Corethrella (Corethrella) orthicola Borkent, 2008

Published, First, 2008, The Frog-Biting Midges of the World (Corethrellidae: Diptera), Zootaxa 1804, pp. 1-456 : 112-113

Corethrella (Corethrella) orthicola Borkent , new species

DIAGNOSIS: Male adult: unknown. Female adult: only extant species of Corethrella in the New World with the clypeus wider than long ( Fig. 17 AP), flagellomeres 2 and 3 moderately elongate ( Fig. 29A), flagellomere 3 without a sensillum coeloconicum, flagellomere 12 with only one sensillum coeloconicum, thorax medium or dark brown ( Fig. 48C), a distinct midlength wing band with the dark scales of these present on all veins and more basal dark scales restricted to C and Sc (Fig. 69E), halter medium to dark brown and either as dark as or lighter than scutellum, midfemur slender and dark brown with base equal to that of base of hind femur, base of hind tibia darkly pigmented (contrasting with pale apex of hind femur) and with basal and apical pigmentation discrete and mid- and hind leg tarsomeres 2–4 with uniformly pigmented setae (no banding) (Fig. 69E), and midfemur without scales.

DESCRIPTION: Male adult. Unknown. Female adult. Descriptive statistics: see Tables 6–11. Head: Outline in anterior view laterally elongate ( Fig. 10B). Coronal suture short, extending ventrally about midway along area between ommatidia (as in Fig. 16F). Two large setae on frons between ventromedial area of ommatida (as in Fig. 16F). Antenna medium brown; pedicel with at least one distinctive, more elongate, stout, dorsal or dorsolateral seta; flagellomeres as in Fig. 29A, sensilla coeloconica distributed as in Table 1. Clypeus ( Fig. 17 AP) wide. Mandible with small, pointed teeth. Palpus ( Fig. 34L) pale; segment 3 somewhat ovoid, swollen at or near midlength. Thorax (as in Fig. 48C): Medium or dark brown, pale sclerites around base of wing, scutellum with darker anteromedial spot. Prescutal suture elongate, interrupted by area of pale cuticle. Posterior portion of dorsocentral row with 2 elongate setae situated somewhat lateral to one another. Prescutal suture short, not extending more than half way to dorsocentral row of setae. Anterior anepisternum divided diagonally by sinuous suture, dorsal portion about equal to ventral portion. Ventral portion of posterior anepisternum triangular, uniformly brown, with anterodorsal margin thick. Wing (Fig. 69E): Apex of R 2 basal to apex of M 1. Anterior margin with differently, discretely pigmented scales (indicating anterior margin of midlength band), with midlength band, more basal dark scales on C, Sc; veins (other than costa and wing margin) with well-developed scales. Halter medium to dark brown, paler or as dark as scutellum. Legs (as in Fig. 48C): Dark brown, with foreleg knee pale, apical 0–0.16 midfemur pale, basal portion of midtibia somewhat lightened, apical 0.5 hind femur pale, hind tibia pale but with discrete basal and apical dark pigmentation. With only slender setae, lacking scales (except for some in patch of whip-like setae on posterior portion of hind tibia). Midleg with thick, subapical setae on each of at least tarsomeres 1–3. Claws of each leg equal to those of others; equal on each leg, simple (without inner teeth). Empodia slender. Abdomen: Medium brown with sternites 1–2 slightly darker, segments 8–9 dark brown. Cercus dark brown

Immatures. Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION AND BIONOMICS: Corethrella orthicola is known from the Talamanca Mountains in Costa Rica (Fig. 119B) at altitudes ranging from 1500–1850 m. Specimens have been collected using Malaise traps.

TAXONOMIC DISCUSSION: There may be more than one species present in the type series. At the type locality, one specimen had comparatively dark halters and there is addition variation in the shape of the antennal flagellomeres..

TYPES: Holotype, female adult on microscope slide, labeled " HOLOTYPE Corethrella orthicola Borkent ”, “CR, Prov. San José, Est. Santa Elena, 1850 m, 6-VII–6-VIII-1997, E. Alfaro, M. SEgura, #52207, LS 371200 509800, CD5073” (INBC). Paratypes: 1 ♀, from type locality but 20-III–15-IV-1997 ( INBC) ; 2 ♀ from type locality ( INBC) ; 1 ♀, Torre del I. C.E., entre Porras y Villegas, La Represa, Cartago, Costa Rica, 1800 m, VII-1997 ( INBC) ; 1 ♀, Rio Dos Amigos , Tapantí, Cartago, Costa Rica, 1500 m, 3-VI–6-VI-1995 ( CNCI) .

DERIVATION OF SPECIFIC EPITHET: The name orthicola (high, inhabiting) recognizes the high elevations from which this species has been collected.