Leptocera tapanti Buck, 2009

Buck, Matthias & Marshall, Stephen A., 2009, Revision of New World Leptocera Olivier (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae), Zootaxa 2039 (1), pp. 1-139 : 124-127

Leptocera tapanti Buck , new species

( Figs. 23 , 279 , 290–296 , 302–304 )

Description. Body length 2.0–4.0 mm. Habitus as in Fig. 279 . Prosternum with (0–)1 setula on each side of midline, area around socket usually darkened. Scutum with indistinct pattern: posterolateral areas (lateral of dorsocentral lines and posterior to presutural intra-alar bristle) with slightly bluish reflections. Scutellum somewhat velvety. Mid tibia with two short posteroapical bristles of subequal length ( Fig. 23 ).

Male terminalia ( Figs. 290–293 ): Sternite 5 with very long, pale bristles near hind margin, one pair of massive, black, horn-like marginal scales; the pale field in front these scales bare, appearing coarsely granulose under high magnification. Sternite 8 reduced in size, completely fused to epandrium, suture still visible on left side. Epandrium on each side with one row of long bristles above ventral margin; bristles above this row shorter. Perianal field narrowed ventrally. Anterior section of surstylus with anterior process very short, with dark anterior point (hardly visible in lateral view); ventral lobe broad and horizontal, notched near middle (lateral view), with two rows of strong bristles in front of notch, one extending anteriorly (well visible in lateral view), one extending medially (partially hidden in lateral view), posteriorly with four strong bristles. Anterior section of surstylus very strongly curved in ventral view, forming a “U” that is open medially. Posterior section of surstylus with basal part completely fused to epandrium (limit between the two only indicated by a slight difference in colour), bearing a row of wavy bristles; ventral part finger-like and narrow, apically with a small, thickened bristle and three setulae. Cercus simple, with several long, wavy bristles. Aedeagal complex as in Figs. 302–304 .

Female terminalia ( Figs. 294–296 ): Sternite 7 without posteromedial projection, its posterior edge shining, concolorous or black. Fused tergite 10 + cerci completely rounded posterolaterally.

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( INBC) and 17 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀ paratypes ( DEBU): COSTA RICA, Prov. Cartago, Tapantí Natl. Pk., 1,550 m, 7–12.x.1999, pans in fallen tree, Marshall & Buck ( DEBU). Other paratypes: COSTA RICA. Prov. Cartago: 11 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, Tapantí Natl. Pk., Ranger Stn., 1,200 m, 7–11.x.1999, pans in kitchen refuse, M. Buck ( DEBU); 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, Turrialba, xi.1922, P. Schild ( USNM). Prov. Heredia: 4 ♂♂, 32 ♀♀, 16 km SSE La Virgen, 1,050–1,150 m, transect, various dates: 9.ii–9.iv. and 10–21.xi.2001, [malaise] ( DEBU, INBC). Prov. Puntarenas: 206 ♂♂, 88 ♀♀, Monteverde Biol. Res., 1,500 m, 14.vi.2000, treefall sweep/pans and sweeping treefall/trail, M. Buck ( DEBU, INBC, CNCI); 6 ♀♀, same but ii.1980, cloud forest, W.R.M. Mason ( CNCI); 1 ♀, Monteverde , 1,700–1,800 m, 23–27.ii.1991, yellow pans, B.J. Sinclair ( CNCI); 1 ♀, Monteverde, 1,700 m, stunted forest, 28.v–1.vi.1988, B.V. Brown ( CMNH).

