Apocephalus strazhnikae, Brown, Brian V., 2014

Brown, Brian V., 2014, Revision of the Apocephalus analis group of ant-decapitating flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 3857 (4), pp. 551-570 : 567

Apocephalus strazhnikae new species

( Figs. 40 , 51 )

Diagnosis. This species can be recognized by the row of 10 ventral setae along the posterior margin of segment 6, the strongly downturned ventral apex of the oviscape, and the unusual form of the anterior arms of the stylet.

Description. Body length 1.1 mm. Frons 0.48 head width. Flagellomere 1 round, slightly enlarged, light brown. Pleuron light brown, nearly white. Costa 0.53 wing length. Halter light brown. Abdominal tergites light brown, normal sized. Tergite 6 light brown, about as broad as tergite 5, entire. Venter of abdomen whitish yellow, venter of segments 3–5 with scattered thin setae. Venter of segment 6 lacking sclerite. Oviscape elongate oval, anterior process short, broadly rounded, with large lateral seta present. Dorsum of oviscape with row of posterolateral setae. Apex roundly pointed, downturned, lacking dorsoapical setae. Ventral setae of oviscape absent. Intersegment 7–8 without sclerotization. Anterior arms of stylet narrow, elongate, curved to meet near apex, stylet downturned at midlength.

Distribution. Amazonian Peru.

Derivation of specific epithet. Named for Ms. Inna Marie Strazhnik, one of the members of the LACM Entomology team.

Holotype. ♀, PERU: Madre de Dios: Pakitza, 11.94°S, 71.28°W, 356m, 23–28.ii.1992, B.Brown, D.Feener, Malaise trap #1 (MUSM) [LACM ENT 012208].

Figures

FIGURES 35 – 42. Female abdomens. 35, 37. Dorsal. 36, 38 – 41. Ventral. 42. Left lateral.

FIGURES 43 – 51. Stylets, dorsal.