Cladochaeta armatopsis

Pirani, Gabriela & Amorim, Dalton De Souza, 2016, Going beyond the tip of the Drosophilidae iceberg: New Cladochaeta Coquillett, 1900 (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from Brazil, Zootaxa 4139 (3), pp. 301-344 : 307-313

Cladochaeta armatopsis nov. sp.

( Figs. 2 A–F; 3 A–F; 32 B; 35 B)

Diagnosis. General body color light ochre, thorax ochre, two diffuse darker bands on pleuron, abdomen slightly lighter than thorax; arista with 3 dorsal and 1 ventral branches, ventral branch midway between apical fork and d-3; wing membrane infuscate; phallus mostly sclerotized, phallus membrane sac-like, between two sclerotized, long, sinuous arms, connected by a dorsal bridge.

Material examined. Holotype Ƌ (Left wing and head slide-mounted, terminalia in vial): BRAZIL, State of São Paulo, Ribeirão Grande, P.E. Intervales, 24º16’28.7”S, 48º25’17.3”W, 22.x.2010, Malaise trap #2, N.W. Perioto and team cols. ( MZSP).

Description. Head ( Figs. 2 A–C). Higher than wide. Eyes bare, light brown. Pedicel light ochre, first flagellomere light grayish brown; arista with 3 dorsal and 1 ventral branches, ventral branch midway between apical fork and d-3, minute branches along ventral side of arista. Frons ochre, anterior margin darker; ocellar triangle slightly darker than frons; fronto-orbital setae: anterior reclinate absent, posterior reclinate slightly smaller than proclinate, closer to proclinate than to inner vertical. Face flat, ochre. Gena ochre; proboscis and palpus slightly lighter than gena. Thorax ( Figs. 2 D–E). Ochre, two diffuse darker bands on pleuron, ventral band extending to middle of katepisternum. Anterior dorsocentral ca. 2/3 length of posterior dorsocentral. Posterior dorsocentral midway between scutoscutellar suture and anterior dorsocentral. Acrostichals in 6 even rows. Basal scutellars divergent, apical scutellars convergent but not cruciate. Three postpronotal setae, median one longer than other two. Legs light ochre. Wing ( Fig. 35 B). Length: 1.1 mm. Membrane entirely dusky brown. Tip of R2+3 slightly curved towards C. R4+5 and M slightly divergent, both slightly curved posteriorly. Crossvein dm-cu slightly bent medially, perpendicular to CuA1. Wing tip rounded. Halter whitish. Abdomen ( Fig. 2 F). All tergites light ochre with slender darker bands at posterior margin. Male terminalia ( Figs. 3 A–F). Epandrium an inverted Ushape, with 6 long setae on ventrolateral halves; dense microtrichia covering entire epandrium, ventral tip of ventrolateral halves gradually tapering, curved inwards; broad extension of epandrium near cercus. Ventro-lateral margin of cercus acute. Phallus with a median partially sclerotized region between two sclerotized, long, sinuous arms and phallapodeme. Phallapodeme longer than wide, heavily sclerotized, with a posterodorsal projection. Surstylus clavate, setae on dorsal and dorsolateral surfaces. Hypandrium Y-shaped, ventral keel present.

Etymology. The specific epithet is composed of the Latin roots armata and – opsis (having the appearance of, like), in reference to the similarity of this species with Cladochaeta armata ( Frota-Pessoa, 1947) .

Comments. The male terminalia of C. armatopsis nov. sp., C. armata Grimaldi & Nguyen, 1999 and C. balbiae nov sp. are very similar. Cladochaeta armatopsis nov. sp. can be separated from these species by lacking the distinctive setation on mid and hind legs seen in C. armata , and by the simple distal portion of the sclerotized arms of the phallus, which are forked in C. armata . It also resembles C. balbiae nov. sp. in the shape of the phallus, but the distal portion of this is forked, as in C. armata .

Cladochaeta balbiae nov. sp.

( Figs. 4 A–F; 5 A–F; 6 B; 32 C; 35 C)

Diagnosis. General body color light ochre. Thorax ochre, pleuron slightly darker, abdomen slightly lighter than thorax; arista with 3 dorsal and 1 ventral branches, dorsal branch closer to d-3 than to apical fork. Wing membrane infuscate. Phallus mostly sclerotized, phallus membrane sac-like, between two sclerotized, long, sinuous arms connected by a dorsal bridge.