Other material examined. COSTA RICA. Prov. Alajuela : 1 ♀, Volcán Tenorio, Bijagua Biol. Stn. , 700 m, 16.vi.2000, sweeping decayed vegetation, M. Buck ( DEBU) ; 1 ♀, Volcán Tenorio, N slope nr. Bijagua Biol. Stn. , 700 m, 18.vi.2000, pans in tree fall, Buck & Marshall ( DEBU) ; 1 ♀, Volcán Tenorio , N slope, trail to laguna, ~ 1,000 m, 18.vi.2000, sweeping, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) . Prov. Cartago : 1 ♀, Tapantí Natl. Pk. , 4.x.1999, Marshall & Buck ( DEBU) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Tapantí Natl. Pk., nr. Catarata trail, 1,450 m, roadside, 4.x.1999, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) ; 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Tapantí Natl. Pk. , trail to hydro tower nr. W entrance, 1,150 m, 9–12.x.1999, pan traps, M. Buck ( DEBU) ; 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Tapantí Natl. Pk. , nr. W entrance, 1,150 m, trail to hydro tower/creek, 11.x.1999, sweep, Marshall & Buck ( DEBU) ; 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, Tapantí Natl. Pk. , outside nr. W entrance, 1,150 m, 8–9.x.1999, sweep trail, Marshall & Buck ( DEBU) ; 1 ♂, Tapantí Natl. Pk., Arboles Caídos Trail , 1,200 m, 4.x.1999, trail sweep, Marshall & Buck ( DEBU) ; 1 ♀, Tapantí Natl. Pk., Arboles Caídos Trail , ca. 1,300 m, 9/ 11.x.1999, sweep, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) ; 1 ♂, Tapantí Natl. Pk., above Ranger Stn. , ca. 1,250 m, 12.x.1999, sweep trail/road, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) ; 1 ♀, Tapantí Natl. Wildlife Ref. , 1,250 m, vii.1991, G. Mora ( INBC) ; 1 ♀, Tapantí Natl. Pk. , 1,650 m, 7.x.1999, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) ; 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀, Tapantí Natl. Pk. , 1,650 –1,750 m, 7.x.1999, sweep trail, M. Buck / S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) . Prov. Puntarenas : 4 ♂♂, 13 ♀♀, Monteverde Biol. Res. , 1,500 m, various dates: 11–14.vi.2000, cloud forest, mostly sweeping and pans along creek, M. Buck / S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) ; 17 ♂♂, 60 ♀♀, Monteverde , 1,500 m, various dates: ii, vi–viii, 1980, 1983, 1993, some from malaise, FIT, dung trap (1 ♂), Mason & Wood, D.M. Wood, H.F. Howden, E.R. Barr ( DEBU) ; 9 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Monteverde Biol. Stn. , 1,500 m, 12/ 13.vi.2000, white pans in kitchen compost, M. Buck ( DEBU) ; 3 ♀♀, Monteverde , 1,520 m, 11–18.vi.1982, FIT, D.H. Lindeman ( DEBU) ; 7 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, Monteverde Biol. Res. , 1,550 m, 15–20.vii.1986, L. Masner ( DEBU) ; 1 ♀, Monteverde, Finca Canada , 1,500 m, 5.vi.1988, primary forest, B.V. Brown ( DEBU) ; 4 ♀♀, Monteverde , 25/ 27.ii.1991, FIT, H. & A. Howden ( DEBU) ; 1 ♀, Las Alturas , 1,600 m, 11–14.viii.1995, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Río Peñas Blancas , E Monteverde Res., 900 m, 10°18'N, 84°49'W, 25.v.1987, on rotten banana pits, A.L. Norrbom ( DEBU) ; 1 ♂, San Gerardo , 1,200 m, 15.xii.1994, banana grove, sweep, D.C. Caloren ( DEBU) ; 1 ♂, 1 km SW Cerro Biolley , 1,300 m, 2–20.iv.1995, L. Angulo ( INBC) . Prov. San José : 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Zurquí de Moravia , 1,600 m, v.1991, P. Hanson ( DEBU) ; 1 ♀, Hwy 2, km 68, 6.viii.1995, around Sphagnum bog/pond, sweeping, D.C. Caloren ( DEBU) . PANAMA. Prov. Chiriquí : 6 ♀♀, Hartmann's Finca , 1,700 m, 28.vi–3.vii.1981, B. Gill ( DEBU) .

Etymology. The species name is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality Tapantí National Park in Cartago Province, Costa Rica.

Distribution (Map 11). Costa Rica and Panama at elevations from 700 to 1,800 m.

Discussion. This species has very distinctive male terminalia. The two stout black prongs on the posterior margin of sternum 2 distinguish L. tapanti sp.n. from all other Leptocera . Remarkable is also the fusion of the posterior section of the surstylus with the epandrium, the long, wavy hairs of the surstylus and the very low anterior process of the anterior section of the surstylus.

Figures

FIGURE 279. Leptocera tapanti sp.n., holotype male (Costa Rica).

FIGURES 16–29. Leptocera mid tibiae and basitarsi. Mid tibia, dorsal: (16) L. neocurvinervis (Chile); (17) L. duplicata (Juan Fernández Is.). Apical half of mid tibia and basitarsus, posterior: (18) L. parallelipennis sp.n. (Juan Fernández Is.); (19) L. ellipsipennis (Juan Fernández Is.); (20) L. erythrocera (Honduras); (21) L. sphaerotheca sp.n. (Mexico); (22) L. plax sp.n. (Ecuador); (23) L. tapanti sp.n. (Costa Rica); (24) L. cymatonota sp.n. (Mexico); (25) L. parafinalis (Canada); (26) L. neofinalis sp.n. (Canada); (27) L. kanata sp.n. (Canada); (28) L. fontinalis (France); (29) L. nigra (South Africa). d ad—distal anterodorsal bristle, d d—distal dorsal bristle, d pa—dorsal posteroapical bristle, l ad—lowermost bristle of proximal anterodorsal series, l pd—lowermost bristle of proximal posterodorsal series, mv—midventral bristle, pa v—preapical ventral bristle, vb—ventrobasal bristle of basitarsus, v pa—ventral posteroapical bristle.

FIGURES 290–296. Leptocera tapanti sp.n. (Costa Rica). Male terminalia (phallus and postgonites omitted): (290) lateral; (291) posterior; (292) ventral, distal part of posterior section of surstylus omitted; (293) sternite 5. Female terminalia: (294) dorsal; (295) spermathecae; (296) ventral. aps—anterior process of anterior section of surstylus; ce—cercus; ep—epandrium; pssb—posterior section of surstylus, basal part (fused with epandrium); pssc—ditto, connection between basal and distal part; pssd—ditto, distal part; vls—ventral lobe of anterior section of surstylus.

FIGURES 297–304. Aedeagal complex and subepandrial sclerite of Leptocera plax group. Leptocera plax sp.n. (Ecuador): (297) subepandrial sclerite and posterior section of surstylus, posterior; (298) aedeagal complex, lateral; (299) ditto, dorsal; (300) ditto, posterior; (301) ditto, anterior. Leptocera tapanti sp.n. (Costa Rica), aedeagal complex: (302) lateral; (303) dorsal; (304) anterior. bcp—basal connection between postgonites, bp—basiphallus, dp—distiphallus, ea—ejaculatory apodeme, pa—phallapodeme, pg—postgonites, pss—posterior section of surstylus, se—subepandrial sclerite.