Sclerocoelus xynos, Kuwahara & Marshall & Paiero, 2025

Kuwahara, Gregory K., Marshall, Stephen A. & Paiero, Steven M., 2025, A revision of the genus Sclerocoelus Marshall (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), European Journal of Taxonomy 979, pp. 1-277 : 122-125

Sclerocoelus xynos sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A57DAF12-DABF-4669-A254-85C1EA5AF8F7

Figs 9I , 147–149

Etymology

The species name (from the Greek ‘ xynos ’, meaning ‘common’) reflects the abundance and widespread distribution of this species.

Material examined

Holotype

VENEZUELA • ♂; Mérida, 6 km S of Azulita , near road; 3 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU.

Paratypes

BOLIVIA – La Paz • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; 10 km NW of Caranavi , road to ENTEL tower; 1700 m a.s.l.; 13 Apr. 2001; S.A. Marshall leg.; bamboo dung pans; CBFC • 1 ♂; 23 km NE of Caranavi ; 14 Apr. 2001; S.A. Marshall leg.; roadside/stream sweep; CBFC .

ECUADOR – Napo • 11 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; 4.2 km S of Cosanga , pipeline trail; 2200 m a.s.l.; 7 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; QCAZ • 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 5 km N of El Chaco ; 15 Feb. 1983; M. Sharkey leg.; Malaise trap and wet net; CNCI • 2 ♀♀; El Chaco ; 2000 m a.s.l.; 15-23 Feb. 1983; L. Masner and M. Sharkey leg.; Malaise trap; CNCI .

VENEZUELA – Lara • 9 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Yacambu ; 1200 m a.s.l.; 7 May 1981; H. Townes leg.; cloud forest; CNCI . – Mérida • 7 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; DEBU • 5 ♂♂; Jají ; 27 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; cloud forest, flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 12 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Jají to La Azulita ; 3 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; roadside sweeps; DEBU • 1 ♂; Los Chorros ; 1–5 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; leaf debris; DEBU • 5 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Los Chorros ; 23 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweeps; DEBU • 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Mucui , 10 km E of Tobay; 2000 m a.s.l.; 28 Apr. 1981; H. Townes leg.; CNCI • 1 ♂; Santa Rosa Road ; 24 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; vegetation along trail; DEBU • 1 ♂; Santa Rosa Trail ; 23–30 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU .

Other material examined

ARGENTINA – Salta • 7 ♂♂, 50 ♀♀; 22 km N of La Caldera, El Ucumar ; 1550 m a.s.l.; 2–30 Dec. 1987; S. and J. Peck leg.; subtropical humid forest, Malaise / flight-intercept trap; CNCI • 1 ♂; 40 km N of Salta, Camino La Cornisa ; 1500 m a.s.l.; 27 Feb. 1992; S.A. Marshall leg.; forest; DEBU .

BOLIVIA – La Paz • 1 ♂; 10 km NW of Caranavi , road to ENTEL tower; 15°46′35″ S, 67°35′48″ W; 1400 m a.s.l.; 13 Apr. 2001; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; dung pans; DEBU • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 1700 m a.s.l.; bamboo dung pans; DEBU • 1 ♂; 23 km NE of Caranavi ; 14 Apr. 2001; S.A. Marshall leg.; roadside/stream sweep; DEBU • 3 ♀♀; Chulumani, Apa-Apa Reserve ; 16°21′15″ S, 67°30′21″ W; 2000 m a.s.l.; 1–3 Apr. 2001; S.A. Marshall leg.; pan traps; DEBU • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 1 Apr. 2001; sweep; DEBU. – Santa Cruz • 1 ♂; Siringalito, near Pampa Grande ; 2 Oct. 1996; Bettella and Rossi leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂; Yungas de la Siberia , 26.4 km NW of Comarapa; 2640 m a.s.l.; 28 Jan. 1999; R. Anderson leg.; Yungas, mixed litter; DEBU .

