Arenigena floridensis Webb, 2009

Webb, Donald W., 2009, A revision of the genera Acrosathe Irwin and Lyneborg, Arenigena Irwin and Lyneborg, and Litolinga Irwin and Lyneborg (Diptera: Therevidae: Therevinae) from the Nearctic Region, Zootaxa 2091 (1), pp. 1-67 : 45-46

Arenigena floridensis Webb spec. nov.

( Figs. 50 , 72–79 )

Etymology. Ensis (Latin) = a suffix denoting place, locality, or country. This name refers to the State of Florida, USA.

Diagnosis. Arenigena floridensis is similar to A. albiseta and A. semitaria in the male having the inner gonocoxal process bilobed ( Fig. 74 ). It differs from A. albiseta in having the gonocoxite ventral view ( Fig. 73 ) lacking a posteromedial aggregation of dense setae; the ventral lobe ( Fig.73 ) with apical setae; the dorsal apodeme ( Fig. 76 ) moderately expanded laterally with the anterior margin emarginate; and the furca ( Fig. 79 ) quadrate with the posterior margin truncate. It differs from A. semitaria in having wing veins and cross-veins yellow, lacking a brown margin; the proepimeron setose across the dorsal margin; the male sternite 8 with setae continuous across posterior margin ( Fig. 73 ); the ventral lobe ( Fig.73 ) with apical setae; the dorsal apodeme ( Fig. 76 ) broadly rounded laterally with the anterior margin emarginate; and the furca ( Fig. 79 ) quadrate with the posterior margin truncate.

Description of MALE. Variation (n=9).

Body length 7.0–8.4, 8.0 mm.

Head. Length 0.94–1.20, 1.08 mm. Ocellar tubercle dark reddish brown, pubescence gray, dense; setae pale white, short. Frons pubescence whitish gray, dense; setae absent. Antenna with scape yellowish brown, pedicel and flagellum dark brown, base and apical third of first flagellomere yellowish brown; antenna/head length 0.57–0.67, 0.63; scape length 0.16–0.22, 0.20 mm, width 0.14–0.20, 0.16 mm, length/width 1.0–1.4, 1.2, scape/pedicel length 2.0–2.8, 2.4, scape/flagellum width 0.8–1.1, 1.0, setae white, short; pedicel length 0.08–0.09, 0.08 mm, width 0.14–0.18, 0.16 mm, length/width 0.4–0.6, 0.5; flagellum (narrow apical portion of first flagellomere short), length 0.34–0.48, 0.41 mm, width 0.16–0.18, 0.18 mm, length/width 1.9–3.0, 2.3, flagellum/scape length 1.6–2.4, 2.1. Parafacial pubescence white. Gena rounded ventrally; setae white, elongate. Maxillary palpus yellow; length 0.34–0.42, 0.38 mm, width 0.06–0.08, 0.06 mm, length/width 5.3–7.3, 6.2; setae white to pale yellow, elongate. Occipital setae white, elongate white, abundant dorsally.

Thorax. Macrosetae 2–3 np, 1–2 sa, 1–2 dc. Mesonotum dull brownish gray, pubescence gray, dense; setae white, elongate. Pleuron pubescence gray, dense; setae white, elongate on propleuron, proepimeron (along dorsal margin), anepisternum, katepisternum (setae abundant along anterior margin), laterotergite, metanepisternum, and scutellum. Wing. Membrane pale whitish, veins yellow; length 5.7–7.4, 6.4 mm, width 2.0–2.4, 2.2 mm, length/width 2.6–3.0, 2.9; pterostigma brown. Legs. Coxae pubescence white, dense; setae white, elongate. Femora dark reddish brown, pubescence white; ventral setae white, elongate, dorsal setae white, appressed. Tibiae dark yellowish brown to brown. Tarsi 1 yellowish brown, apex dark brown; 2–5 dark brown.

Abdomen. Pubescence white, dense; dorsal setae white, elongate, erect, abundant; lateral setae white, elongate. Terminalia (MEI 128599) brown. Tergite 8 ( Fig. 72 ), setae pale yellow. Sternite 8 ( Fig. 73 ), rectangular, sides rounded, posterior margin truncate; setae pale yellow, continuous across posterior margin. Epandrium ( Fig. 72 ) quadrate; posterolateral margin short, broadly pointed; setae yellow. Cerci ( Fig. 72 ), ending basal to apex of hypoproct. Hypoproct ( Fig. 72 ), posterior margin deeply emarginate. Gonocoxite ventral view ( Fig. 73 ), quadrate, median margin tapering posteriorly to blunt point, setae yellow; lateral view ( Fig. 74 ), oval, tapering posteriorly to blunt point, inner gonocoxal process bilobed, dorsal projection broadly pointed with dark yellow apical setae, ventral projection narrow; ventral lobe ( Fig. 73 ) with short setae apically. Gonostylus lateral view ( Fig. 75 ) thick, cylindrical, broadly curved posterodorsally; setae yellow. Aedeagus with dorsal apodeme ( Fig. 76 ) broad, expanded posterolaterally, anterior margin emarginate; ventral apodeme ( Fig. 77 ), broad, sides parallel, anterior margin truncate; distiphallus dorsal view ( Fig.76 ) broad basally, tapered posteriorly; lateral view ( Fig. 78 ) thick basally, sinuate; aedeagal apodeme ( Figs. 76–77 ) extending beyond anterior margin of dorsal apodeme.

