Apocephalus missouriensis, Brown, Brian V., 2012

Brown, Brian V., 2012, Revision of the Apocephalus mucronatus group of ant decapitating flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 3413, pp. 19-28 : 25-26

Apocephalus missouriensis new species

( Figs. 2 , 6 , 13 , 21 , 27 )

Species recognition. Abdominal tergites plain brown; tergite six lacking posterior row of strong setae. Oviscape with short dorsomedian process. Ventral sclerite of oviscape nearly round.

Description of specimens. Body length 1.2 mm. Frons brown, mean frontal width 0.50. Median furrow present. Supra-antennal setae absent. Ventral interfrontal setae near midline. Ocelli normal sized. Ommatidia normal sized. Flagellomere 1 rounded oval, brown. Palpus yellow, normal sized. Scutum light brown. Scutellum brown, anterior seta about one-half length of posterior seta. Pleuron light brown. Anepisternum bare. Wing normal sized, mean costal length 0.50. Halter with yellow stem and brown knob. Abdominal tergites brown, normal sized. Tergite 6 about as broad as tergite 5, entire, apical margin straight, posterior margin with small setae. Venter of abdomen yellowish brown, dark grey near tergites. Venter of segment 6 with large sclerite, with row of long thick setae. Oviscape elongate oval, anterior process short, broadly rounded, large lateral setae absent, with scattered dorsolateral setulae on apical one-quarter. Dorsomedian process short. Apex broadly truncate, relatively straight, lacking dorsoapical setae. Venter with apical sclerite with triangular darkening posterolaterally; separated midventral sclerite nearly round, with few thin setae near apex. Intersegment 7–8 with short rectangular sclerotization issuing laterally from oviscape. Anterior arms of stylet anteriorly parallel, well separated, relatively flat.

Distribution. Known from a single site in Missouri.

Derivation of specific epithet. Named for the locality from which it was collected. Holotype. USA: Missouri: Williamsville, 36.97°N, 90.53°W, vii.1987, J.T. Becker, Malaise trap [barcode: LACM ENT 010977] (LACM).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Female Apocephalus species, apex of abdomen. 1. Lateral. 2. Dorsal.

FIGURES 3 – 9. Female Apocephalus species, oviscapes, dorsal.

FIGURES 10 – 16. Female Apocephalus species, oviscapes, ventral.

FIGURES 17 – 23. Female Apocephalus species, tergite 6, dorsal.

FIGURES 24 – 29. Female Apocephalus species, segment 6, ventral.