Ropalomera femorata Fabricius 1805
Creators: name: Kirst, Frederico Dutra
name: Ale-Rocha, Rosaly
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Ropalomeridae
Ropalomera
Ropalomera femorata

description: Ropalomera femorata (Fabricius, 1805)
Dictya femorata Fabricius, 1805: 326.
Ropalomera femorata; Wiedemann, 1828: 571; Prado, 1967: 72; Steyskal, 1967: 2 (catalogue); Báez, 1985: 78; Ibañes-Bernal et al., 1992: 91, 94–97 (key, redescription, figs. 10–20); Ramírez-García & Hernández-Ortiz, 1994: 65 –66, 83 (redescription, figure 5, key); Prado & Papavero, 2002: 1 (catalogue); 2009: 3 (catalogue).
Ropalomera varipes Walker, 1852: 376; Williston, 1895a: 184 (key); Prado, 1966: 246 (citation).
Rhopalomera femorata; Williston, 1895a: 184 –185 (key; citation); Lindner, 1930a: 130 (redescription); 1930b: 282; Frey, 1959: 47 (key); Prado, 1966: 215, 223, 225 (key, redescription, fig. 25–35).
Rhopalomera xanthops Williston, 1895b: 213; Ramírez-García & Hernández-Ortiz, 1994: 65 (synonymy).
Holotype male. Body: 9.9 mm; wing: 9.6 mm
Head: Frons yellow with thin yellowish pilosity and two spots of pale-golden pollinosity between the postocellar bristles and outer vertical bristle; eye circumference with silver pollinosity. Ocellar tubercle dark brown, shiny and with a pair of fine bristles. Postocellar bristles parallel. Postocular bristles present. Antenna with darkbrown scape, very short; pedicel dark brown, twice the size of the scape, with hairs on the anterior margin and with one dorsal short bristle; flagellomere orange basally and dark brown apically; arista plumose with basal third orange and with long, dark-brown hairs. Gena broad, yellow, covered with pale golden pollinosity and slender, dark-brown bristles, which are dorsally short and ventrally longer. Parafacialia dark brown, with black pilosity and three dark-brown, distinct bristles. Face with same color as parafacialia, matte, with globose facial tubercle. Clypeus dark brown. Palpus dark brown with sparse, small, dark setae, and larger setae ventrally.
Thorax: Scutum brown with acrostichal and dorsocentral stripes of pale-golden pollinosity. Scutellum trapezoid, dorsal surface concave, distal margin rounded, bright and without pollinosity, side of basal half with golden pollinosity. Mesopleuron with stripe of silver pollinosity extending to the anepisternum. Chaetotaxy: one postpronotal, two notopleural, one presutural supra-alar weakly developed, one postsutural supra-alar, one postalar, one intra-alar, one intra-postalar, one acrostichal, and one dorsocentral weakly developed; two short strong scutellar bristles, with one apical and one on lateral half of scutellum. Mesopleuron with one strong bristle on anepisternum, one on katepisternum and one distinct seta on posterior margin of posterior spiracle.
Legs: Coxae with silver pollinosity. Femora dark brown, with slender bristles not longer than the thickness of the femur. Mid and hind femora with golden pollinosity on dorsal surface. Fore femur without pollinosity, and posterior surface without bristles. Mid femur, on basal half, with long thin bristles on ventral surface; distal half with two series of eight spine-like setae that decrease in size toward the apex, one on anteroventral and one on posteroventral surface; posterodorsal surface with two apical setae. Hind femur thicker in the middle region than the other femora, five strong non-aligned bristles on dorsal surface, apical third with two series of five spine-like bristles, one on anteroventral and one on posteroventral surface. Tibiae brown. Fore tibia with slender bristles, distal third with dense golden hairs on anteroventral surface, one dorsal preapical long bristle. Mid tibia with short bristles covering the basal half, with long slender bristles on the apical third of the ventral surface, and with two apical spine-like bristles. Hind tibia with dorsal long, strong bristles, ventral surface of apex with golden pilosity. Tarsi with dense golden hairs on ventral surface; first two tarsomeres yellowish and covered with silver pollinosity.
