Elcaribe abdominalis (Fabricius) Webb & Metz, 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 : 158-160

Elcaribe abdominalis (Fabricius) New Combination

(Figs. 218, 233, 247, 261, 275, 289, 303, 317, 331, 343, 355)

abdominalis Fabricius (1805:68 orig. desc.), Lyneborg (1969:395 LT design., 396 redesc. male LT, Figs. 9–17) ( Bibio ); Kröber (1911: 499 male key, 500 fem. key, 515 add. desc.; 1928a:5 dist., 8 male key, 10, 12 fem. key) ( Psilocephala ); Irwin and Lyneborg (1981a:234 comb. change) ( Brachylinga ). Type locality West Indies, possibly St. Croix Island ( Lyneborg 1969:395). Lectotype male ZMUC. New Combination.

monensis Curran (1926:2 orig. desc.), Kröber (1928a:1 fem. key, 6 dist.) ( Psilocephala ); Irwin and Lyneborg (1981a:234 comb. change, listing) ( Brachylinga ). Type locality West Indies, Mona Island. Holotype female in AMNH. New synonym. New Combination.

pygmaea Kröber (1911:500 fem. key, 515 orig. desc.; 1913:33 dist.; 1928a:7 dist., 12 fem. key) ( Psilocephala ); Metz et al. (2003:247 comb. change, syn. design.) ( Brachylinga ). Type locality West Indies, Saint Thomas Island. Holotype female in NMW. New Combination.

vexans Curran (1926:2 orig. desc.), Kröber (1928a:7 dist., 9 male key, 23 add. desc.) ( Psilocephala ); Irwin and Lyneborg (1981a:234 listing, comb. change, syn. desig.) ( Brachylinga ). Type locality Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands. Holotype male in AMNH. New Combination.

The holotype female of Psilocephala monensis Curran is synonomized with Elcaribe abdominalis (Fabricius) based on the anterodorsal patch of short, dark brown to black setae on the gena; the halter knob yellow, the wing cell m 3 closed and petiolate; and the anterior margin of the furca open (Fig. 343).

Diagnosis

Elcaribe abdominalis is taxonomically associated with E. bifidus in having an anterodorsal patch of short, dark brown to black setae on the gena; the male hypoproct (Fig. 218) quadrate; the halter knob yellow; the wing cell m 3 closed (generally petiolate); and in having the apex of the male gonocoxite in ventral view ( Fig. 233) lacking dark macrosetae and the anteromedial margin lacking a distinct circle of dense, short, dark yellow setae. Elcaribe abdominalis differs from E. bifidus in having the posterior margin of the male sternite 8 with a shallow emargination ( Fig. 233); the male gonostylus (Fig. 275) with a large ventral lobe (this character is autapomorphic within Elcaribe ); and the distiphallus lacking a subapical hood ( Fig. 317). The female is unique within Elcaribe and can be differentiated from all known females of Brachylinga and Lysilinga in having the anterior margin of the furca open (Fig. 343).

Redescription of male

Variation (n=10).

Body length 5.2–6.3 mm.

Head. Ommatidia smaller ventrally and laterally. Frons pruinescence dark brownish gray becoming white laterally; setae black, elongate. Antenna dark brown, basal fourth of first flagellomere orangish brown, scape and pedicel pruinescence gray. Parafacial pruinescence blackish gray. Maxillary palpus yellow; setae pale yellow. Genal setae white with anterodorsal patch of short, dark brown setae. Occipital setae white to pale yellow ventrally becoming lanceolate, appressed dorsally.

Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 2 sa, 1 pa, 2 dc, 2 sc. Mesonotum dull brownish gray; setae black, elongate intermixed with pale gold, lanceolate, subappressed setae. Pleuron pruinescence gray; setae white to pale yellow dorsally on anepisternum, white on katepisternum and laterotergite, pale gold lanceolate on scutellum. Wing. Membrane pale gray; veins brown; pterostigma brown; cell m 3 closed, petiolate. Halter pale yellow. Legs. Femora dark brown, pruinescence white; ventral setae white on ventral half of femora, dark reddish brown apically on forefemur; av 1–2:0:2–4, pv 0:0:0. Tibiae dark yellow, apex dark reddish brown. Tarsomeres 1–2 dark yellow, apex dark reddish brown; 3–5 dark reddish brown.

