 0.53 (0.47–0.60).

LEGS. Empodium ( Fig. 36C ) short, slender, with 2 branches. Ta1/Ta2: 2.86 (2.77–2.93); Ta3/Ta4: 1.15 (1.11–1.25).

Distribution and biology

This is the first record of Corethrella ranapungens both from the state of Bahia and from the Brazilian Northeast region. The examined specimens were collected in Lençóis and Rio de Contas municipalities. Collection methods were frog-call pan traps playing the call of Bokermannohyla oxente Lugli & Haddad, 2006 and a chorus of Boana faber , Physalaemus cuvieri and P. nanus . Sampled localities included areas of marsh and a small stream in the Espinhaço mountain range. Elevations ranged from 395 to 1202 m a.s.l.

This species has a broad distribution and has also been recorded from Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Guyana, French Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil (Pará State, Amazonian region), at altitudes ranging from 3 to 1800 m a.s.l. ( Borkent 2008).

Figures

Fig. 36. Corethrella ranapungens Borkent, 2008, female adult. A. Cranial setae, anterior and posterior views, and clypeus in anterior view. B. Thoracic setae, lateral view. C. Hind leg claw and empodium, lateral view.