Material examined. Holotype Ƌ (Left wing and head slide-mounted, terminalia on vial): BRAZIL, State of São Paulo, Ribeirão Grande, P.E. Intervales, 24º16’28.7”S 48º25’17.3”W, 22.x.2010, Malaise trap #2, N. W. Perioto and team, cols. ( MZSP).

Description. Head ( Figs. 4 A–C). Higher than wide. Eyes with sparse setulae between ommatidia, light red. Pedicel light ochre, first flagellomere light grayish brown; arista with 3 dorsal and 1 ventral branches, ventral branch closer to d-3 than to apical fork. Frons light ochre; ocellar triangle slightly darker than frons; fronto-orbital setae: anterior reclinate small, posterolateral to proclinate in position, posterior reclinate as long as proclinate, closer to proclinate than to inner vertical. Face flat, ochre, ventral margin whitish. Gena thin, proboscis, palpus and gena ochre. Thorax ( Figs 4 D–E). Ochre, pleuron slightly darker, a darker area extending until mid of katepisternum. Anterior dorsocentral ca. ½ length of posterior dorsocentral, posterior dorsocentral midway between scutoscutellar suture and anterior dorsocentral. Acrostichals in 6 even rows. Basal scutellars divergent, posterior convergent but not cruciate. Two postpronotal setae, ventral seta longer than dorsal. Legs light ochre ( Fig. 6 B). Wing ( Fig. 35 C). Length: 1.15 mm. Membrane entirely dusky brown. Tip of R2+3 slightly curved towards C. R4+5 and M slightly convergent. Crossvein dm-cu slightly bent in the middle, perpendicular to CuA1. Wing tip slightly acute. Halter light brown. Abdomen ( Fig. 4 F). All tergites pale ochre with slightly darker margins. Male terminalia ( Figs. 5 A–F). Epandrium inverted U-shaped, with 7 long setae on ventrolateral halves; dense microtrichia covering entire epandrium, ventral tip of ventrolateral halves gradually tapering, curved inwards; broad extension of epandrium near cercus. Cercus with slightly acute ventrolateral margin. Phallus mostly sclerotized, membranous portion between two sclerotized arms and phallapodeme; posterior oblique triangular projection poorly sclerotized; ventral tip of sinuous sclerotized arms forked. Phallapodeme higher than wide, sclerotized, with a posterodorsal projection. Surstylus clavate, setae present on dorsal and dorsolateral surface. Hypandrium Y-shaped, ventral keel present.

Etymology. This species is named after Maria Isabel Protti de Andrade Balbi, biologist and dear friend, who has helped Brazilian undergraduate and graduate Diptera students in our lab over the years, and has been always of indispensable help in this study.

Comments. The male terminalia of C. armatopsis nov. sp., C. balbiae nov. sp. and C. armata closely resemble each other and probably are close phylogenetic related. This species differs from C. armata by lacking the distinctive setation on the mid and hind legs of the male ( Fig. 6 A–B).

Cladochaeta paraitinga nov. sp. ( Figs. 7 A–E; 8 A–D; 32 D; 35 D)

Diagnosis. General body color ochre, abdomen slightly darker; wing membrane infuscate; legs pale yellow, forefemur with three evenly-spaced, posteroventral, long setae; arista with 3 dorsal and 1 ventral branches; phallus with two heavily sclerotized, long, sinuous, apically forked projections in addition to a median membranous portion.

Material examined. Types: Holotype Ƌ (terminalia on vial): BRAZIL, State of São Paulo, São Luís do Paraitinga , P.E.S.M. Núcleo Sta. Virgínia, 23º19’16.9”S, 45º 05’56.6”W, 21.i.2011, Malaise trap, N.W. Perioto and team cols. ( MZUSP).