Abdomen. Dark reddish brown, pruinescence white; dorsal setae white, lanceolate, appressed. Terminalia (MEI 040201) pale reddish brown. Tergite 8 (Fig. 218), anterior margin deeply emarginate, setae pale yellow. Sternite 8 ( Fig. 233), posterior margin emarginate. Epandrium (Fig. 218), sides slightly emarginate; setae reddish brown. Hypoproct (Fig. 218) large, broad laterally, posterior margin slightly emarginate; apicoventral surface flat. Gonocoxite ventral view ( Fig. 233) oval, sides broadly rounded, medial margin sinuate, margins generally touching each other medially along middle of their length and apically, giving the appearance of a medial hollow, setae pale yellow, a small area of elongate setae medially, dark reddish brown macrosetae apicolaterally, anterior patch of short, black setae absent; dorsal view ( Fig. 247) gonocoxal bridge large; lateral view ( Fig. 261) rectangular, apex truncate; ventral lobe lacking spines ( Fig. 233). Gonostylus (Fig. 275) pale yellow; basodorsal lobe absent; ventral margin expanded medially into large, rounded projection with apicoventral lobe bearing thick, dark yellow macrosetae, not extending apically in distinct tuft; fine lateral spines absent. Aedeagus with dorsal apodeme ( Fig. 289) broad, anterior margin rounded forming canopy over ejaculatory apodeme; ventral apodeme (Fig. 303) greatly reduced, anterior margin broadly emarginate, not reaching anterior margin of dorsal apodeme; distiphallus dorsal view ( Fig. 289) short, broad basally, tapered apically to rounded point, lateral view ( Fig. 317) thick, curved ventrally, subapical hood and apicolateral spines absent; ejaculatory apodeme ( Fig. 289) dark yellow, anterior half greatly expanded laterally, extending beyond anterior margin of dorsal apodeme, anterior margin truncate, dark brown, in cross­section flattened dorsoventrally with large ventromedial carina.

Female

Similar to male, except for following.

Variation (n=10).

Body length 6.0–8.9, 7.4 mm.

Head. Frons pruinescence brownish gray; dorsolateral pits shallow; dorsolateral spot absent; setae black, elongate.

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

Abdomen. Dark reddish brown, pruinescence brownish gray; tergites 2–7 with posterolateral area dark yellow to yellowish orange (occasionally tergite 7 entirely dark reddish brown); dorsal setae dark reddish brown, appressed, tergites 1–3 with white, elongate, appressed setae along posterior margin. Terminalia (MEI 040204). Sternite 8 ( Fig. 331), anterior margin broadly rounded. Furca (Fig. 343) oblong, anterior margin open; length 0.36 mm, width 0.28 mm; posteromedial and anteromedial projections absent; anterolateral projection short, thick. Common duct (Fig. 343) shorter than furca. Spermathecal duct (Fig. 343) directed anteriorly, posterior fourth expanded then narrowed anteriorly to form thread­like duct.

Distribution

Elcaribe abdominalis has been collected on the British Virgin Islands ( Anegada and Guana Islands), Jamaica, Puerto Rico (including Mona Island and Vieques Island), United States Virgin Islands (St. Thomas Island), and the West Indies ( Saint Martin) ( Fig. 355).

Habitats and phenology

Adults of Elcaribe abdominalis have been handnetted on coastal dunes and on the leaves of grapefruit, stringbean, and tomato; collected at blacklights; or in Malaise traps in a dry evergreen forest and a Coccoloba forest. Specimens have been collected throughout the year.

