Himantigera silvestris McFadden, 1982 in James & McFadden 1982
Creators: name: Fachin, Diego Aguilar
name: Hauser, Martin
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Stratiomyidae
Himantigera
Himantigera silvestris

description: Himantigera silvestris McFadden, 1982
(Figs 2, 7–8, 11, 17–18, 27, 34, 40, 48–49, 59–61, 64–65, 90–95, 108, 114, 122, 128, holotype, WSU)
Himantigera silvestris McFadden in James & McFadden, 1982: 20 (original description); 19, (identification key to species); 45, Fig. 29 (male genitalia, ventral view). Type locality: Mexico, Veracruz, Lake Catemaco, 258 m. Holotype ♂ [WSU]; Paratypes: 2 ♂ [CNC]; 3 ♂ [CAS], 1 ♂, [FSCA]; 1 ♂ [SEMC]; 2 ♂ [MCZ]; 2 ♂, 2 ♀ [UCB]; 2 ♂ [USNM]; 7 ♂ [WSU]; 25 ♂ [WSU, MCZ].
Diagnosis. Upper frons much narrower than widest margin of frontal callus; margin of frontal callus strongly divergent (Fig. 17). Fore legs entirely yellow in males (Fig. 114). R 2+3 originating at or very close to r–m (Fig. 34). Abdomen subrectangular, almost equally wide from second to fourth segments (Figs 48–49).
Material examined. Type material: HOLOTYPE (Fig. 128, A–F), ♂ labeled: “ Mexico, Veracruz, / Lake Catemaco, / 04–06.vii.1966, 850’ / M.W. McFadden [printed on white paper]”; Himantigera / silvestris / ♂ McFadden / HOLOTYPE [handwritten on red paper]” (WSU). PARATYPES: 1 ♂, COSTA RICA, Cartago, Turrialba, 2000’, 17.vii.1965, H.G. Real (CAS); 1 ♂, 07.viii.1965, Raspe coll. (CAS). 1 ♂, Heredia Prov. [Province], La Selva, 2 km SW Puerto Viejo, 04–07.viii.1971, at sta. window, P.A. Opler (CAS). 1 ♂, 1 ♀, MEXICO, Chiapas, Simojovel, 18–31.vii.1958, J.A. Chemsak collector (1 ♂, UCB; 1 ♀ WSU). 1 ♂ (stated as ♀), Oaxaca, Temascal, 04.x.1963, K.H. Janzen collector (UCB). 1 ♀, Veracruz, 11. mi. [miles] N. Cordoba, 02.vii.1962, D.E. Janzen collector (UCB); 5 ♂ (2 ♂, one with left antenna and wing slide-mounted, CNC; 3 ♂, WSU), Catemaco, 1100 ft., 16–18.vi.1969, W.R.M. Mason; 3 ♂ (one with abdomen glued to locality label; other one with a microvial pinned beneath it), same date as holotype (WSU). 1 ♂, PANAMA, CZ [Canal Zone], Panama, Barro Colorado Isl. [Island] 26.vi.1924, N. [Nathan Banks] (WSU); 1 ♂, 17.viii.1924 (WSU); 1 ♂, 04.viii.1977, Silberlied/Aiello (USNM); 1 ♂, 05.viii.1977 (USNM).
