A new species of Elachiptera Macquart from the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, and the taxonomic status of Ceratobarys Coquillett (Diptera: Chloropidae)
Author
Wheeler, Terry A.
Author
Forrest, Jessica
text
Zootaxa
2002
2002-11-08
98
1
9
journal article
http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4619926
b3e7456f-cdb8-4766-b345-3b6f73626fbd
11755326
4619926
8BE58A27-02C7-489C-BD5E-CF70448F86BE
Elachiptera eulophus
(Loew)
comb. nov.
(
Figs.
1115
)
Hippelates eulophus
Loew,
1872
:
104
Ceratobarys eulophus
;
Coquillett,
1898
:
45
Diagnosis. Similar to
Elachiptera cultrata
except as follows: Arista broad and parallelsided for almost entire length, narrowing only at tip (
Fig.
13
); hind tibia with strong, black, preapical ventral spur, as long as or longer than tibial diameter (
Fig.
11
); abdominal tergites mostly light brown, often darker medially. Male postabdomen (
Figs.
1415
): cercus triangular, projecting ventrally, not posteriorly, with single long seta and a few shorter setae; cerci widely separated by broadly rounded cleft (
Fig.
14
); distiphallus weakly sclerotized, with slightly expanded, blunt apex (
Fig.
15
).
Type material.
2
syntypes
(
1
M
,
1
F
): “
Texas
Belfr.;
Loew
Coll; type
13370
”; “
Texas
Belfr.;
Loew
Coll;
eulophus
m; type
2
13370
” (
MCZ
, not examined)
.
Other material examined.
USA
:
Louisiana
:
7
M
,
6
F
,
St. Tammany Co
.,
Pearl River
,
02.xii.
1990
,
T.A. Wheeler
,
sweeping grass in meadow
(
LEM
)
.
Comments. This species is easily identified in keys to the Nearctic
Chloropidae
(e.g.,
Sabrosky
1987
) and its identity has never been in doubt because of the combination of broad arista, long hindtibial spur and shining yellow colour. While convenient for recognition, these characters may account for the lack of detailed study of characters such as the male genitalia. Examination of other characters has confirmed the morphological similarity and apparent close relationship to species like
E. cultrata
. The known distribution of
E. eulophus
is restricted to the southeastern
United States
as far south as
Texas
and
Florida
(
Sabrosky
1938
); there are no Neotropical records.