Specimens examined

Type specimens. The lectotype male of Bibio abdominalis Fabricius is labeled " B. abdominalis / a Am. Ins. Schmidt" ( Lyneborg 1969:395) and is deposited in the ZMUC. The holotype male of Psilocephala monensis Curran is labeled "Mona Island, February 21–26, 1914 " and is in the AMNH. The holotype male of Psilocephala vexans Curran is labeled " St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, March 13, 1925 " and is in the AMNH. Other specimens. BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. ANEGADA ISLAND. Setting Point [18.717, ­ 64.383], 0 m, 17–19.VII.1985, S. Miller, P. Miller, 5♂ MEI 037184, 037186–8, 038534, 1♀ 038536 (USNM), blacklight. GUANA ISLAND. [18.483, ­64.567], 0–24 m, 1–14.VII.1984, S. E. Miller, P. M. Miller, 3♂ MEI 048191, 048194–5, 2♀ 048185–6 (USNM); 5–23.VII.1985, 6♂ MEI 037181, 037189, 048102, 048104, 048115, 048196, 3♀ 037193, 037199, 038533 (USNM); 15–23.VII.1985, 1♂ MEI 037164, 6♀ 038529–32, 038535, 038537 (USNM), blacklight; 13–26.VII.1986, S. E. Miller, M. G. Pogue, 1♂ MEI 048176, 2♀ 048177, 115609 (USNM), Malaise trap, Coccoloba forest; White Beach [18.41, ­64.75], 13–17.X.1992, R. R. Snelling, 3♂ MEI 042153–5, 1♀ 042156 (LACM), Malaise trap, dry evergreen forest. JAMAICA. St. Andrews, Palm Beach [17.933, ­76.7], 12.V.1983, Miller, R. B., 1♀ MEI 040868 (MEIC), sifted. PUERTO RICO. Loquillo National Forest, 18.II.1925, 1♀ MEI 040204 (FSCA); 18.XI.1925, 1♂ MEI 040201 (FSCA); Isla Verde [18.45, ­66.017], 2.VII.1964, A. B. Cockran, 1♀ MEI 040229 (USNM); Guánica Insular Forest, 6.VII.1953, J. R. Ramos, J. Maldonado, 1♂ MEI 040250 (USNM); Guanico Forest [Guanica Forest], 10.II.1969, L. O’Brien, C. W. O’Brien, 1♂ MEI 048022 (AMNH); 15.IV.1958, Sanders, 1♀ MEI 048167 (USNM); Balneario de Luquillo [18.387, ­65.731], 9.V.1985, G. C. Eickwort, 1♀ MEI 073538 (CUIC); 15 km W Arecibo [18.48, ­66.88], 14.I.1975, MEI, 2♂ MEI 040190–1, 1♀ 040874 (MEIC), coastal dunes; Arecibo [18.47, ­66.73], 24–26.VI.1915, collector?, 2♀ MEI 040203 (FSCA), 040228 (USNM); Catano [18.44, ­66.12], 24.VII.1930, Leonard, Mills, 1♂ MEI 040227 (CUIC); Dorado [18.463, ­66.271], 23.V.1933, Anderson, Mills, 1♀ MEI 040232 (USNM); Ensenada [17.98, ­66.93], 14–19.VI.1915, 1♀ MEI 040205 (CAS); Isla Maguey, Parguera [17.98, ­67.05], 19.XII.1962, P. Spangler, 2♂ MEI 040253–4 (USNM); Jobo, 8 km W Isabela [18.51, ­67.092], 19.I.1975, MEI, 5♂ MEI 040189 (BMNH), 040192 (INHS), 040195–6, 040872, 3♀ 040193 (BMNH), 040194 (INHS), 109302 (MEIC), coastal dunes; Juana Diaz [18.05, ­66.52], 21.XI.1943, U. E. Puitland, 1♂ MEI 040225 (MEIC); Loiza, 30.I.1933, Anderson, Faxon, Mills, 1♂ MEI 040236 (USNM), stringbean leaf; Loiza, 13.III.1933, Anderson, 1♀ MEI 040252 (USNM), tomato leaf; Salinas [17.979, ­66.298], 16.VII.1943, A. E. Pritchard, 1♀ MEI 040223 (MEIC); – II.1943, A. E. Pritchard, 1♂ MEI 040224 (MEIC); San Juan [18.45, ­66.07], –1928, 1♀ MEI 040234 (USNM); 11.III.1963, A. B. Cochram, 1♂ MEI 040230 (USNM); 12.IV.1967, J. W. Boyes, 2♂ MEI 039715–6 (CNC); Toa Baja, Palo Seco [18.463, ­66.145], 28.VII.1932, Faxom, Anderson, 1♂ MEI 040233 (USNM), grapefruit leaf. VIEQUES ISLAND. 24–31.XII.1935, S. T. Danforth, 1♂ MEI 040226 (AMNH). Guanica County: Guanica [17.974, ­66.908], 15.VIII.1913, E. G. S., 1♂ MEI 040231, 1♀ 040235 (USNM). MONA ISLAND. [18.088, ­ 67.89], 21–26.II.1914, 1♂ MEI 040202 (FSCA); –. IV.1935, 1♀ MEI 040266 (AMNH); 11–31.VIII.1944, H. A. Beatty, 1♂ MEI 040267, 1♀ 040265 (AMNH); Uvero House [Playa del Uvero] [18.061, ­67.906], 20.XI.1965, 1♂ MEI 040244 (USNM); Casaurina Plantation [18.087, ­67.89], 7–13.XI.1992, Snelling, Torres, 1♀ MEI 042161 (LACM), Malaise trap; Playa de Pajaros [18.068, ­67.906], 22.XI.1955, 1♀ MEI 040243 (USNM). UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS. ST. THOMAS ISLAND. Saint Thomas [18.315, ­ 64.929], 24.III.1927, 1♀ MEI 040242 (CUIC); 1–3.I.1976, D. Spillmaeckers, 1♀ MEI 134936 (MSUC); Brewers Bay [18.345, ­64.981], 13.V.1979, M. A. Ivie, L. L. Ivie, 1♂ MEI 040864 (MTEC); Magens Bay [18.37, ­64.92], 13.V.1979, M. A. Ivie, L. L. Ivie, 2♂ MEI 040865–6 (MTEC). WEST INDIES. SAINT MARTIN. Cay Bay [18.07, ­63.06], 11.II.1978, S. A. Marshall, 1♀ MEI 039712 (CNC).