Corresponding author: Justin B. Runyon (
Academic editor: Marija Ivković
The long-legged flies (
Runyon JB (2020) The Dolichopodidae (Diptera) of Montserrat, West Indies. ZooKeys 966: 57–151.
Like many fly families, the number of species of
Montserrat (Figs
Map of Montserrat showing exclusion zone and primary collecting sites: 1–Cassava Ghaut, Beattie House; 2–Cassava Ghaut, canopy fogging site; 3–Fogarty Ghaut; 4–Gun Hill; 5–Hope Ghaut; 6–Underwood Ghaut; 7–Woodlands, Riverside House; 8– Bottomless Ghaut; 9–Jack Boy Hill; 10–Fairy Walk River; 11– Old Towne.
This study is based on material collected during the Centre Hills Biodiversity Assessment conducted from 2001–2005 (
Some Montserrat landscapes and habitats
Specimens were collected during the Centre Hills Biodiversity Assessment (2001–2005) using Malaise traps, ultraviolet light traps, canopy fogging, and pan traps. Details of canopy fogging are given in
Holotypes are deposited in the
Information on major Montserrat sampling localities during the Centre Hills Biodiversity Assessment (2001–2005). Locality names are used in Material examined sections.
Locality name | Latitude (N) / Longitude (W) | Elevation (m) | Habitat type |
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Cassava Ghaut, Beattie House |
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193 | dry forest |
Cassava Ghaut, canopy fogging site |
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263 | mesic forest |
Fogarty |
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367 | mesic forest |
Gun Hill |
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260 | mesic forest |
Hope Ghaut |
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315 | mesic forest |
Underwood Ghaut |
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369 | mesic forest |
Woodlands, Riverside House |
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43 | dry forest |
To examine male terminalia using a compound microscope, for larger species the tip of the abdomen was cut off or for small species the entire specimen was removed from their pins by soaking in an approximately 50:50 mixture of 95% ethanol and ethyl acetate to dissolve shellac gel. These specimens were subsequently macerated in 85% lactic acid by heating in a microwave oven for one to three 15-second intervals, prior to being transferred to glycerin. Potassium hydroxide (20%) was additionally used to clear tergites of species in which terminalia are enclosed in tip of abdomen (e.g., most
Terminology used for adult structures follows
Body segments are denoted using Roman numerals (e.g., tergite VI). Legs are designated by Roman numerals, tarsomeres by bracketed Arabic numerals (e.g., tarsus III(4) = 4th tarsomere of hindleg).
Identification of species was accomplished using published keys and descriptions, especially
Approximately 1,500 dolichopodid specimens were collected during this study, representing 63 species in 27 genera. A list of
Rarefaction of species accumulation curve for Montserrat
Species list of
Species | Distributional status | Dominica |
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1 | Antenna with single articled arista-like stylus ( |
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– | Antenna with two articled arista-like stylus; wing with crossvein dm-cu present; body size and habitat various |
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2 | Vertex strongly excavated on either side of ocellar tubercle; vein M distinctly branched, with M2 present at least as a fold on membrane (as in Fig. |
3 |
– | Vertex not or scarcely excavated; vein M not branched, M2 absent |
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3 | Frons with raised mound bearing strong vertical seta subtended by numerous shorter hairs; both pairs of scutellar setae long; antenna black |
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– | Vertical seta not arising on setose mound; lateral scutellar setae reduced and hair-like; antenna with some segments yellow |
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4 | Veins R4+5 and M diverging from base to tip, with vein M ending distinctly behind wing tip (in some males vein M arches greatly backwards in apical third of wing); body size ca. 1.0 mm; |
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– | Veins R4+5 and M subparallel or converging beyond crossvein dm-cu (but diverging in males of |
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5 | Acrostichal setae absent; male wing and legs unmodified; females with small setae present on face above mouth |
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– | Acrostichal setae biseriate; males with tarsus I modified; female face without setae |
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6 | Scape with setae on dorsal surface; male hypopygium enlarged and pedunculated, and projecting forward beneath abdomen; femur II and III with strong anterior preapical setae; all tibia with strong setae; posterior mesonotum not flattened; |
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– | Without the above combination of characters |
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7 | Dorsal and ventral hairs of arista-like stylus much longer than lateral hairs; vein M distinctly bent midway beyond dm-cu crossvein and joining margin near R4+5 |
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– | Arista-like stylus with all hairs subequal, or bare; venation various |
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8 | Lower margin of face rounded, projecting medially and extending below eye level; vein M beyond dm-cu crossvein gradually approaching R4+5 |
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– | Lower margin of face more or less straight and not reaching lower eye margin; vein M abruptly approaching R4+5 beyond dm-cu crossvein |