Wing: Infuscated, more infuscated around cross-vein r-m (Fig. 59).
Abdomen: With shiny, dark-brown tergites, each tergite with four silver spots of pollinosity (giving a chessboard appearance). Sternite 5 with posterior sides rounded and with long bristles, posterior margin with two sets of spine-like, lateral bristles, one on each side of the invagination (Fig. 15). Terminalia: cerci fused on the basal 2/3, with long, slender bristles apically and laterally (Figs. 16, 17). Surstylus with inner margin concave, base larger than the apex, and with bristles (Fig. 18). Parameres trilobed, inner apical lobe larger than the others (Figs. 19, 20). Aedeagus with preapical spine-like, sclerotized projections (Figs. 20, 21). Epiphallus slightly curved, with apical region rounded and with very short and sharp branches (Figs. 20, 21).
Female: Differs from the male in the following: shiny facial tubercle, more prominent than in the males; face with two yellow spots below the facial tubercle; legs more slender and with shorter bristles; ovipositor with membranous sternite 7 and sclerotized distal region; oval spermatheca.
Type material. Holotype male (ZMUC) labeled: Colletor Sehestedt & Lund, Sudamerica.
Condition of type: good condition, not dissected.
Additional material examined. BRASIL, Roraima, Rio Uraricoera, Ilha do Maracá, 0 2 a 13.v.1987, J. A. Rafael, J. E. B. Brasil & L. S. Aquino, Armadilha Malaise, Ƥ; same but, 19–24.vii.1997, Ƥ (all INPA); 01– 04.iii.1988, Arm. Shannon, J. A. Rafael, 3 Ƥ (INPA); Amapá, Fazendinha, 20–24.vi.1989, Arm. Suspensa, 15m, I. S. Gorayeb, Ƥ (MPEG); Amazonas, Fonte Boa, Arm. Alta, 21–24.ix.2005, J. A. Rafael, Ƥ (INPA); Rio Unini, Comunidade Democracia, 14.vi.1996, R. Ferreira, 3 Ƥ (INPA); Presidente Figueiredo, 12.iii.1999, Armadilha McPhail, B. Ronchi-Teles, 7 Ƥ; vii–viii.1999; ix.1999; x.1999; x–xi.2000 (all INPA); Rio Preto da Eva, 4 Ƥ, v– vii.1999; ix.1999; ii–iii.1999 (all INPA); AM 0 10, km 31, 12.xii.1990, Embrapa, L. P. Albuquerque & J. E. Rinda, Arm. Shannon, Casca Guaraná, Isca Fruta, 5 Ƥ; 25.ix.1991; 2.x.1991; 04.xii.1991; 12.xii.1991 (all INPA); BR 174, Km 40, Estação Experimental de Fruticultura Tropical, 14.viii.97, McPhail, em sorva, B. Ronchi-Teles, Ƥ (INPA); EARA, BR 174, Km 23, 6.ii.97, McPhail, Bacuri, B. Ronchi-Teles, Ƥ; same but, 17.iv.97, em araticum, Ƥ; same but, 28.v.97, em abiu, 3 Ƥ; same but, 10.vii.97, em bacuri, Ƥ; same but, 17.viii.97, 2 Ƥ; same but, 16.x.97, Ƥ (all INPA); Itacoatiara, 1998, 2 Ƥ; same but, v–vi.1999, B. Ronchi-Teles, 2 Ƥ (all INPA); AM 0 10, Km 35, Sítio Vida Tropical, 6.ii. [19]97, Arm. McPhail, em goiaba de anta, B. Ronchi-Teles, 2 Ƥ; same