Ameromyia nigriventris (Walker, 1860)

Tavares, Leon Gustavo de Miranda, Machado, Renato Jose Pires & Calor, Adolfo Ricardo, 2023, The Neotropical antlion genus Ameromyia Banks, 1913 (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), systematics and redefinition under a phylogenetic approach, Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 81, pp. 499-553 : 499

4.10. Ameromyia nigriventris (Walker, 1860)

Figs 9 , 16B, C, D , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36

Myrmeleon nigriventris Walker 1860: 188. [Lectotype, female, Amaz, Saunders, NHMUK010288178 (BMNH) [current designation] and paralectotypes 1 female, Amazon, Colombia (BMNH) NHMUK010288176; 1 male, Amaz, Saunders, NHMUK010288177 (BMNH)].

Ameromyia nigriventris (Walker). - Banks 1913: 228 [redescription and new combination]. - Penny 1977: 38 [species list, distribution]. - Stange 1994: 81, figure 37 (adult face) [species list, larvae diagnosis]. - Stange 2004: 228, 393 [species catalog, genera identification key (larvae)]. - Oswald 2021 [species catalog]. - Machado and Martins 2022 [faunal catalog].

= Ameromyia hirsuta Navás 1914b: 50 [Holotype female, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Sieglmayr (NHMW)]. - Esben-Petersen 1920: 193 [synonymy = A. nigriventris ]. - Penny 1977: 38 [species list, distribution]. - Stange 1994: 81 [in Ameromyia species list]. - Stange 2004: 227 [in Ameromyia catalog]. - Stange 2010: 6 [diagnosis and distribution]. - Oswald 2021 [species catalog]. [NEW SYNONIMY].

= Ameromyia stevensi Navás 1914b: 51, figure 3 (vertex, pronotum, female terminalia) [Holotype female, Amazon, Brazil, 1860, Stevens (NHMW)]. - Navás 1916: 19 [distribution]. - Navás: 1919: 296 [distribution]. - Navás 1923a: 189 [distribution]. - Navás 1926a: 107 [distribution]. - Navás 1927: 26 [distribution]. - Navás 1928: 141 [distribution]. - Navás 1933: 80 [distribution]. - Penny 1977: 38 [distribution]. - Stange 1994: 81 [in Ameromyia species list]. - Stange 2004: 228 [in Ameromyia species list]. - Oswald 2021 [species catalog]. - Machado and Martins 2022 [faunal catalog]. [NEW SYNONIMY].

= Moza longiventris Navás 1917: 194, figure 4 (vertex, pronotum) [Holotype male, Tehuel Malal, Rio Negro, Argentina, 3.II.1915, R. Lehmann-Nitsche (MLPA)]. Stange 1967: 46 [new combination, distribution]; Stange 2010: 6 [synonymy = A. hirsuta ].

= Ameromyia longiventris ( Navás). - Stange 1967: 46 [new combination = Ameromyia , distribution]. - Penny 1977: 38 [distribution]. - Stange 1994: 81 [in Ameromyia species list].

= Ameromyia stevensi striolata Navás 1922: 360 [Holotype female, no data given]. - Stange 1967: 46 [synonymy = A. longiventris ].

Distribution.

Argentina; Brazil; Colombia; Guyana; Suriname; Uruguay; Venezuela (Fig. 12 ).

Diagnosis.

Forewing veins Sc, RA and CuP with alternating coloration; lateral side of thorax with an evident longitudinal pale band; male gonarcus positioned obliquus to paramere plates.

Description.

