A Publication of the National Research Council of Canada Monograph Publishing Program

Ma ual of Central American Diptera Volunte 2

Edited by

B.V. Brown Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California, USA A. Borkent Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada J.M. Cumming Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada D.M. Wood Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada N.E. Woodley USOA Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Washington, OC, USA M.A. Zumbado Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Costa Rica

MC-CMC NRC Research Press Ottawa 2010 'o,,", __

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Manual of Central American Diptera. Volume 2 / edited by B.V Brown ... [et al.].

Isslled by: Nationa! Research Council Canada. Includes bibliographical references and indexo ISBN 978-0-660-19958-0 (bound)

1. Diptera--Central America--C1assification. 2. Diptera--Central America --Identification. 3. F1ies--Centl'al America--Classification. 4. --Central America--Identification. 1. Brown, Brian Victor Ir. National Research Council

QL535.2.C35 M362010 595.7709728 C2010-980031-1

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Correct citation fol' this publication: Brown, B. V et al. 2010. Manual 01 Central American Diptero: Vollllne 2. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Onlario, Canada. 728 pp. ROPALOMERIDAE (ROPALOMERID FLIES) 76

Sergio Ibáñez-Bernal and Vicente Hernández-Ortiz

Fig. 76.1. Male of Ropalomerafel11orala (Fabricius), (MND, fig. 85.1).

Diagnosis and broadened (Figs. 8-12). Female terminalia with tergite and sternite 7 partially fused, ending conicaUy; ovipositor Medium to large robust fiies (body length 6-12 mm) soft and short with smalJ setulae; two globose sclerotized (Fig. 1) with body generally gray or dark brown. Vertex spermathecae. Male terminalia (Figs. 13-J6) with epandri­ commonly sunken (Fig. 3); gena high (Figs. 2, 4-7); face um curved ventrally; cerci basalJy fused as in Ropafomera with median ridge (Fig. 4) or rounded protuberance (Figs. 2, (Fig. 13), Kroeberia (Fig. 15), and Lenkokroeberia, but 3,5-7); antenna with first fiagelJomere ovoid (Fig. 4) or sometimes completeJy fused as in Wiffislonieffa (Fig. 14); clongate (Fig. 2), arista subbasaI, bare (Figs. 5-6), with surstyli spatulate; postgonite with one to three lobes; phal­ short flattened hairs (Fig. 7) or p1umose (Figs. 2-4); vibris­ lus short, membranous with spurJike epiphallus at posterior sae absent. Scutum with tomentum pattern of longitudinal base. stripcs; scutelJum frequently grooved; greater ampulJa pres­ Ropalomerids grossly resemble Sarcophagidae in terms ent. Wings mostly hyaline to brownish or spotted; R, bare; of their body coloration and presence of a greater ampulla, R" and M strongly convergent towards wing margin; dm-cu but the usually sunken vertex, wing venation, broad femo­ clIrved sharply forward in line with M. Femora swollen, ra, and f1attened tibia are sufficient characteristics for easy particlllarly on hind 1eg; hind tibia often laterally f1attened recognition.

