Aphractia andrenoides ( Bromley, 1934 ) Camargo & Vieira & Rafael, 2024

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 : 64-72

Aphractia andrenoides ( Bromley, 1934) stat. rev. et comb. nov.

( Figs 42–48 )

Atomosia andrenoides Bromley, 1934: 339 ; Hull, 1962 (1): 373 (synopsis of world fauna); Martin & Papavero, 1970: 46 (catalogue).

Aphestia andrenoides ; Curran, 1935: 5 (key for Atomosia ); Artigas, Papavero & Serra, 1991: 58 (synonymization with Aphestia nigra Bigot, 1878 , Atomosiini catalogue); Papavero, 2009: 85 (catalogue).

Diagnosis. Mystacal macrosetae and setae yellowish white ( Figs 42B–C , 43B–C , 44C–D , 45C–D ); postpedicel filiform distally, black, except base and ventrally, reddish yellow ( Fig. 45E–F ); 3 pairs of reddish yellow marginal scutellar macrosetae ( Figs 42D , 43D , 44E , 45G ); fore leg with yellow femur and tibia ( Figs 42A , 43A , 44B , 45B ); abdominal tergites with a reddish yellow band posteriorly ( Figs 42A , 43A , 44A, G , 45A–B ).

Redescription. Paratype female ( Fig. 44 ). Head ( Fig. 44C–D ): black, yellowish white pruinose ( Fig. 44C–D ), except lower half of face and anterior half of ocellar tubercle (posterior half apruinose) white and occiput golden; frons with convergent slopes; orbital setae yellowish white; mystacal macrosetae and setae yellowish white ( Fig. 44C–D ); gena dark brown; ocelli dark brown, 2 dark brown ocellar setae; vertex densely pruinose medially, forming a V shape (in dorsal view), yellowish white setose; 21–22 yellowish postocular macrosetae, distributed laterally until lower margin; occipital and lower occipital setae yellowish white; proboscis shining black, base and apex reddish brown, proboscial setae yellowish white and labial yellowish; palpus brown, yellowish white setose ( Fig. 44C–D ). Antenna: scape and pedicel yellow, brown setose, except scape yellow setose ventrally and pedicel with two apical, internal yellow setae ( Fig. 44C–D ); (addendum) postpedicel tapering distally, filiform, black, except base and ventral half, reddish yellow, sparsely brown pruinose; sensorial element black; sensorial area pale yellow, slightly smaller than male ( Fig. 45F ).

Thorax ( Fig. 44A–B, E ): black, antepronotum and pleuron white pruinose, scutum, scutellum, meso and metathoracic spiracles golden and lateral margins of scutum yellowish white pruinose; postpronotal lobe and postalar callus reddish brown ( Fig. 44E ). Chaetotaxy: mostly white setose, punctations golden, katatergite and anatergite yellow setose; macrosetae: antepronotal yellow; 2 notopleural and 1 supra-alar black, 3 postalar black to reddish yellow ( Fig. 44E ), 6 reddish yellow marginal scutellar (3 pairs) ( Fig. 44E ) and 3 reddish yellow posterior anepisternal.

Wings ( Fig. 44F ): translucent; veins dark brown, light brown at wing base; cell r 5 closed before wing margin on right wing and open on left wing; crossvein r-m before half of discal cell; cells m 3 and cua closed before wing margin and petiolate; halteres yellow.

Legs ( Fig. 44B ): yellow to reddish yellow except, mid and hind coxae yellowish brown; mid femur with dorsal distal fourth brown, hind femur with apical third dark brown; mid tibia darker distally, hind tibia brown on apical third; fore tarsus with tarsomeres 2–5 gradually from yellow to dark brown, mid and hind tarsi black; coxae white pruinose. Chaetotaxy: coxae white and trochanters yellowish white setose; fore and mid femora dorsodistally yellowish white and black setose, hind femur yellowish setose, black on apical third; fore femur with 1 anterodistal, 1 anterodorsal distal and 1 dorsal yellow macrosetae; mid femur with 2 anterior, 1 anterodorsal and 2 dorsal distal yellow macrosetae; hind femur with 5 dorsal yellow and 1 dorsal distal black macroseta; tibiae yellowish setose, black distally on mid and hind tibiae, fore and mid tibiae with reddish yellow macrosetae, hind tibia with black macrosetae dorsally; tarsi black setose dorsally, tarsomeres 1–2 with yellow dorsal macrosetae, black on tarsomeres 3–5, ventral macrosetae reddish yellow; brush setae reddish yellow; claws black, reddish at base; empodium and pulvilli reddish yellow at base and yellowish distally.