Adult. Head: Antennae with 34 flagellomeres. Flagellomeres dark brown, with ventral face of the club light brown. Vertex brown with dark brown spots on all vertex rows, and a dark brown transversal streak on anterior and posterior rows forming a “T” shape. Vertex decumbent setae black, sometimes white on interantennal area. Interantennal area usually brown, with dark brown patches. Frons varies, from completely light brown, to light brown with oblique dark brown streaks and completely dark brown. Frons setae all dark, all white, or both dark and white. Interocular distance less than eye width. Clypeus pale brown. Labrum pale brown. Mandibles light brown on basal half and dark brown on distal half. Palpi pale brown, slightly darker on external face of palpomeres. - Thorax: Thorax dark brown, with pale brown markings. Thorax on lateral view dark, with an evident lateral longitudinal band under wings. Pronotum as broad as long, pale brown with two mirrored longitudinal dark brown “P” shaped bands, and two lateral small dark brown streaks. Pronotum marginal setae white or dark brown. Mesonotum dark brown with a longitudinal light brown streak on mesoscutellum. Metanotum dark brown with two longitudinal light brown patches on metascutum. - Wings: Tip acute. Veins with dashed dark brown and light brown pattern, except for forewing MA vein which has dark brown and white pattern. Wing membrane hyaline, with or without brown infuscations along radial, mediocubital and/or cubital areas. When infuscated, forewing mediocubital area with dark infuscations around vertical crossveins with a dotted uniform pattern, or with a dotted pattern which become sparser along MA vein, culminating on rhegmal area. Wing membrane sometimes with a slight brown tint along costal and radial areas. Forewing CuP vein and hind wing CuA extending well before forewing CuA fork and hind wing MP fork respectively, with nine or more crossveins them and posterior fork branch. Pterostigma frosted white, encompassing three to four crossveins. Cells delimited by transversal veins in hind wing posterior area higher than long. Female hind wing sometimes with an opaque longitudinal streak on apex. - Legs: Coxa dark. Femur and tibiae with black bristles. Profemur pale brown with exterior face dark brown. Meso and metafemur exterior face pale brown and interior face dark brown. Femur decumbent setae white and black. Profemural sense hair longer than profemur, and mesofemural sense hair much shorter than mesofemur. Tibial spurs slightly shorter than pretarsal claws. Tarsomeres pale brown with distal tip dark brown. Pretarsal claws at least 1.5 times longer than basitarsus. - Abdomen: Abdomen dark brown, except for tergite 9 and ectoprocts which are pale brown with dark brown patches. Tergites 1, 2, and 3 with many short white setae, and subsequent tergites with many short dark brown setae. Sternite I with many short white setae, and male sternite III sometimes with many stout white setae. Sternite II, female sternite III and subsequent sternites with short dark brown setae. Male ectoproct with a short, globose postventral lobe. Male paramere plates subtriangular, almost subquadrangular on lateral view. Gonarcus arch positioned slightly above paramere plates on lateral view. Male genitalia clavate setae with globose club. - Larva (third instar). Head: Head capsule as broad as long in dorsal view, slightly longer than broad in ventral view. Head capsule dorsally brown, with few dark brown patches near posterior margin. Clypeolabrum light brown, darker near mandibles. Head capsule ventrally light brown. Short dolichasters on head dorsal surface cylindrical, or almost spherical. Head capsule dolichasters black and white, mostly white near anterior and lateral margins. Dorsal surface on posterior and posterolateral margins covered with short, white thread-like setae. Row of dolichasters on clypeolabrum posterior margin white, black between mandibles. - Thorax: Thorax prunescent, dorsally brown or light brown, with very sparsed brown patches which have no prunescence, and ventrally light brown with small dark spots on setal insertion. Thorax dorsal surface with sparse, short white thread-like setae, and with many short, black dolichasters medially, and many white dolichasters around lateral margins. Dorsal surface covered with very short “star-shaped” dolichasters. Mesothoracic spiracle borne on tubercle, which is much broader than long. Tubercule covered with short, white dolichasters. - Abdomen: Abdomen with white thread-like setae, which are sparse on dorsal surface, and ventrally are present on sternites I-VII, and tangled in circle-like shapes. Dorsal surface covered with very short “star-shaped” dolichasters. Abdomen prunescent, dorsally brown or light brown, with three equally spaced black patches medially on each abdominal segment, and ventrally light brown with small dark spots on setal insertion and near each basal abdominal margin. Abdominal tergites with many short white and black dolichasters, and sternites with white and black dolichasters. Abdominal setiferous processes with only white setae.

Biology.

