Eurygarka helicis ( Dyar 1929 )

Curler, Gregory R. & Moulton, John K., 2008, A review of the Nearctic species of the genus Eurygarka Quate (Diptera: Psychodidae), Zootaxa 1740, pp. 28-36 : 31

Eurygarka helicis ( Dyar 1929)

( Figs. 7–8, 10 )

Diagnosis. Larva: Unknown. Pupa: Unknown. Adult: Male eye bridge divided by less than 1 facet diameter. Female eye bridge divided by nearly 2 facet diameters. Male ascoids: medial anterior branches with 6, and lateral anterior branches with 5 longitudinal veins. Male palpi with palpomere 2 slightly laterally expanded. Male terminalia: gonocoxites with a posteromedial lobe bearing 5 setiform sensilla; gonostyles tapering progressively from base to apex, not curved apically, with a bulge dorsobasally; bulge covered with setiform sensilla; aedeagus furcate apically; sternal bridge quadrate; ventral extensions of parameres sinuous; cercopods cylindrical, retinacula length greater than 1/2 length of cercopod. Female terminalia: hypovalvae digitiform, with apex rounded.

Description. Larva: Unknown.

Pupa: Unknown.

Adult Male ( Figs. 7–8, 10 ): Measurements, (N = 2) head width 0.43 mm, head length 0.37 mm, wing length 1.67 mm (1.63–1.70), wing width 0.67 mm, palpomere proportion: 1–1.6–2.4–3.4. Eye bridge divided by less than 1 facet diameter. Frontal scar patch subquadrate anteriorly, bilobed posteriorly, with a median spur. Antennal flagellum typical of Eurygarka . Ascoids: medial anterior branches with 6, and lateral anterior branches with 5 longitudinal veins. Palpi with palpomere 2 slightly laterally expanded. Mouthparts slightly laterally compressed. Wing: radial and medial forks at same level, arising basal to apex of CuA2; base of M2 complete. Terminalia: gonocoxites with posteromedial lobe bearing 5 setiform sensilla; gonostyles tapering progressively from base to apex, not curved apically, with dorsobasally bulge covered with setiform sensilla. Aedeagus furcate apically; sternal bridge quadrate, with knob-like projections laterally; ventral extensions of parameres sinuous; cercopods cylindrical, retinacula length greater than 1/2 length of cercopod.

Adult Female: Eyebridge divided by 1 facet diameter. Frontal scar patch as in male. Antenna typical of Eurygarka . Palpi typical of Eurygarka . Mouthparts as in male. Wing venation as in male, but with 2 breaks at base of costa. Terminalia: Cerci as long as broad. Subgenital plate with hypovalvae digitiform, with apex rounded.

Type material. Holotype [adult male]: CUBA. Jaronú, 26.ix.1927, reared from snails, H. K. Plank. Type deposited at U.S. N.M.

Other Records. U.S.A. FLORIDA: Atlantic Beach, 1.v.1945, coll. A.E. Pritchard. ALABAMA: Auburn, 29.viii.1948, coll. J. Robinson.

Distribution. Known from two locations in the southeastern United States, and a single location in Cuba.

Remarks. Adults of E. helicis are unique among known species of Eurygarka , and can be readily distinguished by the divided eye bridge and shape of the gonostyles in the male and the shape of the subgenital plate in the female.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 10. Eurygarka helicis (Dyar). 7. Male head, frontal view. 8. Male terminalia, dorsal view. 9. Male antennal flagellomere 8 with ascoids, left antenna, frontal view. Eurygarka nelderi Curler n. sp. 10. Male terminalia, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm (7), 0.1 mm (8, 10), 0.05 mm (9).