Revision of New World Leptocera Olivier (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae)
Author
Buck, Matthias
Author
Marshall, Stephen A.
text
Zootaxa
2009
2009-03-16
2039
1
1
139
https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.2039.1.1
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.2039.1.1
11755334
5311868
Leptocera sphaerotheca
Buck
,
new species
(
Figs. 21
,
102–108
,
142
)
Description
. Nearly identical to
L. erythrocera
except for the following differences: Yellow areas on head and legs more restricted than in the sympatric
L. e.
erythrocera
(i.e., similar to the largely allopatric
L. erythrocera pararoralis
). Frons only narrowly yellow to reddish anteriorly (usually largely yellow in
L. e.
erythrocera
). Face brown, often with yellow ventral third (mostly yellow in
L. e.
erythrocera
). Gena brown, sometimes partly yellow to reddish (mostly yellow in
L. e.
erythrocera
). Fore coxa with brown anterior surface (area sometimes more or less restricted to base of bristles and not very dark) and yellow medial surface (coxa entirely yellow in
L. e.
erythrocera
; this colour character is the most reliable one). Legs, especially inner surface of fore femur medium brown to yellowish brown (usually yellow in
L. e.
erythrocera
). Mid tibia with ventral posteroapical bristle very long in specimens from
Mexico
and
U.S.
(longer than in any other species of the
L. caenosa
group), more than twice as long as dorsal posteroapical bristle and extending to or slightly beyond socket of ventrobasal metatarsal bristle (
Fig. 21
); this bristle usually shorter in specimens from Central America (some specimens from
Guatemala
, most specimens from
Costa Rica
and
Panama
); some specimens from
Costa Rica
with dorsal and ventral posteroapical bristle of subequal length (with ventral one extending about half-way to socket of ventrobasal metatarsal bristle; in
L. e.
erythrocera
ventral bristle longer than dorsal one).
Male terminalia (
Figs. 102–105
,
142
) as in
L. erythrocera
.
Female terminalia (
Figs. 106–108
): Spermatheca spherical, with bumpy surface (narrow, ridged basal part not developed).
Type material
.
Holotype
♀
and
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
paratypes
(
CNCI
):
MEXICO
, Chiapas, San Cristóbal de las
Casas
,
7,200 ft
,
10.vi.1969
, malaise. Other
paratypes
:
MEXICO
. Chiapas:
2 ♂♂
,
2 ♀♀
, same as
holotype
but
1.vi.1969
(
CNCI
);
2 ♂♂
, same as previous but
23.v and 7.vi.1969
,
W.R.M. Mason
(
CNCI
);
20 ♂♂
,
10 ♀♀
, San Cristóbal de las Casas, various dates:
18.vii–9.viii.1969
,
D. Kritsch
(
CNCI
);
3 ♂♂
,
3 ♀♀
, San Cristóbal de las Casas,
7,087 ft
, various dates:
17.v–29.vi.1969
,
B.V. Peterson
(
CNCI
);
1 ♀
, “San Cristóbal de Chiapas” [=
San Cristóbal
de las Casas],
13.viii.1959
,
N.L.H. Krauss
(
USNM
);
1 ♂
,
7 mi
SE San Cristóbal de las Casas,
7,000 ft
,
26.v.1969
,
H.J. Teskey
(
CNCI
);
1 ♀
,
Mt. Tzontehuitz
,
12 mi
NE San Cristóbal de las Casas,
9,400 ft
,
B.V. Peterson
(
CNCI
);
1 ♂
,
9 mi
E San Cristóbal de las Casas,
30.vii.1957
, Chemsak & Rannells (
EMEC
);
1 ♂
,
4 ♀♀
,
5 mi
S San Carlos
,
6.iii.1953
, at light (
2 ♀♀
),
E.I. Schlinger
and Bechtel & Schlinger (
EMEC
).
México
:
5 ♂♂
, Mexico City,
ix. 1965
,
N. L. H. Krauss
(
USNM
);
1 ♀
,
3 km
S Chapingo
,
31. vii. 1962
,
Cucurbita
, P.D. Hurd (EMEC)
. Michoacán:
3 ♂♂
,
1 ♀
,
8 mi
E Morelia
,
1.v.1953
,
E.I. Schlinger
(
EMEC
). Puebla:
1 ♀
,
3 mi
NE Xicotepec de Juárez
, ca.