ECUADOR – Loja • 1 ♀; Podocarpus National Park, Bombuscaro, Higuerones trail; 1000 m a.s.l.; 21–25 Feb. 2009; M. Pollet and A. De Braekeleer leg.; yellow pans; RBINS • 1 ♀; Podocarpus National Park, Cajanuma, Bosque Nublado trail; 3000 m a.s.l.; 20–27 Feb. 2009; M. Pollet and A. De Braekeleer leg.; yellow pans; RBINS . – Napo • 1 ♀; 4.8 km W of El Chaco ; 1750 m a.s.l.; 7 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂; 17 km NE of Baeza ; 1400 m a.s.l.; 3–6 Mar. 1976; S. Peck leg.; dung trap; DEBU • 30 ♂♂, 22 ♀♀; Baeza ; 1500 m a.s.l.; 16–19 May 1987; L.D. Coote and B. V. Brown leg.; wet montane rainforest, Malaise trap; DEBU • 62 ♂♂, 34 ♀♀; Baeza ; 1550 m a.s.l.; 15–19 May 1987; L.D. Coote and B. V. Brown leg.; wet montane rainforest/pasture, Malaise trap off stone trail; ROME • 6 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Baeza ; 1700 m a.s.l.; 16–19 May 1987; L.D. Coote and B. V. Brown leg.; wet montane rainforest/pasture, near small creek, Malaise head; ROME • 1 ♂; Baeza ; 5 Mar. 1979; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 3 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Baeza , W along road; 1500 m a.s.l.; 16–19 May 1987; L.D. Coote and B. V. Brown leg.; montane rainforest/pasture, Malaise trap; DEBU • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; El Chaco ; 2000 m a.s.l.; 15–23 Feb. 1983; L. Masner and M. Sharkey leg.; Malaise trap; CNCI • 1 ♀; Quito–Baeza Pass; 4000 m a.s.l.; 4–8 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; pan traps in moss; DEBU • 1 ♀; SierrAzul Lodge , 14 km W of Cosanga; 2200 m a.s.l.; 5 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; forest, sweep; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; SierrAzul Reserve , 14 km W of Cosanga; 0°40′55″ S, 77°56′09″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 9–10 May 2002; Buck and Paiero leg.; Malaise trap; DEBU • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 9 May 2002; M. Buck leg.; sweep trail; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 9–10 May 2002; M. Buck leg.; treefall, yellow pans; DEBU • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 10–11 May 2002; Marshall and Paiero leg.; debu00194781/ MYCRO919-21 sequenced for CO1–5′; DEBU • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; Yanayacu Biological Station ; 0°36′ S, 77°53′ W; 2000–2500 m a.s.l.; 25 Apr.–13 May 2019; Yau and Marshall leg.; DEBU . – Pichincha • 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; 3.5 km SE of Tandayapa ; 28 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; in green leaf litter (treefall); DEBU • 7 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; 7 km SE of Nanegalito, trout farm ‘ San Jose’; 1500 m a.s.l.; 27–30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; riverine forest, sweeping treefalls; DEBU • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀; Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve ; 0°01′13″ S, 78°40′30″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 9–13 May 2009; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 1 May 2011; pans near treefall DEBU • 4 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve ; 2150 m a.s.l.; 30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; on sifted litter; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 2200 m a.s.l.; 30 Oct. 1999; DEBU • 1 ♀; Bellavista Reserve , ridge trail; 2200 m a.s.l.; 28–30 Oct. 1999; pans near dung; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 7 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve , ridge trail; 28 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweeping/aspirating; DEBU • 1 ♂; Bellavista Reserve , trail B; 30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweeping; DEBU • 1 ♀; Cotopaxi National Park, Quebrada Mishahuaycu ; 3600 m a.s.l.; 16 Oct.–8 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; along stream, pan traps; DEBU • 1 ♀; Maquipucuna Biological Reserve , main trail; 1300 m a.s.l.; 27 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 1 ♀; Maquipucuna Biological Reserve , river trail; 1200 m a.s.l.; 29 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep; DEBU . – Zamora-Chinchipe • 1 ♀; 8 km NW of Zamora, mouth of Río Sabanilla ; 1420 m a.s.l.; 1 Nov. 1987; C. Young, R. Davidson and J. Rawlins leg.; CMNH • 2 ♀♀; San Francisco Biological Reserve, Atajo Trail ; 3°58′30″ S, 79°04′25″ W; 2000 m a.s.l.; 14–18 Feb. 2009; M. Pollet and A. De Braekeleer leg.; yellow pan traps, RBINS • 4 ♂♂, 15 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 18–25 Feb. 2009; RBINS • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 25 Feb.–3 Mar. 2009; RBINS • 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀; San Francisco Biological Reserve, Canal Trail ; 3°58′30″ S, 79°04′25″ W; 2000 m a.s.l.; 18–25 Feb. 2009; M. Pollet and A. De Braekeleer leg.; blue pan traps; RBINS • 8 ♂♂, 14 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 13–18 Feb. 2009; red pan traps; RBINS • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; yellow pan traps; RBINS • 16 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 17–25 Feb. 2009; DEBU • 19 ♂♂, 19 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 18–25 Feb. 2009; RBINS • 6 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 25 Feb.–3 Mar. 2009; DEBU • 7 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; white pan traps; DEBU • 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; San Francisco Biological Reserve, Río San Francisco Trail ; 3°58′30″ S, 79°04′25″ W; 2000 m a.s.l.; 18–25 Feb. 2009; M. Pollet and A. De Braekeleer leg.; yellow pan traps; RBINS • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 25 Feb.–3 Mar. 2009; RBINS .

