Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner, 1866

Camargo, Alexssandro, Vieira, Rodrigo & Rafael, José Albertino, 2024, Taxonomic review of Aphestia Schiner, 1866 (Diptera: Asilidae: Laphriinae) with description of seven new species, Zootaxa 5436 (1), pp. 1-80 : 15-19

Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner, 1866 stat. rev.

( Figs 7–9 , 38 )

Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner, 1866: 673 ; Schiner, 1867: 378; Williston, 1891: 78 (catalogue); Williston, 1901: 317 (comments); Kertész, 1909, 167 (catalogue); Hermann, 1912: 122 (synonymization with Aphestia annulipes ( Macquart, 1838)) ; Hull, 1962 (1): 383 (synopsis of world fauna); Martin & Papavero, 1970: 50 (catalogue); Artigas, Papavero & Serra, 1991: 57 ( Atomosiini catalogue); Papavero, 2009: 85 (catalogue).

Atomosia annulipes ; Bromley, 1946: 108, 110 (catalogue).

Diagnosis. Frons and face white pruinose; mystacal macrosetae and setae yellowish white with black macrosetae on ventral half ( Fig. 7C–D ); cell r5 closed before wing margin ( Fig. 7H ); legs mostly dark brown with stout macrosetae ( Fig 7B ); abdominal tergites at least with two lateral marginal macrosetae.

Redescription. Holotype male ( Figs 7A–E, G ). Head ( Fig. 7C–D ): black, white pruinose; orbital setae yellowish; narrow apruinose stripe between base of antennae and ocellar tubercle; mystacal macrosetae and setae yellowish white with black macrosetae on ventral half ( Fig. 7C–D ); ocellar tubercle apruinose; ocelli yellowish, 2 yellowish ocellar setae; vertex pruinosity, forming a V towards occiput, yellowish setose; 12 yellowish postocular macrosetae; occipital and lower occipital setae white; proboscis shining black, proboscial and labial setae yellowish; palpus black, yellowish and black setose ( Fig. 7C–D ). Antenna: black with concolor setae, except scape with yellowish white setae ventrally; sensorial area grey pruinose, sensorial element yellow ( Fig. 7E ).

Thorax ( Fig. 7A–B, G ): black, white pruinose ( Fig. 7B ); apex of postpronotal lobe reddish; postalar callus dark reddish brown. Chaetotaxy: mostly white setose, except punctations yellowish, few black on scutum laterally, katatergite and anatergite yellowish setose; macrosetae: 2 notopleural (1 black), 1 supra-alar, 3 postalar ( Fig. 7G ), 4 marginal scutellar ( Fig. 7G ) and 3 posterior anepisternal yellowish.

Wings ( Fig. 7H ): translucent on the basal half and at posterior margin; slightly dark infuscate with dense dark brown microtrichia on basal half of cells r 1 and r 2+3, base of r 5; discal cell, base of m 3, m 4 and apex of br and bm; veins yellowish, dark yellow on apical half of wing, except vein C dark brown; cell r 5 closed before wing margin with a short petiole; halteres pale yellow.

Legs ( Fig. 7B ): coxae black, white pruinose; trochanters black; fore and mid femora dark reddish brown; hind femur dark brown with basal third reddish brown; fore and mid tibiae reddish brown; hind tibia reddish, black distally; tarsi with first tarsomeres dark reddish brown becoming black towards last tarsomeres. Chaetotaxy: coxae white and trochanters yellowish setose, hind trochanter with 1 anterodorsal and 1 posterodorsal yellowish macrosetae; femora yellowish white setose; fore femur with 1 anterodorsal distal, 2 dorsal distal yellowish and 3 dorsal yellow macrosetae; mid femur with 3 anterior and 3 dorsal distal yellowish macrosetae; hind femur with 3 anteroventral, 1 anterior, 2 anterodorsal and 3 dorsal distal yellowish macrosetae; tibiae with yellowish macrosetae (reddish distally on hind tibia), anterodorsal black, posterodorsal and ventral yellowish setae; tarsi with black dorsal and yellowish ventral macrosetae, brush setae reddish brown; claws black; empodium and pulvilli yellowish.

Abdomen ( Fig. 7A–B ): black, punctate; tergites mid-dorsally brown setose, whitish anteriorly and posteriorly and yellowish white laterally; T1–3 with 5, T4 with 3–4, T5 with 4 and T6 with 7–8 yellowish lateral marginal macrosetae; sternites black with a light brown band posteriorly; sternites sparsely yellowish setose; S1–4 sparsely yellowish white and S5–7 sparsely yellowish pruinose.

