Brachylinga tepocae (Cole)

Webb, Donald W. & Metz, Mark A., 2006, A Revision of the New World Genera Brachylinga Irwin and Lyneborg and Lysilinga Irwin and Lyneborg (Diptera: Therevidae: Therevinae) with the Description of a New Genus, Elcaribe Webb, Zootaxa 1288 (1288), pp. 1-241 : 137-139

Brachylinga tepocae (Cole)

( Figs. 22, 45, 68, 91, 114, 137, 160, 183, 204, 214)

tepocae Cole (1923b:461 orig. desc.) ( Psilocephala ); Irwin and Lyneborg (1981a:234, listing, comb. change) ( Brachylinga ). Type locality Mexico, Sonora, Tepoca Bay. Holotype female in CAS.

Diagnosis

Brachylinga tepocae is taxonomically associated with B. curacaoensis , B. fraterna , and B. xanthoperna in lacking setae on the katepisternum; in having the postocular, mesonotal, and coxal macrosetae dark reddish brown; in having the male parafacial silver or gray over entire surface; and the male frons lacking setae. Brachylinga tepocae differs from B. curacaoensis , B. fraterna , and B. xanthoperna in having the wing cell m 3 open widely and the maxillary palpus dark reddish brown; the male tergite 8 ( Fig. 22) thick medially (0.14 mm) with pale brown setae continuous across the posterior margin. It differs from B. curacaoensis in having the ventral apodeme ( Fig. 160) tapered to point anteriorly. It differs from B. xanthoperna in having fine short spines laterally on the gonostylus ( Fig. 114) and in having the gonocoxite ( Fig. 91) oblong, tapered apically to broad point.

Description of male

Variation (n=10).

Body length 4.5–6.7, 6.0 mm.

Head. Ommatidia smaller ventrally and laterally. Frons pruinescence silver, brown to black dorsally in shape of right­angled triangles; setae absent. Antenna black, scape pruinescence gray, dense; setae on scape black, elongate, macrosetae black. Parafacial pruinescence silver gray. Maxillary palpus reddish brown; setae pale yellow. Genal setae white. Occipital setae white becoming lanceolate, appressed dorsally along margin of eye. Postocular macrosetae dark reddish brown.

Thorax. Macrosetae dark reddish brown, 3 np, 1 sa, 1 pa, 1–2 dc, 2 sc. Mesonotum black, pruinescence brownish gray; setae black, elongate intermixed with white, lanceolate, appressed setae. Pleuron pruinescence gray; setae white on propleuron, anepisternum, laterotergite, metanepisternum, and scutellum, absent on katepisternum. Wing. Membrane pale smoky brown; veins and crossveins brown, margined with darker brown; pterostigma brown; cell m 3 open. Halter pale yellow. Legs. Coxa setae white, present on posterior surface of midcoxa; macrosetae dark reddish brown. Femora black, pruinescence white; ventral setae white and dark brown on fore­ and midfemora; av 0–1:0:2–4, pv 0:0:3–6. Tibiae reddish brown on foretibia, dark yellow with apex reddish brown on mid­ and hindtibia. Tarsomeres reddish brown.

Abdomen. Dark reddish brown to black, pruinescence white, dense; dorsal setae white, appressed dorsally, erect laterally. Terminalia (MEI 040346) dark brown. Tergite 8 ( Fig. 22), thick medially (0.14 mm); setae pale brown, continuous across posterior margin. Sternite 8 ( Fig. 45) rectangular, posterior margin emarginate. Epandrium ( Fig. 22), sides slightly rounded; setae brown. Cercus ( Fig. 22), ending basal to apex of hypoproct. Hypoproct ( Fig. 22), posterior margin emarginate, ending distal to apex of cercus. Gonocoxite ventral view ( Fig. 45) rounded laterally, median margin straight on basal third then tapering apically to thick point; setae dark brown, thick, grading into macrosetae; dorsal view ( Fig. 68), posteromedial lobe short, gonocoxal bridge absent; lateral view ( Fig. 91) oblong, tapered apically to broad point; ventral lobe ( Fig. 45) with ventral spines. Gonostylus ( Fig. 114), basodorsal lobe large, rounded; ventral margin curved, setae dark yellow, not extending apically in distinct tuft; lateral surface with fine spines. Aedeagus with dorsal apodeme ( Fig. 137) broad, rectangular, posterolateral margin slightly expanded; ventral apodeme ( Fig. 160) tapered anteriorly, extending to anterior margin of dorsal apodeme; distiphallus dorsal view ( Fig. 137) tapered apically, lateral view ( Fig. 183) tapered apically in broad curve, apicolateral spines absent; ejaculatory apodeme ( Fig. 137), anterior margin truncate.

Female

Similar to male except for following.

Variation (n=10).

Body length 5.2–8.0, 6.8 mm.

Head. Frons pruinescence white, gray dorsally with large, brown circular area dorsolaterally; setae black, short.

Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 1 sa, 1 pa, 1–2 dc, 2 sc. Legs. Tibiae dark yellow, apex reddish brown; anteroventral macrosetae 0–1:0:3–4, pv 0:0:3–6.

Abdomen. Dark reddish brown, pruinescence white, posterior margin of tergites 1–4 pale; dorsal setae dark reddish brown, appressed with white, appressed setae along posterior margin of tergites 1–4; lateral setae white, erect on tergites 1–3, dark reddish brown on remaining tergites. Terminalia (MEI 040404). Furca ( Fig. 204) rectangular, posterior margin rounded, anterior margin truncate; length 0.50 mm, width 0.26 mm; anterolateral projection absent. Common duct ( Fig. 204) shorter than furca; Spermathecal duct ( Fig. 204) directed anteriorly.

