Zadbimyia aberrans, Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2014

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2014, Zadbimyia, a new genus of asynaptine Porricondylinae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) with twenty-two new species from the cloud forest of Costa Rica, Zootaxa 3866 (1), pp. 1-29 : 26-27

Zadbimyia aberrans sp. n.

Figs 2 F, 24A–D

Diagnosis. This species differs from all other Zadbimyia by the paramere processes forming large, strongly sclerotized, single-pointed tusks ( Fig. 24 C).

Other male characters. Body length 1.9 mm. Head. Eye bridge 10–11 ommatidia long dorsally. Scape twice as long as pedicel. With 19 flagellomeres. Fourth flagellomere ( Fig. 24 B): neck as long as node, completely covered with microtrichia, circumfilum evenly ring-shaped. Palpus single-segmented. Legs. Claws long, almost straight, basal tooth unusually thin ( Fig. 2 F). Terminalia. Gonocoxites broad, ventral emargination shallow, broadly U-shaped, membranous at base of U, posterior portion of gonocoxal apodemes inserted unusually close to posterior margin of gonocoxites ( Fig. 24 A). Gonostylus elongate, slightly curved, broadly rounded apically, with 1+2 short bristles subapically ( Fig. 24 A). Ejaculatory apodeme as long as parameres, pointed apically ( Fig. 24 C). Parameres ( Fig. 24 C): apodemes extensive, slightly sclerotized; apicomedial portion 3 times longer than wide; processes directed dorsad.

Remark on classification. The accumulation of unusual character states (circumfila evenly ring-shaped, claws straight, gonostyli with subapical bristles) in Z. aberrans raises the question of whether this species is properly placed in the genus Zadbimyia . Apart from the fact that no other genus exists to easily absorb Z. aberrans , we assume that the morphological gap between this aberrant species and the core group of typical Zadbimyia will be closed by species still awaiting discovery.

Etymology. The species name aberrans is a Latin adjective meaning aberrant, in reference to the unusual paramere processes.

Holotype. Male, Costa Rica, San José province, Moravia, Zurquí de Moravia, 1600 m, 22 Sep. 2012, CDC light trap, ZADBI Project ( ZADBI #47, INBio #105060).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Morphology of male Zadbimyia spp. A: basitarsus of foreleg, dorsolateral, of Z. browni. B: head, lateral, of Z. artborkenti. C: ditto, of Z. anniae. D: ditto, of Z. spinapiscis. E: fifth tarsomere of foreleg, lateral, of Z. browni. F: ditto, of Z. aberrans. Scale for A, E – F, 0.05 mm; B – D, 0.1 mm. clp = clypeus, eye br = eye bridge, fd chnl = food channel, lbl = labellum, lbr = labrum, mx prtb = maxillary protuberance, pfr = postfrons, plp = palpus, prfr = prefrons.

FIGURE 24. Zadbimyia aberrans, male. A: terminalia, ventral. B: fourth flagellomere, lateral. C: ejaculatory apodeme and parameres, ventral. Scale 0.05 mm. postGA = posterior portion of gonocoxal apodeme.