Leptocera hexadike Buck, 2009

Buck, Matthias & Marshall, Stephen A., 2009, Revision of New World Leptocera Olivier (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae), Zootaxa 2039 (1), pp. 1-139 : 97-100

Leptocera hexadike Buck , new species

( Figs. 8 , 210 , 218–224 , 225 )

Description. Similar to L. cymatonota sp.n. from which it differs as follows: Body length 2.2–3.0 mm. Mesonotum with pruinose pattern similar but less distinct than in L. cymatonota sp.n. ( Fig. 8 ): pruinose areas less contrasting and with ill-defined edges; bristles of non-pruinose areas not arising from pruinose spots except major bristles. Scutellum ( Fig. 8 ) with two pairs of short supernumerary bristles, one inserted between the usual second and third, the other inserted between third and fourth pair; in aberrant specimens some of these bristles duplicated. Mid tibia with posteroapical bristles shorter than in L. cymatonota sp.n., ventral one stopping short of socket of ventrobasal metatarsal bristle or barely reaching it. Hind tibia with preapical bristle conspicuously exserted and almost twice as long as tibial diameter, size difference between it and other enlarged bristles of dorsal surface very noticeable. Basal abdominal tergites with discal hairs longer than in L. cymatonota sp.n.

Male terminalia ( Figs. 218–221 ) very similar to L. cymatonota sp.n.: Bristles of sternite 5 and epandrium shorter than in L. cymatonota sp.n. but still longer than in Nearctic species of L. fontinalis group. Anterior section of surstylus with bare outer ventral lobe more prominent than in L. cymatonota sp.n. Postgonite as in Fig. 225 .

Female terminalia ( Figs. 222–224 ) very similar to L. cymatonota sp.n.: Tergite 10 + cerci relatively shorter. Sternite 8 wider with more angulate anterolateral corners, posterolateral lobes more pointed, posteromedian lobe more elongate.

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( INBC) and 2 ♂♂ paratypes ( DEBU): COSTA RICA, Prov. San José, San Gerardo de Dota, 9°33'N, 83°48'W, 9.viii.1995, roadside, sweep, S.A. Marshall. Other paratypes: COSTA RICA. Prov. San José: 56 ♂♂, 17 ♀♀, San Gerardo de Dota, 2,200–2,600 m, 7–10.viii.1995, mostly from disturbed area near river and forest trail, S.A. Marshall and D.C. Caloren ( DEBU, INBC); 1 ♀, San Gerardo de Dota , Savegre Lodge, 2,300 m, 9–10.viii.1995, on windows, D.C. Caloren ( DEBU); 1 ♂, same but 2,000 m, 9.viii.1995, stream in pasture, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU); 15 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, San Gerardo de Dota , Río Savegre , 2,200 m, 9.viii.1995, C.W. Young ( CMNH); 3 ♂♂, San Gerardo de Dota , 5 km E, 7.viii.1995, along road, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU); 17 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, Cerro de la Muerte, Hwy 2, km 106, 8,200 ft, 25.ii.1984, carrion trap, H. Howden ( DEBU, CNCI); 1 ♂, Hwy 2, km 95, 9°36'N, 83°44'W, “ 320 m ” [error], 1–7.vi.1985, Goulet & Masner ( DEBU); 1 ♂, [?Hwy 2] km 74 SE San José, 25.ii.1984, dung trap, H.F. Howden ( DEBU); 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Zurquí de Moravia , 1,600 m, iii. 1981 and v.1991, P. Hanson ( DEBU); 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Río Humo below Cerro Vueltas, 2,850 m, 31.iii.1985, broad leaf understory in cloud forest, L. Masner ( CNCI); 1 ♂, Cuerici Biol. Stn., 4.6 km E Villa Mills, trail to Mirador, 2,640–2,700 m, 9.vi.1996, A. Picado ( INBC); 1 ♂, Cuerici Biol. Stn., nr. Station, 2,600 m, 20–28.viii.1995, A. Picado ( INBC). Prov. Cartago: 1 ♀, Volcán Irazú Natl. Pk., 3 km N, 9°59'45"N, 83°51'0"W, 2,750 m, 18.vi.1997, mixed oak / alder forest, leaf litter, R.S. Anderson ( DEBU); 1 ♀, Río Macho Forest Res. , por La Esperanza del Guarco , 2,700 m, 1–2.vi.1998, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU); 1 ♀, Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte Natl. Pk., La Esperanza del Guarco , 9°42'0”N, 83°51'49”W, 2,400 m, 17–18.viii.2001, oak forest, treefall pans, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU). Prov. Heredia: 30 ♂♂, 20 ♀♀, Braulio Carrillo Natl. Pk., Barva Biol. Stn., 2,500 m, ix–i, iii–vii, 1989–90, Fernández, Rivera and others ( INBC); 14 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, same as previous but Trail to Laguna, 2,600–2,760 m, 10°7'52"N, 84°7'39"W, 16.ii.2003, sweeping downed bromeliads, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU); 2 ♂♂, Braulio Carrillo Natl. Pk., 1,400–1,500 m, 11.iv.1985, cool moist river bed, selva premontana s.s., Goulet & Masner ( DEBU). Prov. Puntarenas: 1 ♂, Monteverde Biol. Stn., 1,500 m, 8.vi.1998, emergence trap, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU). PANAMA. Prov. Chiriquí: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Cerro Punta, 2,215 m, 6–7.i.1988, MacDonald & Schiefer ( MEMU); 2 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀, Cerro Punta, 2 km E, 2,200 m, 8.vi.1977, dung, S. Peck ( DEBU); 12 ♂♂, same but 1–4.v.1977, forest, carrion ( DEBU); 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, same but 28.v–8.vi.1977, oak forest, dung ( DEBU); 1 ♂, same but 1,760 m, Baldwin forest , carrion ( DEBU); 1 ♀, Cerro Punta, 5 km ESE, 2,600 m, 23–28.v.1977, dung traps, S. Peck ( DEBU); 1 ♂, Palo Alto Valley , 3.5. km E Boquete, 1,500 m, 1.vii.1996, Gillogly & Schaffner ( TAMU).

Etymology. The species name refers to the six pairs of scutellar bristles (Gr. hexadikos: of six), a unique character in Leptocera .

Distribution (Map 4). Mountains of Costa Rica and Panama from 1,400 –2,850 m.

Discussion. This species is unique within the genus for the presence of six pairs of scutellar bristles. As evidenced by the very similar male and female genitalia the species is closely related to the allopatric L. cymatonota sp.n. from Mexico and Guatemala.

Figures

FIGURE 210. Leptocera hexadike sp.n., adult at type locality (San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica).

FIGURES 7–9. Leptocera thoraces: (7) L. cymatonota sp.n. (Guatemala); (8) L. hexadike sp.n. (Costa Rica); (9) L. fulva (Belize). ad sc—additional scutellar bristles.

FIGURES 218–224. Leptocera hexadike sp.n. (Panama). Male terminalia (phallus and postgonites omitted): (218) lateral; (219) posterior; (220) ventral; (221) sternite 5. Female terminalia: (222) dorsal; (223) spermathecae; (224) ventral.

FIGURES 225–229. Postgonites and aedeagal complex of Leptocera cymatonota subgroup. Postgonite of (225) L. hexadike sp.n. (Costa Rica). Aedeagal complex of L. cymatonota sp.n. (Guatemala): (226) posterior; (227) anterior; (228) lateral; (229) dorsal. bcp—basal connection between postgonites, bp—basiphallus, dp—distiphallus, ea—ejaculatory apodeme, pa—phallapodeme, pg—postgonites.