Sclerocoelus rectangularis ( Malloch, 1914 )

Kuwahara, Gregory K., Marshall, Stephen A. & Paiero, Steven M., 2025, A revision of the genus Sclerocoelus Marshall (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), European Journal of Taxonomy 979, pp. 1-277 : 96-99

Sclerocoelus rectangularis ( Malloch, 1914)

Figs 8J , 119–121

Leptocera (Limosina) rectangularis Malloch, 1914: 19 .

Leptocera (Scotophilella) rectangularis – Spuler 1925: 151.

Leptocera (Chaetopodella) rectangularis – Duda 1925: 147. — Richards 1967: 11.

Chaetopodella rectangularis – Roháček 1983: 114.

Sclerocoelus rectangularis – Marshall 2001: 282. — Roháček et al. 2001: 249.

Type material

Holotype (not examined)

COSTA RICA • ♀; Cartago, Juan Viñas ; 1000 m a.s.l.; 2 May 1910; P. Calvert leg.; forest brook; ANSP.

Paratypes (♂ from Alajuela examined by GKK in 2021, ♂♂ from Cartago examined by SAM in 1989) COSTA RICA – Alajuela • 1 ♂; 950 m a.s.l.; 15 Sep. 1909; P. Calvert leg.; sweepings; ANSP . – Cartago • 2 ♂♂; same data as for holotype; ANSP • 1 ♂; Cartago; 1450 m a.s.l.; 3 Jan. 1910; P. Calvert leg.; sweeping over mud; ANSP .

Other material examined

COSTA RICA – San José • 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Jul.; H. Schmidt leg.; USNM .

DOMINICA – Saint Peter Parish • 1 ♀; 5 km S of Portsmouth at Jarige Road ; 25 m a.s.l.; 23 Jun. 1989; M. Sörensson and B. Mårtensson leg.; MZLU .

