The female of Eremobittacus spinulatus Byers, 1997 is described for the first time. A key to the two species known of this genus endemic to Mexico is provided, and species distribution is illustrated. A case is made for adults of Eremobittacus to be sexually dimorphic, which appears to be an exceptional occurrence in Bittacidae. It is claimed that E. spinulatus habitus has a wasp-like appearance, which may potentially depict a case of mimicry.

Hangingfly, sexually dimorphic, tropical dry forest, taxonomy, key, mimicry

Eremobittacus was erected by Byers (1997) with E. spinulatus Byers as type species. This genus is endemic to Mexico and includes a second species, E. sodalium (Byers 2011); each described from a single male specimen. Immature stages and females have remained unknown, because of an apparent rarity of these species. Byers (1997) comments that he desired for additional specimens to achieve a more complete description of the genus, as well as an accurate phylogenetic placement. Byers and other entomologists visited again E. spinulatus type locality and were unable to find additional specimens.

Eremobittacus shares several traits with the widespread Bittacus, as well as with Harpobittacus, an endemic of Australia. Alignment of longitudinal veins in three slightly pigmented columns, wing venation, body microsculpture, particularly of hind femora, and coloration, were used as diagnostic traits for the genus. However, after E. sodalium was described, the genus diagnosis was slightly modified: vein A1 long, with its distal end beyond origin of M, basitarsus of hind leg almost the same length of tarsomeres II and III together, noticeable thickening of hind femur, basistyle short and bulging, dististyle with setae only on margin, cerci very short and aedeagus uncoiled (Byers 2011).

In Bittacidae, most diagnostic characters used for species differentiation are found in the male genitalia. From species descriptions (e.g., Byers 1996, 2004) it becomes evident that modifications in shape and size of abdominal sclerites of the female might also help in species identification. Nonetheless, we have little female genitalia diagnostic information available for other bittacid species. Within Bittacidae, males are readily distinguished from females, as the former display a modified terminalia, bearing a pair of epiandric appendages, an aedeagus with varying degrees of lengthening (called penisfilum when elongated, either coiled or uncoiled), a pair of reduced gonostyli (dististyles), a pair of pheromone producing eversible sacs between tergites VI and VII, and VII and VIII, as well as a characteristic flight pattern (Thornhill 1984, Byers 1996, Gao and Hua 2013). Yet, typically general appearance of both sexes is very similar. For this reason, an apparent case of sexual dimorphism appears worth describing. Moreover, a striking wasp-like appearance of the adult habitus, most remarkable in the male, also is worth noting.

During examination of specimens at the National Collection of Insects of the Institute of Biology(CNIN-UNAM), a series of six specimens of E. spinulatus immediately stood out because of the noticeable enlargement of the hind femora of males (less noticeable in females). Half of the specimens were female, allowing the first description of a female of this genus. Also, additional distribution data are presented for the species and observations on sexual dimorphism are discussed. Male and female specimens were dissected with a previous rehydration and terminalia were studied after clearing in 10% KOH at room temperature. Measurements were taken with a digital caliper and ranges are presented in mm with average in parentheses. Photographs were taken with an automontage system in a Zeiss Axio Zoom V16 stereomicroscope, while observations were made on a Zeiss Discovery V8 stereomicroscope.

Eremobittacus (exemplified here with E. spinulatus) appears to depart from a typical hangingfly habitus (i.e., similar to a cranefly, with long slender legs of subequal shape; Figs 1–2), the generalized condition in Bittacidae. From here, we believe two points should be made. First, there is a distinct sexual dimorphism, evidenced by thicker femora of hind legs in males, and to a less degree, a denser spiniform setation in male hind femora, as compared to females. Sexual dimorphism, to our knowledge, had not been recorded before for a bittacid. In itself, this phenomenon requires further study (e.g., morphometrics, behavior) for a more accurate description, as well as a possible explanation (e.g., sexual selection). According to Byers and Thornhill (1983), visual signals (e.g., wing and body movements) are important in close-range sexual interactions in Panorpa and bittacids, so a visual interaction between sexes is not disparate as a first working hypothesis that may explain a selective force leading to dimorphism in these species (e.g., female choice of males with thicker femora). This could be part of the customary nuptial gift of a prey item offered by males to females, in which females discriminate against males with unpalatable or small prey by flying away (Byers and Thornhill 1983).

Second, we suggest that the genus habitus is wasp-like (Figs 1, 2), similar to a sphecid (e.g., Chalybion, Sceliphron) or crabronid wasp. Again, this working hypothesis would require observation in nature in order to test whether behavior of the species agrees with such wasp-like resemblance (i.e., a case of mimicry). If in nature, Eremobittacus does not only behave as a typical hangingfly (e.g., a hanging food capturing strategy), but spends time capturing food in movement, as many bittacids do (Byers and Thornhill 1983), a wasplike, mimicry hypothesis would be supported. Although web-building spiders are frequent predators of Panorpidae and Bittacidae, they are also eaten by damselflies, robber flies, assassin bugs, and roving spiders (Byers and Thornhill 1983), some of which most likely would be discouraged by a wasp-looking potential prey (e.g., wasps have strong mandibles and sting). Recently, a case of mimicry has been made in fossil mecopterans (Wang et al. 2012). They mention a leaf mimesis of the hangingfly Juracimbrophlebia ginkgofolia Wang et al. (Cimbrophlebiidae) on a member of the Ginkgoales or ginkgos, Yimaia capituliformis (Yimaiaceae), from the Middle Jurassic of Mongolia. The insect wings resembled leaves in order to avoid predators (crypsis), or perhaps the insect provided an antiherbivore function for its plant hosts (mutualism). In Eremobittacus, a body robust and compact, with a slender abdomen attached to the thorax, a hind femur longer (and thicker) than other legs, and a potential warning coloration of the body, black and orange (as occurs in some wasps), may for the meantime represent a working hypothesis for another case of mimicry in the Mecoptera.

Thanks to Susana Guzmán-Gómez for advice on use of microscope equipment and photographs; thanks also to Georgina Ortega-Leite for help on obtaining specialized literature, and to Alejandra del Pilar Ochoa-Franco for the elaboration of the map. David E. Bowles read an earlier draft of the manuscript and his feedback is appreciated. Useful suggestions to the paper by Fernando Acevedo and Wesley J. Bicha improved the quality of the manuscript.