Elcaribe starki Webb, 2006

Webb, Donald W. & Metz, Mark A., 2006, A Revision of the New World Genera Brachylinga Irwin and Lyneborg and Lysilinga Irwin and Lyneborg (Diptera: Therevidae: Therevinae) with the Description of a New Genus, Elcaribe Webb, Zootaxa 1288 (1288), pp. 1-241 : 194-198

Elcaribe starki Webb spec. nov.

(Figs. 231, 245, 259, 273, 287, 301, 315, 329, 342, 354, 358)

Etymology

This species is named after Dr. Andreas Stark who collected numerous specimens of this species in Cuba, and the name is treated as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis

Elcaribe starki is taxonomically associated with E. abdominalis and E. bifidus in having an anterodorsal patch of short, dark brown to black setae on the gena; in having the hypoproct (Fig. 231) quadrate with the posterior margin emarginate and the apicoventral surface flat; in having the halter knob yellow; and in having the wing cell m 3 closed (generally petiolate). Elcaribe starki differs from E. abdominalis and E. bifidus in having dark macrosetae at the apex of the male gonocoxite in ventral view ( Fig. 245) and the anteromedial margin with a circle of dense, short, dark yellow setae (this character is autapomorphic in Elcaribe ).

Description of holotype male (MEI 081635)

Body length 6.7 mm.

Head. Length 0.80 mm. Ommatidia smaller ventrally and laterally. Frons pruinescence charcoal gray; setae black, elongate. Antenna/head length 0.68; dark brown, base of first flagellomere dark yellow; scape length 0.18 mm, width 0.12 mm, length/ width 1.5, scape/pedicel length 3.0, scape/flagellum width 0.86, setae dark reddish brown, short; pedicel length 0.06 mm, length/width 0.5; first flagellomere spherical, attenuate apically, flagellum length 0.30 mm, width 0.14 mm, length/width 2.1, flagellum/scape length 1.7. Parafacial pruinescence silver gray. Maxillary palpus pale brown, apex pale yellow, length 0.40 mm, length/width 5.7; setae white. Genal setae white with anterodorsal patch of short, black setae. Occipital setae white becoming lanceolate, appressed dorsally.

Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 2 sa, 1 pa, 2 dc, 2 sc. Mesonotum dark brown, pruinescence brownish gray; setae black, elongate intermixed with whitish gold, lanceolate, appressed setae. Pleuron pruinescence silver; setae white on propleuron, anepisternum, katepisternum, laterotergite, metanepisternum, and scutellum. Wing. Membrane pale gray, veins brown; veins brown; length 4.2 mm, length/width 2.8; pterostigma brown; cell m 3 closed at wing margin. Halter stalk dark yellow, knob white. Legs. Femora dark reddish brown, pruinescence gray; ventral setae white with dark brown setae anteroventrally on fore­ and midfemora; av 1:0:3, pv 0:0:1. Tibiae dark yellowish brown, apex dark reddish brown. Tarsomeres 1–2 dark yellowish brown, apex dark reddish brown; 3–5 dark reddish brown.

Abdomen. Dark reddish brown becoming dark yellowish brown posteriorly on tergites 2–4, pruinescence white, dense; dorsal setae white, elongate, appressed. Terminalia (MEI 080630) dark yellowish orange. Tergite 8 and epandrium (Fig. 231), setae dark brown. Sternite 8 ( Fig. 245) quadrate, sides rounded, posterior margin emarginate. Hypoproct (Fig. 231) large, rounded laterally, posterior margin emarginate; apicoventral surface flat. Gonocoxite ventral view ( Fig. 245) large, anteromedial area with basal circular area of erect, dark yellow setae, median margin with broad, glabrous projection before tapering to thick point posteriorly, setae pale yellow, macrosetae black, thick along apicomedial margin; dorsal view ( Fig. 259) with small gonocoxal bridge; lateral view ( Fig. 273) rectangular, tapering apically to broad point; ventral lobe ( Fig. 245) lacking ventral spines. Gonostylus (Fig. 287), basodorsal lobe broadly rounded; ventral margin rounded, expanded ventrally, setae dark yellow on apical third, not extending apically in distinct tuft; fine, short spines laterally. Aedeagus with dorsal apodeme ( Fig. 301) broad, expanded laterally forming canopy over ejaculatory apodeme, posterolateral margin expanded; ventral apodeme (Fig. 315) large, broad, anterior margin emarginate, almost extending to anterior margin of dorsal apodeme; distiphallus dorsal view ( Fig. 301) short, broad basally, tapered apically to rounded point, lateral view ( Fig. 329) short, broad basally, subapical hood broad, pointed apically, apex of distiphallus directed ventrally; ejaculatory apodeme ( Fig. 301) with anterior third expanded laterally, extending slightly beyond anterior margin of dorsal apodeme, anterior margin rounded, in cross­section flattened dorsoventrally with short, ventral carina.

Variation (n=5).

Body length 5.8–6.7, 6.0 mm.

Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 2 sa, 1 pa, 2 dc, 2 sc. Legs. Anteroventral macrosetae 1:0:3–4, pv 0:0:0–1.

Female

Similar to male except for following.

Variation (n=10).

Body length 5.7–8.0, 6.6 mm.

Head. Frons pruinescence charcoal gray; setae black, elongate. Antenna dark brown, base of first flagellomere dark yellow, pruinescence on scape gray; setae on scape dark reddish brown, short.

Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 2 sa, 1 pa, 2 dc, 2 sc. Wing. Cell m 3 occasionally with short petiole. Legs. Anteroventral macrosetae 1:0:2, pv 0:0:0–3.

Abdomen. Dark reddish brown, pruinescence silver. Tergites 2–7 with posterior margin glossy yellow, broader posteriorly, tergite 8 yellowish orange; dorsal setae dark reddish brown, appressed with white, elongate setae laterally and along posterior margin of tergite 1. Terminalia (MEI 081641). Sternite 8 ( Fig. 342) with anterior margin truncate. Furca (Fig. 354) quadrate; length 0.44 mm, width 0.28 mm; posteromedial and anteromedial projections absent, anterolateral projection short. Common duct (Fig. 354) longer than furca. Spermathecal duct (Fig. 354), narrow, sac­like posteriorly then becoming thread­like.

Distribution Elcaribe starki has been collected in Cuba ( Fig. 358).

Habitats and phenology All specimens were collected in yellow pans from 18–30 December.

Specimens examined

Type specimen. The holotype male of Elcaribe starki Webb (MEI 081635) is labeled " KUBA. Provinz Santiago de Cuba, Parque Baconao, ca 500 m w Hotel "Los Caroles", 5 km w der Lagune Sigua, ca 75°31’w 19°77’n Gelbschale auf Korallenkalk etwa 60 m von der Küste enfernt, 18.30. Dez. 1997, Leg ANDREAS STARK" and is deposited in the INHS. PARATYPES: same collecting information as holotype, 4♂ MEI 081643 ( ASIC) , 081630 (MEIC), 082009 (INHS), 111568 (USNM), 34♀ 081621 ( ASIC) , 081623 (MEIC), 081625 (USNM), 081627–29, 081631, 081633–4, 081636, 081639, 081641, 081646, 081663, 081683, 082014, 082188, 082190, 111567, 111569–71, 111592–603 (INHS).