Calusamyia Coher, 2011

Coher, Edward I., 2011, A New Genus and Species of North American Robsonomyiini (Diptera: Sciaroidea: Keroplatidae: Macrocerinae) from the Florida Keys Edward I. Coher Emeritus Prof. Long Island Univ. 10203 Greentrail Drive N. Boynton Beach, FL 33436, Insecta Mundi 2011 (198), pp. 1-6 : 2-5

Calusamyia Coher , new genus (Fig. 1)

Description. Male. Head: mouthparts with connected broad labellar halves appressed ventrally to head capsule); four short palpal segments, lengths subequal, second bulbous with sensory pore; clypeus wider than long, bare; frons triangular with a few small setae, apex slightly porrect; antenna slightly longer than abdomen, scape and pedicel subequal, slightly inflated, pedicel minutely setaceous, fourteen minutely setose flagellar segments with apical segment longer than preceding segments, basal seg- ments with stronger ventral setae; eye dichoptic, large, protuberant, forming bulk of head capsule, with a short stout posterolateral seta; two large slightly projecting ocelli on lateral margin of a pigmented median subrectangular area, their own diameter from eyes and twice that from each other, a minute ocellus on median projection; occipital area with sparse, fine setae, clear crescent-shaped plates and brushy surficial appearance, much less convex than Macrocera spp.

Thorax: anterior pronotum sparsely setiferous; mesonotal seta rows very weak, fine, long setae sparse posteriorly, antero-lateral acrostichal area slightly raised; pleura ( Fig. 3 ) with highly reduced sub-quadrate mesepimeron not produced beyond ventral margin of anepisternite is and closely fused with a sunken postero-dorsal unpigmented plate that is narrowly connected anteriorly to a similar plate between it and the anepisternite; anepisternite two thirds size of katepisternite with an anterior cluster of small setae; scutellum band-shaped with two pairs of two long and one short setae; postnotum rounded, bare.

Legs: slender; fore and midcoxa with an anteroapical row of setae; femora with dorsal, ventral and inner rows of somewhat decumbent setae; tibiae setose, appearing brushy apically; foretibia length subequal to its femur, expanded apically; mid tibia slightly shorter than its femur; hind tibia 5:4 to its femur, with well developed apical dorsal setal row; tibial spurs small, 1-2-2; hind basitarsus much longer than combined distal segments; tarsal segments with paired apical spurs, two apical segments very slender, possible flexile; claws scimitar shape; pulvilli recurved.

Wing: ( Fig. 2 ) patterned as figured; membrane minutely setiferous, strong appearance at pigment spots; costal margin strongly setose, less so near base; sc very weak, setose, expanded distally, ending in C; R1+2+3 ends midway in C and not connected basally to Rs, branches of M and R setose, R 4+5 arched, terminating prior to tip of costa; M slightly more than half the length of its branches which are apically divaricate, end in wing margin; 2A half length of 1A when present.

Halter : faintly setose, stem long, knob infolded, ovoid.

Abdomen: tubular, slim with short, fine setae; tergites enfold sternites, clothed in microsetae, with a brush-like appearance principally formed by longitudinal rows of short, fine setae; segment 1 reduced, setation reduced, segments 2-7 elongate, successively barely shorter, 6 and 7 flattened, broad; tip of abdomen slightly recurved.

Male terminalia ( Fig. 4 ): median gonapophyses setose, rounded; tergal plate wider than high; dististyle stout, slightly curved with strong apical spur.

Female. Head: mouthparts with connected broad labellar halves appressed ventrally to head capsule; four short palpal segments, lengths subequal, second bulbous with sensory pore; clypeus wider than long, bare; frons triangular with a few small setae, apex slightly porrect; antenna slightly longer than abdomen, scape and pedicel subequal, slightly inflated, pedicel minutely setaceous, fourteen minutely setose flagellar segments with apical segment longer than preceding segments, basal segments with stronger ventral setae; eye dichoptic, large, protuberant, forming bulk of head capsule, with a short stout posterolateral seta; two large slightly projecting ocelli on lateral margin of a pigmented median subrectangular area, their own diameter from eyes and twice that from each other, a minute ocellus on median projection; occipital area with sparse, fine setae, clear crescent-shaped plates and brushy surficial appearance, much less convex than Macrocera spp.

Thorax: anterior pronotum sparsely setiferous; mesonotal seta rows very weak, fine, long setae sparse posteriorly, antero-lateral acrostichal area slightly raised; pleura ( Fig. 3 ) with highly reduced sub-quadrate mesepimeron not produced beyond ventral margin of anepisternite is and closely fused with a sunken postero-dorsal unpigmented plate that is narrowly connected anteriorly to a similar plate between it and the anepisternite; anepisternite two thirds size of katepisternite with an anterior cluster of small setae; scutellum band-shaped with two pair of two long and one short setae; postnotum rounded, bare.