4,700 ft
,
28.xii.1963
, Toschi & Tauber (
EMEC
). Veracruz:
7 ♂♂
,
2 ♀♀
, Fortín de las Flores,
25.xii.1963
, Toschi & Tauber (
EMEC
). Zacatecas:
1 ♂
,
2 ♀♀
,
9 mi
S Fresnillo
,
20.viii.1956
,
D.D. Linsdale
(
EMEC
);
3 ♂♂
,
5 mi
S Fresnillo
,
7.viii.1954
, Linsley
et al
. (
EMEC
).
GUATEMALA
. Dpto. Chimaltenango:
8 ♂♂
,
2 ♀♀
, Mun. Yepocapa, Finca Monserrat, W slope
V. Acatenango
,
7,500 ft
,
18.v.1948
, sweeping,
R.D. Mitchell
(
FMNH
).
COSTA RICA
. Prov.
Cartago
:
13 ♂♂
,
9 ♀♀
,
Tres de Junio Biol. Stn.
, Carretera Interam. Sur km 68,
2,600 m
,
10.ii.1996
(
1 ♂
dung vac),
S.A. Marshall
(
INBC
). Prov.
Puntarenas
:
33 ♂♂
,
32 ♀♀
,
Zurquí de Moravia
,
1,600 m
, various dates: ii–v, x–xii, 1981, 1989–1991, malaise,
P. Hanson
(
DEBU
,
INBC
);
1 ♂
, same but
30.v.1998
,
S.A. Marshall
(
DEBU
);
2 ♀♀
,
San Gerardo de Dota
,
2,200 m
,
8.viii.1995
, sweeping over
raspberry
,
D.C. Caloren
(
DEBU
);
4 ♂♂
,
6 ♀♀
,
San Gerardo de Dota
, nr. Lodge,
2,000 m
,
9.viii.1995
, stream in pasture,
S.A. Marshall
(
DEBU
);
1 ♀
,
San Gerardo de Dota
,
2,500 m
,
10.viii.1995
, wet trail,
S.A. Marshall
(
DEBU
);
1 ♂
,
2 ♀♀
,
San Gerardo de Dota
,
9.viii.1995
, disturbed area nr. river and roadside, sweeping,
S.A. Marshall
(
DEBU
);
1 ♂
,
2 ♀♀
,
San Gerardo de Dota
,
Río Savegre
,
2,200 m
,
9.viii.1995
,
C.W. Young
(
CMNH
).
FIGURES 102–108
.
Leptocera sphaerotheca
sp.n.
(U.S.A., except 107: Guatemala). Male terminalia (phallus and postgonites omitted): (102) lateral; (103) posterior; (104) ventral; (105) sternite 5. Female terminalia: (106) dorsal; (107) spermathecae; (108) ventral.
Other material examined
.
U.S.A.
Arizona
:
1 ♂
,
2 ♀♀
,
Santa Cruz Co.
, Patagonia Lk.
St. Pk.
,
9–11.viii.1984
,
dung trap
,
B.V. Brown
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♂
,
Patagonia
,
23.x.1937
,
Oman
(
USNM
)
;
1 ♀
,
Madera Canyon
nr.
Nature Trail
,
4.vi.1991
,
J.E. Swann
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♀
,
Cochise Co.
,
Coronado Natl. Mon.
,
15–24.viii.1984
, FIT,
B.V. Brown
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♂
,
Portal
,
9.iv.1959
,
A.L. Melander
(
USNM
)
;
1 ♀
,
Southwest Res. Stn.
,
5 mi
SW Portal
,
5,400 ft
,
5–25.ix.1965
,
C. Sabrosky
(
USNM
)
.
Texas
:
1 ♂
,
Presidio Co.
,
Big Bend Ranch S.N.A.
,
La
Sauceda (
Hdqrs.
),
27.iv.1991
,
J.C. Schaffner
(
TAMU
)
.
MEXICO
.