Terminalia ( Fig. 8A–K ): black; cercus, subepandrial sclerite and gonostylus reddish brown and yellowish setose; phallus reddish; gonocoxite black, dark reddish apically, yellowish setose; (addendum) terminalia oval in dorsal and ventral views ( Fig. 8A–B ); epandrium slightly indented mid-posteriorly, dorsolaterally setose; cercus rectangular, dorsally setose; subepandrial sclerite conic, dorsally setose ( Fig. 8E ); gonocoxite rounded at base and conic distally, dorsally setose; gonostylus conic and setose ( Fig. 8C, G–H ); hypandrium flabellate ( Fig. 8F ); phallus with short prongs; parameral sheath triangular posteriorly ( Fig. 8I–K ); parameral apodeme directed posteriorly and ventrally ( Fig. 8J ); ejaculatory apodeme fan-shaped, weakly sclerotized distally ( Fig. 8J ).

Length. Body 13.6 mm; wings: 12.3 mm.

Holotype condition. Right postpedicel missing ( Fig. 7A, C ); left compound eye with a hole mid-laterally ( Fig. 7C ); right wing slightly damaged at base anteriorly ( Fig. 7A ).

Female identified specimen ( Figs 7F , 9A–D ). Similar to male, except sensorial area on postpedicel smaller ( Fig. 7F ) and terminalia dark brown and brown setose; T 9+ T 10+cercus truncate posteriorly, indented medially, posterolateral margin slightly retreated, posterior half and posterolateral margins sparsely setose ( Fig. 9A ); hypoproct cuneiform ( Fig. 9B ); S8 almost trapezoidal, triangularly indented mid-anteriorly with a small triangular salience mid-posteriorly, sparsely setose on posterior half ( Fig. 9C ); spermathecae with 5–6 turns, more sclerotized than spermathecal ducts; sperm pump slightly dilated; genital fork slightly protruding anterolaterally; accessory gland claviform ( Fig. 9D ).

Variation. T1 with 4–6 , T2–5 with 2–4 and T6 with 4–15 lateral marginal macrosetae; cell r 5 closing at wing margin. One female with no collecting information (locality and date) possesses all mystacal macrosetae yellowish white, but most of them missing. This specimen seems very old; thus, these remaining macrosetae may have discoloured over time .

Distribution. Brazil (Rondônia, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo) ( Fig. 38 ).

Phenology. The largest number of collecting events for this species was in October, November, January and March (Tab. 1), which also coincide with the mid-spring and summer seasons in the southern hemisphere.

Taxonomic discussion. Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner, 1866 stat. rev., can be differentiated from congeneric species mainly by the cell r 5 closed ( Fig. 7H ) and by the mystacal macrosetae and setae black ventrally ( Fig. 7C– D ).

Schiner (1866) proposed Aphestia and designated Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner, 1866 as its type species, providing a short description for the species only in the following year ( Schiner, 1867). The type locality was mentioned only as “ Brasilien ” and the sex of the specimen was not provided.

Hermann (1912) revised Aphestia examining the holotype described by Schiner (1867) and 11 specimens determined as Aphestia brasiliensis by Bischof (from “Villa Ognapé” [Iguape, São Paulo]) deposited in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NMW). He synonymized Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner, 1866 with Aphestia annulipes ( Macquart, 1838) and concluded that based on the original description of Schiner (1867), there was nothing more to add.

During a visit to the NMW in 2019, it was possible to analyse the holotype of Aphestia brasiliensis ( Fig. 7A–E, G ) which agrees with the original description and also the 11 specimens determined by Bischof and studied by Hermann (1912). A comparison of these 11 specimens (10 from Iguape, São Paulo and one from Blumenau, Santa Catarina) with the type material of Aphestia brasiliensis and Aphestia calceata revealed that they belong to the latter and were incorrectly assigned to Aphestia brasiliensis by Bischof and Hermann (1912).

The holotype of Aphestia brasiliensis was gathered by Johann Natterer, an Austrian naturalist who travelled in Brazil and collected in the locality of Ipanema (presently Varnhagem; see Papavero 1971), which is located in the city of Iperó , São Paulo .

Aphestia brasiliensis can be differentiated from Aphestia annulipes mainly by the face with black macrosetae restricted to ventral half ( Fig. 7C–D ); presence of 3 postalar and 2 pairs of marginal scutellar macrosetae ( Fig. 7G ); wing with cell r 5 closed ( Fig. 7H ); abdomen with marginal lateral macrosetae in all tergites; and gonocoxite conic distally ( Fig. 8 C, G–H ). In Aphestia annulipes , there are black macrosetae mixed in the entire face ( Fig. 4C–D ); only 2 postalar and 3 pairs of marginal scutellar macrosetae ( Fig. 4G ); cell r 5 open ( Fig. 4H ); abdominal tergites with lateral marginal macrosetae absent on T3–5; and gonocoxite falciform distally ( Fig. 5C, G–H ). Thus, the synonymization proposed by Hermann (1912) is unjustified and Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner, 1866 stat. rev., has herein its status revalidated.

