Aztecatopse spinosa sp. nov.

(Figs 1 C, 3D, 4D, 6D, 7D, 9D, 10D, 11D, 15, 16)

Type material. HOLOTYPE: Male (slide mounting). Mexico, Estado de México, Otumba, Locality Coyotepec, 2530 m, 19º 39’ 09.3’’ N ; 98º 45’ 25.7’’ W, 12.IV–4.V.2007, Malaise Trap, D. Hernández Zetina leg. (CAIM). Paratypes: 48 males, same data except 12.IV–4 . V.2007, 10 males (in alcohol), 5 males (slide mounting); same data except 24.V–14 . VI.2007, 17 males (in alcohol), 1 male (slide mounting); same data except 5–26 . VI.2007, 2 males Abbreviations: aedeagus (aed), epandrium (epand), lateral processes of gonocoxite (lat proc gx), paramere (pm), sternite (S).

(in alcohol), 2 males (slide mounting); same data except 24-VIII-14 - IX.2007, 2 males (in alcohol), 1 male (slide mounting); same data except 4–31 - X.2007, 6 males (in alcohol); same data except 15.XI–6 . XII.2007, 1 male (in alcohol); same data except 23.I–13 . II.2008, 1 male (in alcohol). All paratypes in CAIM, except 5 in MHNN.

Diagnosis. Tergite 7 subrectangular, bearing a pair of posterolateral, elongated projections; sternite 7 broad, extended laterally, with a pair of short posterolateral lobes; aedeagus elongate, bearing a subapical group of long erect setae.

Description. Male. Similar to A. amorimi sp. nov. in most characters. Body length approximately 2.0 mm (Fig. 1 C). Head. (Fig. 1 C). Ommatidia equal in size, in lateral view at level of base of scape, a row of 6 ommatidia disposed from outer to inner ocular margin; antennae (Fig. 3 D), scape square; pedicel subcylindrical, 8 flagellomeres covered with microtrichia and sensilla; flagellomeres I–VII twice as wide as long, each bearing a whorl of setae, last flagellomere rounded, as long as 2 preceding ones; flagellum length, 0.28 mm; palpi (Fig. 4 D) subcylindrical, apically rounded, with at least 3–4 subapical sensory pits, length 0.10 mm, width 0.04 mm.

Thorax. (Fig. 1 C). A well-marked row of 9 supraalar setae; anterior spiracular sclerite setose (7–9 setae), with a well-marked antero-dorsal pointed projection, spiracle large, not longer than high (Fig. 6 D); pleural setae: 6–7 anepisternal, in upper anterior corner of sclerite, 8 anepimeral, 6 subalar, 2–3 katepisternal, 4 posterior spiracular, no meral setae.

Wing. (Fig. 7 D) length, 1.07–1.12 mm, width, 0.50–0.53 mm. R4+5 reaching costa beyond middle of wing, and slightly beyond level of fork of M; M fork nearly twice as long as stem, gradually widening towards wing margin; second costal section shorter than first; a false vein present between M2 and CuA1; CuA2 smoothly angled near middle, reaching wing margin obliquely. Wing length/section costal 1:2.7; WL/C2: 6.4; WL/C3: 2.09; WL/C1+C2: 1.91; C extending 0.52 of wing length.

Abdomen. Tergite 7 wider than long, subrectangular, bearing a pair of posterolateral, elongated, pilose processes (Figs 9 D, 10D); posterior margin slightly produced medially; length, 0.14 mm, width, 0.19 mm. Sternite 7 wider than long, rounded anteriorly, expanded laterally, bearing a pair of short rounded, setose posterolateral lobes, posteriorly emarginate, (Figs 9 D, 10D) with ornamented median zone close to the posterior margin bearing a group of small, nearly spinose granulations; length, 0.13 mm, width, 0.31 mm. Genital capsule (Figs 11 D, 15), epandrium with anterior margin deeply V-shaped; posterior margin produced into a short sclerotized plough-like projection; gonocoxites joined to epandrium, with a pair of short and slightly curved, setaceous processes; aedeagus elongated and thick, bearing a subapical group of long erect setae. Parameres elongate, flattened, with sharp pointed tip and subapical, ventrally directed lobes.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Nearctic. Mexico (Estado de Mexico) (Fig. 16).

Bionomics. The specimens of the type series were collected with a Malaise trap in an arid zone of Central Mexico dominated by Agavaceae and Cactaceae . The flight period extends over most of the year, with higher number of specimens collected in May–June.

Etymology. This specific epithet is a Latin adjective spinosa meaning “full of spines, thorny”, in reference to the subapical group of long setae of aedeagus.