Specimens were observed in their natural habitat at the municipality of Miguel Calmon, Bahia, Brazil. Eight adult specimens (three males and five females) and 14 larvae were captured and subsequently reared in captivity. Adults were paired in different sex couples in order to observe possible matings, and females were provided with earth and sand from their natural habitat in order to observe possible oviposition. A single captive female was observed in posture, similar to what as described by Stange (1970) and Miller (1990), with raised wings, and curved abdomen with the terminalia buried in the substrate, but no eggs were found. No mating behaviour was observed. All adult specimens were capable of flying high, and whenever disturbed while flying near the ground, would quickly ascend and get dragged by the wind, without losing control of their flight. Adults would start actively flying and hunting at dusk, significantly reducing their activity approximately one hour later, limiting their flight to only flying from place to place. Whenever perched or resting, specimens would fold their wings over the abdomen or keep their wings raised, with the hind wings twisted in a slightly different angle than those of the forewings. Wings rested in different positions were usually a sign of senescence or health issues.

Larvae were found on patches of sandy, loose earth above compacted clay soil. Almost always, the larvae were inside a dug out “trench”, achored to the hard substrate (Fig. 16B-D ). These “trenches” usually had a slope side, in which the larvae would stay anchored and submerged in the sandy soil, but with the mandibles open and exposed (Fig. 16B ). All suitable patches of loose earth in which the larvae were found were isolated and considerably distant from vegetation or any kind of protection, such as shade, rocks or overhangs (Fig. 16A ). Patches of loose earth with debris, such as sticks, leaves or pebbles were usually devoid of A. nigriventris larvae. These debris, whenever moved by the wind, would "dig out" the sand and the hard soil, which probably disturbs A. nigriventris microhabitat and pushes the larvae away to a new location.

Remarks.

All the type specimens were analyzed, except for A. stevensi striolata holotype. Ameromyia nigriventris previous syntypes consists of one male (paralectotype) (Fig. 32C ) and one female (lectotype) (Fig. 32A ) with the same label, and another female with a different label (paralectotype) (Fig. 32B ). Although all three are stated to be from “Amazon”, only the female paralectotype has the country of origin (Colombia). The lectotype was chosen in regard to the most common morphotype among the specimens analyzed. Each type series specimen has a different degree of wing infuscation, reflecting this species great plasticity regarding wing characters. The female paralectotype have broader wings, has a clear forewing membrane on presectorial area, and bear a dotted infuscation pattern on forewing mediocubital area (Fig. 33C ), which resembles the same pattern found on A. pubiventris (Fig. 5A ). The male paralectotype shows a black CuP vein and an almost completely suffused mediocubital area on the forewing (Fig. 34A ).

In this work, we partially agree with Walker circumscription for A. nigriventris . The female paralectotype morphotype is most common in central Brazil, and this is the only specimen analyzed with this morphotype outside Brazil. A single male specimen with this morphotype was analyzed, and male genitalia agrees with A. nigriventris . However, the male paralectotype is enigmatic. It has a dark forewing CuP and hind wing CuA, as well as a suffused forewing mediocubital area, which agrees with A. tendinosa , but forewing RP and hind wing MA and MP have dashed patterns, in contrast to A. tendinosa respective wing veins that are completely dark. The completely suffused mediocubital area on forewing was present only in this specimen among all A. nigriventris analyzed during this work. Additionally, A. tendinosa has not been found outside central South America. In fact, no other species that bear a complete suffusion of forewing mediocubital area has been registered for Colombia. Nonetheless, despite the inconsistencies, we are still identifying the male paralectotype as an anomalous specimen of A. nigriventris. However, it is possible that this specimen in fact does represent a different species and further analyses could better elucidate the identity of this specimen. Unfortunately, we were not able to analyse its genitalia.

Ameromyia stevensi holotype (Fig. 35B ), a female also from Amazon, agrees exactly with the lectotype of A. nigriventris and is hereby synonymized. Regarding A. stevensi striolata , albeit the type specimen was not seen, the original description agrees with A. nigriventris and therefore, in this work we chose to maintain this species as a synonym as proposed by Stange (1967).

We also agree with Stange’s synonymy of A. longiventris under A. hirsuta ( Stange 2010) as both type specimens are extremely similar, however, in addition, we are proposing the synonymy of A. hirsuta under A. nigriventris , a synonymy that was proposed before by Esben-Petersen (1920). Ameromyia hirsuta (Fig. 35A ) does not show any exclusive consistent characteristic from A. nigriventris while also exhibiting extremely similar male genitalia. The brown tint on forewing membrane along the costal area, which is somewhat characteristic of specimens from Argentina and Paraguay, can also be found in many specimens of A. nigriventris , which were collected far beyond A. hirsuta previous distributional range, such as northeastern Brazil. In fact, many other species of Ameromyia can bear a tinted wing membrane as a polymorphic character. Female specimens from Argentina and southern Brazil sometimes bear an opaque streak on hind wing apex (Fig. 35A ), but this is not a consistent character as it is not present in all females. The broad wing areas of the holotype is also not present in all specimens.