PERU – Cusco • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge ; 13°03′21″ S, 71°32′46″ W; 1380 m a.s.l.; 18–20 Oct. 2006; J. Skevington leg.; Malaise trap; DEBU • 34 ♂♂, 45 ♀♀; Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge , NE of Paucartambo; 13°03′18″ S, 71°32′42″ W; 1120 m a.s.l.; 4–9 Nov. 2007; D. Brzoska leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU . – Junín • 3 ♀♀; Pampa Hermosa Lodge , 22 km N of San Ramon; 10°59′18″ S, 75°25′30″ W; 1220 m a.s.l.; 24–27 Nov. 2007; D. Brzoska leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU .

VENEZUELA – Aragua • 1 ♂; Henri Pittier National Park, Rancho Grande ; 1500 m a.s.l.; 3 Sep. 1992; L. Masner leg.; DEBU • 1 ♀; Henri Pittier National Park, Rancho Grande , La Toma trail; 9 Apr. 1994; L. Masner leg.; DEBU • 2 ♀♀; Rancho Grande , La Cumbre cloud forest; 1500 m a.s.l.; 1–10 Aug. 1987; Bordon and Peck leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU . – Lara • 1 ♀; Yacambú ; 1200 m a.s.l.; 7 May 1981; H. Townes leg.; cloud forest; CNCI . – Mérida • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Jají to La Azulita; 3 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; roadside sweeps; DEBU • 9 ♂♂, 13 ♀♀; Mérida, Los Chorros ; 2300 m a.s.l.; 23–30 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 1 ♀; Mérida, Los Chorros ; 1–5 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; dung trap; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; leaf litter, flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 1 ♀; Mérida, Los Chorros, Santa Rosa Road ; 30 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Mérida, Los Chorros ; 23 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Mérida, Santa Rosa Road ; 25–30 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; pasture/cloud forest edge, Malaise trap; DEBU • 9 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀; Santa Rosa Trail ; 1500 m a.s.l.; 24–30 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; flight-intercept trap along spring; DEBU . – Táchira • 1 ♀; 38 km NE of San Cristóbal ; 2100 m a.s.l.; 18–20 Jun. 1974; S. Peck leg.; carrion; DEBU . – Trujillo • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 10 km E of Bocono, Laguna de Lucerdo ; 1760 m a.s.l.; 3 Mar. 1995; S.A. Marshall leg.; slash/compost; DEBU • 1 ♀; Bocono–Guaramacal Road ; 2130 m a.s.l.; S.A. Marshall; sweep wet litter; DEBU • Guaramacal National Park ; 2000–3000 m a.s.l.; 26 Aug.–1 Sep. 1992; L. Masner leg.; car net; DEBU .

Description

BODY ( Fig. 147A ). Length 2.3–3.8 mm. Head dark brown, very bottom edge of frons orange; face and gena dark brown, antennae orange; frontal vitta, interfrontal plate and orbital plate slightly paler and shiny. Frontal width 2.3–2.4 × frontal height. Two pairs of strong interfrontal bristles surmounting a very fine third pair; anterior orbital 0.4–0.5× length of posterior. Palpus yellow. Eye large, greatest height about 3.5× shortest genal height. Thorax dark brown, scutum with paler lateral edges. Two pairs of dorsocentral bristles (anterior pair only slightly larger than surrounding acrostichal setulae) separated by 7–8 rows of acrostichal setulae. Intra-alar setae not enlarged; prescutellar acrostichal setulae only slightly larger than others. Membrane around prosternum bare. Legs brown, trochanters and bases of femora paler. Fore femur with four or five large ventral preapical setae. Ventral surface of male mid tibia with two rows of stout setae in apical third. Wing ( Fig. 9I ) slightly infuscate. CS2 0.7–0.8 × CS3. Halter brown with paler stem.