but, 27.ii.97, em ingá, Ƥ; same but, 06.iii.97, 2 Ƥ; same but, 10.iv.97, 1 Ƥ (all INPA); Manaus, 20.vi.2003, collector anonymous, Ƥ; same but, 04.xii.2003, B. Ronchi-Teles, 5 Ƥ; same but, 11.i.2004, S. S. M. Menta, Ƥ (all INPA); Reserva Adolpho Ducke, Arm. Suspensa, 25m, 15.x.1981, J. A. Rafael, Ƥ (INPA); same but, x.2003, 20 mts, A. Henriques et. al., OL1– 800 mts, Vermelho, 4 Ƥ; x.2003, 1400 mts; xi.2003, OL1–2400 mts, Preto; iii. 2004, 25 m, Tinga (all INPA); same but, 11–14.x.2004, coletor anônimo, melado de cana 10%, 1.5m, Mata, platô, 9 Ƥ; 18–21.x.2004; 11–16.xi. 2004, 30m; 16–18.xi.2004; 24–28.ii.2005 (all INPA); same but, 2–9.x.2002, área aberta, baixio, J. A. Rafael, Arm. McPhail, 3 (INPA); same but, copa de árvore, 26.xi.1981, 2 Ƥ (INPA); 17.v.1996, B. Ronchi-Teles, 4 Ƥ; 16.x. 2003, 5m; 16.x. 2003, 15m; 16.x. 2003, 25m (all INPA); same but, 16.ix.2002, E. F. Soares & A. L. Pinheiro, área aberta, baixio, 11 Ƥ, 2 3; 02–09.x.2002; 9–16.x.2002; 13.xii.2002; 08.i.2003; 26.ii.2003; 30.iv.2003 (all INPA); same but, 25–31.x.2002, A. P. Tregue-Costa, 2 Ƥ; 24.ii.2003 (all INPA); same but, 02–09.x.2002, Igarapé Barro Branco, Ƥ (INPA); same but, 24–27.ix.2004, melado de cana 10%, mata, baixio, 30m, 3 Ƥ; 11–14.x.2004; 14–18.x.2004 (all INPA); same but, 13–16.xi.2004, coletor anônimo, 7 Ƥ; 10–17.i.2005; 28.ii–04.iii.2005 (all INPA); same but, Arm. McPhail Modificada, 28.v. 2003, 15m, A. P. Tregue-Costa, 29 Ƥ; 29.v. 2003, 15m; 06.vi. 2003, 5m; 16.vi. 2003, 25m; 15.viii. 2003, 5m; 15.viii. 2003, 15m; 15.viii. 2003, 25m; 26.viii. 2003, 15m; 26.viii. 2003, 25m; 16.ix. 2003, 25m; 29.ix. 2003, 25m; 24.vi. 2003, 15m (all INPA); área aberta, platô, 25m, 4 Ƥ; same but, 15m, 2 Ƥ (all INPA); same but, Sede, 29.vi. 2003, 25m, coletor anônimo, 5m,11 Ƥ; 24.vii. 2003, 5m; 24.vii. 2003, 15m; 24.vii. 2003, 25m (all INPA); same but, melado de cana 10%, 25m, A. P. Tregue-Costa, 07.viii.2003, 3 Ƥ; 23.x. 2003, 15m (all INPA); same but, Arm. Malaise, 24.ix.1982, Ƥ (INPA); same but, isca de fruta, 05–10.v.1988, Y. Camara & J. F. Vidal, 4 Ƥ; 19–26.viii.1988; 03–10.xii.1988 (all INPA); same but, 01.ix–08.ix.1988, Y. Câmara & J. E. Rinda, 2 Ƥ; 06– 12.i.1989 (all INPA); same but, 28.iv–05.v.2003, Arm. de garrafa Pet, J. E. Pereira, 3 Ƥ, (INPA); Conj[unto] Hiléia, Manta, S.S.M, 03.v.2004, R. Ale-Rocha, 2 Ƥ (INPA); same but, 24.v.2004, coletor anônimo, 4 Ƥ; same but, 03.vi.2004, 2 Ƥ (all INPA); Conj. Campos Elíseos, 03.v.2004, R. Ale-Rocha, 4 Ƥ (INPA); Conj. Jardim Europa, Bairro Ponta Negra, 15–23.xi.2002, Arm. de garrafa Pet, A. P. C. Marques, Ƥ (INPA); Iranduba, x.1999, Ƥ (INPA); Manacapuru, vi–vii.2000, Arm. McPhail, B. Ronchi-Teles, 2 