Copestylum hoya, (CURRAN, 1947)

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 : 721-722

COPESTYLUM HOYA (CURRAN, 1947)

Puparium: Anterior spiracles with three openings. Spicules not extending onto and between longitudinal folds on the dorsum of the prothorax. Anterodorsal margin of mesothorax without spicules. Lateral margins of mesothorax with a group of about six spicules. Anteroventral margin of metathorax with a linear band of spicules, longest spicules on the lateral margins. Thoracic vestiture of densely arranged, fine setae shorter than spicules. Mesothoracic prolegs with five crochets in the primary transverse row, smaller ten+ crochets behind. Prolegs not greatly developed, transverse with translucent or pale brown crochets only on abdominal segments 1–3 and crochets not longer than surrounding vestiture. Posterior breathing tube orange, shiny above TR and punctured to just below apex. AP about as long as TR. AP 0.38 mm, about as long as TR is wide. Pupal spiracles 1.05 mm long, bands conspicuous and extending to 0.75¥ length of spiracle.

Taxonomic notes: Copestylum hoya is similar to both apparent species of the C. apicale complex but separable in the adult stage by overall, paler, body colours and well developed basolateral, depressed regions on the scutellum. In the apparent species depressed regions are poorly defined and body colours are darker. In the early stages C. hoya is separated from these apparent species by the absence of spicules on the anterodorsal margin of the mesothorax and crochets as short or shorter than surrounding vestiture. In both apparent species the crochets are more developed and longer and they possess spicules on the mesothoracic, anterodorsal margin. We examined three paratypes of C. apicale that had associated puparia but in all three the prothoracic shield was missing. Thus, we were unable to determine whether C. apicale is similar to the apparent species in having spicules on the anterodorsal margin of the mesothorax. Copestylum hoya is the only species considered here that is not confined to Cactaceae and has been reared from decaying inga fruits in Costa Rica (details under Material examined).

Material examined ( INBio except where stated): Copestylum hoya : 2 ♀, two puparia COSTA RICA collected by Calixto Moraga, ex decaying fruits of Inga cinnamomea Spruce ex Benth 1875 (Leguminoseae) , no further data; 2 ♂, 2 ♀, four puparia COSTA RICA, Guanacaste, La Cruz, Santa Elena 26.vi.2000 DBC ex H. costaricensis (Cactaceae) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, two puparia COSTA RICA, San José, Santa Cruz, Est. Barra Honda 9.x.1999 Y. Cárdenas ex decaying cactus; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, two puparia COSTA RICA, Guanacaste, Rincón de la Viega, 18.i.2005 C. P. B. and M. Zumbado; 1 ♀, one puparium COSTA RICA, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa, 19.i.2005 C. P. B. and M. Zumbado; 2 ♂, 2 ♀, four puparia MEXICO, Tehuacán, Puebla Zapotitlán, Salinas, Jardín Botánico 7.vii.1999 E. G. H., M. A. M., G. E. R. ex decaying fallen cactus ( NMS) ; C. apicale complex, first apparent species: 5 ♂, 2 ♀, six puparia, two larvae, COSTA RICA, Guanacaste, La Cruz, Santa Elena , coll. 26.vi.2000 DBC ex decaying H. costaricensis . 2 ♂, 1 ♀, three puparia, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa , Playa Naranjo , coll. 26–28.vi.2000 DBC, E. G. H., G. E. R. ex decaying platyclades of O. guatemalensis ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, two puparia Guanacaste, Santa Cruz , collected 9.viii.2000 Y. Cárdenas no further data ( INBio) ; C. apicale complex, second apparent species: 1 ♂, WEST INDIES, Trinidad, Chacachare Island , vii.2007 ex wet hole in live columnar cactus ( HM) .