Corresponding author: Julia J. Mlynarek (
Academic editor: Vera Silva
The genus
Mlynarek JJ (2019) Revision of the New World genus
The genus
The purpose of this paper is to revise the genus
Specimens studied are housed in the
For examination of genitalia, the abdomen was removed (older air-dried specimens were relaxed in a humidity chamber prior to dissection) and cleared in 85% lactic acid heated in a microwave oven for two periods of 10 seconds, separated by a one-minute cooling period. The cleared abdomen was then placed in glycerine for further dissection and examination. The dissected abdomen was stored in glycerine in a plastic microvial pinned beneath the source specimen. Morphological observations were done on a Leica M165C microscope, genitalic observations were done on a Leica DM6C microscope. The specimens were photographed with a Leica DFC 450 camera mounted on the microscope. Morphological terminology follows
The 658 bp cytochrome oxidase one barcode sequences were aligned in MUSCLE (
Small to medium
(Figs
Sternite 6 present; dorsal pregenital sclerite symmetrical, left and right spiracles 6 and 7 within sclerite close to lateral margin; epandrium variable from small and simple to enlarged and inflated. Surstylus simple, straight, elongate; hypandrium open posteriorly; pregonite and postgonite simple, round and elongate; cercus variable from simple and elongate to multiple lobed; subepandrial sclerite usually small.
Terminalia unmodified, typical of
The type species,
1 | Scutellum pale yellow (Fig. |
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– | Scutellum brown or grey, not contrasting strongly with scutum; occiput without outstanding bristle behind eye; one anterior and two posterior notopleural setae |
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2 | Scutum and frontal triangle densely pollinose (dull) (Figs |
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– | Scutum and frontal triangle glossy or sparsely pollinose (Figs |
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3 | Wing hyaline; male epandrium expanded, broader and tall than pre-epandrium; large species, body length 2.7–3.6mm |
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– | Wing with a dark apical spot (Fig. |
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4 | Occiput with dorsolateral pubescent swelling just behind outer vertical bristle (in males because females currently unknown); mouthparts not geniculate (the only species from Venezuela) |
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– | Occiput not modified, swelling absent; mouthparts geniculate or not (species not known from Venezuela) |
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5 | Scutum 1.2 times as long as wide; Abdominal tergite 3 with setae arising from enlarged punctate sockets (in males because females currently unknown) |
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– | Scutum at least 1.5 times as long as wide. Abdominal tergite 3 unmodified |
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6 | Scutellum rectangular; apical scutellar tubercles long at least 1/5 the length of the scutellum |
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– | Scutellum trapezoidal; apical scutellar tubercles short or long at most 1/8 the length of scutellum |
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7 | Scutum sparsely pollinose |
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– | Scutum polished |
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8 | Mouthparts geniculate |
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– | Mouthparts not geniculate or elongate |
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9 | Scutellum 0.8 times as wide as long, with distinct tubercles, Male epandrium large, surstylus parallel sided with round tip |
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– | Scutellum 0.6 times as long as wide, with very small tubercles; Male genitalia small, surstylus triangular with pointed tip |
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10 | Hairs on scutum in well-defined rows between punctate dorsocentral rows (grooves). In male, epandrium very wide compared to high, cerci in lateral view directed posteroventrally |
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– | Hairs on scutum scattered between punctate rows. In male, epandrium square, cerci in lateral view directed ventrally |
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Medium
Total length 2.3–2.7 mm. Overall colour black.
The species name is from the Latin
Medium
Total length 2.2–2.5 mm. Overall colour black.
Accession numbers
The species name is from the Latin
Medium
Total length 2.2–2.5 mm. Overall colour black.
The species name is from the Latin
It is the first time that a strong and stout seta projecting from a short tubercle just dorsal to posterior midpoint of eye on occiput has been described in the
Total length 2.5–3.0 mm. Overall colour black.
Accession number
COSTA RICA: Cartago: Rio Grande de Orosi nr Tapanti Natl. Pk. 1100–1150m, floodplain and forest, 9.x.1999, S. Marshall & M. Buck. (1♂,
Although the holotype was collected in Costa Rica, most examined specimens of
Medium
Total length 2.4–2.9 mm. Overall colour black.
The species name is from the Latin
Small
Total length 2.0–2.5 mm. Overall colour black.
This species is named in honour of Steve Marshall, collector of the type series, in recognition of his contributions to our knowledge of Central American acalyptrate
Small
Total length 2.4–2.6 mm. Overall colour black.
The species name, to be treated as a noun in apposition, refers to the Maya people whose culture has been dominant in this region for more than 1000 years.
Small
Total length 2.1 mm. Overall colour black.
The species name is from the Latin
Total length 1.9–2.6 mm. Overall colour black.
Accession number
BELIZE: BARC, near San Pedro Colombia (
Small
Total length 2.3–2.5 mm. Overall colour black.
Female unknown.
Accession number
The species name is from the Latin
Small
Total length 1.9–2.0 mm. Overall colour black.
Female unknown.
This species is named in honour of Terry Wheeler, in recognition of his contributions to our knowledge of New World
The molecular barcode data also supports
Maximum likelihood tree based on Cytochrome oxidase I barcode fragment using GTR+G+I evolutionary model. Bootstrap values above the branches are based on 1000 replicates of the analysis. Branches with less than 50% support are collapsed. Accession numbers in parentheses.
Four of the eleven described species of
The biology of
I thank and fondly remember T.A. Wheeler who guided this work in the initial stages. I thank S. Boucher (