Bromeloecia robustora 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 : 26-33

Bromeloecia robustora Yau and Marshall sp. n.

(Figs. 5.1–5.14)

Description: Body length 1.3–1.4 mm (males), 1.3–1.7 mm (females). Generally similar to B. abundantia in external characters.

Wing: Distance between radial fork and r-m 4x length of r-m; dm-cu 1.7x length of r-m and distance between crossveins 1.9x length of dm-cu.

Male abdomen and terminalia: S5 with a pair of posteromedial lobes, lobes ventrally covered with medially directed spicules, dorsally rounded; a row of strong setae; row longer than width of modified posteromedial part of sclerite. Cercus uniform in width, very well sclerotized especially at edges, glossy to semi-glossy; base of cercus with prominent stub. Distiphallus LFS sheet-like, apically curled and weakly sclerotized; FDS form a posteriorly bent tongue; SDS weakly sclerotized, cup-shaped and extends laterally.

Female abdomen and terminalia: S7 simple with 1 row of setae. Cercus teardrop-shaped, apically pointed, with stout apical hooked seta.

Type specimens: Holotype: ♂: ECUADOR: Napo: Jatun Sacha Res., 6 km E Misahuallí, 01°04ʹ00ʺS, 077°37ʹ00ʺW, várzea, 450 m, dung pans, 1–2 May 2002, Buck & Lonsdale , debu00195432 ( QCAZ).

Paratypes: BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: Potrerillo de Guerda , 17°40ʹ49ʺS, 063°27ʹ36ʺW, 4–7 Apr 1998, H. & A. Howden (5♂, 11♀, CBFC, DEBU) ; La Paz: Arroyo Tuhiri W Mapiri , 15°17ʹ27ʺS, 068°15ʹ29ʺW, 10 Apr 2001, S. A. Marshall (4♂, 1♀, CBFC, DEBU) ; Heath River Wildlife Centre, ~ 21 km SSW Puerto Heath, 12°40ʹ00ʺS, 068°42ʹ00ʺW, rainforest, Malaise , 1–11 May 2007, S. M. Paiero (3♂, 1♀, CBFC, DEBU) ; ditto, 30 Apr–11 May 2007 (2♂, 3♀, CBFC, DEBU) ; Heath River Wildlife Research Centre, 12°40ʹ00ʺS, 068°42ʹ00ʺW, tree fall yellow pans, 5–9 May 2007, Paiero & Kits (1♂, DEBU) . ECUADOR: Napo: Jatun Sacha Res., 6 km E Misahuallí , 01°04ʹ00ʺS, 077°37ʹ00ʺW, pond edge, 450 m, Malaise trap, 1–4 May 2002, Marshall, Paiero & Lonsdale (1♂, DEBU) ; Jatun Sacha Res., 6 km E Misahuallí , 01°04ʹ00ʺS, 077°37ʹ00ʺW, compost, 450 m, yellow pans, 1–2 May 2002, M. Buck (1♂, DEBU) ; same as holotype (12♂, 8♀, QCAZ, DEBU); ditto, 2–7 May 2002, M. Buck (14♂, 29♀, QCAZ, DEBU) .

Other material examined: COLOMBIA: Norte de Santander: Santiago , 2000ʹ, dung trap, 11–13 May 1974, S. Peck (9♂, 1♀, DEBU) ; 3 mi N Chinacota , 3000ʹ, 8–10 May 1974, S. Peck (6♂, 7♀, DEBU) ; ditto, 8–10 Jun 1974 (10♂, 3♀, DEBU) ; 2 mi N Chinacota , 3000ʹ, carrion, 12–14 May 1974, S. Peck (1♂, 2♀, DEBU) ; above Pamplona , 9000ʹ, dung trap, 9–13 May 1974, S. Peck (1♂, DEBU). ECUADOR : Guayas: 78 km N Santa Elena, 27 km S Puerto López , 500ʹ, dung trap, 25–27 Jul 1976, S. Peck (1♂, DEBU) ; Napo: Limoncocha , 250 m, dung trap, 18–24 Jun 1976, S. Peck (2♂, 2♀, DEBU) ; 12 km SW Tena , 500 m, dung trap, 8–11 Aug 1976, S. Peck (13♂, 20♀, DEBU) ; 12 km SW Tena , dung trap, 8–11 Jul 1976 (2♂, DEBU) ; Tiputini Biodiv. Stn., vic. Yasuní Natl. Pk. , 00°38ʹS, 076°0ʹW, human dung pitfall, 14–19 Feb 1998, D. C. Darling (4♂, 1♀, DEBU) . PERU: Junín: Pampa Hermosa lodge, 22 kmN San Ramon , 10°59ʹ18ʺS, 075°25ʹ30ʺW, 1220 m, FIT, 24–27 Nov 2007, D. Brzoska (1♀, DEBU) ; Madre de Dios: Manu National Park Coche Cashu Bio. Sta., high ground, 380 m, Malaise , 4–6 Oct 1986, D. C. Darling (1♂, DEBU) ; Amazonas Lodge, N of Atalaya , 12°52ʹ12ʺS, 071°22ʹ36ʺW, 480 m, FIT, 10–13 Nov 2007, D. Brzoska (1♂, 2♀, DEBU) . TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO : Saint George: U . Santa Cruz, Gasparillo , ground/forest edge, Malaise trap, 15 Nov 1987, R. Borneo (1♂, DEBU) ; Arima Ward, New York, Zoological Society Station , pig dung trap, 11 Jun 1977, R. Woodruff (1♂, DEBU). VENEZUELA : Bolívar: km 40 Santa Elena Icabaru Rd. , 100 m, 4–6 Aug 1986, B. Gill (1♀, DEBU) .

Etymology: This name refers to the well-sclerotized edges of the cercus (Latin ‘robustus’: hard, strong, robust; Latin ‘ora’: extremity, edge, margin, coast).

Comments: B. robustora is widespread across South America and occurs at a wide range of elevations. B. robustora and B. abundantia are similar in body size and external characters (see comments below the description of B. abundantia ). The cercus of B. robustora is more likely to be found flexed inwards than extended laterally.