Batrachophthalmum Hendel, 1911

De, Claudio J. B., Wolff, Marta & Wendt, Lisiane D., 2011, A new stalk-eyed species of Batrachophthalmum Hendel (Diptera, Richardiidae) from Colombia, Zootaxa 2932, pp. 41-46 : 42

Batrachophthalmum Hendel, 1911

( Figs. 1–10 )

Type-species: Batrachophthalmum rufiventre Hendel, 1911

Diagnosis. Head wider than high. All femora with apicoventral rows of setae, spinose setae on fore femur stronger than those on mid and hind femora. Mid and hind legs longer and slender than fore leg. R2+3 sinuous just before margin; r-m at distal ¾ of cell dm. Prosternum weakly ciliated. Metasternum bare. Postcoxal metathoracic bridge developed.

Head. Wider than high. Clypeus well developed; arista pubescent with longest cilia as long as the arista base diameter; frons normal, not produced; lunula developed ( Figs. 5 , 9 ); ocellar seta present; medial and lateral vertical setae present; distance between posterior ocelli ½ distance to anterior ocellus. Scape slightly developed, length about ½ length of pedicel. Genal and pos-genal setae absent ( Fig. 4 ).

Thorax. Postpronotal seta absent ( Fig. 10 ); proepimeral seta weak; notopleura with 2 setae, posterior seta strong, twice length of anterior seta; scutum with 1 supra-alar seta, 1 long and strong postalar seta, 1 weak intraalar seta; 1–2 dorsocentral setae, well apart from scutellum and aligned with postalar seta. Two pairs of scutellar setae. Katepisternal seta weak. Katatergite bare and totally pollinose. Prosternum weakly ciliated. Metasternum bare. Metathoracic spiracle with differentiated setulae on posterior portion of spiracle. Postcoxal metathoracic bridge developed. Legs: all femora with apicoventral rows (anterior and posterior) of black stout setae; mid and hind legs very long and slender; fore femur with spinose setae stronger than those on mid and hind femora ( Figs. 2 , 7 ). Wing ( Figs. 1 , 8 ): veins bare; R2+3 sinuous just before margin; r-m at distal ¾ of cell dm; vein A1+CuA2 long, becoming weaker towards margin; alula present.

Abdomen ( Figs. 2 , 7 ). Shorter than thorax in lateral view; syntergite 1–2 twice length of tergite 3, with 2–4 pairs of lateral setae disposed obliquely in relation to margin of syntergite; tergites 3–5 similar in length.

Remarks: The wing venation is very important to distinguish among richardiid genera, and the pattern of wing bands is very useful to separate among species. Each genus has a unique venation pattern, which is relatively constant among its species (with a few exceptions, for instance Setellia Robineau-Desvoidy ). In species of Batrachophthalmum , vein R2+3 is uniquely sinuous throughout ( Figs. 1 , 8 ).

Batrachophthalmum was proposed for B. rufiventre Hendel , a species that has males with swelled eyes. The type-species was examined only through photographs ( Figs. 1–5 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Batrachophthalmum rufiventre Hendel (type-material, female, HNHM). 1. Wing. 2. Habitus, lateral view. 3. Head, frontal view. 4. Head, lateral view. 5. Head, dorsal view.

FIGURES 6 – 10. Batrachophthalmum quimbaya, new species (male, CEUA). 6. Habitus, frontal view (holotype). 7. Habitus, lateral view (holotype). 8. Wing (paratype). 9. Head, frontal view (holotype). 10. Thorax, dorsal view (holotype). Scale: 2 mm.