Ameromyia nigriventris larvae was previously described as not having thread-like setae ( Stange 1994). However, all analyzed larvae indeed beared short, white thread-like setae on head, thorax and abdomen dorsal surface (Fig. 36D ). White thread-like setae are very difficult to be visualized in alcohol, but very evident when the specimen was dried, which could explain the apparent absence of these setae on previous descriptions.

Ameromyia nigriventris is the species with the largest degree of variation regarding wing infuscation patterns within the genus. Wings can bear color pattern equal to that of the lectotype, equal to that of the female paralectotype; a combination of both; devoid of infuscation or with an almost imperceptible infuscation in the aforementioned patterns. Ameromyia explicata sp. nov. and A. tendinosa are very morphologically similar to A. nigriventris . However, the first has a fully dark meso and metathorax on latheral view, while A. nigriventris has an evident lateral pale band, and the latter has a complete suffusion on forewing mediocubital area, as well as a dark colored forewing CuP vein, in contrast to A. nigriventris , which suffusion on forewing mediocubital area varies, and has a dashed pattern on forewing CuP.

Examined material.

(115♀ 62♂ 4?, 3 larvae) ARGENTINA • 1♀; MISIONES , Loreto ; iii.1953; Bought by F.H. Walz; CASC • 1♂; MISIONES , Posadas , 10.xi.1970; C. Porter, L. Stange; CASC. - BUENOS AIRES • 1♂; Tandil ; 250m; CASC • 1♂; Tandil ; 250m; 13.i.1954; Bought by F.H. Walz; CASC • 1♂; Tandil ; 13.ii.1954; CASC • 1♂; Tandil ; 200m; 15.i.1954; Bought by F.H. Walz; CASC • 1♀; Tandil ; xii.1953 - i.1954; Bought by F.H. Walz; CASC • 1♀; Tandil ; ii.1960; Bought by F.H. Walz; CASC • 3♀ 2♂; Tandil ; xii.1953; Bought by F.H. Walz; CASC - CORRIENTES • 1♀; Monte Caseros ; 12-14.i.1956; Ajmat Bennezr; FSCA. - ENTRE RIOS • 1♂; Concordia, Salto Grande ; i.1975; FSCA. - LA PAMPA • 1♀; Lihuel ; 12.i.1977; L.A. Stange; FSCA • 1♀; Celelel, Sierra Lihuel ; 11.i.1968; L.A.Stange; FSCA • 1♀; Celelel ; 11.i.1968; L.A.Stange; FSCA. - MISIONES • 1♀; 2.iii; 500m; Juan Foetster; FSCA • 1♂; Pindapoy ; 1.viii.1942; FSCA • 1♂; Pindapoy ; 26.xii.42; Williner S.J.; FML • 1♀; Pindapoy ; 3.i.1943; Williner S.J.; FSCA • 1♀ 1♂; Posadas ; 10.xi.1970; C.Porter, L.Stange; FSCA . - BRAZIL • 2♀; Bates; BMNH • 2♂; Bates ; BMNH. - AMAZONAS • 1♀; Manaus ; 24.viii.1977; B.C.Patcliffe; DZUP • 1♂; Manaus ; 18.vi.1980; Eloy Castellon; INPA • 1♀; Manaus, Conj. Petro ; 04.vii.1982; J.A. Rafael; INPA • 1♀; Manaus, Campus UFAM; 18.vi.1982; J.A. Rafael; INPA • 1♂; Manaus , Estrada M 1, km16; 07.vii.1960; EV Silva; INPA • 2♂; Manaus, Estrada M 1, km51, Igarapé do Aron; 22.vii.1960; Nunes de Mello ; INPA • 1?; Manaus , FUA; 06.x.1978; J.A. Rafael; INPA • 1♀; Manaus , INPA; 14.v.1977; F. Rufino; INPA. - BAHIA • 1♀; Andaraí, Pousada Ibitirama, Cidade ; 12.xii.1998; STP Amarante col.; MZUSP • 1♂; Feira de Santana ; 3.v.1971; Exp. ABC; MZUSP • 1♀; Feira de Santana, Matinha ; 3.vii.1999; Marcia; MZFS • 2♀; Ibicoara, CTC Faz. Bagisa ; 06.xi.2012; T. Mahlmann leg.; INPA • 1♀; Lençóis, Cerrado ; 16.xii.2003; LASIS; MZFS • 1♂; Lençóis, 14km NE de Lençois; 4-5.v.2000; Bravo, F.; MZFS • 1♀; Miguel Calmon, Mulungu do Chiola ; 07.v.2021; 11°24′15.9"S 40°38′58.9"W; Luz; Vieira-Silva, V. UFBA • 3♂ 4♀; 3 larvae; Miguel Calmon, Mulungu do Chiola ; 09-16.vi.2021; 11°24′15.9"S 40°38′58.9"W; Rede entomológica; Tavares, L., Miranda, M., Batista L., Vieira-Silva, V. UFBA • 1♀; Mucugê; 23.xii.1979; F.P.Benton; BMNH • 1♀; Santa Rita ; iv.1958; E.Dente; MZUSP. - DISTRITO FEDERAL • 1♂; Brasilia ; 27.iii.1964; C.E., E.S. Ross; CASC. - ESPÍRITO SANTO • 1♀; Parque Sooretama ; x.1962; M. Alvarenga; FSCA. - GOIÁS • 1♀; Aruanã, Rio Araguaia ; ii.61; Dirings; MZUSP • 1♀; Campinas ; 1935; R. Spitz; MZUSP. - MATO GROSSO • 1♀; Aripuanã; 16.vi.1976; Altamiro Soares; INPA • 3♀; Comodoro, TI Nambiquara; 19.3093S 59.4226W; 26.iv.2006; Arm luz; J.A. Rafael and F.F. Xavier Fº; INPA. - MATO GROSSO DO SUL • 1♀; Amolar, R. Paraguay, Rio Amolar ; 30.v.1927; at light; Miss C. Longfield; BMNH. - MINAS GERAIS • 1?; 7 lagoas, Ipeaco ; 20.x.69; Becker leg; DZUP • 1♀; Paracatu ; 28.x.1962; Evangelista; INPA • 1♀; Paracatu ; x.1962; Evangelista; INPA • 1♀; Viçosa; 1931; Mre. Y. Mexia; CASC • 1♀; Parque Estadual do Rio Doce ; 06-23.iv.1978; Maria Vulcano; INPA. - PARÁ • 2♀; Santarem ; BMNH • 2♂; Santarem; BMNH • 1?; Tumucumaque ; viii.1965; MPEG. - RIO GRANDE DO NORTE • 1♀; Macaíba; Mata do Colegio Agricola de Jundiai ; 11-12.ii.2000; BL (noite); Varela-Freire, A., Chen Chao; UFBA • 2♀; Mossoró, Central de Residuos ; 27-28.xi.1995; Varela-Freire, A.; UFBA • 1♀; Nisia floresta, Morrinhos , r. bela vista; 27.v.2015; Manual, Oliveira I; UFBA • 1♀; Serra Negra do Norte, ESEc Seridó, Casa Familia Rural ; 14.vii.1999; Coleta noturna; Alihon / Carlos, Cds; UFBA • 1♀; Serra Negra do Norte, ESEc Seridó, sede; 11-13.vi.1999; Coleta manual; sob luz fluorescente; Varela-Freire, A.; UFBA • 1♀; Serra Negra do Norte, ESEc Seridó, casa da entrada; 02-03.xi.2000; Col. Manual noturna; Varela-Freire, A.; UFBA • 1♀; same collection data as preceding; 21-27.iv.2000; sob luz fluorescente • 1♂; same collection data as preceding; 08-09.v.2003; API • 1♂; same collection data as preceding; 26-27.v.2000; Coleta manual; sob luz fluorescente • 1♀; same collection data as preceding; 12-13.v.2002; API • 3♀; same collection data as preceding; 15-16.v.2003 • 2♀ 1♂; same collection data as preceding; 13.vi.2004; API (noite); Dias da Silva, J.P . • 3♀; same collection data as preceding; 14-15.viii.2002; Varela-Freire, A . • 3♀ 1♂; same collection data as preceding; 05-06.vii.2003 • 1♀; same collection data as preceding; 21.vii.2003; API (00:00-03:00) • 1♀; same collection data as preceding; 09-10.v.2003; API (noite) • 1♂; Serra Negra do Norte, Esec Serido . Sede ; 28-30.vi.1999; Coleta manual, noturna; Varela-Freire, A.; UFBA • 1♀; same collection data as preceding; 05.iv.1996 • 1♂; same collection data as preceding; 15-16.vi.1999; API; Oliveira Irmão • 1♂; same collection data as preceding; 03-07.vi.1999; Coleta manual, noturna; Oliveira (irmao), Varela-Freire, A • 2♂; same collection data as preceding; 17-18.vii.1999; Coleta manual, sob luz fluorescente • 1♀; same collection