Bezzia (Bezzia) pulverea (Coquillett)

Grogan, William L., 2020, A Revision of the Nearctic Predaceous Midges in the Bezzia (Bezzia) pulverea complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 4877 (3), pp. 429-467 : 433-436

Bezzia (Bezzia) pulverea (Coquillett)

( Figs. 1–6 )

Ceratopogon pulvereus Coquillett, 1901: 600 . New Jersey. (Washington, D. C.) .

Bezzia pulverea: Kieffer 1906: 58 (combination; in list of Bezzia of Europe, America & Australia); Malloch 1914: 283 (in key to North American Bezzia ); Malloch 1915: 346 (in key to Bezzia of Illinois); Kieffer 1917: 330 (in key to American Bezzia ); Johannsen 1943: 785 (in list of North American Ceratopogonidae ); Johannsen 1952: 167 (in key to Bezzia of the northeastern USA); Wirth 1952: 232 (description; California records; distribution); Wirth & Stone 1968: 437 (in key to California Bezzia ).

Bezzia (Bezzia) pulverea: Wirth 1965: 141 (in Nearctic catalog; distribution); Borkent & Grogan 2009: 26 (in Nearctic catalog; distribution).

Bezzia (Pseudobezzia) pulverea: Dow & Turner 1976: 61 (in revision of Nearctic Bezzia ; distribution).

Diagnosis. The only Nearctic species of the B. pulverea complex with the following combination of characters. Males fore femur and tibia entirely or mostly yellow; proximal 3/4–7/8 of mid and hind femora yellow and distal 1/8–1/4 with a blackish brown band; mid and hind tibiae mostly blackish brown with distinct subapical yellow bands that are poorly developed on the hind tibia of some specimens; parameres very broad, arrow-head shaped; aedeagus triangular, slightly narrower than parameres with a rounded apex; and gonostylus with bifurcate apex, the longer inner prong is folded inwardly. Females with same leg coloration and banding patterns as males; with elongate ovoid spermathecae with very short narrow necks (the larger 0.16–0.21 mm long, the smaller 0.11–0.14 mm long).

Male. Head. Brown. Eyes separated by the width of the diameter of 4–5 ommatidia. Antennal flagellum brown, flagellomeres 1, 11–13 darkest, extreme bases of 11–13 pale; flagellomeres 2–6 vasiform, 7–9 more elongate vasiform, 10–13 slender, greatly elongate, 10 or 13 longest; plume dense, composed of long sensilla chaetica that extend to or near mid-length of flagellomere 11; AR 1.00–1.17 (1.07, n=13); flagellum length 1.54–1.69 (1.61 mm, n=13). Palpus moderately elongate; segment 5 extending beyond apex of proboscis; segment 3 slender with apicomesal group of 5–7 long capitate sensilla; PR 3.33–4.50 (3.87, n=15). Mandible slender; most specimens with 2–4 slender distal medial teeth and a few small widely spaced lateral teeth; a few specimens with 5–6 moderately large femalelike medial teeth. Thorax. Dark reddish brown. Scutum with moderately dense, coarse short setae, 10–14 very large stout pre-alar setae; scutellum golden with single row of 10–12 long stout setae. Fore femur yellow, or with basal section partially or entirely light brown, some specimens with a narrow brown apical band; mid femur yellow with narrow dark blackish brown apical band; hind femur yellowish, apical ¼ with dark blackish brown band, some specimens with light brown basal band; 4–9 fore, 1–4 mid, 1–5 hind ventral femoral spines. Fore tibia yellowish with narrow brown apical band, some with broader subapical light brown band; mid tibia dark brown, subapical 1/2–2/3 with yellowish to light brown band; hind tibia dark brown with poorly defined yellowish narrow to broader subapical band; tibiae with more or less 2 rows of stout dorsal spines, most numerous, largest on hind leg; 2–3 fore, 2–4 mid, hind large apical tibial spines ( Fig. 1 ). Tarsi with tarsomeres 1–3 yellowish, 4–5 brownish; claws smaller than females. Wing moderately narrow, membrane very lightly infuscated, darkest below radial cell; costa, radius, basal section of medius yellowish brown, posterior veins slightly infuscated, well developed; WL 1.95–2.35 (2.20 mm, n=15), WW 0.51–0.64 (0.55 mm, n=15); CR 0.68–0.71 (0.70, n=15). Halter brown. Abdomen. Tergites reddish brown, sternites dusky brown; both with dense long coarse setae. Genitalia ( Figs. 2–3 ). Tergite 9 moderately long, very broad; cerci long, broad, extending ¾ length of gonocoxite. Sternite 9 long with deep apico-central excavation, inner margin with dense fringe of long fine setae, elongate slender apicolateral arms extend just below aedeagus apex ( Fig. 2 ). Gonocoxite ( Fig. 3 ) straight, stout; gonostylus moderately long, straight to slightly curved distally, apex bifurcate, outer prong short with pointed tip, inner prong slightly longer, overlaping inner apex. Parameres ( Fig. 3 ) fused; basal arms broad, curved, greatly divergent, heavily sclerotized with rounded apices; apical section very broad, more lightly sclerotized, arrow-head shaped with tapered rounded apex. Aedeagus ( Fig. 2 ) broadly triangular, slightly narrower than parameres; basal arch moderately shallow, extending 1/3 of total length; basal arms widely spaced, heavily sclerotized, with usually recurved apices; main body more lightly sclerotized with short basolateral shoulder-like extensions; distal portion abruptly tapered with narrow rounded apex and very lightly sclerotized, broader underlying hyaline membrane.