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Elías Piña • 1 ♀; Sierra de Neiba , just north of crest, 6 km WNW of Angel Feliz; 18°41′ N, 71°47′ W; 1770 m a.s.l.; 15 Oct. 1991; C. Young, S. Thompson, R. Davidson and J. Rawlins leg.; mesic montane forest; CMNH . – Independencia • 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Sabana Real , 32 km NW of La Descubierta; 1800 m a.s.l.; 26 Nov. 1991; Masner and Peck leg.; cloud forest, trail sweeps; DEBU . – La Vega • 2 ♂♂; Manabao ; 21 Jan. 1989; J.E. Swann leg.; sweep; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; Manabao ; 22 Jan. 1989; S.A. Marshall leg.; near creek, sweep; DEBU . – Pedernales • 6 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀; 3.3 km NE of Los Arroyos ; 18°15′ N, 71°45′ W; 1450 m a.s.l.; 16–18 Jul. 1990; L. Masner, J, Rawlins and C. Young leg.; wet montane forest, sweep samples; CMNH • 1 ♂, 9 ♀♀; 7 km NW of Los Arroyos ; 18°16′ N, 71°44′ W; 1870 m a.s.l.; 15 Jul. 1990; L. Masner, C. Young and J. Rawlins leg.; flight-intercept trap; CMNH • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; 14.5 km N of Cabo Rojo ; 18°03′ N, 71°39′ W; 165 m a.s.l.; 26–27 Sep. 1991; C. Young, S. Thompson, R. Davidson and J. Rawlins leg.; arid thornscrub; CMNH • 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 23.5 km N of Cabo Rojo ; 18°06′ N, 71°38′ W; 540 m a.s.l.; 19–25 Jul. 1990; L. Masner, J. Rawlins and C. Young leg.; deciduous forest, flight-intercept trap; CMNH • 5 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; 26 km N of Cabo Rojo ; 18°06′ N, 71°38′ W; 730 m a.s.l.; 13–20 Jul. 1990; L. Masner, J. Rawlins and C. Young leg.; wet deciduous forest, flight-intercept trap; CMNH • 2 ♀♀; 26 km N of Cabo Rojo ; 565 m a.s.l.; 29 Nov.–3 Dec. 1991; Masner and Peck leg.; evergreen dry forest, flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 28 km N of Cabo Rojo ; 760 m a.s.l.; 29 Nov.–3 Dec. 1991; Masner and Peck leg.; evergreen dry forest, flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; 37 km N of Cabo Rojo, 4 km E Las Abejas ; 18°09′ N, 71°37′ W; 1440 m a.s.l.; 13–16 Jul. 1987; R. L. Davidson and J.E. Rawlins leg.; CMNH • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; 60 km NW of Cabo Rojo ; 1200 m a.s.l.; 30 Nov. 1991; Masner and Peck leg.; cloud forest, sweep; DEBU • 1 ♀; Cabo Rojo, Alcoa Road , km 25; 17–20 Jan. 1989; S.A. Marshall and J.E. Swan leg.; sweep dry pond; DEBU • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀; Cabo Rojo, Alcoa Road , km 26; 17–20 Jan. 1989; S.A. Marshall and J.E. Swann leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; pans; DEBU • 5 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; Las Abejas , 30 km N of Cabo Rojo; 1300 m a.s.l.; 17 Jan. 1989; S.A. Marshall leg.; cloud forest; DEBU • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; J.E. Swan leg.; DEBU • 42 ♂♂, 51 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep; DEBU • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; J.E. Swan leg.; sweep at sink hole; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 19 Jan. 1989; J.E. Swan leg.; sweep; DEBU • 9 ♂♂, 20 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 17 ♂♂, 32 ♀♀; Las Abejas , 38 km NNW of Cabo Rojo; 18°09′ N, 71°38′ W; 1250 m a.s.l.; 15 Jul. 1987; J.E. Rawlins and R. L. Davidson leg.; CMNH • 7 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀; Las Abejas, near Cabo Rojo ; 1300 m a.s.l.; 19 Jan. 1989; S.A. Marshall leg.; cloud forest; DEBU • 25 ♂♂, 22 ♀♀; Las Abejas, near Cabo Rojo ; 17 Jan. 1989; S.A. Marshall leg.; cloud forest, sweep; DEBU • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 19 Jan. 1989, J.E. Swann leg.; DEBU • 97 ♂♂, 59 ♀♀; Sierra de Baoruca, Las Abejas Valley; 1300 m a.s.l.; 17 Jan. 1989; L. Masner leg.; cloud forest; DEBU. – San Juan • 1 ♀; La Ciénega; 1000 m a.s.l.; 12 Jan. 1989; S.A. Marshall leg.; trail sweep and Malaise trap near hut; DEBU • 1 ♀; La Ciénega; 11–22 Jan. 1989; S.A. Marshall and J.E. Swann leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 5 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; La Ciénega, trail to Pico Duarte; 1200–1400 m a.s.l.; 12 Jan. 1989; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep (wet); DEBU .

GUATEMALA – Guatemala • 1 ♀; Fraijanes, Finca San Antonio; 1800 m a.s.l.; 14 Feb. 1987; J. Manger leg.; DEBU . – Quetzaltenango • 2 ♀♀; 8 km SE of Quetzaltenango, Zunil ; 2630 m a.s.l.; 17–19 Jun. 1993; J.S. Ashe and R. W. Brooks leg.; flight-intercept trap; SEMC . – Sacatepéquez • 1 ♀; 5 km SE of Antigua ; 14°31′43″ N, 90°41′20″ W; 2330 m a.s.l.; 10–13 Jun. 2009; oak forest, Malaise trap; UVGC • 1 ♂; Antigua ; Oct. 1965; N.L.H. Krauss leg.; USNM . – San Marcos • 1 ♂; 6.4 km N of San Lorenzo ; 18 Jul. 1986; J.M. Campbell leg.; sifted mushroom piles; CNCI • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 8 km N of San Lorenzo ; 4–18 Jul. 1986; J.M. Campbell leg.; flight-intercept trap; CNCI • 7 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; San Antonio Sacatepéquez; 2440 m a.s.l.; 29 Sep. 1987; M. Sharkey leg.; CNCI . – Zacapa • 1 ♂; San Lorenzo ; 1800 m a.s.l.; 7–9 Jul. 1986; L. LeSage leg.; pan traps in abandoned field; CNCI • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 11–13 Jul. 1986; edge pine forest, attracted with eugenol; CNCI • 2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; pitfall traps in field; CNCI .

