Pelecinobaccha transatlantica Schiner 1868, comb. nov.
Creators: name: Miranda, Gil Felipe Gonçalves
name: Marshall, Stephen A.
name: Skevington, Jeffrey H.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Syrphidae
Pelecinobaccha
Pelecinobaccha transatlantica

description: Pelecinobaccha transatlantica (Schiner, 1868) comb. nov.
Map 12. Figure 40.
Baccha transatlantica Schiner, 1868.— Schiner, 1868: 343. Type locality: ‘ Brazil & Colombia’. Lectotype male NHMW. Hull, 1949a: 216 (fig. 119, male abdomen; fig. 120 female abdomen), 284 (fig. 392, male wing; fig. 393, female wing).
Ocyptamus transatlanticus. Thompson et al., 1976: 28 (catalog citation).
Baccha cybele Hull, 1947.— Hull, 1947a: 236. Type locality: Paraguay, Vilarica. Holotype male AMNH. Hull, 1949a: 150 (redescription), 216 (fig. 117, male abdomen). n. syn.
Ocyptamus cybele. Thompson et al., 1976: 16 (catalog citation).
Baccha limpidapex Curran, 1941.— Curran, 1941: 282. Type locality: Brazil, Mato Grosso, Chapada. Holotype male AMNH. Hull, 1949a: 212 (fig. 104, male abdomen), 282 (fig. 385, male wing). n. syn.
Ocyptamus limpidapex. Thompson et al., 1976: 21 (catalog citation).
Baccha nitidula Curran, 1930.— Curran, 1930: 9. Type locality: Panama, Canal Zone, Barro Colorado Island. Holotype male AMNH. Hull, 1949a: 214 (fig. 105, male (?) abdomen). n. syn.
Ocyptamus nitidulus. Thompson et al., 1976: 23 (catalog citation).
Baccha potentila Hull, 1942.— Hull, 1942a: 100. Type locality: Paraguay, Vilarica. Holotype male MCZ. Hull, 1949a: 167 (redescription), 212 (fig. 102, male abdomen). n. syn.
Ocyptamus potentila. Thompson et al., 1976: 25 (catalog citation).
Baccha simulata Curran, 1939.— Curran, 1939: 10. Type locality: Peru, Lower Rio Tapiche. Holotype male AMNH. Hull, 1949a: 192 (fig. 2, male abdomen), 272 (fig. 352, male wing). n. syn.
Ocyptamus simulatus. Thompson et al., 1976: 27 (catalog citation).
Male. Head: Black to bluish black. Face pale on lateral ¼ to ⅓. Lunule almost entirely black, slightly lightened above antenna insertion. Frontal triangle black pilose, with pair of oval spots of silvery-white pollen centrolaterally visible from dorsal view. Vertical triangle with most black pile forming a central single row; ocellar triangle separated by its length from posterior eye margin. Eye contiguity as long as vertical triangle length. Eye with sub-triangular indentation on posterior margin around or slightly dorsal to level of antenna insertion. Antennal insertions narrowly separated to confluent. Antenna dark red; black pilose; basoflagellomere oval, sometimes slightly lightened baso-ventrally on the medial surface, arista dark red. Dorsal ¼ of occiput with 2 regular rows of simple black pilosity, anterior row shorter, posterior row sometimes with white pile intermixed; middle ½ with 2 regular anterior rows of simple long black or white pile and 1 regular posterior row of very long scale-like white pile; ventral ¼ with 2–3 irregular rows of scale-like white pile
Thorax: Scutum black, mostly dull brown-pollinose, except white on notopleuron, with pollen concentrated in a semi-circle anterior to scutellum and sometimes with a pair of median antero-posteriorly oriented tapering vittae of pale pollen; sucutm black pilose, pile longer and white or black (variation) on notopleuron anterior to transverse suture, and with anterior row of long shining white pile interrupted in the middle. Scutellum dark brown, with dull brown pollen and long black pile, subscutellar fringe pile black and long. Pleuron black and usually entirely white pilose, sometimes with a few black pile dorsally on anterior anepisternum, dorso-posteriorly on posterior anepisternum and dorsally on anterior anepimeron (variation). Plumula long and white. Calypter white to yellow. Halter light brown, capitulum yellow to orange.
