Neoephydra neotropica, Mathis, Wayne N. & Marinoni, Luciane, 2016

Mathis, Wayne N. & Marinoni, Luciane, 2016, Revision of Ephydrini Zetterstedt (Diptera: Ephydridae) from the Americas south of the United States, Zootaxa 4116 (1), pp. 1-110 : 34-36

The neotropica Group

Species included: Neoephydra neotropica sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Members of the neotropica group may be distinguished from those of related species groups by the following characters: overall size large; setation generally reduced, lacking pilose appearance.

Head: Mesofrons and parafrons with vestiture undifferentiated; postocular setae normally developed, not unusually conspicuous; lateroclinate, fronto-orbital setae 2; antennal groove deeply impressed.

Thorax: Anterior dorsocentral setae weak, not conspicuous; female with dense patch of setae between posterior 2 pairs of dorsocentral setae; disc of scutellum pale grayish blue, contrasted distinctly with darker, posterior portion of the scutum; and supra-alar seta lacking.

Distribution. Neotropical: Chile (Santiago: El Tabo).

8. Neoephydra neotropica sp. nov. Figs. 45–49 , Map 8

Diagnosis. As the only known species of this species groups, N. neotropica is characterized by the diagnosis of the species group; should other species be discovered, structures of the male genitalia will undoubtedly be diagnostic. Moderately large shore flies, body length 4.61–4.75 mm (averaging 4.66 mm); generally brown or pale greenish brown to gray in color, mostly dull, microtomentose.

Head ( Fig. 45 ): Head ratio 0.61–0.63; frontal ratio 0.42–0.44; mesofrons mostly microtomentose, dull, brownish olive to brownish green, contrasted little with parafrons in luster and vestiture; ocellar triangle and parafrons slightly browner than mesofrons, anteriorly charcoal colored; anterior portion of mesofrons with sparsely scattered, small, generally inconspicuous setae; ocellar setae small, from dorsal view not extended to anterior margin of mesofrons; postocellar setae minute, inconspicuous; fronto-orbital setae small, inserted on posterior half of fronto-orbits, occasionally with a 3rd fronto-orbital setae, if present, length about 3/4 that of larger setae; medial and lateral vertical setae on posterior surface of head just below vertex. Antenna dark brown, mostly unicolorous, basal flagellomere almost as long as combined length of scape and pedicel; aristal length approximately equal to combined length of basal 3 segments. Facial ratio 0.71–0.73; interfoveal hump narrow, dorsum dull, microtomentose, dark brown, contrasted distinctly with lower portion of face which is bluish gray to whitish gray; setation of face reduced, totally prominent setae; existing setae uniformly scattered. Eye ratio 0.89–0.93; gena-toeye ratio 0.43–0.47; gena moderately high, coloration slightly darker than lower portion of face, frequently with more bluish tinges. Palpus dark brown.

Thorax ( Fig. 46 ): Generally brown dorsally and gray ventrally, dull, totally microtomentose; scutum generally brown, lacking shiny vittae; humeral callosity, anteromedial vitta, and small area surrounding apex of dorsal notopleural angle grayish blue; disc of scutellum grayish blue, contrasted distinctly with brown, lateral margins; female specimens with rather dense patch of long setae on scutum just anterior of scutellum, setae on disc of scutellum also denser and longer but not as long as those of mesonotal patch; pleural areas except notopleuron, unicolorous, bluish gray; vestiture of katepisternum more pronounced, almost microtomentose. Wing mostly hyaline or but slightly infumate; wing ratio 0.40; wing length from 4.27–4.56 mm (averaging 4.39 mm); costal vein ratio 0.39–0.43; M vein ratio 0.59–0.62. Femora concolorous, grayish blue apically, gradually browner toward apices; tibiae concolorous, mostly unicolorous, olivaceous brown with some faint bluish tinges; tarsi generally dark brown.

Abdomen: Generally less microtomentose than thorax, almost subshiny toward lateral margins; medial portion of tergites 1 and 2 bluish gray with lateral margins pale greenish brown, gray area attenuated posteriorly; remaining tergites unicolorous, olivaceous brown; tergite 5 of male truncate posteriorly, forming a trapezoid. Male terminalia ( Figs. 47–49 ): epandrium in posterior view ( Fig. 47 ) with pedunculate sides; lateral margins of fused surstyli very slightly divergent from posterior view; posterior surstylar process wide, projecting parallel to each other; lateral surstylar process ( Fig. 48 ) broadly based, visible from posterior view in addition to lateral view; aedeagus in lateral view ( Fig. 49 ) narrow throughout most of its length except for basal 1/4, where it broadens gradually; phallapodeme in lateral view ( Fig. 49 ) slender, longer than wide.

Type material. The holotype male is labeled “ CHILE - Stgo [Santiago], El Tabo, 24.7.61 [24 Jul 1961], Kuschel leg. [handwritten]/Ƌ/ HOLOTYPE Ƌ Neoephydra neotropica Mathis USNM [red].” The holotype is double mounted (glued to a paper triangle), is in excellent condition, and is deposited in the USNM. The allotype female and 14 additional paratypes (8♂, 6♀; USNM) bear the same locality label data as the holotype.

Type locality. Chile. Santiago: El Tabo (33°27'S, 71°40'W).

Distribution (Map 8). Neotropical: Chile (Santiago). Neoephydra neotropica is known thus far only from the type locality.

Etymology. The specific epithet, neotropica , is a Latinized adjective in reference to the Neotropical distribution of this species.

Remarks. This species demonstrates considerable sexual dimorphism, particularly with respect to setation. Females have a rather dense, prescutellar patch of setae between the posterior dorsocentral setae that is not found in males.

MAP 8. Distribution map for Neoephydra neotropica sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 45 – 49. Head, thorax, and structures of male terminalia of Neoephydra neotropica sp. nov. (45) head, lateroblique view; (46) mesonotum, dorsal view; (47) epandrium, cerci, surstyli, posterior view; (48) same, lateral view; (49) internal male terminalia (fused hypandrium gonite, aedeagus), lateral view.