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9 | Posterior mesonotum distinctly flattened and slight depressed, from one-third to one-half of surface between dorsocentral setae, and distinct from concave anterior mesonotum |
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– | Posterior mesonotum not flattened, or at most only slightly or apparently flattened immediately anteriad of scutellum |
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10 | Femur II and III without major anterior preapical seta; dorsal postcranium usually distinctly concave |
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– | Femur II and III with distinct anterior or anterodorsal preapical seta; dorsal postcranium various |
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11 | Body and legs covered with dense gray tomentum, usually obscuring cuticle; mesonotum strongly arched with posterior slope flattened but not concave and with weak margin; acrostichal setae absent; scutellum with 2 (rarely 3) slender setae per side lateral to pair of larger setae; male forefemur with row of stout anteroventral setae on basal half; rocky coastlines; |
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– | Body tomentum usually not dense, and underlying cuticle visible; mesonotum usually strongly flattened to slightly concave with distinct margin; scutellum with 0 or 1 hair or seta per side lateral to pair of larger setae; not restricted to intertidal areas; other features various |
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12 | First flagellomere globular, nearly round in anterior view; hypopygium completely enclosed by abdomen (Fig. |
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– | First flagellomere compressed laterally, subrectangular or flattened in anterior view; hypopygium external and usually distinctly pedunculated, at most partially hidden |
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13 | Arista-like stylus apical; male genitalic capsule ovate to pyriform on a peduncle formed by exserted haired segment VII, and not encapsulated or enfolded by preceding abdominal segments; male abdominal segments IV and V unmodified; vein M various; face often metallic; |
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– | Arista-like stylus dorsal or subapical; male genitalic usually globular, on a peduncle formed by short bare segment VII, and sometimes enfolded by preceding abdominal segments; male abdominal segments IV and/or V sometimes with ventral modifications; vein M beyond dm-cu crossvein with flexion or depression ( |
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14 | Male antenna with first flagellomere abruptly narrowed to elongate tapering point in distal half (Fig. |
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– | Postpedicel of male and female similar, not elongate; proepisternum bare; M beyond dm-cu crossvein without flexion; dorsocentral setae usually 5 or fewer |
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15 | Wing vein M distinctly curving towards R4+5 beyond dm-cu crossvein; vein A1 weak but distinct; hind coxa with 1 lateral seta; 2 supra-alar setae present, posterior seta stronger than anterior; femur II without strong posterior subapical seta; female oviscapt not forming a sclerotized, bladelike piercing structure |
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– | Wing with veins M and R4+5 subparallel to apex; vein A1 absent; hind coxa with 2 lateral setae; only 1 supra-alar seta present; femur II with strong posterior subapical seta; female oviscapt sclerotized, bladelike and laterally compressed |
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16 | Thorax strongly elongated; abdomen approximately as long as thorax, dorsoventrally flattened; vertex excavated dorsally laterad of ocellar tubercle; tarsus I(5) with ventral comb of short spines; arista-like stylus subapical; hypopygium small, partially enclosed by segment V or VI |
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– | Thorax not elongated; abdomen usually longer than thorax, cylindrical; vertex not excavated; tarsus I(5) unmodified; arista-like stylus dorsal; hypopygium large, external |
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17 | Vein M S-shaped, joining costa before wing apex and close to R4+5, with costal difference between veins less than half length of crossvein dm-cu; tibiae II and III bare of major setae; hypopygium yellow; female oviscapt with cercus rounded and free from tergites IX+X |
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– | Vein M straight or slightly bent, joining costa near or behind wing apex, with costal difference between vein M and R4+5 greater than half length of crossvein dm-cu; tibia II and/or III with major setae; hypopygium black; female oviscapt with cercus digitiform and fused to tergites IX+X |
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18 | Thorax metallic green-blue; tarsus I(4) slightly compressed; wing hyaline |
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– | Thorax mostly yellowish, metallic blue-green on only mesonotal depression and scutellum; tarsus I(4) not compressed; wing brownish anteriorly, especially in males |
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19 | Acrostichal setae biseriate; body mostly yellow; pedicel overlapping first flagellomere medially; male palpi modified with reddish apical margin; hypopygium not enlarged; |
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– | Acrostichal setae uniseriate or totally absent; body usually dark colored; pedicel truncate, not overlapping first flagellomere; male palpus unmodified; hypopygium various but often enlarged; |