HONDURAS – El Paraíso • 1 ♂, 11 ♀♀; Cerro Monserrat ; 1800 m a.s.l.; 24 May 1994; H. Howden leg.; Malaise trap; DEBU • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 30 May 1994; DEBU • 1 ♀; Cerro Monserrat , Yuscaran Paraiso; 24 Jan. 1995; R. Cordiro leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU . – Francisco Morazán • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Cerro Uyuca ; 1800 m a.s.l.; 10 May 1994; H. Howden leg.; Malaise trap; DEBU • 5 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 27 May 1994; DEBU • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 30 May 1994; DEBU • 3 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 3 Jun. 1994; DEBU • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 6 Jun. 1994; DEBU • 1 ♀; Uyuca, San Antonio de Oriente ; 6 Feb. 1995; R. Cordiro leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU . – Olancho • 4 ♀♀; La Muralla National Park ; 15°05′49″ N, 86°44′17″ W; 1450 m a.s.l.; 4–7 Jul. 2002; Smith and Ocampo leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU .

JAMAICA – Saint Andrew Parish • 2 ♀♀; 8 km N of Irish Town ; 1000 m a.s.l.; 8 Jun. 1989; M. Sörensson and B. Mårtensson leg.; MZLU • 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀; Hardwar Gap ; 1200 m a.s.l.; 10 Jul. 1966; Howden and Becker leg.; CNCI • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Holliwell Park at Hardwar Gap ; 1200 m a.s.l.; 11 Jun. 1989; M. Sörensson and B. Mårtensson leg.; MZLU . – Saint Peter Parish • 1 ♀; 5 km S of Portsmouth at Jarige River ; 25 m a.s.l.; 23 Jun. 1989; M. Sörensson and B. Mårtensson leg.; MZLU .

MEXICO – Guerrero • 1 ♂; Iguala ; 1525 m a.s.l.; 18 Jul. 1962; H.E. Milliron leg.; CNCI . – Hidalgo • 2 ♂♂; 12.8 km from Zimapán ; Jul. 1954; University of Kansas Mexico Expedition leg.; SEMC . – Jalisco • 1 ♀; 32 km SW of Tepatitlán ; 1700 m a.s.l.; 20 Aug. 1954; University of Kansas Mexico Expedition leg.; SEMC . – Michoacán • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Carapa ; 2 Sep. 1938; L.J. Lipovsky leg.; SEMC • 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Morelia ; 4 Sep. 1938; L.J. Lipovsky leg.; SEMC • 2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; 7 Sep. 1938; SEMC . – Morelos • 11 ♂♂; 4.8 km S of Cuernavaca ; 10 Aug. 1938; L.J. Lipovsky leg.; SEMC • 1 ♂; 6.4 km S of Tres Cumbres , km 57 ¾; 2600 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug.–4 Sep. 1971; A. Newton leg.; human dung; FMNH • 1 ♀; Cuernavaca ; 1 Aug. 1938; L.J. Lipovsky leg.; SEMC • 2 ♂♂; Tres Cumbres ; 20 Sep. 1938; L.J. Lipovsky leg.; SEMC . – Querétaro • 1 ♂; 4.6 km SE of San Joaquin ; 20°53′05″ N, 99°31′51″ W; 2520 m a.s.l.; 16 Aug. 2009; M.G. Branstetter leg.; oak forest, sifted leaf litter; DEBU • 1 ♂; 13.1 km SSE of Huimilpan ; 20°15′40″ N, 100°14′05″ W; 2615 m a.s.l.; 17 Aug. 2009; M.G. Branstetter leg.; oak forest, sifted leaf litter; DEBU • 1 ♀; 13.6 km SSE of Huimilpan ; 20°15′08″ N, 100°15′18″ W; 2720 m a.s.l.; 17 Aug. 2009; L. Sáenz leg.; oak forest, sifted leaf litter; UVGC . – San Luis Potosi • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 32.2 km W of Xilitla ; 1615 m a.s.l.; 22 Jul. 1954; J.G. Chillcott leg.; CNCI • 1 ♂; 40 km W of Xilitla ; 1700 m a.s.l.; 12 Jun.–6 Aug. 1983; S. and J. Peck leg.; pine-oak forest, flight-intercept trap; CNCI . – Sinaloa • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; 24 km W of El Palmito ; 1500 m a.s.l.; 30 Jul. 1964; W. R. M. Mason leg.; CNCI .

