Copestylum apiciferum, (TOWNSEND, 1895)

Rotheray, Graham E., Marcos-García, Maria-Angeles, Hancock, Geoff, Pérez-Bañón, Celeste & Maier, Chris T., 2009, Neotropical Copestylum (Diptera, Syrphidae) breeding in Agavaceae and Cactaceae including seven new species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 156 (4), pp. 697-749 : 715

COPESTYLUM APICIFERUM (TOWNSEND, 1895)

Larva and puparium ( Fig. 25 ): Anterior fold with band of spicules rounded not tapered at outer limits. Longest vestiture of dorsum of prothorax shorter than longest spicules on the anterior fold. Posterior breathing tube about as long as wide above poorly defined TR ( Fig. 66 ). AP tapering to half width of TR and 0.9¥ as long as TR is wide. Pupal spiracles separated by 2.1¥ their length and openings not clustered closely together at the apex but spread down the upper third and separated by about 2¥ diameter of an opening ( Fig. 67 ).

Taxonomic notes: Copestylum apiciferum is separated from C. quadratum (Williston, 1891) and C. milae sp. nov. by the pattern of distribution formed by spicules at the ends of the band on the anterior fold that are rounded not tapered, AP not as long as TR is wide and the distribution of the openings on the pupal spiracles, which are distributed over the apical third and not clustered at the apex. Copestylum apiciferum is separated from C. hidalgense sp. nov. by the absence of spicules on the anterodorsal margin of the mesothorax.

Material examined: Five larvae USA Arizona, Pima Co., Santa Catalina Mountains , Lower Bear Canyon 1.ii.1965 J. Burger ex decaying Carnegiea gigantea (Englem.) Britton and Rose 1908 (= Cereus giganteus Englem. ) (SI); one larva USA Arizona, Pima Co., 20.iv.1973 C. T. M. ex decaying C. gigantea (NMS) 1 ♂, 3 ♀, six puparia USA Arizona, Pima Co., 24 km west of Tucson 21.iii.1979 C. T. M. ex rot pocket of Ferocactus sp. (Britton and Rose 1922) (NMS).

Previous records: Ryckman & Ames (1953), Santana (1961) both ex C. gigantea ; Maier (1982) ex Ferocactus sp.

Figures

Figures 25–27. Third stage larval Copestylum, whole larva, head to the right; scale bar = 7 mm. 25. Copestylum apiciferum; 26, Copestylum isabellina; 27, Copestylum sica.

Figures 66–67. Puparium of Copestylum apiciferum, scanning electron photomicrographs, scales as indicated on images. 66, posterior breathing tube (prp), dorsal view width at TR = 1.25 mm; 67, pupal spiracle, dorsolateral view length = 0.85 mm.