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20 | Acrostichal setae totally absent; hypopygium subrectangular, free from abdomen; body size 1.0–1.5 mm |
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– | Acrostichal setae uniseriate; hypopygium swollen and globular, encapsulated at abdominal apex; tarsus I(5) with one slightly enlarged, appressed claw; body size 2.0–2.5 mm |
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21 | Pair of large postvertical setae present on dorsal postcranium, out of line with postorbital series; abdomen dorsoventrally flattened; face and enlarged subquadrate palpi golden; coastal areas; |
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– | Postvertical setae, if present, near vertex; abdomen usually ovate, and rarely dorsoventrally flattened; palpus usually small, but sometimes enlarged in male only; male face often narrowed |
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22 | Face with vertical median furrow; crossvein dm-cu oblique, parallel to last part of M; male abdominal sternites III and IV with strong submarginal setae; acrostichal setae absent; thorax metallic green with coppery band; arista-like stylus dorsal and first flagellomere pointed triangular; |
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– | Face without median furrow; crossvein dm-cu not parallel to last part of M; abdominal sternites III and IV without obvious large setae; other characters various |
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23 | Femur II and/or III with distinct anterior or anterodorsal preapical seta; |
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– | Femur II and/or III without distinct anterior preapical seta (but sometimes with larger |
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24 | Scape with dorsal setae |
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– | Scape without dorsal setae |
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25 | Upper part of proepisternum with 1 or more small setae; male face parallel-sided; female with narrowest part of face subequal in width to widest part of frons; males often with enlarged pulvilli that are fused with claws on foreleg; male tergite VI bare, mostly or completely hidden; male sternite VIII with 4 strong projecting setae |
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– | Upper part of proepisternum bare; male face narrowed below or parallel-sided; female with narrowest part of face narrower than widest part of frons; males rarely with enlarged pulvilli fused with claws; male tergite VI setose or at least with 1 distolateral seta at lower margin, mostly exposed; setae on male sternite VIII not or scarcely stronger than those on tergite VI |
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26 | Costa not extending beyond tip of R4+5; distal vein M weakened or broken, usually with distal section displaced; calypter with pale setae; male frons wide, eyes not dorsally holoptic |
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– | Costa ending at apex of vein M; vein M unbroken; calypter with black setae; male eyes dorsally holoptic |
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27 | Male first flagellomere with slender apical projection bearing essentially apical arista-like stylus; lower postocular surface with many flattened pale setae; femur III wholly brown, femora I and II mostly yellow and usually narrowly brownish along dorsal edge |
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– | Male first flagellomere with arista-like stylus subapical in notch or to side of tip; lower postocular surface with fine pale setae, not flattened; color of femora various |
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Dominica, Montserrat.
1 | Thorax mostly yellow with mid-dorsal metallic blue-green stripe; male costa with long S-shaped cilia |
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– | Thorax entirely metallic blue-green; male costa without long cilia |
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Dominica, Montserrat.
Adults occur on vegetation but were also commonly found hopping around on dead leaves and rocks on the forest floor.
This species is named to honor Dr. Katharine A. Marske (University of Oklahoma). Many specimens used in this study were collected as part of Katie’s Master’s thesis at Montana State University examining the effects of volcanic ash on Montserrat forest insects (
Montserrat.
1 | Wing clear or slightly clouded along anterior margin |
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– | Wing with 2 transverse brown bands that are joined anteriorly |
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2 | Tibia III with only distal one-third brown; tibiae I and II with long setae; femur III with long dense wavy-tipped white hairs posteriorly; tibia II and tarsus II(1) without row of distinctive setae |
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– | Tibia III wholly brown; tibiae I and II with longest setae only twice as long as tibial width; femur III with straight white hairs posteriorly only a little longer than femoral width; tibia II with ca. 12 short setae in |
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3 | Clypeus as wide or wider than long; male with numerous black hairs along middle of scutum; hypopygium and cerci large; female femora black; knob of halter dark brown in both sexes |
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– | Clypeus width less than length; male without black hairs on scutum; hypopygium and cerci small; female femora yellow; knob of halter yellow brown in both sexes |
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West Indies (Dominica, Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Virgin Islands).
