Thecomyia limbata ( Wiedemann, 1819 )

Marinoni, Luciane, Steyskal, George C. & Knutson, Lloyd, 2003, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Neotropical Genus Thecomyia Perty (Diptera: Sciomyzidae), Zootaxa 191, pp. 1-36 : 18-20

3. Thecomyia limbata ( Wiedemann, 1819) ( Figs. 8, 20 , 32, 41, 44)

Tetanocera limbata Wiedemann, 1819: 54 [type­locality: " Brasil "]; 1830: 584 [citation].

Thecomyia limbata . Frey, 1918: 24 [generic combination].­ Hendel, 1932: 98 [suggested synonym with Thecomyia longicornis ].­ Abercrombie and Berg, 1975: 355 ­368 [biology and description of immature stages].­ Knutson et al., 1976: 13 [Neotropical catalog].

Description. Adult. Upper orbital seta absent. Fronto­orbital spot triangular, width approximately 1/4 of frontal width. Rostrum 0.66­0.75 in males and 0.95­0.97 in females as high as eye. White microtomentose infra­ocular marking extending well over 1/2 way to oral margin in female, in male nearly all the way. Mid femur with short anteromedial seta. Mid and hind femora usually wholly yellowish, occasionally blackish at apex. Mesonotum with complete medial yellow stripe becoming wider posteriorly as it extends onto scutellum. Ejaculatory apodeme very broad at apex, anterior margin almost straight, posterior margin slightly concave ( Fig. 8). Phallapodeme narrow and slightly curved at articulation with basiphallus, without subapical process. Anterior basiphallic process rounded, posterior basiphallic process barely covering base of distiphallus. Epiphallus short, not extending to base of distiphallus. Distiphallus very long, curved apically with a pair of long, narrow, apically acute asymmetrical processes almost as long as acrophallus. Hypandrium in lateral view, with dorsal margin almost straight; anteroventral margin wide, straight ( Fig. 20 ). Anteroventral hypandrial plates in frontal view very narrow. Membranous projections of margins of anteroventral hypandrial plates well developed, extending to lateral margins of hypandrium covered with minute hairs ( Fig. 20 ). Posterior and anterior surstyli distinct; posterior one large, clawlike; anterior one rounded ( Fig. 8). Female sternites 6, 7 and 8 almost fused, longer than wide; presence of sternite 6 indicated by a line of hairs; anterior margin of sternite 6 slightly sinuate; posterior part narrower. Spermathecal duct with sclerotized region joining spermatheca short; apical, digitiform projection thick at base and short (Fig. 32).

Type specimens. Described from three males in the Humboldt University Museum, Berlin. George Steyskal examined the male holotype on 16 Apr 1968, and according to his notes, the specimen is labeled: 1. Green label, “ Brasil v. Olfers”, “2575”, 2. Red label, “ Typus ”, 3. Green label, “limbatus m.”, “Tetan. limbata Wied. ”, “Thecom. Longicornis Perty ”. Steyskal further noted, “wing, 6.53 mm. long = # 1 in my key. F2 (only middle leg present) without medial bri”. Steyskal did not indicate whether or not he examined the male genitalia.