Aguascalientes
:
1 ♂
,
14 mi
W
Aguascalientes
,
10.vii.1983
,
Kovarik
et al
. (
TAMU
)
;
2 ♂♂
,
2 ♀♀
,
10 mi
NE Calvillo
,
5.vii.1984
,
Carroll
et al
. (
TAMU
)
.
Chiapas
:
1 ♂
,
5 mi
S San Carlos
,
6.iii.1953
,
E.I. Schlinger
(
EMEC
)
;
1 ♀
,
Mpio. San Cristóbal
,
San
Felipe,
7,200 ft
,
25–30.vii.1990
,
malaise trap
,
R.W. Jones
(
TAMU
)
;
1 ♀
,
Teopisca
,
9 mi
SW Hwy
24,
23.v.1969
,
B.V. Peterson
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♀
,
Montebello Natl. Pk.
,
17.v.1969
,
H.J. Teskey
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
,
Yerba Buena
,
5,800 ft
,
18.vi.1969
, malaise,
B.V. Peterson
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♂
,
2 ♀♀
, Yerba Buena
Hwy
195,
24.vi.1969
,
B.V. Peterson
(
CNCI
)
;
2 ♂♂
,
1 ♀
, nr. km 100 on
Rte.
195
S of Rayón
,
1,600 m
,
19.ix.1987
,
A.L. Norrbom
(
USNM
)
.
Chihuahua
:
1 ♀
,
Chihuahua
,
14–17.iv.1961
,
Howden
&
Martin
(
CNCI
)
.
Durango
:
2 ♂♂
,
5 mi
W
Durango
,
6,500 ft
,
14.vii.1964
,
J.F. McAlpine
(
CNCI
)
.
Guanajuato
:
1 ♂
,
10 mi
NW León
,
6,700 ft
,
19.viii.1954
,
J.G. Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
.
Guerrero
:
1 ♂
,
4 mi
S Taxco
,
4,800 ft
,
8.viii.1954
,
J.G. Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♂
,
Iguala
,
2,400 ft
,
8.viii.1954
,
J.G. Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
.
Hidalgo
:
1 ♀
,
Lagunilla
,
14.vi.1951
,
P.D. Hurd
(
EMEC
)
;
1 ♀
,
4 mi
W Tulancingo
,
7,600 ft
,
1–6.vii.1971
, human dung, A.
Newton
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♀
,
Zimapán
,
xi.1954
,
N.L.H. Krauss
(
USNM
)
.
Jalisco
:
1 ♂
,
5 mi
SE Plan de Barrancas
,
3.v.1953
,
Bechtel
&
Schlinger
(
EMEC
)
;
1 ♂
,
2 ♀♀
,
18 mi
NW
Guadalajara
,
30.iv.1961
,
pine
/
oak
area,
Howden
&
Martin
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♀
,
Puente Grande
,
5,000 ft
,
20.viii.1954
,
J.G. Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
, “Tlaqueplaque” [=
Tlaquepaque
],
ix.1965
,
N.L.H. Krauss
(
USNM
)
.
México
:
1 ♀
,
San Juan
Teotihuacán,
30.iv.1953
,
Bechtel
&
Schlinger
(
EMEC
)
;
1 ♂
,
Tepexpan
,
6,900 ft
,
12.viii.1954
,
J.G. Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♂
,
Paso de Cortés
, W side,
9,500 ft
,
13.viii.1954
,
J.G. Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♂
,
Teotihuacán
,
6,900 ft
,
12.viii.1954
,
J.G. Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♂
,
Toluca
,
28.iv.1965
,
N.L.H. Krauss
(
USNM
)
;
2 ♀
,
10 mi
E Toluca
,
8,600 ft
,
17.viii.1954
, J.G.
Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♀
,
10 mi
E Toluca
,
8,900 ft
,
31.vii.1954
, J.G.
Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
2 ♂♂
,
1 ♀
,
Ixtapan
,
La
Sal
[=
Ixtapan de la
Sal
],
5,500 ft
,
9.viii.1954
,
J.G. Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
9 ♂♂
,
5 ♀♀
,
Atlacomulco
,
8,500 ft
,
18.viii.1954
,
J.G. Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♀
,
22 mi
N Atlacomulco
,
8,100 ft
,
18.viii.1954
, J.G.
Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
12 ♂♂
,
10 ♀♀
,
4 mi
S Amecameca
,
7,700 ft
,
13.viii.1954
, J.G.
Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♀
,
Contreras
,
ix.1965
,
N.L.H. Krauss
(
USNM
)
.
Michoacán
:
1 ♂
,
2 ♀♀
,
Morelia
,
7.vii.1969
,
D. Kritsch
CNCI
);
1 ♀
,
Zitácuaro
,
1.v.1953
,
E.I. Schlinger
(
EMEC
)
;
1 ♀
,
Carapa
[= Carapan],
2.ix.1938
,
L.J. Lipousky
(
SEMC
)
;
1 ♂
,
4 ♀♀
,
6 mi
N Cherán
,
23.vii.1983
,
Kovarik
et al
. (
TAMU
)
;
1 ♂
,
Huetamo
,
Hwy
15,
7.iii.1972
,
Parker
&
Miller
(
USNM
)
;
1 ♂
,
San José
Purua,
vi.1965
,
N.L.H. Krauss
(
USNM
)
.
Morelos
:
1 ♂
,
Cuernavaca
,
22.xii.1963
,
O. Lund
(
UGCA
)
;
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
,
12 mi
E Cuernavaca
,
4,300 ft
,
14.viii.1954
, J.G.
Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♀
,
6 mi
N Cuernavaca
,
7,500 ft
,
15.viii.1954
, J.G.
Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♂
, km 9–10 between
Huitzilac
and
Lago Zempoala
,
22–24.ix.1991
, roadside,
A.L. Norrbom
(
DEBU
)
.
Nayarit
:
1 ♀
,
Tepic
,
3,000 ft
,
viii.1964
,
light trap
,
Blanton
&
Broce
(
USNM
)
.
Nuevo León
:
1 ♀
,
Monterrey
,
27.iv.1969
,
H.J. Teskey
(
CNCI
)
;
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
,
Cola de Caballos
,
18.iii.1986
,
R. Wharton
(
TAMU
)
;
1 ♀
,
1.7 mi
S Montemorelos
,
13.iii.1977
,
Gruetzmacher
et al
. (
TAMU
)
.
Oaxaca
:
1 ♂
,
Oaxaca
,
13.v.1938
,
R. Greenfield
(
USNM
)
;
1 ♂
,
Oaxaca
,
ii.1945
,
N.L.H. Krauss
(
USNM
)
;
2 ♂♂
,
Oaxaca
,
14.vii.1964
, black light,
P.J. Spangler
(
USNM
)
.
Puebla
:
1 ♂
,
2 mi
W Villa Ávila Camacho
,
250 m
,
24–27.i.1970
,
R.K. LaVal
(
TAMU
)
;
4 ♂♂
,
1 ♀
,
Tehuacán
,
vii.1965
,
N.L.H. Krauss
(
USNM
)
.
Querétaro
:
1 ♂
,
10 mi
E San Juan del Río
,
30.vii.1954
,
J.G. Chillcott
(
CNCI
)
.
San Luis Potosí
:
1 ♀
,
1 mi
W Ciudad Santos
,
14.iii.1977
,
Gruetzmacher
et al
. (
TAMU
)
.
Sonora
:
1 ♂
,
Imuris
,
16.iv.1952
,
R.E. Ryckman
(
USNM
)
.
Tamaulipas
:
1 ♂
,
Cañón de la Libertad
,
6 mi
N Ciudad Victoria
,
7.iii.1986
,
Jones
et al
. (
TAMU
)
;
1 ♀
,
Ciudad Victoria
,
12.xii.1991
, at light,
W.F. Chamberlain
(
TAMU
)
;
1 ♂
,
Mun. Gómez Farías
,
Altas Cimas
,
1,000 m
,
22.iii.1987
, UV light,
Kovarik
&
Jones
(
USNM
)
.
Tlaxcala
:
1 ♂
,
2 mi
W
Tlaxcala
,
26.iv.1953
,
Bechtel
&
Schlinger
(
EMEC
)
;
1 ♂
,
21 mi
W Apizaco
,
20.viii.1958
, malaise, H.F.
