Pellucidomyia Macfie
Creators: name: Borkent, Art
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Ceratopogonidae
Pellucidomyia

description: Pellucidomyia Macfie
(Figs. 12A, 13G, 16F, 20P, 26D, 30I, 33C, 37F, 45E–F, 50F, 64A, 75G–H)
DIAGNOSIS: Only pupa of Ceratopogonidae with the thorax and segment 2 markedly wider than abdominal segment 3 (Fig. 12A); also unique in having an apically truncate segment 9 and very widely spaced terminal processes (Figs. 12A, 75G–H); also unique in having a well-developed prothoracic extension (Fig. 26D) and a respiratory organ with the pores arranged in a nearly complete circle (Figs. 45E–F).
DESCRIPTION: Habitus as in Fig. 12A. Total length = 2.22–2.84 mm. Without larval exuviae retained on abdomen. Exuviae with flagellum appressed against lateral margin of midleg, wing (as in Figs. 16B, 33C). Ecdysial tear around base of antenna, with narrow connection between face and base of antenna (Figs. 16F, 79G). Head: Dorsal apotome (Fig. 20P), with ventral line of weakness, without dorsomedial tubercle, without central dome; dorsolateral cephalic sclerite (Fig. 13G) fused to scutum, each side separated medially by dorsal apotome in whole pupa; mouthparts (Fig. 26D) with mandible well-developed, lacinia absent; palpus extending posterior to posterolateral margin of labium; labium separated medially by labrum, hypopharynx; apex of antenna (Fig. 37F) posterior to posterior extent of midlength portion of midleg (portion lateral to mesosternum); sensilla: dorsal apotomals (Fig. 20P)—1 elongate seta, 1 campaniform sensillum; dorsolateral cephalic sclerite sensilla—1 seta, 1 campaniform sensillum; clypeal-labrals (Fig. 26D)—2 moderately thick setae; oculars (Fig. 26D)—1–2 setae, 1 campaniform sensillum. Thorax: Prothoracic extension (Fig. 26D) wide, well-developed, narrow dorsolaterally, not extending to antenna; mesonotum with short tubercles, not extending posteromedially, not dividing metathorax medially (Fig. 50F); respiratory organ (Figs. 45E–F) length/width = 2.27–2.38, moderately elongate, trumpetshaped, somewhat flattened apically (circular area), with pores closely abutting at apex of respiratory organ, arranged circularly, outer surface smooth, without pedicel, base with elongate posteromedial apodeme, membranous base of respiratory organ short, tracheal tube straight to slightly curved along length, with spirals restricted to base, plates to half length; wing (Fig. 37F) without apical tubercle or angle, separated medially by fore-, midlegs; halter apex and hind leg (Fig. 33C) broadly abutting; halter apex extending just anterior of anterolateral margin of tergite 2; legs (Fig. 37F) with lateral margin of foreleg near midlength of wing evenly curved; hind leg visible at lateral margin of wing (Fig. 33C); with apex of foreleg moderately anterior to apex of midleg; apex of hind leg abutting apex of midleg laterally; sensilla: anteromedials—2 elongate setae, 1 campaniform sensillum (1/2 distance to anterolaterals) (as in Figs. 31L–M); anterolaterals—1 elongate seta; dorsal setae (Fig. 30I)—D-1-T, D-2-T, D-4-T, D-5-T setae, D-3-T campaniform sensillum; D-1-T, D-2-T on single tubercle, D-3-T posterior to D-4-T; supraalar 2—campaniform sensillum; metathoracics (Fig. 50F)—1-2 campaniform sensilla; M-3-T near anterior margin of metathorax. Abdomen: pigmentation very light brown or just indicated by bare patches, with tergite 1 with 3 medial spots, 2 (medial area with stripe, 2 spots), anterolateral spots, 3–7 only light brown medial patch, sternites not pigmented or sternites 3–7 with light brown medial patch, segment 2 much wider than segment 3, segments with or without bifurcating setae, with rounded to pointed, short to moderately elongate tubercles, tergites or sternites entire, each without membranous disc; segment 9 (Figs. 75G–H) widely truncate posteriorly, terminal processes widely separated basally, each projecting posteriorly or slightly posterolaterally, tapering to pointed apex; sensilla: tergite 1 (Fig. 50F) with 8 setae, 1 campaniform sensillum or 7 setae, 2 campaniform sensilla, including 4 lateral sensilla, D-2-I, D-3-I closely approximated, D-7-I situated anterolaterally near L-1-I; segment 4 (Fig. 64A)—D-2-IV, D-3-IV long setae on moderately elongate tubercles; D-5-IV, D-8-IV, D-9-IV elongate setae, D-5-IV, D-8-IV simple or bifurcating; D-5-IV on elongate tubercle, D-8-IV, D-9-IV on separate but closely approximated elongate tubercles, posterior dorsal sensilla in transverse row, arranged medially to laterally: D-5-IV, D-4-IV, D-8-IV, D-9-IV; D-7-IV near D-3-IV; L-1-IV moderately elongate seta, close to base of tubercles with L-2-IV, L-3-IV; L-2-IV, L-3-IV, L-4-IV elongate, simple or bifid setae on elongate tubercles, V-5-IV, V-6-IV, V-7-IV elongate simple or bifid setae, on rounded tubercles, V- 6-IV, V-7-IV closely approximated; segment 8 without D-3-VIII, without L-1-VIII; segment 9 (Figs. 75 G- H)—with D-5-IX, D-6-IX campaniform sensilla.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT: The genus Pellucidomyia is known from nine species in the Neotropical, Afrotropical and Australasian Regions (Borkent 2014), including the new combination of P. geari noted below. Pupae have been collected from small streams and creeks, backwaters of a creek, and from the margin of a reservoir.
TAXONOMIC DISCUSSION: Two species of Pellucidomyia are known as pupae (Tables 2–3). Pupae of this genus are distinctive (see diagnosis) and easily distinguishable from other Ceratopogonidae. Examination of the pupae of South African species Macropeza geari indicates that it shares the pupal synapomorphies of P. leei and that it belongs within this genus as a new combination as follows:
Pellucidomyia geari (de Meillon & Wirth), 1981: 547 (Macropeza). new combination.
Pellucidomyia geari is otherwise known only as the male holotype. Because males of Heteromyiini + Sphaeromiini s. lat. + Palpomyiini + Stenoxenini are generally poorly characterized in much of the world, a generic misplacement is more than possible. Additionally, the male adult P. geari is very similar to that of P. sambulena (de Meillon) 1942 which likely is a senior synonym. Examination of the types is needed to confirm this possibility.
MATERIAL EXAMINED: P. geari: 1 pupal exuviae (of holotype), Burgershall, Hazyview, East Transvaal, South Africa, 3-XII-1973 (NMSA). P. leei: 1 pupal exuviae (in glycerin), Mason Creek, Queensland, Australia, no date (CNCI); 4 pupal exuviae, Merricumbene Creek, Moruya River, New South Wales, Australia, 2-III-1964 (ANIC).
description: Published as part of Borkent, Art, 2014, The Pupae of the Biting Midges of the World (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), With a Generic Key and Analysis of the Phylogenetic Relationships Between Genera, pp. 1-327 in Zootaxa 3879 (1) on pages 77-79, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3879.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4949051