Additional material: 1 ♂, COLOMBIA, Chocó, PNN [Parque Nacional Natural] Utria, Send. Cocalito, 6.02°N 77.35°W, 16.viii–07.ix.2000, J. Pérez, MT [malaise trap], CAP-814 (LACM). 1 ♂, COSTA RICA, Cartago, Turrialba, grounds of IICA, 23.vi.1976, M. Wasbauer, Malaise trap 8A-5P (UCB); 1 ♂, Turrialba, CATIE, 26–29.vi.1986, W. Hanson, G. Bohart (LACM). 1 ♀, Guanacaste Prov. [Province], 3 km SE R. Naranjo, 11–20.vi.1992, F.D. Parker (LACM); 1 ♀, 05–09.vii.1993 (LACM); 1 ♀, 24–30.viii.1993 (LACM). 1 ♀, Guanacaste Conservation Area Santa Rosa Sector, Administration Area, viii.1998, Malaise trap, J.J. Sulivan (USNM). 1 ♂, Limón, 4 km NE Bribri, 9°38’N 82°49’W, 50m, iv–vi.1990, Malaise trap, P. Hanson (USNM). 1 ♀, [CR2013-09], Rd. [Road] Manzanillo, Punta Uva, 9°37’30”-38’16”N 82°39’41”-41’39”W, 0–10 m, degraded costal rain forest, car net, 01.xii.2013, leg. M. Schülke & B. Grüberg (CSCA). 1 ♀, Puntarenas, Golfito, 07.viii.1957, Arnold Menke (LACM); 2 ♂, 5 ♀, Golfito, 29.vi.1976, Malaise trap 8AM-5PM, M. Wasbauer coll. (UCB); 1 ♂, Golfito-United Fruit Co., 25.vi.1976 (UCB); 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Golfito-United Fruit Co., 1.vii.1976, Malaise trap 8A-5P (UCB); 1 ♂, Golfito, 10–100m, 25–26.vi.1976, E.M. Fisher, collr. [collector] (CSCA). 2 ♀, 5 km NW Puerto Jimenez, 8°33’N 83°21’W, 10m, i.1991, P. Hanson 1 ♀, xi.1991 (USNM); 3 ♂, 2 ♀, 3 km NW Puerto Jimenez, 8°41’N 83°29’W, 10m, iii–v.1991, Malaise trap, P. Hanson (USNM); 1 ♂, viii.1991 (USNM); 1 ♀, xi.1991 (USNM); 1 ♀, Puerto Jimenez, 8°23’N 83°19’W, 10m, iv–v.1991, Malaise trap, P. Hanson (USNM). 1 ♂, 3 ♀, San José, Zona Protectora El Rodeo, 9.91°N [8] 4.28°W, 5–8.viii.2001, Malaise trap #2, B. Brown, V. Berezovskiy, G. Kung (LACM). 1 ♂, ECUADOR, Los Ríos, Vic. Quebrada, iii–iv.1955, E.N. O'Rourke (USNM). 1 ♀, EL SALVADOR, Rosario Cuscatlan [Cuscatlán, Rosario], 15.vi.53, Salazar (USNM). 1 ♂, GUATEMALA, Dept. [Department] Huehuetenango, 8 km SE. of La Mesilla, 810 m, 30.viii.1976, Edward S. Ross (CAS). 1 ♂, Cayuga [= Izabal, Morales], vi.15, WmSchaus (USNM). 2 ♂, MEXICO, Oaxaca, El Camarón, 17.27°N 100.35°W, 25.v–09.vi.1987, T. Taylor (LACM). 1 ♀, Puebla, San José St. Chiapas [= San José Chiapa], v.1910, 1000 to 1500 ft. [feet] El, Donor C.L. Fox (CAS). 1 ♂, Veracruz, Citlaltépetl [= Pico de Orizaba], 03.vii.1964, el 3000, Coll. Suani (CAS); 1 ♀, Lake Catemaco, 18.vi.1969, B.V. Peterson (CNC). 1 ♂, PANAMA, C.Z. [Canal Zone], Panama, Barro Colorado Isl. [Island], 18.vii.1924, N. Banks (USNM); 2 ♂, 1 ♀, 9°9’N 79°51’W, 12– 19.v.1993, J. Pickering, MT [malaise trap] #966 (LACM); 1 ♀, 9°17’N 79°83’W, 04–11.ix.1996, J. Pickering, MT [malaise trap] #6851 (LACM). 1 ♀, Guna Yala, Nusagandi, 9°20’N 79°0’W 29.i–05.ii.1994, J. Pickering, MT [malaise trap] #2061 (LACM). 3 ♂, 2 ♀, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, Tunapuna-Piarco, I. Simla Res. Sta. [Research Station], 02–15.vi.1981, Hanson, Clemons (LACM). 1 ♂, Mt. St. Benedict, 10°40.08’N 61°23.97’W, 500–700 m, 25–30.xi.1999, R. Snelling, MT [malaise trap], primary rf. (LACM). 1 ♂, VENEZUELA, Carabobo, San Esteban [San Esteban National Park], xi.1939, Pablo Anduze (USNM).
