Bezzia (Bezzia) hondurensis Spinelli & Wirth

Huerta, Herón, Spinelli, Gustavo R. & Grogan Jr, William L., 2023, New records of predaceous midges in Bezzia Kieffer and Phaenobezzia Haeselbarth from Mexico with description of two new species of Bezzia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 5323 (4), pp. 535-552 : 540

Bezzia (Bezzia) hondurensis Spinelli & Wirth

( Fig. 1B )

Bezzia hondurensis Spinelli & Wirth, 1990: 20 (female, male, Honduras; figures; distribution). Borkent & Wirth 1997: 126 (world catalog); Borkent & Spinelli 2000: 61 (new world catalog south of the USA; distribution); Borkent & Spinelli 2007: 94 (Neotropical catalog; distribution); Borkent & Dominiak 2020: 200 (world catalog).

Diagnosis. The only species in the gibbera group with the following combination of characters: palpus brown; thorax dark brown, with 8–10 stout prealar setae, one postalar seta; legs dark brown, narrow pale rings subapically on fore femur, sub-basally on fore tibia; tarsi yellowish except tarsomeres 5 black, female abdomen with one pair of long slender gland rods. Male genitalia with sternite 9 with a deep caudomedian excavation; gonocoxite greatly expanded mesally at base, with stout spinules on disto-mesal portion; gonostylus moderately curved; aedeagus triangular, basal arch extending 1/3 of total length; parameres with short anterolateral lobes, slender distally with pointed tip.

Material examined. MEXICO, Veracruz, Actopan , La Mancha, LC 12, selva baja, 16−mar−2010, CDC trap, 1 male ( CAIM) .

Distribution. Mexico (Veracruz, Chiapas), Honduras, El Salvador, Panama.

Remarks. This species was previously reported from Fortín de las Flores, Veracruz, Mexico by Spinelli & Wirth (1990). We include a new record from La Mancha, Actopan, Veracruz. This species is distinguished primarily by females having very large spermathecae, and males with a gonocoxite with stout spinules on its mesal margin.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Wing, lateral view.A. Bezzia (Bezzia) gibbera (female); B. Bezzia (Bezzia) hondurensis (male); C. Bezzia (Bezzia) mesotibialis (female); D. Bezzia (Bezzia) punctipennis (female); E. Bezzia (Homobezzia) snowi (female). Scale bars: 0.5 mm.