Abdomen ( Fig. 44A–B, G–H ): black, tergites a with reddish yellow band posteriorly ( Fig. 44A–B, G ); punctate with reddish yellow dorsal and yellowish white lateral setae; T1 with 4, T2 with 2, T3–5 with 1 and T6 with 3 yellow lateral marginal macrosetae ( Fig. 44G ); sternites reddish brown with sparse whitish to yellow setae ( Fig. 44H ).

Terminalia ( Fig. 44H ): reddish brown, yellow and whitish setose ( Fig. 44H ); (addendum) T9+T10+cercus reniform, cuneiform indented mid-posteriorly ( Fig. 47A ); hypoproct rounded ( Fig. 47B ); S8 almost trapezoidal, concave mid-anteriorly, posterior margin with a conic projection on each corner bearing 1 apical macroseta, laterally setose ( Fig. 47C ); spermathecae with 10 turns; spermathecal ducts with balled aspect; sperm pump differentiated, thicker and very sclerotized; genital fork U-shaped; accessory gland oval ( Fig. 47D ).

Length. Body 10.5 mm; wings: 10.2 mm.

Paratype condition. Postpedicel missing ( Fig. 44A–D ), 4 marginal scutellar macrosetae broken, one of these missing ( Fig. 44E ).

Male identified specimen ( Figs 45A–E, G–H , 46 ). Similar to female, except postpedicel with sensorial area brown pruinose, slightly larger than in female ( Fig. 45E ) and terminalia brownish yellow and light brown setose, except gonocoxite brown and yellowish setose; oval in dorsal and ventral views ( Fig. 46A–B ); epandrium truncate posteriorly, sparsely setose ( Fig. 46A, E ); cercus rounded, dorsally setose ( Fig. 46A, E ); subepandrial sclerite obtuse distally, dorsally setose ( Fig. 46A, E ); gonocoxite rounded basally, posteriorly conic, sparsely setose ( Fig. 46C, G–H ); gonostylus rectangular, distally setose ( Fig. 46G–H ); hypandrium reniform, marginally sheathed ( Fig. 46F ); phallus with prongs ending hook-shaped ( Fig. 46I–K ); parameral sheath conic posteriorly ( Fig. 46I ); parameral apodeme directed ventrally ( Fig. 46I–K ); ejaculatory apodeme fan-shaped ( Fig. 46J ).

Variation. Postpedicel completely black; scape and pedicel reddish brown; four postalar macrosetae black; four marginal scutellar macrosetae yellow, intermingled by short yellow setae; legs whitish setose; males slender, females more robust.

Distribution. Mexico (Veracruz), Costa Rica (Heredia), Panama (Darién and Panamá Oeste), Guyana (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Brazil (Amazonas) ( Fig. 48 ).

Taxonomic discussion. Bromley (1934) described Atomosia andrenoides mentioning the large size of the individuals (10–11 mm) and the absence of postpedicel among type specimens ( Figs 42–44 ). He probably included this species in Atomosia based on the presence of some thick setae intermingled with thin setae on the anatergite, a feature present in Atomosia . The absence of postpedicel among type specimens may have been another factor that induced him to allocate this species to Atomosia .

Artigas et al. (1991) synonymized this species with Aphestia nigra without explaining the reasons for the transference. It may have been based on the absence of postpedicel among type specimens ( Figs 42–44 ) and the presence of marginal lateral macrosetae on all abdominal tergites ( Fig. 44G ).

The postpedicel is extremely important for correct identification at the genus and species level in Atomosiini . Curiously, Artigas et al. (1991) proposed Aphractia Artigas, Papavero & Serra, 1991 which possesses as the main features the postpedicel ending in a filiform process and marginal lateral macrosetae on all abdominal tergites, in the same work where they synonymized Atomosia andrenoides with Aphestia nigra . It is possible to suppose that if the type material were complete (with postpedicel), its transfer to Aphractia would have been proposed already.

As a result, this species belongs neither to Atomosia nor to Aphestia . But in contrast, it is similar to members of Aphractia . Thus, the previously proposed synonymy and the generic combination cannot be maintained and Aphractia andrenoides ( Bromley, 1934) stat. rev. et comb. nov. has herein its status revalidated and a new combination with Aphractia Artigas, Papavero & Serra, 1991 proposed.