Distribution

Brachylinga tepocae is known from localities along the western coast of Mexico ( Fig. 214).

Habitats and phenology

Brachylinga tepocae has been handnetted and collected in a suction trap or at light on a sea beach. Specimens have been collected throughout the year, except for January and November.

Specimens examined

Type specimen. The holotype female of Psilocephala tepocae Cole (CAS No. 1338) is labeled "Tepoca Bay, Sonora, Mexico, April 25, 1921, E. P. Van Duzee " and is in CAS. Other specimens. MEXICO. CHIAPAS. Porto Madero [14.72, –92.42], –. X.1954, Krauss, N. L. H., 1♂ MEI 048101 ( USNM) ; Puerto Arista [15.94, ­93.81], 18.V.1985, Freidberg, A., 3♂ MEI 050355, 050539–40 ( TAU) . NAYARIT. Playa Los Corchos [21.717, ­105.467], 16.VII.1995, Noguera, F. A., Rodriguez, A., 1♂ MEI 050563 ( EBCC) ; date?, Malkin , B., 1♂ MEI 040385 ( MEIC) ; 29.VII.1953, Rockefeller, D., Vaurie, C., Vaurie, P., 1♂ MEI 048004 ( AMNH) ; 15.VI.1955, Malkin, B., 3♂ MEI 040399–401, 2♀ 040419, 040474 (ME IC); San Blas [21.517, ­105.267], 14.VII.1960, collector?, 1♂ MEI 1118779 ( CAS) ; 24.26. IV.1961, Howden, Martin, 1♂ MEI 040450 ( CNC) , at light; 4.II.1964, Estes, P. M., 4♂ MEI 040434, 040438, 040442, 040447, 1♀ 040418 ( UCR) ; MEI, 21♂ MEI 040429 ( BMNH) , 040430 (CSCA), 040431 (INHS), 040448, 040451–66, 040469, 3♀ 040402 ( BMNH) , 040416 (CSCA), 040421 (INHS); date?, Raugh , P. A., 2♀ MEI 040407, 040412 ( UCR) ; EIS, 11♂ MEI 040432–3, 040435–6, 040439–41, 040443–4, 040446, 040449, 7♀ 040348, 040403, 040405–6, 040410, 04087–8 ( UCR) ; 3.VII.1964, Spangler, P. J., 1♂ MEI 040398 ( USNM) , light trap; 30.XII.1969, Briggs, D. L., 1♂ MEI 055751 ( INHS) ; 10.IX.1970, Fisher, E. M., 1♂ MEI 040363 ( UCR) ; 4.II.1984, Raugh, F. A., 1♀ MEI 040408 ( INHS) ; 5.II.1964, Van den Bosch, R., 2♂ MEI 040437, 040445 ( MEIC) , suction trap; 0–3 m, 10.V.1965, Weems, Jr., H. V., 1♂ MEI 003667 ( FSCA) . Oaxaca. Santa Maria del Mar [16.21, ­94.99], 6.IV.1953, Bechtel, R. C., EIS, 1♂ MEI 040365 ( UCD) ; EIS, 1♂ MEI 106303 ( CAS) . Sinaloa. 16.1 km S Villa Unión [23.045, ­106.22], 5.VII.1987, Ballmer, G. R., 2♂ MEI 076108–9 ( UCR) , near sea; Mazatlan [23.21, ­106.42], 28.VI.1961, Scheibner, R. A., 1♀ MEI 134963 ( MSUC) ; 18.V.1962, FDP, Stange, L. A., 4♂ MEI 040467–8, 040470–1 ( UCR) ; 1–2.VII.1964, Spangler, P. J., 1♂ MEI 040396 ( USNM) ; 27.III.1979, French, L. D., 1♂ MEI 116868 ( UCD) ; 28.III.1979, 1♂ MEI 116875 ( UCD) ; 2.XII.1984, Bohart, G. E., 1♂ MEI 007727 ( EMUS) ; Teacapan [22.417, ­105.633], 29.VI.1956, Dreisbach, R., Dreisbach, K., 2♂ MEI 040353, 040355 ( MSUC) ; Isla Partida , 1 km S Mazatlan [23.19, ­106.41], 27.XII.1972, Briggs, D. L., 1♂ MEI 055733 ( UCD) . SONORA. 1.6 km W Desemboque de los Seris [29.51, ­112.404], 5.II.1972, Fisher, E. M., 3♂ MEI 040360–2, 1♀ MEI 040366 ( UCR) ; 64.4 km SW Cuidad Obregon, San Jose Beach [27.08, ­110.36], 18.V.1961, Howden, Martin, 1♂ MEI 040395 ( CNC) ; 8.1 km N Puerto Peñasco, near Cholla Bay , 19.III.1980, Griswold, C. E., 1♂ MEI 040884 ( EMEC) ; Bahia San Carlos [27.933, ­111.05], 18.VIII.1964, MEI, 1♂ MEI 040358 ( MEIC) ; El Desemboque [29.51, ­112.39], 17–31.VII.1953, Malkin, B., 1♂ MEI 040354 ( CAS) , at light on sea beach; Puerto Peñasco [31.32, ­113.54], 21.III.1967, Andrews, F. G., 1♂ MEI 040393 ( MEIC) .