data as preceding; 17-18.vii.1999 • 2♂; same collection data as preceding; 15-15.vi.1999; Oliveira Irmão, V.A • 1♀; same collection data as preceding; 1990; BL (margem oriental do açude campos II; Equipe Trilhos Pol . • 1♀; same collection data as preceding; 03-07.vi.1999; Coleta manual noturna; Varella, A.A.; Freire, C.A.V.; Oliveira irmão V.A. • 1?; same collection data as preceding; 15-16.vi.1999; API; Oliveira Irmão • 1♂; Serra Negra do Norte, Acude Campos , margem ocidental; 30.iii.1994; Rede entomológica; Varela-Freire, A.; UFBA • 1♀ 1♂; Serra Negra do Norte, Acude Campos 1, margem ocidental; 06-07.iv.1997; BL (Noite); Varela-Freire, A.; UFBA • 1♀; same collection data as preceding; 04-05.vii.1997 • 3♀; Serra Negra do Norte, ESEc Seridó; 22-23.viii.2002; API (noite); Varela-Freire; UFBA - RIO GRANDE DO SUL • 1♀; Pelotas ; 10.ii.1964; Carbonell, Mesa, Monné; FSCA • 1♀; Quaraí, Cerro de Jarro ; 27.i.1963; C.S.Carbonell; FSCA • 1♀; Tamandaí; 13.ii.1964; Carbonell, Mesa, Monné; FSCA • 1♂; Tramandaí; 13.ii.1969; C.S.Carbonell, M.A.Monne, A. Meia; FSCA • 1♀; Rio Camaqua ; 11.xi.1964; FSCA. - RONDÔNIA • 1♀; Porto Velho, Rio Tapirape ; x.1962; R. Pinheiros; CASC • 4♂; Vilhena ; 5.xi.1979; N.D. Penny, J.R. Arias; INPA • 5♀; same collection data as for preceding. - RORAIMA • 1♀; Amajari Tepequem, Estrada do Mirante do Paiva ; 03 º 46′14″N 61 º 44′22″W; 30.iii.2016; Lençol iluminado; J.A. Rafael, D. Takiya, C. Gonçalves, A. Ferreira, C. Maldaner; INPA • 1♀; Boa Vista, Campus UFRR; 02 º 52′31″N 60 º 42′45″W; 13.vii.2010; Arm. Luminosa; J.A. Rafael, F.F. Xavier Fº, T.K.Krolow, R.Freitas, R. Machado; INPA • 1♀; Uranduique [sic], Rio Mau ; vii.1960; Machado; INPA. - SANTA CATARINA • 1♂; Nova Teutonia ; 27°11″8 552°23′t; 300-500m; 11.xi.1955; Fritz Pleumann; CASC • 1♀; Nova Teutonia ; 27°11″9 552°23′t; 300-500m; 11.xi.1955; Fritz Pleumann; CASC. - TOCANTIS • 1♂; Porto Nacional, Rua Absalon Fernandes , Jardins dos Ipês; 28.iii.2017; Rippel, M.L.S. leg.; INPA • 1♀; Porto Nacional, Faz. Sao Judas Tadeu ; 27-29.iii.2015; Luminosa; Krolow e equipe; DZUP . - GUYANA • 1♂; 1937; L. Fitzgerald; BMNH. - PARAGUAY • CENTRAL • 1♀; Ypacarai , 4km E Ypacarai; 6.iii.1979; G. Buckingham; FSCA . - URUGUAY • 1♀; Antigas cuchilla belen; 21.ii.1961; C.S. Carbonell; CASC. - ARTIGAS • 1♂; Arroyo, Tres Cruces Grande ; 24.xi.1960; RT4, C.S. Carbonell; FSCA • 2♂; Arroyo, Ruta 4, Tres Cruces Chico ; 23.xi.1961; C.S. Carbonell; FSCA. - CANELONES • 1♂; Atlantida ; 7.ii.1969; J. and L.A. Stange; FSCA. - TREINTA Y TRES • 4♀ 1♂; Santa Clara de Olimar ; 19-22.xii.1960; C.S. Carbonell, L.C. Zolessi; FSCA • 1♂; Santa Clara de Olimar ; 12-15.i.1960; L. Zolessi, A. Spiritoso; FSCA • 1♂; Treinta y Tres, Quebrada de los Cuervos ; 14.xii.1952; On Grasses; C.S.Carbonell; FSCA . - VENEZUELA • ARAGUA • 1♀; El Limon, Ar. ; F. Fernandez Yepez; FML. - BOLÍVAR • 1♀; Uruyen ; 12.v.1956; F.F.Fernandez and C.J.Rosales; FSCA • 1♂; Uruyen ; 12.iv.1956; F.F.Fernandez and C.J.Rosales; FSCA. - FALCÓN • 1♀; Coro, Sabana Larga ; 19.ii.1986; Miller and L.A. Stange; FSCA • 1 larvae; Coro, Sabana Larga ; 24.ii.1986; (reared #8); R. Miller and L.Stange; FSCA .