This species is widespread in the West Indies, being described using material from Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands (Van Duzee 1927) and later reported from Dominica (
Dominica, Montserrat.
The male specimen from Montserrat has more of the hairs on the frons and femora white (which are mostly black in Dominica specimens), but otherwise it matches the holotype of
Widespread in the Neotropics.
West Indies (Puerto Rico, Dominica, Montserrat, St. Vincent) and from Guatemala south to Bolivia (
Lesser Antilles (Barbados, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Vincent).
Dominica, Montserrat.
Widely distributed in the American tropics (Dominica, Ecuador, Montserrat, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela).
See
Dominica, Montserrat.
This is the first report of the monotypic genus
1 | Body length ca. 3.0 mm; thorax with 3 pairs of large dorsocentral setae and 4 large scutellar setae; femur III with 2–3 large setae on anterior surface; crossvein dm-cu slightly longer than last part of CuA1; male tarsus I with some segments flattened (Fig. |
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– | Body length ca. 2.2 mm or less; thorax with 2 pairs of large dorsocentral setae and 2 large scutellar setae (lateral pair small of lacking); femur III without large setae on anterior surface that are distinct from background setal field; crossvein dm-cu shorter than last part of CuA1; male tarsus I plain |
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2 | Antenna with scape and pedicel yellow; femora yellow |
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– | Antenna dark brown to black; femora mostly to wholly dark brown |
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3 | Hypopygium of male not extending posteriorly beyond preabdomen; crossvein dm-cu ca. half as long as last part of CuA1; calypter with brown setae; body length ca. 1.5 mm |
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– | Hypopygium of male extending posteriorly beyond preabdomen (most obvious in right lateral view); crossvein dm-cu two-thirds as long as last part of CuA1; calypter with yellow setae; body length ca. 2.0 mm |
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4 | Face metallic dark blue, with little to no pruinosity (Fig. |
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– | Face covered with dense golden-brown pruinosity (Fig. |
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Dominica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico.
Dominica, Montserrat.
Adults of
This species is named for the coleopterist Michael A. Ivie (Montana State University) who led the invertebrate component of the Centre Hills Biodiversity Assessment project (2000–2005) and made this material available for study.
Montserrat.
Heads of males, showing color differences of face and frons, anterior views
This species is named for the island of Montserrat.
Montserrat.
Adults of
Tarsus I of males, posterior view
Dominica, Montserrat, St. Lucia.
The tibiae in specimens from Montserrat are mostly yellow whereas those from Dominica and St. Lucia are mostly brown, but otherwise appear conspecific. The drawing of male genitalia of
This species is named in honor of LaDonna Ivie (Bozeman, MT) whose hard work and expertise made the Montserrat biodiversity project possible. She ran many traps on Montserrat and the Malaise trap on Dominica that collected the only known specimen of this genus/species from that island.
Dominica, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts.
This is the first report of the genus
Specimens were collected in dry forests near the coast and low elevation mesic forests.
1 | Abdominal tergite I and often tergite II yellow |
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– | Abdominal tergites wholly metallic green |
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2 | Basal abdominal sternites yellow; male surstylus with 2 very long setae at apex |
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– | Abdominal sternites dark; male surstylus without 2 exceptionally long apical setae |
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3 | Thorax with 8 or more pairs of acrostichal setae with hindmost offset laterally; male surstylus as long as epandrium |
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– | Thorax with 5 or 6 (rarely 7) pairs of acrostichal setae in nearly straight rows; hypopygial appendages shorter than epandrium |
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4 | Antenna with scape and pedicel yellow; tarsomeres III(1, 2) of ca. equal length; epandrium tapered from base to appendages, rather pointed apically; hypopygial appendages yellow |
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– | Antenna wholly brown; tarsus III(1) distinctly shorter than tarsus III(2); epandrium scarcely tapered from base to tip, blunt apically (Fig. |
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Dominica, Montserrat.
The female specimen from Montserrat matches female paratypes (the holotype is a male) and other specimens from Dominica notably by the distinctive structure of the ovipositor (
This species is named for the dark middle appendage of the hypopygium (dorsal lobe of surstylus) of the male in lateral view (Fig.
Dominica, Montserrat.
