Brachypogon (Brachypogon) telesfordi Spinelli and Grogan

William L. Grogan, Jr., Spinelli, Ronderos, María M. & Carla, 2013, The biting and predaceous midges of Guadeloupe Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). I. Species of the subfamily Ceratopogoninae, Insecta Mundi 2013 (324), pp. 1-21 : 6

Brachypogon (Brachypogon) telesfordi Spinelli and Grogan

Brachypogon (Brachypogon) telesfordi Spinelli and Grogan, 1998: 71 ( St. Vincent; Grenada, Costa Rica); Borkent and Spinelli 2000: 46 (in New World catalog south of the USA; distribution); Borkent and Spinelli 2007: 79 (in Neotropical catalog; distribution).

Discussion. Spinelli and Grogan (1998) described this small Neotropical species from St. Vincent (type locality), Grenada and Costa Rica. Females are unique among other members of the B. impar complex in that only the distal 3 flagellomeres (11-13) are elongated, the wing has a developed vein M 2 and 13-15 costal setae. Males have the apex of tergite 9 narrowly rounded or pointed and lacks well developed apicolateral processes, a short wing (wing length 0.52-0.58 mm), a very short costa (Costal ratio 0.38- 0.46) and 8-9 costal setae. An examination of 6 males from Guadeloupe produced wing lengths of 0.49- 0.51 mm, costal ratios 0.41-0.44 and 6-9 costal setae, all of which appear reasonable and probably within parameters for this species. But, unfortunately, our Guadeloupe female is missing its antennal flagellum, and has a slightly larger wing (wing length 0.61 mm) than originally reported for this species (0.54-0.57 mm), but, the costal ratio is 0.46 and it has 12 costal setae, both of which are within reported parameters for this species. In addition, vein M 2 is only obsolete at its base, and the abdomen is yellow with pyriform spermatheca. The only other species of the impar group with a yellow abdomen is B. impar (Johannsen) , but in this species the palpus is pale or whitish and the spermatheca is globose. Therefore, it is highly probable our single female from Guadeloupe is a specimen of B. telesfordi .

In addition to comparing our Guadeloupe specimens to the male holotype and female allotype of B. telesfordi from St. Vincent in the FSCA, we also examined 2 male paratypes from Grenada. The genitalia of both males are mounted laterally, making it difficult to examine features on this structure, however, one male has 9 costal setae, but the other male only has 3-4 costal setae all of which are located on the stigma, and this suggests that it is actually a specimen of B. woodruffi .

New records. Guadeloupe , Basse Terre, Bois Malher, 9-IX-2010, MC Thomas & RH Turnbow, Blacklight trap, 3 males ; same data except NE Pigeon (16.14404° N, 61.74977° W), 18-V-2012, R. H. Turnbow, BL trap, 1 male, 1 female ; same data except 23-V-2012, 1 male ; same data except Trace des Cretes (D-14), 22- V-2012, 1 male. New Guadeloupe record .