Figures

Figure 5. Ameromyia forewing color patterns: A A. pubiventris. B A. explicata sp. nov. C A. tendinosa, photograph by Lara Lopardo. Legend indicates wing vein pattern with associated terminology.

Figure 9. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrograph of Ameromyia nigriventris male genitalia: A lateral view. B Posterior view. - Abbreviations: cs, clavate setae; et, ectoproct; go (h), gonarcus, hidden under pleura; hs, hinge setae; pah, paramere hinge; pap, paramere plate; pat, paramere tooth.

Figure 12. South America map showing the current distributional records for Ameromyia species in the Ameromyia nigriventris species group.

Figure 16. Collection site and habitat of Ameromyia nigriventris, in Miguel Calmon, Bahia, Brazil: A site surroundings and sandy substrate on compacted soil. B First-instar larvae exposed in its " trench ". C Third-instar larvae exposed on its " trench ". D Coccoon, exposed on a dug-out " trench ". - Abbreviations: sp, sand pools; tr, trenches.

Figure 32. Ameromyia nigriventris type series: A female lectotype, dorsal view, with type labels. B Female paralectotype, dorsal view, with type labels and C male paralectotype, dorsal view, with type labels. Photographs by Ben Price (BMNH).

Figure 33. Ameromyia nigriventris: A male paralectotype, frontal view. B Lectotype forewing. C Female paralectotype forewing. D A. hirsuta holotype, head, thorax and legs, lateral view. E Illustration of male genitalia, lateral view. - Abbreviations: cs, clavate setae; et, ectoproct; etl, ectoproct postventral lobe; go, gonarcus; hs, hinge setae; pah, paramere hinge; pap, paramere plate; pat, paramere tooth; st, sternite; tg, tergite.

Figure 34. Ameromyia nigriventris, male paralectotype: A fore and hindwing. B Terminalia. - Abbreviations: et, ectoproct; etl, ectoproct postventral lobe; st, sternite; tg, tergite.

Figure 35. Ameromyia nigriventris, new synonyms: A Holotype of A. hirsuta, dorsal view. B Holotype of A. stevensi, dorsal view, photographed by Lionel Stange.

Figure 36. Ameromyia nigriventris, third instar larvae, preserved in alcohol: A dorsal view, B ventral view and C lateral view, photographed by Jonathan Bremer (FSCA). D head capsule dorsal view, dried specimen. - Abbreviation: ts, thread-like setae.