Wing: With basal ½ to ⅔ dark (dark on basal cells, most of r1, basal ½ to basal ⅔ of r2+3, basal ⅓ to basal ⅔ of r4+5 and basal ½ to most of dm), otherwise hyaline, entirely microtrichose; alula usually dark, large, basally 2 times to apically 3 times as broad as c cell, entirely microtrichose.
Legs: Proleg dark brown, protibia basal ⅓ to ½ diffusely pale. Mesoleg dark brown, mesotibia basal ½ diffusely pale. Metaleg dark brown, metatibia basal 1/5 pale, sometimes only base diffusely pale, apex of metabasitarsomere until 4th metatarsomere white; black pilose but white on white regions, metacoxa usually mostly white pilose.
Abdomen: Black; ~3.5 times as long as thorax. First tergite short with rounded lateral lobes; with long pile, mostly white or black dorso-laterally and white ventro-laterally, and sparse to bare medially, sometimes with whole dorsal ½ black (variation). Second tergite black and long, slightly constricted medially, length ~3 times minimum width; 2nd tergite with triangular black dull pollinose macula medially, and minly black pilose, except sometimes white basally, and with long and erect pile, except appressed dorsally. Third tergite trapezoidal and long, widening apically, sometimes with slightly lightened baso-lateral corners; 3rd tergite with dull black pollen forming a central vitta and a pair of sub-lateral narrow triangular maculae, and with appressed and black pile, slightly longer, erect and sometimes white on baso-lateral corners. Fourth tergite sub-quadrate, sometimes slightly lightened basolaterally, and with appressed black pile; pollinosity as on 3rd tergite. Fifth tergite short, rectangular and wide, and with appressed black pile. Genitalia: Surstylus directed obliquely apicoventrally, sub-oval in lateral view, medial margin straight on basal ½ and concave on apical ½, with 3 irregular rows of setulae on ventral, almost straight side, sparsely pilose on dorsal surface. Subepandrial sclerite with slightly concave basal and lateral margin, middle section slightly convex. Hypandrium with rounded ventral notch extending to anterior ½. Phallapodeme weakly sclerotized on most of basal region, sclerotization visible on apex and small dorso-apical portion. Postgonite very enlarged baso-ventrally, with slightly concave ventral surface and straight dorsal surface, and sparsely pilose ventrally except bare on apex, pile longer baso-ventrally; postgonite apex rounded ventrally, convex anteriorly and with acute basally directed dorsal extremity.
Female: Like male except: Frons wide, rarely with small pale maculae laterally, with dull pollen sparse between silvery maculae and ocellar triangle, pile sparse medially. Vertex with single central row of short pile; ocellar triangle 2–2.5 times its length from posterior eye margin and 1.5–2 ocellus-width from lateral eye margin. Scutum usually with a sub-lateral tapering pair of vittae and a central narrow vitta constituted of white pollen; scutum sometimes entirely white pilose or with white and black pile intermixed on the notopleuron, anterior to transverse suture. Subscutellar fringe usually white or intermixed with black pile. Wing with basal ½ dark (basal ½ of r1, basal 1/5 of r2+3, base of r4+5, basal ¼ of bm). Distinctly pale on basal ½ of protibia. Distinctly pale on basal ⅔ of mesotibia. Distinctly pale on basal ¼ of metatibia, metabasitarsomere with apical 1/5 white. Abdomen spatulate, gradually widening from 2nd to 4th abdominal tergites. Abdominal tergites sometimes diffusely pale baso-laterally. Second abdominal tergite rectangular and longer than wide, slightly constricted in the middle, and with black and appressed pile, except for some slightly erect and white pile baso-laterally. Third abdominal tergite trapezoidal, as long as 2nd, and with black appressed pile. Fourth abdominal tergite rectangular and wider than long. Fifth abdominal tergite as 4th, except shorter. Sixth segment conical, robust, 1.5 times as long as 5th tergite. Genitalia: Strongly sclerotized; 7th tergite short, basal extensions ⅔ of 6th segment’s length, with pair of latero-ventral extensions, bare on baso-ventral ½; 7th segment lateral sclerite right triangle shaped; with extensive membranous region between 7th and 8th segments. Eighth tergite unsclerotized medially appearing as reduced to a pair of separate sclerites. Cercus with 1 row of marginal pile.