Material examined. Holotype. [ BRASIL, São Paulo, Iperó] Natt:[Natterer] Brasil: Ypanema [presently Varnhagem, Real Fábrica de Ferro São João do Ipanema] / brasiliensis Alte Sammlung / brasiliensis det. Hermann / Holotype Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner, 1866 (♂ NMW). Additional material. BRASIL, Rondônia, Vilhena, 6.xi.1979, Jorge Arias [leg.] [dissected] (1♂ INPA); Vilhena, Rondônia, outubro de 1990, Roppa & Becker (1♀ MNRJ);[Sapezal]Utiariti,Rio Papagaio, Mt[Mato Grosso], xi.1966,Lenko&Pereira (1♂ MZUSP); Goyaz[Goiás], Campinas[Goiânia], jan.[eiro] 1936, R. Spitz col. / Aphestia nigra Bigot Det. S.W. Bromley / USNMENT 01224862 (1♂ NMNH); Campinas[Goiânia], jan.[eiro] 1936, R. Spitz col. (1♀ MZUSP); Jataí, F.M. Oliveira xi–[19]72 (1♀ MNRJ); MS[Mato Grosso do Sul], Corguinho, Taboco, Reserva Quinta do Sol, S 19°46'36,8": W 55°14'55,7" Malaise 14, 12–29.xi.2012, Lamas, Nihei & eq.[uipe] cols[coletores]. SISBIOTA CNPq/FAPESP (1♂ MZUSP); Araçatuba, SP.[São Paulo], x.[19]61, Rio Jacarecatinga, Lane & Rabello Col. (1♀ MZUSP); Araraquara März 1927 Dr. Seitz leg. / Senckenb. Mus. / Aphestia annulipes Mcq. Dr. E.O. Engel det / Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner 1866 Det. A. Camargo 2019 (1♂ SMF); Araraquara 10. März 1927 Dr. Seitz leg. / Senckenberg Museum / Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner 1866 Det. A. Camargo 2019 (1♀ SMF); 19141 [no collecting site] (1♂ ♀ MZUSP).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Aphestia annulipes (Macquart, 1838) holotype female. A. Dorsal habitus (insert: labels, not to scale); B. Lateral habitus; C. Head, frontal; D. Head, lateral; E. Postpedicel, lateral (identified specimen, male); F. Postpedicel, lateral; G. Scutellum, dorsal (yellow arrows indicate insertion of macrosetae); H. Right wing, dorsal. Abbreviations: r: radial cells; r-m: radial-medial crossvein. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Aphestia annulipes (Macquart, 1838) identified specimen male (Rio de Janeiro, Jacarepaguá). A–D. Terminalia dorsal, ventral, lateral and posterior, respectively; E. Epandrium, dorsal; F. Hypandrium, ventral; G–H. Gonopods, lateral external and internal, respectively; I–K. Phallus dorsal, lateral and posterior, respectively. Abbreviations: cerc: cercus; ej apod: ejaculatory apodeme; epand: epandrium; goncx: gonocoxite; gonst: gonostylus; hypd: hypandrium; lat ej proc: lateral ejaculatory process; ph: phallus; pm apod: parameral apodeme; pm sh: parameral sheath; subepand scl: subepandrial sclerite. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 7. Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner, 1866 stat. rev. holotype male. A. Dorsal habitus (insert: labels, not to scale); B. Lateral habitus; C. Head, frontal; D. Head, lateral; E. Postpedicel, lateral; F. Postpedicel, lateral (identified specimen, female); G. Scutellum, dorsal (yellow arrows indicate insertion of macrosetae); H. Right wing, dorsal (identified specimen, male). Abbreviations: r: radial cells; r-m: radial-medial crossvein. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURE 8. Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner, 1866 stat. rev. identified specimen male (Rondônia, Vilhena). A–D. Terminalia dorsal, ventral, lateral and posterior, respectively; E. Epandrium, dorsal; F. Hypandrium, ventral; G–H. Gonopods, lateral external and internal, respectively; I–K. Phallus dorsal, lateral and posterior, respectively. Abbreviations: cerc: cercus; ej apod: ejaculatory apodeme; epand: epandrium; goncx: gonocoxite; gonst: gonostylus; hypd: hypandrium; lat ej proc: lateral ejaculatory process; ph: phallus; pm apod: parameral apodeme; pm sh: parameral sheath; subepand scl: subepandrial sclerite. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 9. Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner, 1866 stat. rev. identified specimen female (Rondônia, Vilhena). A–B. Tergite 9 + Tergite 10 + cercus dorsal and ventral, respectively; C. Sternite 8, ventral; D. Spermathecae, dorsal. Abbreviations: acc gl: accessory gland; cerc: cercus; gen fk: genital fork; hyprct: hypoproct; spe du: spermathecal duct; spe pu: spermathecal; spmth: spermathecae; tg: tergite. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 38. Distribution of Aphestia amazonica sp. nov., Aphestia brasiliensis Schiner, 1866 stat. rev. and Aphestia calceata Schiner, 1867 stat. rev.