Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia) longiflagellata, Spinelli, Gustavo R., Marino, Pablo I. & Borkent, Art, 2012

Spinelli, Gustavo R., Marino, Pablo I. & Borkent, Art, 2012, A revision of Biting Midges of the Subgenera Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia) and F. (Saliohelea) from Costa Rica (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 3419, pp. 1-52 : 18-20

Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia) longiflagellata n. sp.

( Figs. 52–56 , 141 )

Diagnosis. Male: only species of Neotropical Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia) with a hind tarsal ratio of 1.91–1.94, flagellomere 10 2.6–2.8 X the length of flagellomere 11, tarsomere 2 of the foreleg with thick, reinforced setae, and parameres present. Female: unknown.

Description. Male. Head. Brown. Eyes abutting medially for length of four-five ommatidia. Antenna ( Fig. 52 ) pale brown with plume setae well developed, flagellomeres 2–4 spherical, flagellomere 10 2.60–2.80 (2.70, n = 2) X longer than flagellomere 11, flagellomeres 10–13 elongate; flagellomere 13 with apical nipple, not constricted basally; AR 1.13–1.30 (1.21, n = 2). Palpus ( Fig. 53 ) pale brown; segment 3 slightly swollen at midlength, with shallow sensory pit opening at midlength; PR 2.09–2.38 (2.24, n = 2). Labrum tapering apically.

Thorax. Uniformly brown; scutellum with 8 strong setae, and several minor ones. Legs uniformly brown, apex of hind tibia with 5 spines aligned, the farther from spur longer; tarsomeres with pectinate scales, tarsomere 1 of foreleg with row of 14 spine-like bristles, tarsomere 2 of foreleg with 4 thick reinforced setae, tarsomere 3 of foreleg with 1–3 setae weaker that latter ones, tarsomere 1 of hind leg with two rows of thick setae, tarsomeres 1–5 of hind leg without contrasting pigmentation, progressively lighter; foreleg TR 2.46–2.56 (2.51, n = 2), midleg TR 2.00 (n = 2), hind leg TR 1.91–1.94 (1.92, n = 2); claws curved, moderately stout. Wing ( Fig. 54 ) plain, without pattern of pigmented membrane; M2 not visible; first radial cell obliterated; second radial cell well developed, triangular; fork of cubitus situated slightly distad to level of apex of costa; wing length 0.96–1.38 (1.17, n = 2) mm; breadth 0.34–0.44 (0.39, n = 2) mm; CR 0.42–0.44 (0.43, n = 2). Halter whitish.

Abdomen. Tergites brown. Genitalia ( Fig. 55 ): Dark brown except gonostyli pale. Tergite 9 short, only extending to 2/5 length of gonocoxite; posterior margin broadly rounded; cercus lobe-like, produced beyond midlength of gonocoxite; sternite 9 broad, with narrow, shallow posteromedian excavation. Gonocoxite stout, two X longer than greatest breadth; gonostylus 0.7 length of gonocoxite, almost straight, tip pointed. Parameres represented by a slen- der, arrow-shaped, posteromesally directed projection, gonocoxal apodemes nearly straight. Aedeagus ( Fig. 56 ) stout; basal arch extending to 1/5 of total length; lateral margins broad, heavily sclerotized, slightly tapering to broad, truncate tip.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. This species is known only from two high altitude localities in the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica, from 1600–2460 meters ( Fig. 141 ).

Taxonomic discussion. The strikingly elongate flagellomere 10 of the male antenna, almost three X longer than flagellomere 11, readily distinguishes this new species from all remaining Neotropical species. The peculiar aedeagus, with high basal arch, and stout, heavily sclerotized lateral arms, as well as the arrow-shaped parameres are also distinctive. The presence of reinforced setae on fore tarsomere 2 is also present in F. macroseta , and F. grandiseta .

Type material. Holotype male on microscope slide, labeled “ HOLOTYPE Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia) longiflagellata Spinelli, Marino and Borkent , Costa Rica, Limón prov., PILA., Valle del Silencio, Send. Ref. a Hoffman, 2460 m, 19-VI / 5-VII-2003, D. Rubí, R. González, R. Delgado & M. Alfaro, Malaise tp. LS 340500 577300 #74305” ( INBC). Paratype, 1 male as follows: Costa Rica, 8 km SE Orosí, Tapantí NP, 1600 m, 14-VIII- 1995, Picado – Borkent, CD 5040 ( CNCI).

Derivation of specific epithet. The name longiflagellata - longus (elongate), flagellata (whip) refers to the strikingly elongate flagellomere 10 of the male of this species.

Figures

FIGURES 52 – 56. Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia) longiflagellata sp. n., male. 52 — flagellum; 53 - palpus; 54 — wing; 55 — genitalia (ventral view); 56 — aedeagus.

FIGURES 140 – 141. Distribution map of species of Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia).