Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia) albipluma Spinelli, Marino & Borkent, 2012, n. sp.
Creators: name: Spinelli, Gustavo R.
name: Marino, Pablo I.
name: Borkent, Art
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Ceratopogonidae
Forcipomyia
Forcipomyia albipluma

description: Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia) albipluma n. sp.
(Figs. 82–91, 116, 144)
Diagnosis. Male: only species of Neotropical Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia) with a hind tarsal ratio of 2.00–2.27, hind tarsomere 1 brown, wing with a dark patch on its anterior margin and at the apices of M2, CuA1 and CuA2, plume pale, parameres present and the posterior margin of the aedeagus with apical lobes separated by a broad gap. Female: only species of Neotropical Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia) with flagellomeres 2–8 pale, 9–13 brown and the spermathecae ovoid and slightly unequal in size.
Description. Male. Head. Brown. Eyes abutting medially for length of two-three ommatidia. Antenna (Fig. 82) with pale plume setae well developed, flagellomeres 2–9 slightly paler than 10–13, flagellomeres 2–4 spherical, flagellomere 10 1.80–2.00 (1.94, n = 10) X longer than flagellomere 11, 10–13 elongate; flagellomere 13 with apical nipple, slightly constricted basally; AR 1.02–1.18 (1.09, n = 10). Palpus (Fig. 83) brown; segment 3 slightly swollen proximally, with shallow sensory pit opening at midlength; PR 2.00–2.20 (2.13, n = 12). Labrum tapering apically.
Thorax. Dark brown; scutellum with aproximately 8 strong setae. Legs brown, apex of hind tibia with 6 spines; tarsomeres with pectinate scales; tarsomere 1 of foreleg with row of 14 spine-like bristles, tarsomere 1 of hind leg with two rows of thick setae, tarsomeres 2–5 paler; foreleg TR 2.50–2.89 (2.70, n = 12), midleg TR 1.82–2.20 (1.96, n = 12), hind leg TR 2.00–2.27 (2.15, n = 12); claws curved, moderately stout. Wing (Figs. 84, 116) with pattern of pigmented membrane, distribution of macrotrichia showing two distinct light spots in r3, one behind of second radial cell, one subapical, faint distal light spots in m1, m2, and distinct light spots in cua1 and anal cell; M2 only visible at wing margin; first radial cell obliterated, second well developed; fork of cubitus situated at level of apex of costa; wing length 0.96–1.08 (1.03, n = 12) mm; breadth 0.34–0.38 (0.37, n = 12) mm; CR 0.43–0.46 (0.44, n = 12). Halter whitish.
Abdomen. Tergites uniformly brown. Genitalia (Fig. 85): Brown except gonostyli pale. Tergite 9 short, only extending to 1/3 length of gonocoxite; posterior margin broadly rounded; cercus lobe-like, slightly produced beyond midlength of gonocoxite; sternite 9 broad, with posterior margin slightly concave. Gonocoxite stout, 1.85 X longer than greatest breadth; gonostylus 0.80 length of gonocoxite, nearly straight, tip pointed. Parameres represented by a pointed, posteromesally directed projection tapering gradually, arising from the distal portion of the nearly straight gonocoxal apodemes straight. Aedeagus (Fig. 86) stout, shield-shaped, as long as broad, with two narrow posterior sclerotizations, posterior margin broad with apical lobes short, separated by broad rounded gap; lateral arms nearly straight.
Female. As for male, with following differences; antenna with flagellomere 1 dark brown, 2–8 pale brown, vasiform, longer than broad; flagellomeres 9–13 brown, elongate, proportions as shown in Fig. 87; AR 0.80–0.82 (0.81, n = 2). Palpus (Fig. 88) pale; segment 3 slightly swollen proximally with shallow sensory pit opening at midlength; segments 4, 5 completely fused, slightly longer than segment 3; PR 1.69–1.92 (1.80, n = 2).
Thorax. Legs brown, tarsomeres 2–5 paler, foreleg TR 2.63–2.75 (2.69, n = 2), midleg TR 2.22–2.33 (2.27, n = 2), hind leg TR 2.27–2.36 (2.32, n = 2), claws curved. Wing (Fig. 89) with first radial cell reduced; second radial cell narrow; wing length 0.98 (n = 2) mm; breadth 0.42–0.44 (0.43, n = 2) mm; CR 0.45 (n = 2).
Abdomen. Tergites brown. Genital sclerotization (Fig. 90) closed, anterior margin rounded. Two spermathecae (Fig. 91) ovoid, heavily sclerotized, with short necks, slightly unequal in size, measuring 0.050 by 0.040 mm, neck 0.002 mm, and 0.040 by 0.024 mm, neck 0.002 mm. Cercus brown.
Distribution. This species is known only from Tapantí National Park, Costa Rica, from 1150–1800 meters (Fig. 144).
Taxonomic discussion. This species is similar to F. rursa. Characters to distinguish male and female of both species are provided in the discussion of F. rursa.
Type material. Holotype male on microscope slide, labeled “ HOLOTYPE Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia) albipluma Spinelli, Marino and Borkent, Costa Rica, Tapantí NP, 8 km SE Orosí, 1200 m, 11-XII-1999, A. Picado – A. Borkent, 193200N/560200E, CD 5032” (CNCI). Paratypes, 11 males and 2 females (1 male, USNM; 1 male, MLPA; 4 males, 1 female, CNCI; 5 males, 1 female, INBC) as follows: same data as holotype, 4 males, 1 female (2 males, 1 female, INBC; 2 males, CNCI). Same data except CD 5033, 2 males (CNCI). Same data except 1600 m, 12-XII-1999, CD 5040, 1 male (MLPA). Costa Rica, Cartago prov., ACLA-P., Paraíso, Tapantí NP, Sect. La Represa, Torre ICE entre ríos Porras y Villegas, 1800 m, XI-1996, R. Delgado, Malaise tp., CD 5148, 2 males (INBC). Costa Rica, Cartago prov., Tapantí, Quebrada Segunda, 1150 m, VIII-1994, G. Mora, Malaise tp., CD 5211, 1 male (USNM). Costa Rica, Cartago prov., Tapantí NP, La Represa, Torre ICE entre ríos Porras y Villegas, 1800 m, VIII-1997, R. Delgado, CD 5016, 1 female (CNCI). Same data except I-1999, CD 5013, 1 male (INBC).
Derivation of specific epithet. The name albipluma – albus (pale), pluma (feather) refers to the pale antennal plume of the male of this species.
description: Published as part of Spinelli, Gustavo R., Marino, Pablo I. & Borkent, Art, 2012, A revision of Biting Midges of the Subgenera Forcipomyia (Metaforcipomyia) and F. (Saliohelea) from Costa Rica (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), pp. 1-52 in Zootaxa 3419 on pages 27-29, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.215031