VENEZUELA – Aragua • 2 ♀♀; Henri Pittier National Park, Maracay –Choroni Highway, km 19; 1330 m a.s.l.; 15 Apr. 1994; L. Masner leg.; creek; DEBU • 1 ♀; Maracay, Rancho Grande Biological Station ; 1250 m a.s.l.; 5 Mar. 1995; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep along trail; DEBU . – Bolívar • 1 ♀; 26 km N of Guasipati; 24 Jun. –12 Jul ; 1987; S. and J. Peck leg.; sandy seasonally humid forest, flight-intercept trap; DEBU . – Lara • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Yacambu ; 1200 m a.s.l.; 7 May 1981; H. Townes leg.; cloud forest; CNCI • 1 ♀; Yacambu ; 1200 m a.s.l.; 10 May 1981; H.K. Townes leg.; CNCI . – Trujillo • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 10 km E of Bocono, Laguna de Lucerdo ; 1760 m a.s.l.; 3 Mar. 1995; S.A. Marshall leg.; slash/compost; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; sweep; DEBU • 7 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Bocono–Guaramacal Road ; 2130 m a.s.l.; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep wet litter; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Bocono, road to Guaramacal ; 2130 m a.s.l.; 2 Mar. 1995; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; sweep over mud; DEBU • 1 ♂; Guaramacal National Park , 14 km NE of Bocono; 2000 m a.s.l.; 25 Aug.–1 Sep. 1992; L. Masner leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂; Mosquey near Bocono ; 1500 m a.s.l.; 24 Aug. 1992; L. Masner leg.; coffee plantation, maxinet; DEBU .

Redescription

BODY ( Fig. 119A ). Length 2.4–3.4 mm. Head brown, lower quarter of frons orange; face, gena, and antennae dark brown. Frontal width 2.2–2.3× frontal height. Three pairs of strong interfrontal bristles surmounting a very fine fourth pair; anterior orbital 0.4–0.5 × length of posterior. Palpus yellow. Eye slightly reduced, greatest height about 2.5× shortest genal height. Thorax brown, scutum with paler lateral edges. Two pairs of dorsocentral bristles (anterior pair distinct, 0.4× length of posterior pair) separated by 7–8 rows of acrostichal setulae. Membrane around prosternum sometimes with a dark, semi-sclerotized, non-setulose patch. Legs brown, fore and hind femora darker. Fore femur with three large ventral preapical setae. Ventral surface of male mid tibia with two rows of stout setae in apical third. Wing ( Fig. 8J ) slightly infuscate. CS2 0.7–0.8 × CS3. Halter pale brown with white apex.

MALE ABDOMEN ( Figs 119B–C , 120 ). Dark brown, posterior edges of tergites sometimes slightly desclerotized. T2–5 and S2–4 uniformly long-setose with large posterolateral setae. S5 rectangular, 1.5× length of S4, laterally long-setose with a keyhole-shaped medial perforation flanked by outwardly flared flanges along posterolateral half, posterior edge of S5 with medial setulae and two dark subtriangular sclerites. Anterior flange of S6+7 2.0× as long as wide, with an unusually deep cleft between S6 and S7. Sclerite A pale, setulose, extending to about midline; sclerite B small and indistinct; sclerite C long, narrow, and arched; sclerite D short, blade-like and apparently fused to left posteromedial sclerite of S5; sclerite E long, apically bifurcate; sclerite F large and sinuate; sclerite G elongate with a rounded ventral lobe; ring sclerite thick but lightly sclerotized. Epandrium large, 0.6× length of S8, height 1.5× maximum length and 0.9× maximum width, uniformly setose; anal fissure large and triangular, widest at base; perianal pads moderately sclerotized but flat and narrow. Pseudocercus large, elongate, separate from epandrium and bearing 3–4 setae; halves of subepandrial sclerite dark, swollen, bilobed and broadly fused medially. Subcercus large and folded over itself, inner half elongate with a small posteroventral process, outer half broader and smooth with small lobes contacting surstylus and epandrium. Hypandrium with long, narrow anteromedial apodeme. Surstylus elongate, subrectangular, apically setose with a large anteroventral lobe. Postgonite elongate, sinuate, and tapered. Phallapodeme large with a broad dorsal ‘fin’; basiphallus dorsoventrally flattened with two long posterior lobes; distiphallus well sclerotized, basal half with a serrate posterior ridge, apical half with a dark bifurcate ventral sclerite and large, distally flanged ventrolateral lobes.

