Elachiptera eulophus (Loew) Wheeler & Forrest, 2002

Wheeler, Terry A. & Forrest, Jessica, 2002, A new species of Elachiptera Macquart from the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, and the taxonomic status of Ceratobarys Coquillett (Diptera: Chloropidae), Zootaxa 98, pp. 1-9 : 7

Elachiptera eulophus (Loew) comb. nov. ( Figs. 11­15 )

Hippelates eulophus Loew, 1872: 104

Ceratobarys eulophus ; Coquillett, 1898: 45

Diagnosis.­ Similar to Elachiptera cultrata except as follows: Arista broad and parallelsided for almost entire length, narrowing only at tip ( Fig. 13 ); hind tibia with strong, black, preapical ventral spur, as long as or longer than tibial diameter ( Fig. 11 ); abdominal tergites mostly light brown, often darker medially. Male postabdomen ( Figs. 14­15 ): cercus triangular, projecting ventrally, not posteriorly, with single long seta and a few shorter setae; cerci widely separated by broadly rounded cleft ( Fig. 14 ); distiphallus weakly sclerotized, with slightly expanded, blunt apex ( Fig. 15 ).

Type material.­ 2 syntypes (1M, 1F): “ Texas Belfr.; Loew Coll; type 13370 ”; “ Texas Belfr.; Loew Coll; eulophus m; type 2 13370” ( MCZ, not examined) .

Other material examined.­ USA: Louisiana: 7M, 6F, St. Tammany Co., Pearl River , 02.xii.1990, T.A. Wheeler, sweeping grass in meadow ( LEM) .

Comments.­ This species is easily identified in keys to the Nearctic Chloropidae (e.g., Sabrosky 1987) and its identity has never been in doubt because of the combination of broad arista, long hind­tibial spur and shining yellow colour. While convenient for recognition, these characters may account for the lack of detailed study of characters such as the male genitalia. Examination of other characters has confirmed the morphological similarity and apparent close relationship to species like E. cultrata . The known distribution of E. eulophus is restricted to the southeastern United States as far south as Texas and Florida ( Sabrosky 1938); there are no Neotropical records.

Figures

FIGURES 11 ­ 15. Elachiptera eulophus. 11. hind tibia, and basal tarsal segments (lateral); 12. scutellum; 13. antenna; 14. male genitalia (posterior); 15. male genitalia (lateral). Scale bar = 0.1 mm (Figs. 14 ­ 15).