Elcaribe anguilla 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 : 162-164

Elcaribe anguilla Webb spec. nov.

(Figs. 219, 220, 234, 248, 262, 276, 290, 304, 318, 332, 344, 356)

Etymology

This species is named after the island of Anguilla from where this species was collected and is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis

Elcaribe anguilla is taxonomically associated with E. longicaudus and E. paniculus in having an anterodorsal patch of short, dark brown to black setae on the gena and an enlarged hypoproct (Fig. 219) with a rounded, cone­shaped, posterior margin. Elcaribe anguilla differs from E. longicaudus and E. paniculus in lacking dorsocentral macrosetae and having the apicoventral surface of hypoproct (Fig. 220) enlarged and directed ventrally.

Description of holotype male (MEI 040248)

Body length 5.2 mm.

Head. Length 0.82 mm. Ommatidia smaller ventrally and laterally. Frons gray, brownish gray dorsally; setae dark brown. Antenna/head length 0.68; scape black, pruinescence gray, pedicel and flagellum dark brown; scape length 0.20 mm, width 0.14 mm, length/width 1.4, scape/pedicel length 2.5, scape/flagellum width 1.0, setae dark brown, elongate; pedicel length 0.09 mm, length/width 0.7; first flagellomere oval, attenuate apically; flagellum length 0.26 mm, width 0.14 mm, length/width 1.9, flagellum/ scape length 1.3. Parafacial pruinescence dark brown. Maxillary palpus dark brown, apical third dark yellow; length 0.38 mm, length/width 4.8; setae white. Genal setae white with anterodorsal patch of short black setae. Occipital setae white becoming dull gold, lanceolate, appressed along dorsal margin of eye.

Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 2 sa, 1 pa, 2 dc, 2 sc. Mesonotum pruinescence dull brown; setae black, elongate intermixed with pale gold, lanceolate, subappressed setae. Pleuron pruinescence gray; setae white on anepisternum, katepisternum, laterotergite, metanepisternum, pale gold lanceolate on scutellum. Wing. Membrane pale gray, brown; veins pale brown; length 4.3 mm, length/width 2.0; pterostigma brown; cell m 3 closed, petiolate. Halter pale brown. Legs. Femora dark brown, pruinescence white; ventral setae white, dark brown setae apicoventrally on forefemur; av 1:0:3, 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 with posterior margin of tergites 2–7 dark yellow, pruinescence white; dorsal setae white, appressed; lateral setae white elongate. Terminalia (MEI 115613) pale brown. Tergite 8 and epandrium (Fig. 219), setae dark brown. Hypoproct (Fig. 219) large, triangular with medial anteroposterior groove; setae dark brown; lateral view (Fig. 220) apical third bent ventrally forming large projection. Sternite 8 ( Fig. 234), posterior margin emarginate. Gonocoxite ventral view ( Fig. 234), basal third bulbous, rounded laterally, anteromedial margin sinuate, posterior two­thirds tapered to thick point, setae dark yellow with small patch of short dark yellow setae anteromedially; dorsal view ( Fig. 248) gonocoxal bridge moderately large; lateral view ( Fig. 262) basal half rounded, tapering apically to thick point; ventral lobe ( Fig. 234) with ventral spines. Gonostylus (Fig. 276) narrow, basodorsal lobe small, broadly rounded; ventral margin sinuate, rounded apically with dark yellow setae directed apically; fine, short spines abundant laterally. Aedeagus with dorsal apodeme ( Fig. 290) oblong, sides sinuate, posterolateral margin slightly enlarged, pointed; ventral apodeme (Fig. 304) broad, anterior margin emarginate; distiphallus dorsal view ( Fig. 290) short, broad basally, tapered apically to rounded point, lateral view ( Fig. 318), subapical hood large, rounded; ejaculatory apodeme ( Fig. 290), anterior half expanded laterally, not extending beyond anterior margin of dorsal apodeme, in cross­section flattened dorsoventrally with large ventral carina.

Variation (n=2). Body length 6.1–6.3, 6.2 mm.

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

Female

Similar to male except for following.

Variation (n=10).

Body length 5.0–12.7, 8.2 mm.

Head. Frons pruinescence gray becoming brownish gray dorsally with small pale brown area dorsolaterally; setae dark brown.

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

Abdomen. Dark reddish brown, pruinescence gray; tergites 2–7 with posterior margin dark yellow; tergite 8 yellowish orange (occasionally tergites 5–7 with posterolateral area dark yellow); dorsal setae dark reddish brown, appressed with white, elongate, appressed setae across posterior margin of tergite 1. Terminalia (MEI 115607). Anterior margin of sternite 8 ( Fig. 332) truncate with heavily sclerotized margin. Furca (Fig. 344) oval; length 0.36 mm, width 0.24 mm; posteromedial projection absent, anterolateral and anteromedial projection short, pointed. Common duct (Fig. 344) longer than furca. Spermathecal duct (Fig. 344) narrow basally then expanded into cone­shaped sac with darkened apex before becoming thread­like.

Distribution

Elcaribe anguilla has been collected only on Anguilla in the British West Indies ( Fig. 356).

Habitats and phenology

Adults of Elcaribe anguilla have been collected at lights and in Malaise traps in Acacia scrub from 24 March to 13 April.

Specimens examined

Type specimen. The holotype male of Elcaribe anguilla Webb (MEI 040248) is labeled "ANGUILLA, BWI, Flat Top Point, 13–IV–1958, J. F. G. Clarke, collected at light" and is deposited in the USNM. PARATYPES. BRITISH WEST INDIES. ANGUILLA. Sandy Ground Village [18.206, ­63.092], 24–30.III.1992, W. E. Steiner, J. M. Swearingen, 1♂ MEI 115615 ( INHS), 15♀ 115591, 115594–607 ( USNM), 1♀ 115608 ( INHS), Malaise trap, Acacia scrub, hillside above salt pond .