Achradocera insignis Parent, 1933

Quevedo, Lucas, Capellari, Renato S. & Lamas, Carlos José E., 2024, Taxonomic revision of Achradocera Becker (Diptera: Dolichopodidae), with description of two new species, Zootaxa 5519 (3), pp. 301-344 : 330-331

Achradocera insignis Parent, 1933

( Figs 17 , 18 , 26 )

Achradocera insignis Parent, 1933: 247 , figs 4–5.

Type-locality: Tapikiolé , Argentina. Lectotype male, SNMS.

Diagnosis (male). Postpedicel longer than arista-like stylus; lower postoccipital setae dense. Legs mostly yellow, except for FIII, dorsal surface of FI and FII, TII at apical half, and distal tarsi, which are all brown infuscated; TII ventrally arched near the middle, and apex bearing two rows of about 4 setae each at av and pv surfaces; fore and hind legs simple. Hypopygium small; surstylus subtriangular, tapered and bearing 1 apical and 1 subapical strong seta; postgonite enlarged and covered by small setae.

Redescription. Similar to A. angustifacies stat. rev., except as noted. Male. Body length: 2.15–2.25 mm. Wing: 2.0– 2.1 mm long, 0.64–0.67 mm wide. Antenna. Postpedicel slightly longer than arista-like stylus. FAr ratio, 1.12. Thorax. 5 ac and 5 dc pairs of setae. Wings. CuAx: 0.55; RMx: 1.33. Lower calypter yellow with fan of about 6–7 brownish setae; halter pale yellow. Leg I. 38, 36, 15, 6, 4, 3, 4. F with posterior row of about 4 setae on apical 1/4; T bearing ventral row with distinct setae and distinct dorsal seta at basal 1/4. Leg II. 39, 40, 20, 9, 6, 4, 3. F bearing pv row of about 3 conspicuous setae near apex; T brownish infuscated at apical half, ventrally arched near middle, and apex bearing 2 rows of about 4 setae each at av and pv surfaces ( Fig. 17D ). Leg III. 44, 50, 15, 9, 6, 4, 3. F with about 2 anterior and 2 posterior setae near apex; T yellow, bearing 3 pd, 2 ad, and 2 apical setae (1 av, 1 v); t 3–4 simple. Hypopygium. As in Fig. 18A–D , similar to A. angustifacies stat. rev.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and Bolivia ( Fig. 26 ).

Type material examined. LECTOTYPE [here designated] 1♂, labelled: “Tapikiolé-Arg. | XI.25 –1.26Lind | D. Chaco-Exped ”, “ Achradocera insignis n. sp. | O Parent. Type” [handwritten], “SMNS_Dip_ | 007101” [ SMNS] . PARALECTOTYPE: 1♀: “ VIII.25. Trini- | dad b. Asuncion | D. Chaco-Exped ”, “ Achradocera insignis Par. ” [handwritten], “SMNS_Dip_ | 007134” [ SMNS] .

Additional material examined. Brazil. Goiás. 1♂, “ JATAI, Goiaz, I.1955 | M. Carrera, A. Machado | F. S. Pereira, E. Dente | Milgar Loureiro col”; 1♂, “BRASIL, GO, Bom Jesus de Goiás | Fazenda Sta. Rosa do Meia Ponte | 18º19′42.7″S 49º36′08.3″W | Malaise trap; 20–22.xi.2021 | PR Riccardi leg.” [all in MZUSP] . Bolivia. 1♂, “ BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz Prov. | Campo Guairuy 24 km S | Camiri , 18.VIII–2.IX 2000 | S20º11.81′; W63º28.55′ | malaise trap, 870 m | M.E. Irwin & M. Hauser ”. [ MTEC] .

Remarks. According to the data collected thus far, A. insignis appears to have a restricted distribution along the eastern South American’s Dry Diagonal ( Luebert 2021), occurring in Chaco and Cerrado areas, which contrasts with most other Achradocera species that appear to be quite generalists for environments, occurring over larger biogeographical areas.

Another noteworthy feature is that A. insignis has a sympatric distribution with other Achradocera species, such as A. gimli sp. nov. and A. tuberculata , making female association nearly impossible based only on morphology. Because of this issue, we have chosen to highlight the females which are not readily associated with males in a separate section below (see “Unassociated females”) to avoid mistakes. The female paratype of A. insignis was not described or considered in the distribution map despite its type status because it is from a different area than the male holotype and we are uncertain that it is conspecific.

Figures

FIGURE 17. Achradocera insignis. A. Habitus, left lateral. B. Thorax, dorsal. C. Head, frontal. D. Mid leg, TII. Scale bar: A, 1 mm; B–D, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 18. Achradocera insignis, male genital structures. A. Hypopygium, left lateral. B. Hypopygium, ventral. C. Phallus, ejaculatory apodeme and postgonite, left lateral. D. Postgonite, ventral. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 26. Distribution map of the genus Achradocera.