Dohrniphora perplexa (Brues)

Brown, Brian V. & Kung, Giar-Ann, 2010, 2699, Zootaxa 2699, pp. 1-142 : 96-98

Dohrniphora perplexa (Brues)

( Figs 211–212)

Phora divaricata var. perplexa Brues 1904: 350 .

Phora perplexa: Brues 1911: 437 .

Dohrniphora venusta var. perplexa: Brues 1915: 97 .

Dohrniphora perplexa: Borgmeier 1961: 111 (lectotype ♀); 1963: 67, fig. 74.

Lectotype. ♀, USA: Florida: Tick Island , 5.12.[December 5 or May 12?] 1914, C.W. Johnson collection, MCZ type 7681 [ LACM ENT 211071 ] ( MCZC; examined).

Recognition. This species is most similar in hind femur structure to D. lugens , which is a much darkercolored species that has a distinctive clear area on the hind femur, which is lacking in D. perplexa . The otherwise similar D. divaricata has a much rounder group of peglike setae.

This is a slightly problematic species because its lectotype is a female. This female could conceivably be of another described species than of the males later assigned to this species by Borgmeier (1963), which include some specimens D. divaricata . We continue the tradition of recognizing males first described by Borgmeier (1963) as D. perplexa , which we feel is a pragmatic course of action given that females are currently largely unrecognizable.

Description. Body length: 2.09–2.56 mm. Head: Frons dark brown, second row of setae concave. Flagellomere 1 round, brown, lighter mediobasally. Palpus of normal size, yellow. Thorax: Scutum light brown. Scutellum brown, with 2 pairs of setae; anterior seta three-quarters length of posterior seta. Pleuron yellowish-brown. Mean costal length 0.52 wing length, range 0.51–0.53. Halter yellow. Legs yellowishbrown. Forecoxa in lateral view yellow. Foretibia with 4 dorsal setae. Foretarsomeres slender, elongate. Midcoxa dark brown. Hind coxa yellowish-brown. Hind coxal lobe yellow, large, rounded, forming median cuplike concavity. Posterior face of hind femur with elongate triple to quadruple (expanding distally) row of peglike setae; more distally with shallow depression ( Figs 211–212). Abdomen: Abdominal tergite 1 yellow, with faint brown lateral marking, tergites 2–6 yellow medially and brown laterally, with medial yellow area decreasing in every tergite posteriorly. Venter of abdomen whitish-gray, with few setae, larger on posterior margin of segment 5. Male terminalia with epandrium yellowish-brown, hypandrium brown, and cercus yellow.

Distribution. Eastern USA.

Other material examined. 10♂ specimens from the following localities: USA: Florida: Archbold Biological Station, Blackwater River State Forest, Florida Caverns State Park , Lake Eaton ( DEBU, LACM, USNM) ; Maryland: Plummers Island ( USNM) ; New Jersey: Lakehurst ( USNM) ; Texas: Austin ( USNM) ; Virginia: Falls Church ( USNM) .