Redescription. Male. Length: body, 9.0–11.5 mm; wing, 8.5–12.0 mm. Head (Fig. 17). Upper frons much narrower than widest margin of frontal callus. Frontal callus margin strongly divergent. Arista-like terminal flagellomere with six thin setae basally (Fig. 2). Thorax. Fore leg entirely yellow, mid and hind legs mostly yellow (tarsomeres slightly lighter), except mid coxa proximally, hind coxa, apical half ventrally of mid and apical third of hind femora dark brown; often apex of mid tibia dark brown. Wing (Fig. 27). R 2+3 originating at or very near to r–m level (Fig. 34). Alula with microtrichia along anterior half and often apically (Fig. 40). Abdomen (Fig. 48). Abdomen subrectangular, less than twice longer than wide, almost equally wide from second to fourth segments; distinctly metallic green on tergites and sternites; long golden pilosity laterally on tergites 1–2, short golden pilosity on tergite 3, short black pilosity on tergites 4–5. Terminalia (Figs 59–61, 90–95). Genital capsule slightly wider than high, its posterior margin rounded dorsally; medial process of synsternite strongly developed, ovalshaped distally (Fig. 90), thin setae on distal half; anterior end of gonocoxal apodeme and anterior end of phallus exceeding anterior margin of genitalia. Gonostylus not much longer than wide, apical margin concave (Fig. 92). Epandrium longer than wide, connection between sternite 10 and epandrium expanded (Fig. 59).
Female. As for males, except as follows. Length: body, 8.5–11.0 mm, wing, 8.5–12.0 mm. Head (Fig. 18). Upper frons narrower than widest margin of frontal callus; lateral area half of medial area width. Thorax. Legs much darker. Apical third of all femora dark brown. All tibiae ventrally dark brown on basal and apical thirds, medial third yellow. Abdomen (Fig. 49). Coppery metallic reflections on sternites. Terminalia (Figs 64–65). Genital fork with its genital opening occupying nearly all its anterior half; short distance between each projection of posterior bridge; posterolateral process narrower basally, quite wide medially (Fig. 65).
Geographic distribution. Mexico (Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz), Guatemala (Huehuetenango, Izabal, Suchitépequepez), El Salvador (Cuscatlán), Costa Rica (Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, San José), Panama (Guna Yala, Panama), Colombia (Chocó), Trinidad & Tobago (Tunapuna-Piarco), Venezuela (Carabobo), Ecuador (Los Ríos) (Fig. 130).
This species has a wide altitudinal range, occurring from 10 to 1450 meters as documented by the examined material.
Comments. The male and female genitalia of this species were previously not described, nor was the position of vein R 2+3. Himantigera silvestris is similar in appearance to H. nigrifemorata, especially the lighter males of H. nigrifemorata. H. silvestris differs, however, in being quite larger, robust (not fragile) and more metallic than H. nigrifemorata, with all last tarsomeres yellow. The abdominal segments are almost equally wide in H. silvestris (Figs 48–49), while in H. nigrifemorata, the first two abdominal segments are narrower than the last three (Figs 45–46).
Himantigera silvestris is even more similar to H. superba. Males of H. silvestris, however, have the fore tibia completely yellow (see Fig. 114), and the fore and hind femora never marked with dark brown ventrally, while in H. superba, all legs are more marked of dark brown (see Fig. 115) including the apical third of the fore femur, virtually the entire surface of the mid and hind femora, and all tibiae ventrally (only yellow medially) (see Table 3). Furthermore, H. silvestris (as H. nigrifemorata) is restricted to Central America (Mexico to Panama), with a few records reaching the northern coastal regions of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela, whereas H. superba is mostly occurring in the low lands of South America in the Amazon basin and also reaching southern Brazil (Fig. 130).
Two paratypes of H. silvestris from Panama collected in 1977 and originally cited as deposited in the MCZ (Norman E. Woodley, personal communication) are now housed in the USNM collection. Other paratypes from Guatemala were deposited in the AMNH and WSU collections, but it was not stated in the original publication how many specimens are in each location.
description: Published as part of Fachin, Diego Aguilar & Hauser, Martin, 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Himantigera James, 1982 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae: Sarginae), including the description of two new species and a key to the known species, pp. 451-498 in Zootaxa 4531 (4) on pages 461-467, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4531.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2614794