In
All specimens from both Montserrat and Dominica were collected in yellow pan traps.
Dominica, Montserrat, St. Vincent.
North America (Florida, North Carolina, and Texas) and the West Indies (Haiti, Puerto Rico, Dominica, and Montserrat).
Dominica, Montserrat.
Adults were collected in yellow pan traps and by sweeping moist, deeply shaded ground in mesic forests.
Dominica, Montserrat.
Adults were found hovering closely to nearly vertical rocky surfaces of dripping springs and in a small creek on wet rock surfaces being occasionally splashed by water. Adults were found in similar habitats on Dominica (
Dominica, Montserrat.
This is the only species of
Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Lucia.
Males of this species have a distinctive long, usually wavy-tipped ventral seta near base of femur II. There is considerable variation in several characters in male specimens among islands, most notably in the modifications at posterior edge of male abdominal sternite III. Specimens from Dominica have the sclerotized lateral lobes of sternite III narrow, but those from Montserrat are broadly rounded. It seems likely that a
Widespread in the West Indies, also reported from Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, and has recently dispersed (probably via accidental human introduction) to French Polynesia and Tonga (
Tarsus I and terminalia of males
1 | Tibiae I and II dark brown to black usually with distinct metallic green reflections; tibia III with ≥12 large setae (excluding apicals); vein R1 reaching over half distance to tip of R2+3; body size > 3.5 mm (usually 4.0–6.0 mm); usually associated with crab holes |
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– | Tibiae I and II usually yellow (sometimes brownish), with little or no distinct metallic green coloration; tibia III with <8 distinct relatively small setae (excluding apicals); vein R1 not reaching quite half distance to tip of R2+3; body size usually < 3.0 mm |
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Widespread, can be found on beaches in the southeastern United States (Florida), Central America (Belize), Ecuador (Galápagos Islands), and the West Indies (Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Lucia).
Initially, I thought both
British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent.
All specimens from Montserrat have yellow tibiae I and II, and because of this I at first suspected these represented an undescribed species. The only other species of
Many adults of
Lectotype male of
1 | First flagellomere broad, 2–3 × as wide as pedicel, with base projecting above base of pedicel (as in Fig. |
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– | First flagellomere scarcely broader than pedicel, which is not distinctly longer on inner side |
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2 | Tarsus III(1) with conspicuous ventral seta near 1/2 |
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– | Tarsus III(1) without conspicuous ventral seta |
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3 | Tarsus III(2) prolonged posteriorly in spur overlapping tarsus III(3) (Fig. |
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– | Tarsus III(2) without spur-like projection |
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4 | First flagellomere with deep rectangular apical notch where arista-like stylus is inserted; tibiae wholly yellow; halter knob yellow |
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– | First flagellomere only slightly depressed where arista-like stylus is inserted; tibiae II and III brownish; halter knob brown |
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5 | Male face broad, eyes not contiguous below antennae |
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– | Male face obliterated or nearly so by contiguous eyes |
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6 | Tergite VI bare except 1 distolateral seta at lower margin; males with tarsal claws absent on all legs |
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– | Tergite VI covered with numerous setae; males with all legs with at least 1 claw |
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7 | Male frons as wide as face, dorsal ommatidia not enlarged (Fig. |
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– | Male frons narrower than face, dorsal ommatidia noticeably enlarged (Fig. |
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8 | Abdomen deep bluish violet; males with all legs with only 1 claw; epandrium with bulbous basodorsal protuberance (Fig. |
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– | Abdomen metallic green to bronze or brown; males with 2 claws on leg III; epandrium evenly rounded basally and dorsally |
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9 | Halter knob brown; setae on the thorax, legs, abdomen, and calypter dark brown to black; sheath of phallus with 1 large apical spine |
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– | Halter knob white; setae on the thorax, legs, abdomen, and calypter mostly white to pale brown; sheath of phallus with 3 large apical spines (Fig. |
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10 | Eyes broadly separated above antennae; palpus yellow |
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– | Eyes contiguous above antennae; palpus mostly brown |
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11 | Coxa I half or more yellow |
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– | Coxa I mostly to wholly brown to black |
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12 | Palpus yellow, narrow, very long (length subequal to head height); first flagellomere yellow |
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– | Palpus short; first flagellomere brown |