Howden
(
DEBU
)
.
Veracruz
:
1 ♂
,
Fortín
de las
Flores
,
23.xii.1963
,
Toschi
&
Tauber
(
EMEC
)
;
3 ♂♂
,
5 mi
SW Ciudad Mendoza
,
24.iv.1953
, E.I.
Schlinger
(
EMEC
)
;
2 ♀♀
,
Coatepec
,
8 mi
S Jalapa
,
4,100 ft
,
26.xii.1963
,
Toschi
&
Tauber
(
EMEC
)
;
1 ♂
,
Orizaba
,
i.1945
,
N.L.H. Krauss
(
USNM
)
;
1 ♀
,
Xico
,
7.ix.1951
(
USNM
)
.
Zacatecas
:
1 ♀
,
9 mi
S Fresnillo
,
9.vii.1954
,
Zalvzania globosa
, Linsley
et al
. (EMEC)
;
2 ♀♀
,
5 mi
S Fresnillo
,
7.viii.1954
,
Linsley
et al
. (
EMEC
)
;
1 ♀
,
Concepción del Oro
,
6,000 ft
,
17.iv.1977
,
Murray
et al
. (
TAMU
)
.
GUATEMALA
.
Dpto.
Chimaltenango
:
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
,
Yepocapa
, 1948–1949,
H.T. Dalmat
(
USNM
)
;
1 ♀
,
Chicastenango
,
viii.1959
,
N.L.H. Krauss
(
USNM
)
.
Dpto.
San Marcos
:
10 ♂♂
,
9 ♀♀
,
San Antonio
Sacatepéquez
,
8,000 ft
,
29.ix.1986
,
M.J. Sharkey
(
DEBU
)
.
Dpto.
Sacatepéquez
:
3 ♀♀
, Finca
San
Rafael,
25 and 28.vi.1948
, sweeping fallow field and edge of forest,
R.D. Mitchell
(
FMNH
)
;
1 ♀
,
Antigua
, 2.iv.[no year],
J.M. Aldrich
(
USNM
)
;
1 ♂
,
Antigua
,
El Salto
,
1.v.1926
,
J.M. Aldrich
(
USNM
)
.
Dpto.
Zacapa
:
90 ♂♂
,
87 ♀♀
,
San Lorenzo
,
1,800 m
, various dates:
6–18.vii.1986
, various habitats: abandoned field, edge of
pine
forest,
pine
/
oak
forest,
pan traps
,
pitfall traps
and sweeping at dusk,
L. LeSage
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
,
5 mi
N San Lorenzo
, 7–
10 and 13.vii.1986
, FIT, J.M.
Campbell
(
DEBU
)
;
San Lorenzo
,
9 ♂♂
,
16 ♀♀
,
7.xi.1986
,
1 ♀
,
12–17.xi.1986
, sweeping and FIT/pans, M.J.
Sharkey
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♀
,
1 km
S San Lorenzo
,
7–10.xi.1986
, pan/ malaise/
intercept trap
, M.J.
Sharkey
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♂
, below
San Lorenzo
,
750 m
,
17.xi.1986
, sweeping,
M.J. Sharkey
(
DEBU
)
;
5 ♀♀
, above
San Lorenzo
,
2,000 m
,
7.xi.1986
,
M.J. Sharkey
(
DEBU
)
;
5 ♀♀
,
25 km
N Santa Cruz
,
Río Pasabien
,
18.xi.1986
, moist river banks, sweeping,
M.J. Sharkey
(
DEBU
)
.
EL SALVADOR
.
1 ♀
,
Monte Cristo
,
7–9.v.1958
,
O.L. Cartwright
(
USNM
)
.
Dpto.
Santa Ana
:
1 ♂
,
Cerro
Verde,
18.vi.1958
,
L.J. Bottimer
(
USNM
)
.
HONDURAS
.
Dpto.
Olancho
:
1 ♀
,
La Muralla Natl. Pk.
,
1,450 m
,
15°05'49"N
,
86°44'17"W
,
4–7.vii.2002
, FIT,
Smith
&
Ocampo
(
DEBU
)
.