Female. Females with similar body and legs color patterns as males, and the following notable sexual and other differences. Head. Eyes separated by the width of 2–3 ommatidia. Antennal flagellum with proximal 1/2–3/4 of flagellomeres 1–8 pale yellow or white, distal 1/4–1/2 darker brown; flagellomere 1 twice as long as 2–8; 2–8 with poorly developed central whorl of moderately long stout sensillae chaetica; 9–13 greatly elongate, 13 usually longest (12 longest in 1 specimen) with numerous thinner hyaline setae; AR 1.35–1.53 (1.45, n=4); flagellum length 1.19–1.25 (1.23 mm, n=4). Palpus with slightly shorter segment 3; PR 2.82–3.60 (3.32, n=4). Mandible broad with 7-8 large, medial retrorse distal teeth, 3–5 smaller proximal medial teeth; 2–5 very small widely spaced lateral teeth. Thorax ( Fig. 4 ). Scutum with 5–6 large stout pre-alar setae; scutellum with 6–8 long stout setae. Femora, tibiae ( Fig. 4 ) with same coloration, banding pattern as males except yellowish subapical hind tibial band broader, better developed; 5–8 fore, 1–2 mid, 1–4 hind femoral ventral spines; tibiae with 3 large stout apical spines; claws larger, longer than males with large inner teeth arising near mid-length. Wing ( Fig. 5 ) broader than males with longer costa, radial cell; WL 2.28–2.37 (2.33 mm, n=4), WW 0.78–0.80 (0.79 mm, n=4); CR 0.76–0.77 (0.77, n=4). Halter stem light brown, knob with distal 1/2–3/4 dark blackish brown. Abdomen( Fig. 6 ). Tergites with moderately dense long slender setae; sternites with sparse shorter setae. Pair of internal abdominal tergal apodemes arising from near posterior margin of tergite 7, extending anteriorly to or near anterior margin of tergite 2. Sternite 9 heavily sclerotized; anterior prongs of each side moderately long, nearly straight, apices narrowly separated; posterior prongs short, widely separated. Spermathecae ( Fig. 6 ) unequal-size, elongate ovoid, necks very short, openings narrow; larger 0.16–0.21 (0.19 mm) long, smaller 0.11–0.14 (0.13 mm) long.

The above description is based on four slide-mounted females in the USNM collected by Willis Wirth from Dyke swamp, Alexandria, Virginia on 11 June 1952 that he identified and labeled “ Bezzia pulverea (Coquillett) ”. Wirth added a 2 nd label on the slide of one female on which he wrote “Excellent for leg banding – very much like the type band. COMP. W. TYPE WWW 1980 .”

