Bromeloecia cercarcuata Yau and Marshall, 2018

Yau, Tiffany & Marshall, Stephen A., 2018, A revision of the genus Bromeloecia Spuler (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae: Limosininae), Zootaxa 4445 (1), pp. 1-115 : 101

Bromeloecia cercarcuata Yau and Marshall sp. n.

(Figs. 21.1–21.14)

Description: Body length 1.2–1.4 mm (males), 1.3–1.6 mm (females). Generally similar to B. ephippium .

Legs: Fore femur with 1 large ventrobasal seta and a row of 5 strong setae distal to it, posteroventrally with a row of 4–5 setae on distal one third of femur, second last seta strong; female with 1 large ventrobasal seta and a continuous row of 8–9 posteroventral setae along length of femur, second last seta strong. Male fore tibia anteroventrally with a comb of 8 small stout setae on distal half; comb absent in females.

Male abdomen and terminalia: Subanal plate concave, glossy, with a pair of strong setae. Cercus glossy, medially curved, medial base between cerci webbed. Surstylus fist-like, anteroventral surface covered with setae.

Hypandrium lateral extension plate starting from distal two-thirds of posteromedial hypandrial processes; outer margin of extension plate and hypandrial process articulating with hypandrial arm. Phallapodeme thick, distally flattened and dilated. Ejaculatory apodeme indistinguishable from ejaculatory bulb. Distiphallus FDS sheet like, medially fused and desclerotized; SDS wide, sheet like, desclerotized; MS basally thickened, distally tapered.

Female abdomen and terminalia: Each half of T 8 in the shape of an isosceles triangle. S8 shield-like. Each spermatheca with 1 large apical thimble-shaped pit and 3 small basal pits.

Type specimens: Holotype: ♂: ECUADOR: Napo: Tena , 12 km SW, 500 m, dung trap, 8–11 Jul 1976, debu00374024 ( QCAZ).

Paratypes: BOLIVIA: La Paz: San Antonio, ca. 8 km S Mapiri , 15°20ʹ56ʺS, 068°13ʹ31ʺW, secondary forest, dung pans, 11 Apr 2001, S. A. Marshall (1♂, DEBU) ; Arroyo Tuhiri W Mapiri , 15°17ʹ27ʺS, 068°15ʹ29ʺW, 10 Apr 2001, S. A. Marshall (3♂, 1♀, CBFC, DEBU) . ECUADOR: Napo: 12 km SW Tena , 500 m, dung trap, 8–11 Aug 1976, S. Peck (6♂, 3♀, QCAZ, DEBU) ; same as holotype (6♂, 6♀, QCAZ, DEBU).

Etymology: This name refers to the medially bowed male cerci (Latin ‘cercus’: tail, small appendage at the end of the abdomen; Latin ‘arcuatus’: bent like a bow).

Comments: This uncommon species is found in the eastern valleys and foothills of the Andes. For further discussions of B. cercarcuata and B. ephippium , see comments below description of B. ephippium .