Ƥ; same but, 07.viii.2000, Ƥ (all INPA); Beruri, estacionamento do Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reformas Agrárias, km 3, 03˚56’62”S/ 61˚21’02”W, 28.ix– 09. x.2002, 2 Ƥ (INPA); Borba, Rio Abacaxis, 05˚15’09”S/ 58˚41’52”W, 35m, 27–29.v.2008, J. A. Rafael e equipe, arm. Suspensa alta, 30mts, Ƥ (INPA); Novo Aripuanã, Reserva Soka, 05°15’53”S / 60°07’08”W, 17–25.viii.1999, Arm. Suspensa, 15m, Terra firme, J. F. Vidal & A. L. Henriques, Ƥ (INPA); Comunidade Bela Vista, Lago Shaddá, 18–22.iv.2005, Programa de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade, F. F. Xavier F˚, Ƥ, 3 (INPA); Carauari, Ramal do Roberto, 50°43’15”S / 67°10’11”W, 05–15mts, vii.2005, J. A. Rafael, Ƥ; same but, Ramal do Roque, vii.2005, Ƥ (all INPA); same but, 5˚05’27”S/ 67˚10’57”W, vii.2005, Ƥ (INPA); Manicoré, cachoeirinha, 05˚29’44,9”S/ 60˚49’21,3”W, Rio Madeira, Margem Esquerda, Suspensa com melado de cana, ix.2004, M. Pena & A. Silva, 2 Ƥ (INPA); Lábrea, BR-230, Km 12, Ramal Apaeral, Km 0 9, 07 °19’10,5”S/ 64°40’07”W, 13.vi–02.vii.2006, coleta manual, F. F. Xavier, 2 Ƥ (INPA); Humaitá, xi.2000 – i.2001, Arm. McPhail, B. Ronchi-Teles, 3 (INPA); Guajará, Ramal do Gama, Km 12, 07 °31’26”S/ 72°38’56”W, 07–18.xi.2008, F. F. Xavier Filho, Ƥ (INPA); Pará, Bragança– Ajuruteua, 1.6m, A. N. Pena leg, Ƥ (INPA); 01–04.ix.1988, 1.6m, I. S. Gorayeb, 2 Ƥ, 3 (INPA); same but, 01– 04.ix.1988, São João de Pirabas Boa Esperança, 18–24.x. 1990, 10m, Ƥ (INPA); same but, 30.viii–01.ix.1988, I. S. Gorayeb, Armadilha Malayse [SIC], Ƥ (MPEG); Belém, Floresta APEG, 14–17.i.1983, I. S. Gorayeb, Arm. Suspensa, 23m, Ƥ (MPEG); same but, 10–14.viii.1983, 1 Ƥ (MPEG); Benevides, Fazenda Morelândia, 20m, F. F. Ramos, Ƥ (MPEG); Vigia, mata, 15m, 9.xii. 1988, 15m, W. França, Ƥ (MPEG); Belo Monte, Rio Xingu, Rod. Transamazônica, 03˚00’05”S/ 51˚41’31”W, 07.iv.2008, manual, J. A. Rafael & F. F. Xavier F°, 8 Ƥ, 3 3 (INPA); Tucuruí, Rio Tocantis, 01–03.vi. 1984, 7m, coletor anônimo, Ƥ (MPEG); Serra Norte, Pojuca, 22–24.x.1984, 1.6m, Ƥ (MPEG); Conceição do Araguaia, 17–21.xi.1979, P. Mauricio, 3 (INPA); Rondônia, Ouro Preto de Oeste, Arm. Suspensa, 1.62, Km 16, 20m, 13–15.xi.1984, coletor anônimo, Ƥ (MPEG); same but, 05–16.xi.1996, 6 3 (EMUS); same but, 2–4.iv.1985, 1.6m, F. F. Ramos, 2 Ƥ (MPEG); Margem direita, rio Sta. Helena, 21.iii.1985, 3 (MPEG); 62km, SE, Ariquemes, 13–25.iv.1992, W. J. Hanson, 54 Ƥ, 7 3; 17–24.iii.1989; 8–20.ix.1994; 7–18.ix.1995; 5– 16.ix.1996; 22–31.x.1997 (all EMUS); same but, 01–14.xi.1997, B. Dozier, 2 Ƥ (EMUS); Acre, Cruzeiro do Sul, Rio Moa, 07°37’02”S / 72°46’15”W, 19–28.xi. 1996, 1m, J. A. Rafael, J. Vidal & R. I. Marques, 