Robustagramma aequale Cui and Marshall, 2005

Marshall, Stephen A. & Cui, Yongsheng, 2005, Systematics of Robustagramma, a new genus of New World Sphaeroceridae (Diptera), Zootaxa 1026 (1), pp. 1-122 : 65-66

Robustagramma aequale Cui and Marshall , new species

( Figs. 171–177 )

As described for Robustagramma biangulatum except as follows.

Body length 1.7–2.1 mm. Interfrontal bristles in 2 or 3 pairs in addition to interfrontal setulae. Eye height ca. 2.4–2.5 times genal height. Wing clear except for slightly pigmented portion between second costal sector and vein R 2+3. Length of second costal sector ca. 0.43–0.47X length of third.

Male terminalia: Sternite 5 without conspicuously short, stout bristles. Surstylus approximately shape of equilateral triangle in lateral view. Cercus subequal in length to surstylus, with triangular basal portion equal in length to narrow distal portion. Ejaculatory epodeme ca. 1/3 as long as aedeagal epodeme.

Female terminalia: Spermatheca with distal portion (in paired) similar in length to, or (in single) shorter than, basal portion. Paired spermathecae with ducts about twice as long as spermatheca; duct of single spermatheca slightly longer than spermatheca.

Holotype (♂, DEBU) and paratypes (3 ♂, 5 ♀, DEBU): VENEZUELA: Táchira. 57 km SE S. Crist., El Pinal , 1500ft, dung trap, 19–21.v.1974, S. Peck.

Other paratypes: GUYANA: Mazaruni Potaro District. Takutu Mountains , 6 15 N, 58 55 W, window trap in montane rainforest, 8–10.xii.1983, P. D. Perkins and W. E. Steiner (1 ♂, 1 ♀, USNM) . VENEZUELA: Bolívar. 10 km S El Dorado , 200m, 17.vii– 7.viii.1986 (12 ♂, 16 ♀, DEBU) ; 33 km S El Dorado , 220m, 2–7.viii.1986, (3 ♂, 2 ♀, DEBU) ; km 40 Sta. Elena, Icabaru Rd. , 100m (1 ♂, 1 ♀, DEBU) , 220m (1 ♂, DEBU) , 4– 6.viii.1986; Quebrada de Jaspe , 19–20.vii.1986 (1 ♂, 1 ♀) , B. Gill. Bolívar. 22 km S El Dorado , lowland rainforest, FIT, 25.vi.–12.vii.1987, S. & J. Peck (3 ♂, DEBU) . Bolívar. Canaima , 300m, 27.iv.1994, L. Masner (1 ♀, DEBU) . Monagas. 15 km N Maturin , flood plain forest, malaise trap, FIT, 19–31.vii.1987, S. & J. Peck (1 ♂, DEBU) .

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the similarly sized cercus and surstylus.

Figures

FIGURES 171–177. Robustagramma aequale sp. nov.: 171, posterior view of male terminalia; 172, lateral view of male terminalia; 173, lateral view of male internal genitalia; 174, male sternite 5; 175, dorsal view of female terminalia; 176, ventral view of female terminalia; 177, spermathecae.