Other specimens examined. PANAMA. Guabito, Boca del Toro, 23 Feb 1917, C. B. Williams col., 1 m. and 1 f. ( BMNH). VENEZUELA. CARABOBO: Valencia, 16 Mar 1971, C. O. Berg col., 1 m. ( USNM). BRAZIL. PARÁ: Belém, Mocambo, 30 Jun 1965, H.S. Lopes col., 5 m. and 2 f. ( MNRJ); same locality, 1. Jul. 1965, H. S. Lopes & P. W. Miranda cols, 2 f. ( MNRJ), same locality, same date, H.S. Lopes col. 1 m. ( MNRJ); Utinga, 4 Set 1938, Damasceno col., 1 m. ( MNRJ); RIO GRANDE DO NORTE: Macahyba, Jun 1939, D.C. Alves col., 5 m. and 1 f. ( MZSP). PARAÍBA: Areia, Jul 1955, Pe. Pereira col., 1 m. ( MZSP). DISTRITO FEDERAL: Núcleo Bandeirante, Jan 1975, A. Bredt col., 1 m. ( USNM); same locality, Guaratiba, Jul 1956, J. H. Guimarães col., 1 f. ( MZSP). MATO GROSSO: Maracajú, Serviço de Febre Amarela, May 1937, no col., 1 f. ( USNM); same locality, Jul 1937, no col., 1 m. ( USNM); RIO DE JANEIRO: Rio de Janeiro, Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec 1937 ­ Jan 1938, R. C. Shannon col., 1 m. and 1 f. ( MZSP); same locality, 1 Nov 1937, H. Souza­ Lopes col., 1 f. ( USNM); same locality, Jardim Botânico, 10­12 Apr 1967, C. O. Berg & H. Souza­Lopes cols., 18 m. and 13 f. (CU); same locality, Jardim Botânico, same date, C. O. Berg & J. Abercrombie cols., 18 m. (1 reared – “ it means reared in the laboratory from eggs laid by field­collected females; most are pinned with puparia) and 1 f. (reared) (CU); same locality, Jardim Botânico, 13 Jun 1967, C. O. Berg & H. Souza­Lopes cols., 9 m. (2 reared) and 1 f. (reared) (CU); same locality, no date, no col., 2 m. (reared) and 7 f. (reared) (CU); same locality, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 6 Jul 1967, C. O. Berg & H. Souza­ Lopes cols., 4 m. (reared) and 2 f. (reared) (CU); same locality, Gávea, 5 May 1937, H. Souza­Lopes col., 1 m. ( MZSP); same locality, Oct 1937, Serviço de Febre Amarela, M.E.S, Bras. 1 m. ( MZSP); same locality, Manguinhos, Apr. 1934, H. S. Lopes, 1 m. ( MNRJ); Araruama, Jun 1948, P. E. Vanzolini col., 1 m. ( MZSP). SÃO PAULO: São Vicente, Parque Bitaru, 29 May 1967, Berg & Abercrombie cols., 14 m (2 reared) and 9 f (5 reared) (CU); Juquiá, J. Lane col., 1 m. and 1 f. ( MZSP); same locality, May 1947, E. Rabello col., 1 m. ( MZSP); Itanhaém, Dec 1944, J. Lane col., 2 m. and 1 f. ( MZSP); Araçatuba, Rio Jacarecatinga, Oct 1961, Lane & Rabello cols., 2 m. and 1 f. ( MZSP); same locality, Córrego Azul, Mar 1947, M. P. Barreto col., 9 m. and 6 f. ( MZSP); Ribeirão Preto, Rio Tamanduá, 28 Oct 1954, M. P. Barreto col., 1 m. and 1 f. ( MZSP); Rio Claro, 14 Jan 1977, L. Knutson col., 1 m. and 1 f. ( USNM); same locality, Horto Florestal, Aug 1964, N. Papavero col., 2 m. ( MZSP); Vila Enia, Bosque Pinheiro, Dec 1935, Barbiellini col. 1 f. ( MZSP); Onda Verde, Fazenda São João, Jan 1946, F. Lane col., 2 f. ( MZSP). PARANÁ: Praia de Leste, 17 May 1967, Berg & Abercrombie cols., 4 m. and 2 f. (CU); Paranaguá, Oct 1939, G. Silva col., 1 m. ( MZSP); Morretes, Sapitanduva, 7 Nov 1986, L. Marinoni, C. Carvalho & L. Knutson cols., 1 m. and 2 f. ( DZUP); same locality, 4. Jun. 1991, L. Marinoni col., 1 m. ( DZUP); same locality, same date, S. M. S. Silva col., 1 f. ( DZUP). SANTA CATARINA: Nova Teutônia, Dec 1944, F. Plaumann col., 1 m. ( CNC); same locality, 21 Mar 1947, same col., 1 m. and 1 f. ( CNC); same locality, Apr 1948, same col., 1 m. ( USNM); same locality, May 1950, same col., 1 m. ( CNC); same locality, 23 Nov 1959, same col., 1 f. ( CNC); same locality, 25 Nov 1959, same col., 1 f. ( CNC); same locality, 17 Dec 1959, same col., 4 m. and 2 f. ( CNC); same locality, 18 Dec 1959, same col., 2 m. and 1 f. ( CNC); same locality, 19 Dec 1959, same col., 2 m. and 2 f. ( CNC); same locality, 21 Dec 1959, same col., 1 f. ( CNC); same locality, 22 Dec 1959, 1 m. and 1 f. ( CNC); same locality, 22 Jan 1960, same col., 1 m. ( CNC); same locality, 29 Mar 1960, same col., 1 m. and 2 f. ( CNC); same locality, Mar 1963, 1 f. ( CNC); same locality (300­ 500 m), Oct 1977, same col., 1 m. and 1 f. ( USNM); same locality, Oct 1971, same col., 16 m. and 3 f. ( DZUP). ECUADOR. Napo, Lago Agrio, 14 Apr 1978, J. Anderson col. (col. small road­side pond), 1 m. ( USNM). PERU. Loreto: Pucallpa, 29 Dec 1950, J. Schunke col., 1 f. ( USNM); same locality, (200 m), 20­30 Jun 1965, same col., 1 m. and 1 f. ( USNM); same locality, 11­20 Nov 1964, same col., 11 m. and 2 f. ( USNM); same locality (500 m), 7­14 Jul 1965, same col., 3 m. ( USNM); same locality, Boqueron (500 m), 7­14 Jul 1965, same col., 4 m. ( USNM). PARAGUAY. Villa Rica, Dec 1936, F. Schade col., 2 m. and 2 f. (A. L. Melander Collection) ( USNM); same locality, May 1937, same col., 2 m. ( USNM); same locality, Nov 1937, same col., 1 m. ( USNM); same locality, Dec 1937, same col., 1 f. ( USNM); same locality, Oct 1939, same col., 2 f. ( USNM); same locality, Dec 1939, same col., 2 m. ( USNM); same locality, Jan 1940, same col., 1 m. ( USNM); same locality, Feb 1940, same col., 14 m. and 3 f. ( USNM); same locality, 16 Mar 1940, same col., 1 m. ( USNM).

Biology. Abercrombie and Berg (1975) reared this species through its complete life cycle, starting with larvae, puparia, and adults that were collected in Rio de Janeiro and São Vicente, Brazil. They described all immature stages. The larvae are rather typical predators of freshwater, non­operculate snails.

Figures

FIGURES 18 ­ 23. Hypandrium, frontal view and right lateral view: 18, Thecomyia longicornis Perty; 19, T. lateralis (Walker); 20, T. limbata (Wiedemann); 21, T. abercrombiei Marinoni and Steyskal; 22, T. autazensis Marinoni and Steyskal; 23, T. bonattoi Marinoni and Steyskal. A, anterior; as, archlike struts; avp, anteroventral plates; d, dorsal; mp, membranous projection; v, ventral.