Coproica bispatha Bergeron, Marshall & Swann, 2015, new species
Creators: name: Bergeron, Matthew D.
name: Marshall, Stephen A.
name: Swann, John E.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Sphaeroceridae
Coproica
Coproica bispatha

description: Coproica bispatha new species
Figs. 53–64
Description. Body length 1.1–1.5 mm. Body colour light brown to brown. Face light brown, frons brown. Interfrontal bristles in 3 pairs; postocellar bristles convergent, postocellar setulae absent. Eye to gena ratio approximately 2:1; 3 genal setae in longitudinal row posterior to vibrissa with anterior seta twice as long as posterior setae.
Scutellum with 10–12 discal scutellar setae arranged in 2 rows between basal 1/4 and basal 1/2, setae in posterior row approximately 1.5 times as long as anterior row; 2 lateral bristles between larger anterior and posterior marginal scutellar bristles. Katepisternum with 2 small, subequal dorsal bristles, each approximately 1/4 the distance between katepisternum and wing base in length. Legs and fore coxa brown. Mid tibia with 1 proximal posterodorsal bristle at 2/5. Mid basitarsus with row of stout anterior bristles extending from basal 2/5 to apex, stout anteroventral basal bristle present, otherwise specific arrangement of bristles on ventral surface of mid basitarsus may vary between individuals, typically as in figure 10: with stout anteroventral bristles at 2/5 and 2/3 with a posterodorsal half-way between these two. Second costal sector 0.9–1.2 times as long as third costal sector. Costal bypass long, extending 7 or more vein widths beyond R 4+5.
Male terminalia: Sternite 5 rounded, discal bristles uniform in size. Sternite 6 straight medially. Epandrium with enlarged pair of dorsolateral bristles; subanal plate incomplete; ventral margin of cerci unmodified, rounded, with 1 enlarged bristle. Surstylus with blunt, short posterior process with several short bristles at apex, ventral margin lined with small setae. Postgonites slightly asymmetrical, straight, narrow, with rounded spoon-like apex, right postgonite with small apical notch. Basiphallus gently curved, tubular, posterior margin open; epiphallus with very short keel. Lateral sclerites of distiphallus rounded, 2 short dorsal processes near apex; central sclerite fused with lateral sclerites apically. Apical membranes broad.
Female terminalia: Tergite 8 reduced to 2 lateral sclerites with medial connecting membrane. Tergite 10 pollinose, broadly fused to cerci; cerci pollinose, apical setae short and sinuate. Sternite 7 broad with wide posterior emargination. Sternite 8 with narrow anterior process, 2 lateral patches of 3 small setae, row of 4 posterior setae separated medially into 2 pairs. Sternite 10 wrapped around tip of abdomen with one enlarged pair of medial bristles. Spermathecae conical; duct length 3–4 times as long as spermathecal bulb, short sclerotized portion of duct adjacent to spermathecal bulb, with small constriction at its base.
Type material. Holotype male: ECUADOR: Galapagos, Floreana, Agriculture zone, 360m, 22.ii.1989, sweeping, B.J. Sinclair (CNCI). Paratypes: BARBADOS: Welchman Hall, Gully ii.1979, dung tp., leg, S. Peck (2♀). BRAZIL: Minas Gerais, Congonhas Serra, 22.ii.1990, sweep along creek, horse dung, S.A. Marshall (1♀, MZSP). COSTA RICA: San José, Zurquí de Moravia, 1600m, v.1991, P. Hanson (1♀, INBC). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Alcoa Rd., 600m, 17–20.i.1989, FIT, carrion, S.A. Marshall & J. Swann (1♂); Barahona, 7 km. NW of Paraiso, 200m, rainforest remnant, 27.xi.1991, fungus on logs, 91–338, S&J Peck (2♂, 2♀); Pedernales, 28 km. N of Cabo Rojo, 760m, evergreen dry for., 29.xi–3.xii.1981, FIT, 91–349, Masner & Peck (3♀, 4♂); same as previous except carrion tp., 91–348 (3♂, 7♀); carrion tp., 91–343, S.&J. Peck (1♂); Pedernales, Las Abejas, 38 km NNW of Cabo Rojo, (18–09N, 71–38W), 1250m, 15.vii.1987 J.E. Rawlins & R. E. Davidson (1♂, CMNH); near Cabo Rojo, Alcoa Rd., km. 26, 17–20.i.1989, FIT, S.A. Marshall & J.E. Swann, (1♀). ECUADOR: Galapagos: Same as holotype (13♂ *, 18♀, CNCI); Isabela, 7 km. WNW of St. Tomas, near Campamento Pumas, 640m, 8.vii.1985, sifted horse dung, 83–212, S.&J. Peck (1♂, QCAZ); San Cristobal, Casetta, pasture, 560m, 19.ii.1989, horse dung, B.J. Sinclair (1♂, CNCI); San Cristobal, Casetta, 560m, pampa, 16–19.ii.1989, dung tp., B.J. Sinclair (30♂, 20♀, CNCI); St. Cruz CDRS, arid zone, 31.i–9.ii.1989, tortoise dung tp., B.J. Sinclair (6♂, 3♀, CNCI); St. Cruz, 2 km. N of Bellavista, 360m, 2.vii.1985, guava thicket, agricultural area, FIT, S.&J. Peck (8♂ -BOLDx2, 13♀, QCAZ); same as previous except dated 14.v–13.vii.1986 (5♂, 4♀, QCAZ); St. Cruz, 25 km. N of Bellavista, 360m, 13.vii.1985, guava thicket agricultural area, malaise, FIT, S.&J. Peck (1♂ *–ill., 2♀ *–ill., QCAZ); St. Cruz, 4 km. N of Bellavista, Media Luna, 620m, 14.v.–13.vii.1985, 85–158, S&J Peck (3♀, QCAZ); same as previous except Miconia zone, FIT (1♂, 2♀, QCAZ); Miconia zone, FIT (2.vii) (3♂, 7♀ **-BOLDx1, QCAZ); St. Cruz, 4 km. N of Bellavista, Media Luna, 620m, 21–31.v.1985, Miconia zone, dung tps., S.&J. Peck (11♂, 6♀, QCAZ); St. Cruz, agricultural zone, Bellavista, 160m, 1–9.iv.1989, field, FIT, 89–205, Peck & Sinclair (1♂, 5♀, CNCI); St. Cruz, agricultural zone, 1–9.iv.1989, malaise, 89–204, Peck & Sinclair (1♀, CNCI); St. Cruz, Los Gemelos, 600m, 31.i–4.ii.1989, for. dung tp., B.J. Sinclair (1♂, CNCI); same as previous except add Scalesia, BS 43 (2♀, CNCI); St. Cruz, Los Gemelos, 31 km. N of Stn. Ros., 570m, 15.vii.1985, Scalesia for., FIT & malaise, S.&J. Peck (1♀, QCAZ); same as previous except 23.vi.1985, 85–188b (2♀, QCAZ); St. Cruz, Media Luna, 500m, Miconia, 1– 29.ii.1989, FIT-trough, 89–39, Peck & Sinclair (1♂, 1♀, CNCI). HONDURAS: Dpto. F. Morazán, El Zamorano, 22–29.vii.1970, blacklight tp., G.F. Freytag (1♀, debu00020364); Zamorano, 30.v.1994, H.&A. Howden (1♂). JAMAICA: Blue Mt., Whitfield Hall, 4300’, 10.ix.1988, dung, T. A. Wheeler (1♂, 1♀); Montego Bay, 18.i.1985, ex. horse manure, J.E. Corrigan; (1♂ *, 1♀); St. Ann, Discovery Bay, 3–6.ix.1974, dung, S. Peck (1♂, 1♀); St. Catherine, 28.vii–1.viii.1974, dung under trees in horse pasture, Peck (3♂, 1♀). MEXICO: Chiapas, 11 mi. E of Trinitaria, 5200’, km. 18, 5.viii.1971, tropical deciduous for., human dung, A. Newton (1♂); Chiapas, 2 mi. S of Trinitaria, 5100’, 21–24.viii.1971, oak-tropical deciduous, human dung, Newton (1♂, 6♀); Chiapas, Lagunas de Montebello Parque Nacional, La Encantada, 4900’, 21–24.viii.1971, oak/pine/liquid amber, human dung, A. Newton (2♂, 6♀); Quintana Roo, 45 km. NE of Ixtapa, 10–12.vii.1987, B. Gill (1♂, 2♀); Tabasco, 46 mi. SE of Villahermosa, km. 74, 150’, 8–15.viii.1971, 2° vegitation, rain for., human dung, A. Newton (3♀). ST. KITTS & NEVIS: Basseterre, 1–30.xi.1985, FIT, long grass, B.J. Backland (1♀); Nevis, Dasents Estate, 220m, 28.viii– 21.ix.1985, malaise, citrus orchard, L. Coote (6♂, 6♀); Wingfield Mt., 400m, 1–30.xi.1985, old field/for., L.D. Coote (1♂). UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: AZ: Cochise Co., Chiricahua Mts., 6 mi. ESE of Portal, 4150’, ix.1970, desert grass, human dung, A. Newton (1♂); Santa Cruz Co., 8 mi. NNW of Nogales, Walker Canyon, 3900’, ix.70, dung, oak woodland, A. Newton (1♂). CO: Roatte Co., 5 mi. NE of Clark Hinman cpgd., 7600’, 23– 25.vi.1972, dung tp. (16♀). TX: Cameron Co., Laguna Atascosa Nat. Wildlife Refuge, vii.1972, thorn for., dung, A. Newton (3♂); Hidalgo Co., Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley St. Pk., 21–25.v.1971, willow-thorn for. near riv., dung, Newton (1♂). VENEZUELA: Mérida, 1989, FIT, S. Peck (2♂: debu00152535, 00152570, IZAV).
Distribution: Nearctic: USA (AZ, CO, TX); Neotropical: Barbados, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Galapagos Is. (Ecuador), Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico (CHI, ROO, TAB), St. Kitts, Venezuela.
Etymology. The name bispatha means “two spoons” and refers to the postgonites, which have a rounded spoon-like apex and are mostly symmetrical, unlike C. urbana and C. brachystyla.
Comments. Coproica bispatha is nearly identical to C. urbana with the exception of the spoon-like postgonites (Figs. 56, 57), and the absence of a faint sclerite anterior to female sternite 10 (Fig. 62). The postgonites are large and typically exposed in both species, so dissections are rarely necessary to distinguish males from other species of Coproica. The faint sclerite used to distinguish females of C. bispatha from those of C. urbana is rarely visible without dissection.
description: Published as part of Bergeron, Matthew D., Marshall, Stephen A. & Swann, John E., 2015, A review of the New World Coproica (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) with a description of 8 new species, pp. 1-157 in Zootaxa 3953 (1) on pages 20-21, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3953.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14951152