FEMALE. Similar to male except for following. Variation (n=3).

Body length 8.2–10.2, 9.1 mm.

Head. Length 1.00–1.12, 1.04 mm. Frons pubescence whitish gray, dense; setae white, short, appressed, scattered. Antenna/head length 0.70–0.73, 0.71; scape length 0.20–0.24, 0.22 mm, width 0.16–0.20, 0.18 mm, length/width 1.1–1.3, 1.2, scape/pedicel length 2.4–2.5, 2.4, scape/flagellum width 0.9–1.1, 1.0; pedicel length 0.08–0.10, 0.09 mm, width 0.16–0.18, 0.17 mm, length/width 0.5–0.6, 0.5; flagellum length 0.42–0.45, 0.43 mm, width 0.16–0.20, 0.18 mm, length/width 2.3–2.6, 2.4, flagellum/scape length 1.9–2.1, 2.0. Maxillary palpus length 0.38–0.41, 0.40 mm, width 0.06 mm, length/width 6.3–6.8, 6.6.

Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 1–2 sa, 1–2 dc. Wing. Length 5.8–7.7, 6.6 mm, width 2.2–2.7, 2.4 mm, length/ width 2.6–2.9, 2.7.

Abdomen. Dark brown, pubescence whitish gray, dense; dorsal setae white, appressed over entire abdomen. Terminalia (MEI 109201). Furca ( Fig. 79 ), rectangular, anterior and posterior margins truncate; length 0.50 mm, width 0.34 mm; anterolateral projections short.

Immature stages. Eleven males (MEI 128566, 128568, 128574, 128580, 128588, 128597, 128599, 128601–4) and 2 females (MEI 128584–5) have been reared from larvae sieved from gopher tortoise burrows.

Distribution. Arenigena floridensis is known from Florida ( Fig. 50 ).

Habitats and Phenology. Arenigena floridensis has been reared from larvae sieved from gopher tortoise burrows in Florida.

Specimens examined. Type specimens. The holotype male of Arenigena floridensis Webb (MEI 128566) is labeled " FLORIDA: Putnam County, Hollister-Roberts ranch, 12-XII-1984 (larva), Eric G. Milstrey, E.G., gopher tortoise burrow" and is deposited in FSCA. PARATYPES. UNITED STATES. Florida. Putnam County. [Hollister], Hollister-Roberts Ranch [29.623, -81.814], 26.III.1985, Milstrey, E.G., 1♂ MEI 128601 ( FSCA), sieved gopher tortoise burrow ; 3.IV.1985, 1♀ MEI 128585 ( INHS), sieved gopher tortoise burrow ; 18.V.1985, 1♂ MEI 128604 ( FSCA), sieved gopher tortoise burrow ; 24.VI.1985, 1♂ MEI 128580 ( MEIC), sieved gopher tortoise burrow ; 27.VI.1985 1♂ MEI 128574 ( FSCA), sieved gopher tortoise burrow ; 26.VIII.1985, 1♂ MEI 128602 ( FSCA), sieved gopher tortoise burrow ; 7.XI.1985 1♂ MEI 128571 ( CSCA), 1♀ 128588 ( USNM), sieved gopher tortoise burrow ; 16–18.I.1986, 1♀ MEI 128584 ( FSCA), sieved gopher tortoise burrow ; 19.I.1986, 1♂ MEI 128597 ( FSCA), sieved gopher tortoise burrow ; 23.I.1986, 1♂ MEI 128568 ( USNM), sieved gopher tortoise burrow ; 26.I.1986, 1♂ MEI 128599 ( INHS), sieved gopher tortoise burrow ; 7.I.1988 1♂ MEI 128603 ( FSCA), sieved gopher tortoise burrow

Figures

FIGURE 50–53. Distribution map. 50. Acrosathe bimaculata closed circle, Arenigena floridensis closed triangle, Litolinga tergisa open circle. 51. Acrosathe falcata closed circle, Ac. pacifica open circle. 52. Acrosathe otiosa. 53. Acrosathe vanduzeei.

FIGURES 72–79. Arenigena floridensis. 72. Tergite 8, epandrium, cerci. 73. Sternite 8, gonocoxite ventral view. 74. Gonocoxite, lateral view. 75. Gonostylus lateral view. 76. Aedeagus, dorsal view. 77. Aedeagus, ventral view. 78. Aedeagus, lateral view. 79. Female internal reproductive organs.