Length. 8.5–11.5mm; wing 6.5–7.5mm.
Distribution. Bolivia (Beni, La Paz, Santa Cruz), Brazil (Amazonas, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Paraná, São Paulo), Colombia (Meta, Valle del Cauca), Costa Rica (Guanacaste, Puntarenas), Ecuador (Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Sucumbios, Zamora–Chinchipe), Panama (Canal Zone, Panamá), Paraguay (Canindeyú, Guairá), Peru (Amazonas, Huanuco, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Ucayali), Venezuela (Zulia).
Material examined. BOLIVIA. Beni, Rurrenabaque, 175m, 10–23 Oct 1956, L. E. Pena (1 ♀, CNC Diptera 160780); La Paz, Heath River Wildlife Center, ~ 21 km SSW Puerto Heath, 12°40'S 68°42'W, 29 Apr–12 May 2007, J. H. Kits (1 ♀, DEBU 00282417); …, San Juanito, nr. Teoponte, 500m., 15°29'42S 67°47'48W, 8 Apr 2001, S. A. Marshall (1 ♀, DEBU 00149606); Santa Cruz, 20 Oct 1946, S. Lopez (1 ♂, USNM ENT 00257700). BRAZIL.?, Novara R., [blank faded pink square paper], [unintelligible handwriting], Paralectotype Baccha transatlantica Schiner, 1868 [red label] (1 ♀, paralectotype Baccha transatlantica, NHMW); Amazonas, Ipixuna, Rio Gregório, Com. Lago Grande, sweeping, 07°10'11.7'' S 70°49'10.3'' W, 18–23 May 2011, J. T. Câmara, R. F. Silva, A. Somavilla & R. Ale–Rocha (1 ♂, INPA-DT0000253); Goias, Campinas, 8 Jan 1934, T. Borbmeier (1 ♂, CNC Diptera 160787); [Mato Grosso], Chapada, S. W. Williston Collection, Nov (1 ♂, paratype Baccha limpidapex, AMNH); ..., Baccha limpidapex Curran Holotype [red label] (1 ♂, holotype Baccha limpidapex, AMNH); ..., Maracaju, May 1937 (1 ♂, USNM ENT 00257652); Paraná, Porto Cabral, Frank M. Hull Colelction C.N.C. 1973 [white label], Dec 1941, Com. E.N.V. (1 ♂, CNC Diptera 160786); São Paulo, Araçatuba, Córrego Azul, Mar 1947, M.P. Barretto (1 ♂, MZUSP); ..., Avanhandava, Feb 1946, M.P. Barretto (1 ♂, MZUSP); ..., [Presidente Epitácio], Pto. Albano, Oct [19]54, E. Rabello (4 ♂ & 1 ♀, MZUSP). COLOMBIA. Meta, Restrepo, 500m, 1936, J. Bequaert (1 ♂, CNC Diptera 160792, 1 ♀, CNC Diptera 160783); Valle [del Cauca], M. Zarzali Hde., El Medio, 950m, 17 Mar 1991, P. Silverstone–Sookin (1 ♂, USNM ENT 00257712); ..., hosp.: Eucharis caucana, (1 ♀, USNM ENT 00257733). COSTA RICA. Guanacaste, Santa Cruz, Camino a la Esperanza, 420m, manual (red. libre), L N 238450 363050, #56088, 15 Jun 1999, Y. Cardenas (1 ♂, INB0003075064 INBIOCRI COSTA RICA); Puntarenas, R. Priv. Karen Mogensen, Send. El Viejo Nispero, 320–350m, libre, L_N_205600_420300, #74606, 3 Jul 2003, Y. Cardenas (2 ♂, INB0003744622 &...44634 INBIOCRI COSTA RICA); ..., libre (aguamiel), L_N_205600_420300, #74547, 3 Jul 2003, Y. Cardenas (1 ♂, INB0003739524 INBIOCRI COSTA RICA); ..., Send. Tres Rios, 300–500m, red. con aguamiel, L_N_205164_419993, #74599, 26 Jun 2003, Y. Cardenas (1 ♂, INB0003744369 INBIOCRI COSTA RICA); ..., Lepanto, R. Priv. Karen Mogensen, Send. Quebrada Negra, 300–400m, red. con aguamiel, L_N_205600_420300, #75453, 24 Sep 2003, Y. Cardenas (1 ♂, INB0003768302 INBIOCRI COSTA RICA). ECUADOR. Napo, Lago Agrio (41 km W), 18 May 1975, A. B. Gurney (1 ♂, USNM ENT 00257710); ..., Puerto Missahualli, 350m., Feb 1983, M. Sharkey (1 ♂, CNC Diptera 160785); Orellana, Yasuni Natl. Prk., Yasuni Research Stn., 250m., 0°40'50''S 76°24'2''W, 28 Apr–8 May 2009, [unintelligible] (1 ♀, AMNH); Past[aza], Santa Clara, Ecuador Peace Corps, Smithsonian Institution, Aquatic Insect Survey, 3 Jul 1976, P. M. Turner (1 ♀, USNM ENT 00257728); …, Pompeya, Patstaza, Napo R., 14–22 May 1965, L. Pena (1 ♀, CNC Diptera 160779); [Sucumbios], Limoncocha, 250m, 0°24'S 76°40'W, 9–16 Mar 1976, G. E. Shewell (1 ♂, CNC Diptera 160788); Zamora[–Chinchipe], Cumbaratza, 700m, 30–31 Mar 1965, L. Pena (1 ♂, CNC Diptera 160791). PANAMA. Canal Zone, Barro Colorado Island, Type Baccha nitidula Curran no [red label], 22 Dec 1928, C. H. Curran (1 ♂, Holotype Baccha nitidula, AMNH); [Panamá], Pacora, 45-4519-Trap, 5 Feb 1945, H. H. Stage Ar-E (1 ♂, USNM ENT 00257709). PARAGUAY. [Canindeyú], Curubwaty, Salto Del Guaira, 27 Nov [19]71 (1 ♀, AMNH); ..., SW Salto Del Guerra, 7–10 Dec (1 ♂, AMNH); [Guairá], Villarica, Holotype Baccha cybele Hull [red label], USNM 2052087, Dec [19]36, F. Schade (1 ♂, holotype Baccha cybele, USNM); …, Frank M. Hull Collection C.N.C. 1973, [with extensive unreadable notes by F. M. Hull], May 1938, F. Schade (1 ♂, CNC Diptera 160784); ..., Nov 1968, F. Schade (1 ♂, CNC Diptera 160789); ..., M.C.Z. type 26153, Mar (1 ♂, holotype Baccha potentilla, MCZ). PERU. Amazonas, Pto. America, R. Putumayo, Cornell Exped. Lot 607 Sub 171, Frank M. Hull Collection C.N.C. 1973, 30 Aug–2 Sep 1930 (1 ♀, CNC Diptera 160782); Huanuco, Tingo Maria, 2200ft., 23 Nov 1941, J. C. Pallister (1 ♀, AMNH); Loreto, Rio Aguaytia, 300m, Jun 1947, W. Weyrauch (1 ♂, AMNH); ..., El Indio (Cerros de Contamana), 10 Sep [19]86, P. Hocking (1 ♀, USNM ENT 00257729); ..., San Antonio, ‘18’ & ‘10’, 25 Aug 1965, J. C. Hitchcock, Jr. (1 ♂, USNM ENT 0 0 257725, 1 ♀, USNM ENT 00257726); Madre de Dios, Avispas, 400m., 20–30 Sep 1962, L. Pena (1 ♀, CNC Diptera 160781); ..., Manu, 26–30 Oct 1963, L. Pena (1 ♂, CNC Diptera 160790); ..., Erika (near Salvacion), 550m, 5–6 Sep 1988 (1 ♀, USNM ENT 00257727); ..., Los Amigos Biol. Stn., 2–14 Jun 2006, S. Paiero & J. Klymko (1 ♀, DEBU 00272015); …, Manu Wildlife Centre, Ressaca near canopy tower, CNC DIPTERA #4141 [white label with blue border], 28 Oct 2006, J. H. Skevington (1 ♂, CNC Diptera 4141); ..., Rio Manu, nr. Pakitza, 250m, 12°7'S 70°57'W, 9 Sep 1988, W. N. Mathis (1 ♀, USNM ENT 00257722); ..., Pakitza, 250m, 12°7'S 70°58'W, Malaise trap, 9–23 Sep 1988, W. N. Mathis (2 ♂, USNM ENT 0 0 257698 &...707, 1 ♀, USNM ENT 00257724); [Ucayali], Lower Rio Tapiche, F602v, Paratype Baccha simulata Curran [yellow label], H. Bassler Collection Acc. 33591, 19 Aug 1923 (1 ♂, paratype Baccha simulata, AMNH); ..., Middle Rio Ucayali, F [unreadable], Paratype Baccha simulata Curran [yellow