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13 | First flagellomere prolonged into slender tip bearing numerous long hairs; pleuron yellow |
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– | First flagellomere short, not or scarcely longer than wide; pleuron dark |
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14 | Scape and pedicel yellow; coxa I with rather long yellow setae; femur III yellow and with 2 erect ventral setae at base |
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– | Antenna wholly brown; coxa I with brown to black setae; femur III with apical half partly to wholly brown and without distinct ventral setae at base |
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15 | Palpus yellow, exserted, elongate oval, bare except for a strong seta at apex; tibia and tarsus III with many long, erect setae covering anterior surface; hypopygium enlarged, abdomen not tapering |
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– | Palpus yellow, small and partly hidden, covered with several small setae; tibia and tarsus III without unusual setae; hypopygium small, abdomen noticeably tapering |
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16 | First flagellomere triangular and prolonged (length ca. 2.5 × basal width) with apex deeply cleft and arista-like stylus inserted between 2 narrow projections, the ventral longer; tibia I whitish-yellow with white setae posteriorly; halter knob brown |
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– | First flagellomere not prolonged or cleft apically; tibia I without white setae posteriorly; halter knob yellow or brown |
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17 | Palpus rounded, white; wing veins R4+5 and M1 slightly diverging distally; male abdomen stout, broadened to tip; cercus prominent |
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– | Palpus black; wing veins R4+5 and M1 parallel to slightly convergent distally; male abdomen gradually tapered; cercus small |
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18 | Wing vein M1 straight distally; cercus narrowly oval bearing only slender setae |
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– | Wing vein M1 curving backward near tip; cercus broad, rather appressed, sclerotized and bearing 2 or 3 stout apical setae |
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19 | Legs wholly brown to black; tibia II with small |
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– | Legs partly yellow or white; tibia II with large |
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20 | Femora mostly dark brown with dark setae; female with lower postocular setae pale |
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– | Femora yellow with femur III partly brown, with many white setae; female with lower postocular setae mostly dark |
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Lesser Antilles (Dominica, Montserrat, St. Vincent). Reports of this species in Central America are probably incorrect (
Dominica, Montserrat.
Dominica, Montserrat.
This species was transferred to
This species is named for the Greater and Lesser Antilles.
British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Lucia.
The combination of hind femur color and shape of the male first flagellomere of
Widespread in the Neotropics, from Mexico to Brazil and throughout the West Indies, and the Galápagos Islands.
This species was re-described and illustrated by
This species is named for its similarity and presumed relatedness to
Dominica, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Lucia.
Dominica, Montserrat.
Widespread in the New World tropics.
This species is named for the relative width of the frons in males which is intermediate to males of the closely related species
Montserrat.
Heads of males, anterodorsal views
Characters distinguishing males of the closely related
Character |
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Frons (Fig. |
obliterated by contiguous eyes | narrow | as wide as face |
Face shape | height subequal to width | height ca. 1.5 × width | height ca. 1.5 × width |
Ommatidia | dorsal facets greatly enlarged | dorsal facets slightly enlarged | dorsal facets not enlarged |
Size |
small (length < width of tibia) | small (length < width of tibia) | large (length > width of tibia) |
Dominica, Grenada, and Montserrat.
Dominica, Montserrat.
Dominica, Montserrat.
Dominica, Montserrat.
Adults of
This species is named for the island of Montserrat.
Montserrat.
Tarsus III of males, posterior views
Dominica, Montserrat, and St. Vincent.
Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico.
This species was moved from
This honorary new name is derived from combining the first two or three letters each of Millard Van Duzee and is treated here as a noun in apposition.
Lesser Antilles (Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, and St. Vincent).
Dominica, Montserrat.
Eastern North America south to Argentina.
Cuba, Dominica, Montserrat.
Lesser Antilles (Dominica, Montserrat, Nevis, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia) (
1 | Femora mostly brown with tips yellow; lower postocular setae black; knob of halter brownish |
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– | Femora wholly yellow; lower postocular setae white; knob of halter yellow |
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Southeastern USA, Bermuda, and the Lesser Antilles (Dominica, Montserrat, St. Vincent).
This species is named for Harold Robinson who collected and treated this species (as
Dominica, Montserrat.
Lesser Antilles (Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, and St. Vincent).
The single female collected on Montserrat was taken from a large leaf at the top of Katy Hill, the highest point sampled on the island.