Re-description of holotype female (on pin) USNM Type No. 5459. Examined 6 August 2009. Head. Eyes silvery iridescent, narrowly separated. Antennal scape golden; both flagella lost. Palpi missing. Frontoclypeus, proboscis medium brown. Thorax. Golden brown with silvery pollen. Scutum with moderately dense short setae, median brown stripe, short sub-lateral brown stripes on distal half, anterolateral margins pale golden yellow; scutellum golden-yellow with darker anterocentral spot in depression. Fore femur, tibia golden yellow, femoro-tibial joint, apex of tibia brown (subapical light brown band depicted by Dow & Turner 1976 not visible); mid femur brown on base, distal ¼, middle ½ with golden yellow band, tibia brown on basal 2/3, golden yellow subapical band; hind femur, tibia with same pattern as mid leg; fore femur with 6-8 ventral spines on distal 2/3, mid, hind femora each with 3-4 ventral spines on distal 1/3; tarsi yellowish, tarsomeres apices brown, claws moderately long with basal inner teeth. Wing including veins hyaline. Halter stem golden, knob darker brown. Abdomen. Dark brown on dorsum; venter light brown on proximal ½, distal ½ dark brown.

Comments on Coquillett’s description of the holotype. Coquillett (1901) stated that the antennae were brown and that the distal halves of the flagellomeres and palpi were yellow. However, both of these structures are now lost. Regardless, my above re-description of the holotype is similar to that of slide-mounted females.

Distribution. This species is known only from the Coastal Plain of the mid-Atlantic states of Delaware, New Jersey, South Carolina, Virginia and from Washington, D. C. However, the type locality (Riverton, New Jersey) is located on the east bank of the Delaware River across from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, so it also likely inhabits at least the SE portion of that state, as well as Maryland and North Carolina. It may be more widespread than current records suggest, but, it has been rarely collected since it was originally described by Coquillett. A related predaceous species in the tribe Palpomyiini , Palpomyia cressoni ( Malloch, 1915) , has a similar mid-Atlantic distribution, the holotype female of which was collected by E. T. Cresson from Swarthmore, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania (SW of Philadelphia). Grogan & Wirth (1975, 1979) subsequently recorded that species from Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia, and it was more recently reported from Alabama ( Borkent and Grogan 2009).

Derivation of specific name. The specific name, pulverea , was based on the Latin term, pulv (powder, dust), in reference to the pollinose body of the pinned female holotype.

Specimens examined. DELAWARE, (New Castle Co.), Port Penn , 6 VI 1937, G. H. Bradley, 2 males . NEW JERSEY, (Burlington Co.), Riverton , 3 July, C. W. Johnson, 1 female ( TYPE, on pin) . SOUTH CAROLINA, Georgetown Co., Hobcaw House , 20 Apr. 1972, Mrs. L. Henry, light trap, 13 males . VIRGINIA, Alexandria , 11 June 1962, W. Wirth, Dyke swamp, 1 male, 4 females . (all specimens from USNM)

Discussion. Dow and Turner (1976: 68) indicated that B. pulverea was listed by Kieffer (1917: 330) from Hungary, but, this is obviously incorrect because Kieffer’s key was only for New World species of Bezzia . In addition, the current online catalog of Ceratopogonidae in Europe by Szadziewski et al. (2013) does not include B. pulverea (confirmed by R. Szadziewski 2019). In their review of Florida records of ceratopogonids, although Wilkening et al. (1985) listed B. pulverea from that state, they noted that Florida records were not available for this species, and this was subsequently confirmed by Grogan et al. (2010).

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Bezzia pulverea. Male, 1–3, Female, 4–6. 1 Apical mid-tibial spines. 2 Genitalia at focal level of aedeagus, gonocoxites and gonostyli. 3 Genitalia at focal level of sternite 9 and parameres. 4 Thorax and legs. 5 Wing. 6 Abdomen, ventral view of spermathecae.