Material examined. Holotype. [ GUYANA. Cuyuni-Mazaruni] Kartabo Bartica District British Guiana 1924 / HOLOTYPE ♂ Atomosia andrenoides Bromley / Atomosia andrenoides ♂ Det. S. W. Bromley / 24676 ( Fig. 42A ) (♂ AMNH) . Paratypes. [ GUYANA. Cuyuni-Mazaruni] Kartabo Bartica District British Guiana 23–viii–1922

/ ALLOTYPE ♀ Atomosia andrenoides Br ( Fig. 43A ) (1♀ AMNH); [ GUYANA. Cuyuni-Mazaruni] Kartabo Bartica District British Guiana 23–v–1924 / PARATYPE Atomosia andrenoides Bromley / SW Bromley Collection 1955 / Atomosia andrenoides Det. S. W. Bromley [19]29 / SW Bromley Collection 1955 / USNMENT 01224860 ( Fig. 44A ) (1♀ NMNH). Additional material. MEXICO. Veracruz: Est. Biol. De Los Tuxtlas 18°35’N 95°05’W / 25.iv.1991 H.A. Hespenheide (1♀ COEF); COSTA RICA. Prov. Heredia: F. La Selva 3 km S.[outh] Pto. Viejo 10°26’N 84°01’W / vii.23.1976 H.A. Hespenheide / A547 / ant. seg. 1 black / Atractia? comata Herm. Det. E.M. Fisher [19]77 (1♂ COEF); PANAMA. Darién: Rio Tacarcuna, Darien Prov. 1.900 ft. [579 meters] 19.july.63 / gift of G.B. Fairchild (1♂ COEF); Canal Zone, [Panamá Oeste] Barro Colorado: Is.[Island] 9°10’N 79°50’W / 19.vii.1974 H.A. Hespenheide / UMW 24–25 0.0255 GM / Atractia comata Herm. Det. E.M. Fisher [19]77 (1♂ COEF); Same data / i. vii.1977, H.A. Hespenheide / WMW 7–8 WT = 0.03476M / A5136 / Aphractia? comata Herm. Det. E.M. Fisher [19]78 (1♀ COEF); BRASIL. Amazonas: Parque Nacional do Jaú 29.vii–08.viii.2001 015342S, 613510W / Arm.[adilha] Malaise, campinarana alta Henriques & Vidal (1♂ INPA); 60 km N.[norte] Manaus Fazenda Esteio ZF 3 km 23 / 19.NOV.1985 B.C. Klein Arm.[adilha] Malaise / Reserva 1112 R.C.E. / Atractia Macquart [dissected] (1♀ INPA); Manaus, Res.[erva] Ducke 05–16.viii.1994, J.A. Rafael & J. Vidal / Arm.[adilha] suspensa, Estação, 1, 5 m [dissected] (1♂ INPA); Manacapuru, 13.ix.1981 João Vidal (1♂ INPA); Maués 12–1936 (1♀ CEIOC).

Figures

FIGURE 42. Aphractia andrenoides (Bromley, 1934) stat. rev. et comb. nov. holotype male. A. Lateral habitus (insert: labels, not to scale); B. Head, frontal; C. Head and thorax, lateral; D. Same, dorsal; E. Right wing, dorsal; F. Terminalia, ventral. Abbreviations: r: radial cells; r-m: radial-medial crossvein. Scale bar 1 mm. Courtesy of David Grimaldi and Courtney Richenbacher, American Museum of Natural History, New York.

FIGURE 43. Aphractia andrenoides (Bromley, 1934) stat. rev. et comb. nov. paratype female. A. Lateral habitus (insert: labels, not to scale); B. Head, frontal; C. Head and thorax, lateral; D. Same, dorsal; E. Right wing, dorsal; F. Terminalia, ventral. Abbreviations: r: radial cells; r-m: radial-medial crossvein. Scale bar 1 mm. Courtesy of David Grimaldi and Courtney Richenbacher, American Museum of Natural History, New York.

FIGURE 44. Aphractia andrenoides (Bromley, 1934) stat. rev. et comb. nov. paratype female. A. Dorsal habitus (insert: labels, not to scale); B. Lateral habitus; C. Head, frontal; D. Same, lateral; E. Scutellum, dorsal; F. Right wing, dorsal; G. Abdomen, dorsal; H. Terminalia, ventral. Abbreviations: r: radial cells; r-m: radial-medial crossvein. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURE 45. Aphractia andrenoides (Bromley, 1934) stat. rev. et comb. nov. identified specimen male (Amazonas, Manaus). A. Dorsal habitus; B. Lateral habitus; C. Head, frontal; D. Same, lateral; E. Postpedicel, lateral; F. Postpedicel, lateral (identified specimen female); G. Scutellum, dorsal; H. Right wing, dorsal. Abbreviations: r: radial cells; r-m: radial-medial crossvein. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURE 46. Aphractia andrenoides (Bromley, 1934) stat. rev. et comb. nov. identified specimen male (Amazonas, Manaus). 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 47. Aphractia andrenoides (Bromley, 1934) stat. rev. et comb. nov. identified specimen female (Amazonas, Manaus). 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 48. Distribution of Aphractia andrenoides (Bromley, 1934) stat. rev. et comb. nov.