Widely distributed in the New World and reported from the eastern Nearctic, Central America, South America, and the West Indies (
1 | Thorax with 5 pairs of dorsocentral setae; body size ca. 1.5 mm |
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– | Thorax with 6 pairs of dorsocentral setae; body size ca. 2.2 mm |
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This species is named for the island of Montserrat.
Montserrat.
The hypopygium was not dissected to preserve intact the two male specimens and because male terminalia in
Dominica, Montserrat.
1 | Pleuron and much of abdomen yellow |
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– | Most of pleuron and all of abdomen metallic green to blue |
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Dominica, Montserrat.
The female specimen differs from those of
Dominica, Montserrat.
Adults were collected from rocks in a small stream with flowing water.
Lesser Antilles (Antigua, Dominica, Montserrat, St. Kitts).
Montserrat specimens were obtained by sweeping partially shaded nearly vertical walls in the splash zone of large rock outcrops at the south end of Rendezvous Bay Beach.
Nova Scotia, Canada south to Mexico and the West Indies (
This species is restricted to coastal areas. Adults were found in Montserrat on open mud at edges of a drying freshwater pool at the back of Fox’s Bay Beach.
The list of Montserrat
How many dolichopodid species occur on Montserrat? The species list provided here is undoubtedly incomplete. Based on the Chao 1 estimator (
Dominica and Montserrat are the only two islands in the Lesser Antilles with reasonably well-sampled and described dolichopodid faunas. The 63 species on Montserrat (ca. 100 km2) is greater than half of the 119 species known from Dominica (ca. 750 km2). For species-area relationship (
The vast majority of species on Montserrat also occur on Dominica (ca. 87%), indicating that
Among the dolichopodid species or genera that are present on Dominica but missing from Montserrat, some can be explained by habitat diversity, especially wet habitats. For example, the general lack of standing fresh water (e.g., lakes or swamps) on Montserrat could explain the absence of
Five collecting methods were used in this survey: Malaise traps, pan traps, ultraviolet light traps, canopy fogging, and targeted net collecting. All methods collected dolichopodid specimens, but most productive were net collecting (40 spp.), pan traps (33 spp.), and Malaise traps (29 spp.). Canopy fogging and ultraviolet light traps each collected ten species. Twenty-eight species were caught by only one collecting method, 20 species by two methods, nine by three methods, three by four methods, and three species were caught by all five collecting methods. Of the species unique to one method, net collecting (14 unique spp.), Malaise traps (8 unique spp.), and pan traps (6 unique spp.) caught the most. Canopy fogging and ultraviolet light traps caught no unique species, suggesting that inventorying dolichopodids with net collecting, pan and Malaise traps is sufficient. However, trap types were not deployed equally across time and habitats which likely influenced their relative effectiveness.
The relatively large number of species unique to net collecting can be largely explained by the habitat preferences of these species and the difficulty in using passive traps in such habitats. For example, four coastal/littoral species (
Although the Soufrière Hills volcano has been quiet in recent years, additional volcanic activity remains the primary threat to Montserrat dolichopodids. Since volcanic activity began in 1995, approximately 60% of the forest cover on Montserrat has been lost (
The Centre Hills contains the largest remaining tract of forest in Montserrat (Fig.
Of final note is nonnative mango (
The presence of large numbers of mango trees seemed to negatively affect the abundance and diversity of dolichopodids along some Montserrat streams
This project was funded and facilitated by the Montserrat National Trust, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (John Fa and Richard Young), UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (special thanks to Mike Pienkowski and Catherine Wensink), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (Geoff Hilton), the Montserrat Forestry and Environment Division of the Montserrat Department of Agriculture (Gerard Gray), and Montana State University. Special thanks to Michael and Donna Ivie (Montana State University) and Frank Etzler (Clemson University) for facilitating the 2017 trip to Montserrat – you are first-rate companions. Numerous collectors are thanked, including Lloyd Martin, James Boatswain, John Martin, James Daley, Lloyd Aymer, Philemon Murrain, Calvin Fenton, Katie Marske, Kelvin Guerrero, Ian Foley, Vincent Martinson, Patrick Hughley, Levi Lehfeldt, Robert Semplet, Anne Krakower, and Bridget Beatty. Much appreciation is given to Stephon Hixon (local guide) for leading the author in 2017 to many special places. Richard Hurley helped the initial sort and identification of the 2001–2005 material. Several dolichopodid experts helped identify specimens, including Renato Capellari (some
Modified from Robinson 1975 and Bickel 2009.