Mesembrinella guaramacalensis Whitworth & Yusseff-Vanegas 2019, sp. nov.

Mesembrinella guaramacalensis Whitworth, sp. nov.

(Figs 288, 332, 375, 417, 487–488)

Diagnosis. A medium-sized fly averaging 10 mm (9–11/2) in length. Discs of upper and lower calypters light tan to brown, with brown fringe; anterior spiracle yellow vs. brown in M. spicata; T4 with marginal row of setae vs. without marginal row of setae in M. spicata; male unknown, female terminalia as in Fig. 288.

Description. Female. Frons 0.245 0.24–0.25/2 of head width at narrowest. Fronto-orbital yellow with pale yellow tomentum; frontal vitta dark orange below, brown above; parafacial mostly orange with yellow tomentum, posterior 1/4 dark with pale tomentum; gena with short horizontal row of 4 stout setae midway and scattering of fine dark setae overall; postgena dark silvery with fine yellow setae; occiput dark, like postgena, with silvery tomentum and fine yellow setae, median occipital sclerite shiny dark brown; antenna bright orange, arista orange at base, remainder tan; palpus typical; eye with median facets 2x size of lateral facets; ocellar triangle medium-sized, ocelli of equal size; facial ridge with only two dark supravibrissal setae and some small brown setae clustered at base.

Thorax without stripes on dorsum, bluish with heavy, irregular pale tomentum; pleura blue with pale tomentum; chaetotaxy: ac 2:1, dc 2:3, ia 0, ph 1, ppn 3x 3, kat 1:1, meral setae typical, 1 pair converging ap, sa absent, 1 lat, 1 stout bas, 1 pb, 1 disc; subscutellum moderately developed; anterior spiracle medium-sized, yellow, posterior spiracle medium-sized, brown; legs entirely brown. Wing hyaline; subcostal sclerite bare; basicosta tan, tegula brown; section IV 0.16 of section III; discs of upper and lower calypters brown; rim of upper calypter with short dark brown setae, rim of lower calypter with long dark brown setae.

Abdomen entirely purple with whitish tomentum; T4–5 with marginal rows of stout setae; T5 without discal setae, with only short fine setae. Terminalia. T6 of WU shape, T7 short and broad, recessed along rear edge midway, T8 as separate sclerites (Fig. 288); ST6–8 and hypoproct as in Fig. 332; spermathecae filiform (Fig. 375); ST1–5 as in Fig. 417.

Male. Unknown.

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♀ ♦* (TLW294) (Venezuela, Trujillo; MJMO; Fig. 487), labeled: VENEZUELA Trujillo / P.N. Guaramacal 1480 m / 11–16 /VI/2002 / 9°19ʹ021 N– 70°15ʹ480 W; T. Amarilla / R. Briceño; J. Clavijo; R. Paz, F. Díaz; L. Joly; A. / Chacón / Proyecto S 1-2000000479; HOLOTYPE / Mesembrinella / guaramacalensis / T.L. Whitworth.

ALLOTYPE ♀ ♦ (TLW293): same data as holotype except 14–20.ii.2002 (MJMO).

Distribution. Venezuela.

Remarks. Known only from two females from Venezuela. The two female specimens (TLW 293–294) were barcoded and the sequence data place them in the spicata group, in a distinct cluster near M. mexicana sp. nov. (Fig. 488). Barcodes show that this species has a 4% genetic distance from M. mexicana and an 8% genetic distance from M. spicata.

Etymology. The name guaramacalensis refers to the type locality of the new species, Guaramacal National Park in Venezuela.