Legs: slender; fore and midcoxa with an anteroapical row of setae; femora with dorsal, ventral and inner rows of somewhat decumbent setae; tibiae setose, appearing brushy apically; foretibia length subequal to its femur, expanded apically; mid tibia slightly shorter than its femur; hind tibia 5:4 to its femur, with well developed apical dorsal setal row; tibial spurs small, 1-2-2; hind basitarsus much longer than combined distal segments; tarsal segments with paired apical spurs, two apical segments very slender, possible flexile; claws scimitar shape; pulvilli recurved.

Wing: ( Fig. 2 ) patterned as figured; membrane minutely setiferous, strong appearance at pigment spots; costal margin strongly setose, less so near base; sc very weak, setose, expanded distally, ending in C; R1+2+3 ends midway in C and not connected basally to Rs, branches of M and R setose, R 4+5 arched, terminating prior to tip of costa; M slightly more than half the length of its branches which are apically divaricate, end in wing margin; M much more widely divaricate than Macrocera or Robsonomyia ; m-cu as for Macrocera , atrophied; branches of Cu ending in the margin; anal veins developed strongly or weakly; 1A weak, ends at level of Cu; 2A half length of 1A when present.

Haltere: faintly setose, stem long, knob infolded, ovoid.

Abdomen: tubular, distended, somewhat flattened, sternites exposed with short, fine setae; tergites enfold sternites, clothed in microsetae, with a brush-like appearance principally formed by longitudinal rows of short, fine setae; segment 1 reduced, setation reduced, segments 2-7 elongate, successively barely shorter.

Female terminalia: ( Fig. 5-6 ) Segment 8 subrectangular with median vertical row of small bristles; segment 9 subquadrate with a flat, hooded tergal sclerite. Cercus elliptical joined with segment 9 by its subbasal margin.

Discussion. Calusamyia is the only robsonomyiine that has been taken in large numbers. Calusamyia differs from the Nearctic Robsonomyia reducta by its elongate antenna, pictured wing and development of the veins of the medial and anal field, different configuration of the mesepimeron and the distinctly developed male terminalia. A reduced mesopleural structure is also found in the western North American macrocerine Fenderomyia Shaw, 1948 b .

The above female description is the first female robsonomyiine to be described.

Etymology. The new generic name Calusamyia is derived from the title of an original Indian tribe inhabiting southern Florida. The suffix myia is feminine in gender.

Female. As for the male, abdomen somewhat flattened.

Female terminalia: ( Fig. 5-6 ). Segment 8 subrectangular with median vertical row of small bristles appearing as a segmentation; segment 9 subquadrate with a flat, hooded tergal sclerite. Cercus ellipti- cal joined with segment 9 by its subbasal margin.

Type material. Holotype. Male: Florida, Monroe Co., No Name Key , 8 June , 2004. A slide deposited in the collection of the Florida State Collection of Arthropods.

Allotype. Female: Florida, Monroe Co., Little Crawl Key , 12 July , 2006. In alcohol. Deposited in the collection of the Florida State Collection of Arthropods.

Paratypes. On slides or in vials of alcohol ; many stained. Florida. Monroe Co., No Name Key: 26 January, 2004, m ; 8 July , 2004, m ; 13 July , 2007, m ; 24 August , 2004, m, f ; 7 September , 2004, m, f ; 21 September , 2004, m,f ; 5 October , 2004, 3m ; 15 October , 2004, m ; 8 November , 2004, m ; 7 December , 2004, m. Long Point Key: 20 July, 2006, 2m, 2f ; 13; September , 2006, m, f ; 28 September , 2006, m, col. D. DeMay. Little Crawl Key: 20 June, 2006, 2m ; 12 July , 2006, 3m, f. col. D. DeMay ; Big Pine Key : 2 July, 2007 .

All collections were from mosquito light traps ran by L. Hribar except where otherwise noted. Paratypes deposited in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods ; Cornell University Entomological Museum, California Academy of Natural Sciences .

Discussion. It is possible that C. hribari may be breeding in a cave-like environment, possibly in a hollow in a tree or an animal excavation as other keroplatines being not uncommonly found in all stages in caves. The structure of the apical tarsal segments of C. hribari may also indicate a habit of hanging at rest in such places as spider webs or the side of their breeding sites. The large eyes, long antennae and time of capture indicate that maximum activity time is in the dark of evening with mating or feeding as possible activities.

Of interest is the appearance of the row of pigmented spots in wing cell R5. This may possibly indicate the presence of vein R 4+ 5 in ancestral forms and a closer relationship with Macrocera .

Etymology. It gives me great pleasure to name this species for Dr. L. Hribar who has exhibited extraordinary patience with development of this study.

Figures

Figures 2-6. Calusamyia hribari. 2) Wing.3) Thorax, lateral.4) Male terminalia, dorsal view.5) Female terminalia, ventral view. 6) Female terminalia, lateral view.