Paragrallomyia nodulosa Ferro & Marshall 2020, new species

Paragrallomyia nodulosa new species

(Figs. 31–34)

Description: Body length 6 mm; wing 4 mm. Head and abdomen dark brown, thorax black. Palpus dark brown except for white outer face. Clypeus dark brown with sparse pale microsetulae. First flagellomere dark brown. Fronto-orbital plate dark brown. Row of katepisternal setae brownish. Fore tibia dark brown. Fore tarsus mostly white, tarsomere one brown on basal quarter only. Hind femur mostly dark brown, narrowly white basally and with a small angled preapical white ring. Tergites dark brown. Oviscape mostly black, apex brown.

Head: First flagellomere covered by pale microsetulae. Frontal vitta with a large swollen velvety black spot anterior to ocellar plate (Fig. 31). Frontal vitta swollen anterior to ocellar plate. Epicephala merging immediately posterior to ocellar plate. Epicephalon flat, same level as frontal vitta.

Thorax: Mesonotum with lines of thin brownish microsetulae. Anterior half of postpronotal lobe bare. Femur covered with sparse black microsetulae. Mid and hind tibia almost cylindrical, sulcus on outer face weak. Female cervical sclerite brown and smooth, not swollen on posterior end. Cell r 4+5 open at the tip of the wing.

Female abdomen: Single spermathecal duct with an apical rounded swelling. Single spermatheca cylindrical, basally tapered and broadened on apical half with small finger-like appendices (Fig. 32). Paired spermathecal duct conspicuously broad apically before splitting into stems. Paired spermathecal duct stems tapered on basal third, swollen on apical half with finger-like processes apically. Paired spermathecae oval, invaginated apically only. Male abdomen: Copulatory fork with small inner basal lobes, less than half as long as the arms, arms long and curved (Fig. 34). Ejaculatory apodeme bigger than epandrium and with a broad blade, bigger than sperm pump. Phallapodeme short, not extending to anterior limit of hypandrium. Distiphallus longer than epandrium and phallic bulb somewhat cylindrical, length twice as width. Distal distiphallus short and thin, 1/4 of length and almost half of width of basal distiphallus.

Type material: Holotype: COSTA RICA. Puntarenas, Osa Peninsula 2.5 km S Rincon, ~ 50 m, 8º 42’ 1 N 83º30’50 W, 10–11.VIII.2001, S. A. Marshall (1 ♀, DEBU00168064, MNCR). Paratypes: BELIZE. Mtn. Pine Ridge, 1000’ Falls area, jungle edge 2500’, 14.I.1991, S. A. Marshall (1 ♀, DEBU); COSTA RICA. Alajuela, Volcan Tenorio, N slope nr. Bijagua Biol. Sta., 700 m, rain forest, 16–20. VI.2000, S. A. Marshall (2 ♀, DEBU00118469, DEBU00118491); Alajuela, Volcan Tenorio, N slope, trail to laguna, 800–900 m, rain forest, 16–20. VI.2000, S. A. Marshall (2 ♀, DEBU00118548, DEBU00118549); Heredia, La Virgen, 10 km SE, 10º20’N 84º 05’W, 450–550 m, 1º rainforest transect, 14–15.II.2003, M. Pollet (1 ♂, DEBU00241578); Puntarenas, A. C. Osa, Bosque Esquinas, 200 m, V.1994, M. Segura coll. (1 ♀, INBIOCRI001999228, MNCR); Puntarenas, Corcovado Natl. Pk., San Pedrillo, 5-50 m, 8º 42’ 1 N 83º30’50 W, 13.VIII.2001, S. A. Marshall (1 ♀, DEBU00168165, MNCR); Puntarenas, Osa Peninsula 2.5 km S Rincon, ~ 50 m, 8º 42’ 1 N 83º30’50 W, 10–11.VIII.2001, S. A. Marshall (10 ♀, 1 ♂, DEBU00168046, DEBU00168052, DEBU00168066, DEBU00168072, DEBU00168080, DEBU00168082, DEBU00168085, DEBU00168097, DEBU00168240, DEBU00168241, DEBU00205736); Puntarenas, Osa Pen. Corcovado Natl. Pk. Est. Agujas above Dos brazos, 500–600 m, 29–30.VIII.1996, Gustafsson, Pape, Viklung colls. (4 ♀, DEBU); San José, San Carlos, Riosparaiso Res., Pecari Stn. 16 km NNE Quepos, 400 m, 9º 33’ 53 N 84º7’32 W, 15.II.2003, S. A. Marshall (2 ♀, 1 ♂, DEBU00205697, DEBU00205709, DEBU00205731); San José, Guaitil, nr. Bridge over Rio Candelaria, 9º46’19 N 84º12’56 W, 500 m, 12.IV.2006, S. A. Marshall (1 ♀, DEBU00260115); San José, San Carlos, Riosparaiso Res., Pecari Stn. 16 km NNE Quepos, 400 m, 9º 33’ 53 N 84º7’32 W, 26.II.2006, S. A. Marshall (1 ♀, DEBU00206727); San José, San Carlos, Riosparaiso Res., Pecari Stn. 16 km NNE Quepos, 400 m, 9º 33’ 53N 84º7’32 W, 15.II.2003, S. A. Marshall (1 ♂, DEBU00205708).

Distribution: Belize, Costa Rica.

Etymology: The specific name refers to the swollen dark spot anterior to the ocellar plate.

Comments: Paragrallomyia nodulosa is distinctive for the swollen black velvety spot anterior to the ocellar plate. The long and slightly curved arms of the copulatory fork and the single spermatheca with finger-like processes are also unusual.