0 0 17610, 3 (INPA); Barro Branco, 25.x–8.xi.91, F. Ramos, A. Henriques, I. Gorayeb & N. Bittencourt, Arm. Suspensa, 1.6m, mata firme, 2 Ƥ (MPEG); Porto Acre, Humaitá, 15.vi–02.vii.92, Gorayeb, Pena, Henriques e Edmar, Ƥ (MPEG); Mato Grosso, Aripuanã, Reserva Humbolt, W. L. Overal, Ƥ (MPEG); Barra dos Bugres, R. E. Serra das Araras, 24.i.1986, Arm. Suspensa, 1.6m, Ƥ, 3 (MPEG); Pocone, RPPN, SESC, Pantanal, 19.viii.2004, Arm. Van Someren- Rylan, mata, R. Alves, 2 Ƥ (INPA); 16˚42’46,2”S/ 56˚02’81,0”W, 15.vii.2004, 2 Ƥ, 23; 16.vii.2004; 20.viii.2004 (all INPA); Tocantins, Arm. Baixa, 15–20.ix.2005, J. A. Rafael, Ƥ (INPA); Palmas, Chácara São José, 10˚17’14”S/ 48˚20’20”W, 20.viii.2002, Arm Mcphail, B. Ronchi-Teles, 2 3, Ƥ (INPA); same but, 10˚15’14”S 48˚20’21”W, 23.viii.2002, em acerola, 3 (INPA); same but, 23.viii.2002, 10˚11’24”S/ 48˚17’71”W, em carambola, 3 3 (INPA); Goiás, Caldas Novas, PE Serra de Caldas Novas, 700m, 17˚46’13”S/ 48˚39’22”W, 22–23.iii.2008, varredura, J. A. Rafael & F. F. Xavier F˚, Ƥ (INPA); ECUADOR, Napo, Yasumi, Res. Santa, 19–30.x.1988, W. J. Hanson, 6˚36’W/ 0˚38’S, Ƥ (EMUS).
Geographical distribution. Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Brazil (Roraima, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Acre, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Tocantins, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro), Ecuador (Napo), Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina (Misiones).
Variations. Some specimens have the face and/or parafacialia yellowish, the frons with brown spots on the anterior surface, and the scutum with silver pollinosity stripes.
Discussion. This species was recorded for the first time from Ecuador, in Napo Province. It resembles Ropalomera albifaciata in its chaetotaxy, the pattern of spots on the abdomen and wings, the presence of spine-like bristles on sternite 5, and the number of lobes on the parameres. However, it differs from R. albifaciata in the color of the face, which is dark brown in R. femorata, the grouped spine-like bristles of sternite 5, and in the pre-apical spine-like, sclerotized projections on the aedeagus. Other species of the genus either lack this pattern of spines on sternite 5, and/or have wings with a distinct pattern of spots, or have a pollinose stripe on the mesopleuron extending to the metathoracic spiracle.
description: Published as part of Kirst, Frederico Dutra & Ale-Rocha, Rosaly, 2012, Taxonomic revision of the Amazonian species of Ropalomera Wiedemann, 1824 (Diptera: Ropalomeridae), pp. 1-27 in Zootaxa 3151 on pages 8-12, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.279555