label], H. Bassler Collection Acc. 33591, 18 Nov 1923 (1 ♂, paratype Baccha simulata, AMNH). VENEZUELA. Lindig, Bacha n. [label with handwriting], Lectotype Baccha transatlantica Schiner, 1868 [red label], 1864 (1 ♂, lectotype Baccha transatlantica, NHMW); …, Paralectotype Baccha transatlantica Schiner [red label], [label with unintelligible handwriting] (1 ♂ & 4 ♀, paralectotype Baccha transatlantica, NHMW); Zulia, Los Angeles del Tucuco, rain forest vegetation, 15–16 Apr 1981, E. E. Grissell (1 ♂, USNM ENT 00257723); ..., El Tucuco (45 km SW of Machiques), 5–6 Jun 1976, A. S. Menke & D. Vincent (1 ♂, USNM ENT 0 0 257713, 1 ♀, USNM ENT 00257730).
Comments. The type series of Baccha transatlantica from the NHMW includes two males and four females from Venezuela, and one headless female from Brazil. Schiner stated that he worked with eight specimens from Brazil and Colombia (“Ein Männchen und sieben Weibchen aus Brasilien und Columbien”). Since most of the specimens in Schiner (1868) are referred to as simply from South America, it is probable that the type series from the NHMW is the same mentioned by Schiner. A male from the series has been designated as the lectotype, and the remaining specimens as paralectotypes.
The variation in the male wing color pattern may be due to time since eclosion or depigmentation due to preservation.
All specimens with variations in pile pattern were dissected and their genitalia proved identical. The holotypes of the species here synonymized varied slightly on these pile coloration characters and nothing more, not even the pattern of dull pollinosity on the abdominal tergites. As mentioned in the discussion, Hull relied heavily on the patterns of dull black pollinosity of the abdominal tergites to distinguish between the species of his tristis group. Furthermore, Hull was not concise on his description of the patterns, e.g. overestimating and underestimating in several occasions the sub-shining markings. This can be seen in the abdominal drawing of B. potentila in Hull (1949a) (fig. 102), where he considered the sub-shining markings worth notice on the 3rd tergite but did not consider them for B. nitidula (fig. 105) although the markings are present in both holotypes.
One specimen from Paraguay (CNC Diptera 160789) has a forked R2+3 vein, with a short R3, not reaching the wing margin, at the apex of the wing. This unusual character is probably just an atavism of this one specimen, since the remaining characters agree with the species description above.
description: Published as part of Miranda, Gil Felipe Gonçalves, Marshall, Stephen A. & Skevington, Jeffrey H., 2014, Revision of the genus Pelecinobaccha Shannon, description of Relictanum gen. nov., and redescription of Atylobaccha flukiella (Curran, 1941) (Diptera: Syrphidae), pp. 1-154 in Zootaxa 3819 (1) on pages 76-79, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3819.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/251284