Sphaerops micella Schlinger

Schlinger, Evert I., Gillung, Jessica P. & Borkent, Christopher J., 2013, New spider flies from the Neotropical Region (Diptera, Acroceridae) with a key to New World genera, ZooKeys 270, pp. 59-93 : 64-66

Sphaerops micella Schlinger sp. n. Figs 1224

Material examined.

Holotype male: Top label: "CHILE, Region III, Copiapó Prov / 125 km SE Copiapó; Fundo La / Semilla; malaise on alluvium nr river; / 30.x-9.xi.2003; ME Irwin; FD Parker / 2358 m; 28°15.04'S, 69°44.46'W ". Bottom label: red "HOLOTYPE ♂/ Sphaerops micella / Schlinger new species/ Det. E.I. Schlinger 2012" (CAS).

Paratypes.

All from Chile and bearing yellow paratype labels. Some with genitalia dissected and placed in glycerin in microvial on pin with specimen. Same data as holotype (4 ♂, CAS); Same except: 2 km E Puente La Semilla: 119 km SE Copiapó; malaise nr wash with water; 11-17.x.2003; ME Irwin; 2082 m; 28°12.90'S, 69°45.66'W (1 ♂, CAS); Quillota Province; Palma de Ocoa; Parque Nacional Campanas; malaise in hillside draw; 215 m; 29.xii.1999; ME Irwin, EI Schlinger; 32.9324°S, 71.0781°W (EI Schlinger #010913; 1 ♂, CAS); same except: 2-10.i.2000 (EI Schlinger #013443-013449; 7 ♂, CAS); Region VI, Limarí Prov. Frey Jorge Nat’l Park, Quebrada Honda I; malaise in small wash; 15-31.x.2003; ME Irwin, FD Parker; 122 m; 30°41.4'S, 71°37.8'W (8 ♂); same except: 1-7.xi.2003 (ME Irwin #174749-174752, #174754-174756; 6 ♂, 1?, CAS); same except: El Mineral, malaise in wash upstream of seep, 23. xi– 12.xii.2003; ME Irwin, FD Parker; 224 m; 30°39.44'S, 71°39.90'W (2 ♂, CAS).

Diagnosis.

This species is much smaller than Sphaerops appendiculata (1.9 mm versus 6.3 mm) and has shorter pile on the thorax and abdomen. It is also unique in having the antennae placed immediately adjacent to the ocellar tubercle, the wing veins pale yellow, and wing veins CuA2 and A1 remaining separate.

Description.

Male with small body length: 1.9 ± 0.6 mm (1.4-2.4 mm, n = 10) and wing just longer than body: 2.2 ± 0.5 mm (1.7 -2.5 mm, n = 10) setae covering body and legs is fine and short (Fig. 1). Female unknown. Head. Eye dark brown, occiput black, covered with pale yellow pile; ocellar tubercle black; ocelli white, frons dark brown, antennae light brown and placed on mediodorsal eye margin, face dark brown with pale yellow pile, clypeus light brown, bare and shorter than the antennae, mouthparts yellow and strongly reduced. Thorax. Uniformly dark brown with covering pale yellow setae; coxae light brown, femora light brown with apex yellow, tibia light brown with basal third yellow, tarsi light brown, basal and apical tarsomeres longer than middle tarsomeres, lower calypter translucent white and covered with pale yellow setae, halter pale yellow. Wing. (Fig. 2) All wing veins pale yellow except costa, subcosta and R1 pale brown; pterostigma darker. Abdomen. Background color brown tergites I-II entirely brown, tergite III with posteriomedial portion yellow, tergites IV-VI medially yellow, sternites brown.

Comments.

Based on an examination of the voucher specimens of Sphaerops sequenced by Winterton et al. (2007) these were representatives of Sphaerops micella sp. n. not Sphaerops appendiculata as reported. Therefore the taxon associated with Genbank accession numbers AY140877, AF539875, AY144436, and AY144403 will be changed to Sphaerops micella sp. n.

Etymology. The species epithet is derived from the Latin: micella (diminutive feminine) meaning; little, crumb, or small, in reference to the minute size of this species relative to Sphaerops appendiculata .