Achradocera balin, Quevedo & Capellari & Lamas, 2024

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 : 316

Achradocera balin sp. nov.

( Figs 8 , 26 )

Diagnosis (male). Postpedicel slightly shorter than arista-like stylus; lower postoccipital setae dense. Legs mostly yellow, except for FIII, dorsal surface of FI and FII, TIII at basal 1/4 and apical 1/5, and distal tarsi, which are all brown infuscated; TI and TII rusty yellow; legs I–II simple; IIIt 2 arched forming dorsal excavation. Hypopygium small; surstylus subtriangular, tapered and bearing 1 apical and 1 subapical strong seta; postgonite enlarged and covered by small setae.

Description. Similar to A. angustifacies stat. rev., except as noted. Male. Body length: 1.56 mm. Wing: 1.77 mm long, 0.58 mm wide. Antenna. Postpedicel slightly shorter than arista-like stylus; FAr ratio, 0.8. Thorax. 6 ac and 5 dc pairs of setae. Wing. CuAx: 0.5; RMx: 1.67. Lower calypter pale yellow with fan of three brownish setae. Leg I. 34, 30, 15, 7, 5, 4, 3. F bearing distinct anterior and posterior setae near apex; T rusty yellow. Leg II. 30, 34, 15, 8, 6, 4, 3. F brown infuscated dorsally, bearing distinct anterior and posterior setae near apex; T rusty yellow, with 1 anterior at basal 1/4, and 3 apical setae (1 a, 1 ad, and 1 av). Leg III. 36, 42, 13, 9, 6, 4, 4. T with about 4 pd, 3 ad, and 3 apical setae (1 a, 1 ad, and 1 av); t 2 arched forming dorsal excavation. Abdomen. About as long as head plus thorax. Hypopygium ( Fig. 8C ) (not dissected to avoid damage to single known specimen). Dark brown; epandrium small and globose; surstylus subtriangular with 2 conspicuous setae apically; cercus pale yellow, rounded and bearing some hair-like setae.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Brazil (State of Pernambuco) ( Fig. 26 ).

Etymology. Named after the fictional character Balin from the book The Hobbit (by J.R.R. Tolkien). Balin belongs to the race of Dwarves, which are distinguished by small body size and long beards, similar to the genus Achradocera , composed of small flies with long lower postoccipital setae that resemble beards. This name should be treated as a noun in apposition.

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂, labelled: “ Brasil, PE [Pernambuco State], Camaragibe, | Aldeia , Km-8, 7º58′56″ S | 34º59′56″ W, 100 mts”, “ 05.viii.2015 J. A. Rafael & | P. C. Grossi, varredura” [ INPA].

Remarks. Achradocera balin sp. nov. is similar to A. gimli sp. nov. and A. apicalis , in terms of leg color pattern and absence of conspicuous leg modifications but can be distinguished by the arched IIIt 2 (plain in A. gimli sp. nov. and A. apicalis ); A. balin sp. nov. and A. apicalis bear a small sized postpedicel, both shorter than the arista-like stylus, however, it is even shorter in A. apicalis [see FAr measures for both species]. The arched tarsomeres on leg III is also evident in A. angustifacies stat. rev., A. excavata , A. femoralis , A. meridionalis , and A. tuberculata , although in these species it is restricted to IIIt 3–4.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Achradocera balin sp. nov. A. Habitus, left lateral. B. Head, left lateral. C. External view of hypopygium, left lateral. D. Thorax, dorsal. E. Leg III, showing t2. Scale bar: A, 1 mm; B–E, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 26. Distribution map of the genus Achradocera.