MALE ABDOMEN ( Figs 147B–C , 148 ). Dark brown, posterior edges of tergites sometimes slightly desclerotized. T2–5 and S2–4 uniformly long-setose with large posterolateral setae. S4 sometimes with a distinct posteromedial process which overlaps S5. S5 rectangular, 1.2× length of S4, anterior edge often overlapped by S4; posterolaterally long-setose, very broadly posteromedially emarginate, densely setose along lateral margins of emargination, with short setae in emargination and a dark T-shaped medial sclerite. Anterior flange of S6+7 1.0× as long as wide. Sclerites A, B, and C fused, forming a continuous arc extending from S6 to middle of S5; sclerites D and E fused, short and slightly x-shaped; sclerite F large, bulging with an elongate apical process on left side; sclerite G small, rounded; ring sclerite narrow, fused to sclerite G. Epandrium small, 0.4× length of S8, height 1.8 × maximum length and 0.8× maximum width, uniformly setose; perianal pads weakly developed. Pseudocercus absent; halves of subepandrial sclerite short, slightly sinuate and continuous medially. Subcercus large, with a large, setulose main part, a small apical sclerotized lobe, and a large anteroventral membranous lobe attached to small lobe. Hypandrium with narrow anteromedial apodeme. Surstylus small, subtriangular, posteriorly setose and anteriorly concave. Postgonite short, broad with two inner anterior lobes and a large, dark, curved posteroventral lobe. Phallapodeme large, gently curved; basiphallus stout, curved, and connected to distiphallus by a neck-like distal part; distiphallus largely membranous with a broad, U-shaped dorsal sclerite and a narrow ventral sclerite.

FEMALE ABDOMEN ( Fig. 149 ). T7 broad, simple; T8 divided into a pale dorsal sclerite and a pair of dark lateral sclerites with rounded posteroventral corners. Epiproct small, pale, with 2 dorsal setae. Cercus elongate, narrow and tapered with long apical and preapical setae. S7 broad, posteromedially pointed with four large posterior setae; S8 reduced to a pair of very small lateral sclerites. Three spermathecae, bulb spherical, finely striate and with a deep apical invagination and a shallow basal invagination.

Distribution

Neotropical: Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela.

Remarks

Sclerocoelus xynos sp. nov. is closely related to S. penai sp. nov., with which it shares a number of characters including a similar male S5 and a uniquely inflated ventral subcercus. Sclerocoelus xynos can be separated from S. penai by the two pairs of large interfrontal bristles preceded by a much smaller pair, evenly concave posteromedial margin of the male S5 with the distinctive T-shaped posteromedial process, and the two anterior lobes of the postgonite. The holotype was collected along with specimens of S. lazulita sp. nov. and S. paranebulosus sp. nov. All four species are basal to the large derived clade including the S. dasysternum and S. galapagensis groups.

Species incertae sedis

Figures

Fig. 9. Sclerocoelus Marshall, 1995, left wings, ventral view. A. Sclerocoelus recurvatus sp. nov. B. Sclerocoelus regularis (Malloch, 1914). C. Sclerocoelus riparius sp. nov. D. Sclerocoelus synorios sp. nov. E. Sclerocoelus tantus sp. nov. F. Sclerocoelus tridens sp. nov. G. Sclerocoelus turpis sp. nov. H. Sclerocoelus vulgatus sp. nov. I. Sclerocoelus xynos sp. nov. Scale bars: A–H=0.5 mm.

Fig. 147. Sclerocoelus xynos sp. nov., paratype. A. Male habitus, lateral view. B. Male terminalia, posterior view. C. Male terminalia, lateral view. Abbreviations: epa=epandrium; sc = subcercus; se =subepandrial sclerite; ss=surstylus. Scale bars: A=1.0 mm; B–C =0.25 mm.

Fig. 148. Sclerocoelus xynos sp. nov., paratype. A. Aedeagus and associated structures, lateral view. B. Male S5 and genital pouch, ventral view. C. Subcercal complex, posterior view. Abbreviations: bp =basiphallus; dp = distiphallus; hyp =hypandrium; pg =postgonite; ph =phallapodeme. Scale bars: A=0.13 mm; B= 0.25 mm; C =0.10 mm.

Fig. 149. Sclerocoelus xynos sp. nov., paratype. A. Female terminalia, dorsal view. B. Female terminalia, ventral view. C. Female terminalia, lateral view. D. Spermatheca. Scale bars: A–C =0.25 mm; D =0.03 mm.