FEMALE ABDOMEN ( Fig. 121 ). T7 broad, posteroventral corners rounded; T8 very dark, separated dorsally by a small gap, posteroventral corners elongate and projecting dorsally. Epiproct broad, medially desclerotized, and setulose. Cercus broad and tapered anteriorly, with long apical and dorsal setae. S7 subtriangular with four large posterior setae; S8 reduced to two minute lateral sclerites, usually hidden under corners of T8. Three spermathecae, bulb spherical, finely striate with a shallow basal and deep subbasal invagination.

Distribution

Neotropical: Costa Rica, Dominica *, Dominican Republic *, Guatemala *, Honduras *, Jamaica *, Mexico *, Venezuela *.

Remarks

Sclerocoelus rectangularis appears to be closely related to the mostly Central American S. dasysternum group and it externally similar to most species in the group. Sclerocoelus rectangularis can be easily distinguished from all congeners by the darkened, non-sclerotized, non-setose patch in the membrane around the prosternum, raised medial flanges on the male S5, distinctively triangular anal fissure, and laterally folded surstylus. It is a relatively common species in Mexico, Central America, northern South America, and parts of the Caribbean, and is among the most frequently collected of the six Caribbean Sclerocoelus species (the other Caribbean species are the relatively widespread S. dasysternum sp. nov., S. regularis , S. caribensis , and S. vulgatus sp. nov., and the Dominican endemic S. dominicensis sp. nov.).

Figures

Fig. 8. Sclerocoelus Marshall, 1995, left wings, ventral view. A. Sclerocoelus nebulosus sp. nov. B. Sclerocoelus nitidistylus sp. nov. C. Sclerocoelus ocellatus sp. nov. D. Sclerocoelus paranebulosus sp. nov. E. Sclerocoelus pararegularis sp. nov. F. Sclerocoelus parasordipes sp. nov. G. Sclerocoelus plumiseta (Duda, 1925) H. Sclerocoelus punensis sp. nov. I. Sclerocoelus puyensis sp. nov.J. Sclerocoelus rectangularis (Malloch, 1914). Scale bars: A–J=0.5 mm.

Fig. 119. Sclerocoelus rectangularis (Malloch, 1914). A. Male habitus, lateral view. B. Male terminalia, posterior view. C. Male terminalia, lateral view. Abbreviations: epa= epandrium; pc=pseudocercus; sc =subcercus; se =subepandrial sclerite; ss =surstylus. Scale bars: A=1.0 mm; B–C = 0.25 mm.

Fig. 120. Sclerocoelus rectangularis (Malloch, 1914). A. Aedeagus and associated structures, lateral view. B. Male S5 and genital pouch, ventral view. C. Subcercal complex, ventral view. Abbreviations: bp =basiphallus; dp = distiphallus; hyp =hypandrium; pg =postgonite; ph = phallapodeme; sc = subcercus; ss= surstylus. Scale bars: A= 0.13 mm; B–C =0.25 mm.

Fig. 121. Sclerocoelus rectangularis (Malloch, 1914). A. Female terminalia, dorsal view. B. Female terminalia, ventral view. C. Female terminalia, lateral view. D. Spermatheca. Scale bars:A–C =0.25 mm; D =0.03 mm.