COSTA RICA
.
Prov.
Alajuela
:
1 ♀
,
San Ramón For. Res.
,
5 km
N Colonia Palmareña
,
Río San Lorencito
,
900 m
,
iii.1990
(
INBC
)
;
1 ♂
, nr.
Volcán Poás
,
2.iv.1988
,
Steiner
et al
. (
USNM
)
.
Prov.
Cartago
:
1 ♀
,
Tapantí Natl. Pk.
nr. W entrance, trail to hydro tower/ creek,
1,150 m
,
11.x.1999
, sweep,
Marshall
&
Buck
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♂
,
4 ♀♀
,
Tapantí Natl. Pk.
,
1,150 m
,
i.1994
,
G. Mora
(
INBC
)
;
1 ♀
,
Tapantí Natl. Pk.
,
Quebrada Segunda
,
1,250 m
,
iii.1992
,
R. Vargas
(
INBC
)
;
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
,
Río Grande de Orosí
nr.
Tapantí Natl. Pk.
,
1,100
–1,150
m
,
9.x.1999
, floodplain and forest,
Marshall
&
Buck
(
DEBU
)
.
Prov.
Guanacaste
:
1 ♀
,
Pitilla Biol. Stn.
,
9 km
S Santa Cecilia
,
700 m
,
iii.1991
,
P. Ríos
(
INBC
)
;
1 ♂
,
3 ♀♀
,
Mengo Biol. Stn.
, SW side
Volcán Cacao
,
1,100 m
,
ii.1989
(
INBC
)
.
Prov.
Heredia
:
2 ♂♂
,
3 ♀♀
,
Braulio Carrillo Natl. Pk.
,
Barva Biol. Stn.
,
2,500 m
, iv,
v and vi.1990
,
A. Fernández
(
INBC
)
;
1 ♀
,
Braulio Carrillo Natl. Pk.
,
Barva Biol. Stn.
,
Trail
to
Laguna
,
2,600
–2,760
m
,
10°07'52"N
,
84°07'39"W
,
16.ii.2003
, sweep downed
bromeliads
,
S.A. Marshall
(
DEBU
)
;
54 ♂♂
,
45 ♀♀
,
16 km
SSE
La Virgen
,
1,050
–1,150
m
,
10°16'N
,
84°05'W
, various dates:
11.ii–9.iv.2001
, transect, [malaise] (
DEBU
,
INBC
)
.
Prov.
Puntarenas
:
1 ♀
,
Monteverde
,
San
Luis,
1,040 m
,
xi.1993
,
Z. Fuentes
(
INBC
)
;
1 ♀
,
Monteverde
,
1,390 m
,
25.ii–2.iii.1988
, second growth, malaise,
B. Hubley
(
ROME
)
;
1 ♂
,
2 ♀♀
,
Monteverde
,
1,500 m
,
20.ii.1980
,
D.M. Wood
(
DEBU
)
;
5 ♂♂
,
5 ♀♀
, same but 22 or
23–27.ii.1991
, at light and malaise, B.J.
Sinclair
(
DEBU
)
;
4 ♀♀
, same but
27 and 29.ii.1980
, cloud forest,
Mason
&
Wood
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♀
, same but
20–26.viii.1993
, malaise, E.R.
Barr
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
, same but 11(–13).
vi.2000
, sweep, M.
Buck
/
S.A. Marshall
(
DEBU
)
;
2 ♀♀
,
Monteverde
,
1,800 m
,
25.ii.1991
,
guava
clearing,
B.J. Sinclair
(
DEBU
)
;
2 ♂♂
,
3 ♀♀
,
Monteverde
,
26.iii.1987
,
malaise trap
at edge of montane forest and open grass pasture (in part),
W.E. Steiner
(
USNM
)
;
2 ♂♂
,
Monteverde area
,
1,400
–1,700
m
,
6–14.vi.1973
,
Erwin
&
Hevel
(
USNM
)
;
2 ♂♂
,
Amistad Natl. Pk.
,
Las Mellizas Biol. Stn.