Description. Head ( Figs 7 A–C). Higher than wide. Eyes bare, pale brown. Pedicel ochre, first flagellomere whitish; arista with 3 dorsal and 1 ventral branches; ventral branch opposite to d-3. Frons pale ochre; ocellar triangle concolorous with frons. Fronto-orbital setae: anterior reclinate absent; posterior reclinate as long proclinate and midway between anterior reclinate and inner vertical. Face flat, pale ochre. Gena ochre. Proboscis and palpus whitish. Thorax ( Figs. 7 D–E). Ochre, ventral half of katepisternum lighter. Anterior dorsocentral ca. ¼ the length of posterior dorsocentral. Posterior dorsocentral midway between scutoscutellar suture and anterior dorsocentral. Acrostichals in 6 even rows, only two median rows reach posterior portion of scutum. Basal scutellars divergent; apical scutellars convergent, cruciate at tip. Three postpronotal setae, median one longer than others. Legs pale yellow, forefemur with three evenly spaced, posteroventral, long setae. Wing ( Fig. 35 D). Length: 1.63 mm. Membrane uniformly infuscate, without clouds of infuscation. R2+3 slightly curved towards anterior wing margin. R4+5 and M parallel. Crossvein dm-cu straight, perpendicular to CuA1. Wing tip rounded. Halter pale ochre. Abdomen. All tergites pale brown, margins slightly darker. Male terminalia ( Figs 8 A–D). Epandrium an inverted U-shape, slightly longer than wide, with a row of 5 long setae on ventrolateral halves; ventrolateral halves with a broader extension near cercus; ventral portion thin, turned inwards. Cercus without ventral lobes, ventrolateral edges rounded. Phallus with a membranous portion dorsally covering the dorsal portion of sclerotized arms. Arms united by a broad dorsal bridge, each bridge long, sinuous, forked apically. Phallapodeme higher than wide, poorly sclerotized, with a long, oblique projection backwards. Surstylus not heavily sclerotized, clavate, with numerous relatively long setae of similar length. Hypandrium Y-shaped, with a sclerotized ventral keel.

Etymology. The species epithet is in apposition and refers to the type locality, São Luís do Paraitinga .

Comments. This species is related to the armata species group based on the morphology of the phallus, which is strongly sclerotized and with several hook-shaped sinuous projections Figure 7 . Cladochaeta paraitinga nov. sp., holotype. A. Head, dorsal view. B. Head, lateral view. C. Head, frontal view. D. Thorax, lateral view. E. Thorax, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1mm.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Cladochaeta armatopsis nov. sp., holotype. A. Head, dorsal view. B. Head, lateral view. C. Head, frontal view. D. Thorax, lateral view. E. Thorax, dorsal view. F. Abdomen, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Cladochaeta armatopsis nov. sp., holotype, male terminalia. A, D. Terminal view. B, E. Terminal oblique view. C, F. Lateral view. Abbreviations—phall.: phallus; phallap.: phallapodeme; cerc.: cercus; ep.: epandrium; hip.: hipandrium; surst.: surstylus.

FIGURE 4. Cladochaeta balbiae nov. sp., holotype. A. Head, dorsal view. B. Head, lateral view. C. Head, frontal view. D. Thorax, lateral view. E. Thorax, dorsal view. F. Abdomen, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Cladochaeta balbiae nov. sp., holotype, male terminalia. A, D. Terminal view. B, E. Terminal oblique view. C, F. Lateral view.

FIGURE 6. Comparison between legs of two similar species of Cladochaeta. A. Cladochaeta armata. B. Cladochaeta balbiae nov. sp., holotype.

FIGURE 7. Cladochaeta paraitinga nov. sp., holotype. A. Head, dorsal view. B. Head, lateral view. C. Head, frontal view. D. Thorax, lateral view. E. Thorax, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 8. Cladochaeta paraitinga nov. sp., holotype, male terminalia. A, B. Lateral view. C. Terminal view. D. Lateral view of phallus.

FIGURE 35. Wings of Cladochaeta species. A. C. armata. B. C. armatopsis nov. sp. (holotype). C. C. balbiae nov. sp. (holotype). D. C. paraitinga nov. sp. (holotype). E. C. bomplandi. F. C. arthrostyla. G. C. asapha nov. sp. (holotype). H. C. chauliodactyla nov. sp. (holotype). I. C. conicophallus nov. sp. (holotype). J. C. dicrophallus nov. sp. (holotype). K. C. grimaldii nov. sp. (holotype). L. C. atlantica nov. sp. (holotype). Scale bars: 0.5 mm.