,
Finca Cafrosa
,
1,300 m
,
20.viii–4.ix.1989
,
Ramírez
&
Mora
(
INBC
)
;
1 ♀
, same but
iv.1991
, G.
Mora
(
INBC
)
;
5 ♂♂
,
1 ♀
,
Las Alturas
,
1,500 m
,
12.viii.1995
, forest/pasture margin, sweeping,
S.A. Marshall
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♀
,
Las Alturas Biol. Stn.
,
1,550 m
,
17.viii.1995
,
T. Pape
(
DEBU
)
;
9 ♂♂
,
5 ♀♀
,
Monteverde
, high pass between
Atlantic
and
Pacific
slopes,
1,570 m
,
10°18'N
,
84°48'W
,
3 and 28.ii.1986
,
A. Forsyth
(
ROME
)
;
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
,
1 km
SW Cerro Biolley
,
1,300 m
,
2–20.iv.1995
, L.
Angulo
(
INBC
)
;
1 ♂
,
Pittier Biol. Stn.
,
1,670 m
,
23.i–2.ii.1995
,
M.
Lobo
(
INBC
)
.
Prov.
San José
:
3 ♂♂
,
2 ♀♀
,
San José
,
15.v.1907
,
H. Schmidt
(
USNM
)
;
1 ♂
,
La
Palma
,
5,600 ft
,
28.i.1972
,
on
Neomirandea angularis
, R.M. King (USNM)
;
3 ♂♂
,
2 ♀♀
,
20 km
S
Empalme
,
2,800 m
,
iii–iv.1989
,
Hanson
&
Gould
(
CMNH
)
;
2 ♀♀
,
Cerro de la Muerte
beside Pan-Am
Hwy
,
2,953 m
,
9°35'N
,
83°45'W
,
10–13.ii.1988
, malaise,
Hubley
&
Darling
(
ROME
)
;
1 ♂
,
Cerro de la Muerte
, carretera interamericana km 72,
La
Turbera,
2,900 m
,
22.i.2007
,
W. Rossi
(
DEBU
)
.
PANAMA
.
Prov.
Chiriquí
:
1 ♂
,
Volcán
,
24.vi.1999
,
W. Reeves
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♀
,
Las Lagunas
,
4.5 km
WSW Hato del Volcán
,
8,360 ft
,
1–8.vi.1977
, sweeping,
S. & J. Peck
(
DEBU
)
;
1 ♂
,
1 ♀
,
Bambito
,
1,550 m
,
4.vii.1996
, at light,
Gillogly
&
Schaffner
(
TAMU
)
;
1 ♂
,
Reserva La Fortuna
, lights at
Fortuna Dam
,
1,000 m
,
25–29.vi.1996
,
Gillogly
&
Schaffner
(
TAMU
)
.
Doubtful specimens (
L. sphaerotheca
sp.n.
or
L. erythrocera
, unassociated males):
COSTA RICA
. Prov.
Alajuela
:
2 ♂♂
, Río Peñas Blancas,
700 m
,
18.viii.1986
, L. Masner (
DEBU
).
Etymology
. The species name is a noun in apposition and refers to the spherical spermathecae, the main diagnostic character distinguishing this species from
L. erythrocera
.
Distribution
(Map 3). From southern Arizona and Texas to
Panama
. Usually at medium to high elevations (
700–2,950 m
), in the northern part of its range sometimes as low as
250 m
.
Discussion
. This is the Central American sibling species of the widespread
L. erythrocera
. The only completely reliable distinguishing character is the shape of the female spermatheca (spherical in
L. sphaerotheca
sp.n.
, elongate in
L. erythrocera
). The length of the ventral posteroapical midtibial bristle is subject to geographic variation and only reliably separates northern populations (
U.S.
,
Mexico
) from
L. erythrocera
. The length of this bristle in
L. sphaerotheca
sp.n.
decreases from the north to the south, resulting in no appreciable difference between southern populations and
L. erythrocera
. The darker coloration of head and legs (in particular the fore coxa) is also diagnostic but extreme forms of both species can be very similar. The two species also differ ecologically.
Leptocera sphaerotheca
sp.n.
prefers higher altitudes than
L. e.
erythrocera
but the two often occur sympatrically at intermediate elevations.