1025 1026 MANUAL OF CENTRAL AMERICAN DIPTERA ­ VOLUME 2

Biology and two sperrnathecae present. The species of Ropalol­ meridae can be distinguished from those of by the The biology ofthe species ol'this farnily is poorly known. l'ollowing alltapomorphies: vertex concave (sllnken), face Lopes (1932) provided descriptions ol' the egg and larva ol' with median protuberance; precoxal bridge present, greater Ropa/omera slicl/ca Wiedemann and figured the pupariurn of amplllla developed, vein M bent forward, hind tibia laterally Ropa/omera c!avljJcs (Fabricius). Fischer (1932) described compressed alld strongly expanded, sternite 6 of male greal­ the puparium of WiL//ston/e//a p/europul1clata (Wiedemann), Iy reduced or absent, and basiphallus broadly expanded cau­ and later Prado (1966) observed the eggs of this species. dally formillg a pseudohypandrial bridge (McAlpine, 1989). The latter author presented the only known bionomic data A study of sepsid phylogeny lIsing larval characters found on Ropalomel-idae, including rearings of Ropa/omera sp. only one character (the presence of spi lles on the creeping from a gummy secretion of Enter%b/um /imbouva, ol' welts) suppolting the relationship with ropalomerids (Meicr, W. p/europunClala apparently froOl wood of Cocos nucijera 1995). On the other hand, there were more characters fmm and a stump of a species of Musa, and ol' R. s/ic/ica from imrnatures that sllggested a sister-group relationship be­ tween the Sepsidae and the . We still find lhe resill ofSpondias tu/ea. AIdrich (1932) rnentioned Rhyt/dops relationship based on adult morphology convincing, haw­ .flor/densis (Aldrich) breeding in decayed wood of Soba! ever, because it is based on characters l'ound throughout bolh pa/mello and S. minar (Steyskal, 1987). families, whereas the larval synapomorphies supporting lhe alternative point ol' view are restricted to basal sepsids. Classification The Ropalomeridae consist of eight genera and 26 valid species restricted to tropical and subtropical America. Only Ropalomeridae belong to the superfamily , one species has been found north of Mexico, Rhytidops a group including Coelopidae, , Helosciomyzi­ floridensis, and three species occur as far sOllth as northern dae, , and Sepsidae. The morphological evidence Argentina. Most species occur in the central portion ofSoulh from adults suggest that Ropalomeridae are the sister group America (Steyskal, 1967, 1987). Other genera that do nol ol' Sepsidae, based on the following synapomorphic charac­ occur in Central America are Apophorhynchus Williston and ters: presence of spiracular setulae, vein R, bare, A2 absent, Dacty/issa Fischer.

2 Ropa/amera cJ' 3 Ropa/amera cJ' 4 Willistoniella Ó'

5 Krocber/a cJ' 6 Len/wkroeberia º 7 Mexicoa Ó'

Figs. 76.2-7. Heads: lateral view of (2) Ropalomerafemora/a (Fabricius); anterior vjew of (3) R.femora/a; lateral view of(4) Willis/onie//u pleuropunc/ala (Wiedemann); (5) Kroeberiajúliginosa Lindner; (6) Lenkokroeberia chryserea Prado; and (7) Mexicoa mexicana Steyskal. Figures 2-7 redrawn from Ramírez-García & Hernández-Ortiz (1994) figs. lA, 1B, 1F, 2B, 2D, and 2F, respectively. ROPALOMERIDAE (ROPALOMERID FLlES) 76 1027

Identification Specimens can be obtained by the use of fruit traps, such as the Van Someren Rydon trap baited with fermented The Ropalomeridae (formerly spelled Rhopalomeridae by fruit, with the use of MaJaise traps, or by catching them many authors) were first revised by Lindner (1930) and later with entomological nets especially when they resl on tree by Prado (1963,1966). The catalog ofthe Diptera of Ameri­ trunks. The specimens should be pinned and stored dry. For ca north ofMexico (Foote, 1965) includes only one species, species recognition, it is sometimes necessary to examine Rhytidops.ftoridensis. In the last catalog ofthis family for the the male genitalia. The best method is to separate the ter­ Neolropical Region, Steyskal (1967) recorded eight genera mina1ia from the rest ofthe body, macerélte the soft tisslles anc! 29 species, of which three species are unrecognizable, with 10% NaOH or KOH at room temperatllre for abollt anc! two are now synonymized. 24-48 h, wash with acidified water, élnd dehydrate with a Recent contributions to knowledge of the of the family were publ ished by Baez (1985), who recorded five species gradual ethanol series (50%, 70%, 96%, 100%), 10 min in for Venezuela; Ibáñez-Bemal et al. (1992), who published on the each. Transfer the terminalia to Haya's creosote or c10ve species found in the Biosphere Reserve ofSian Ka'an (Quintana oil for clearing. The terminalia can be stored on the same Roo, Mexico); and Ramírez-García & Hemández-Ortiz (1994), pin with the rest of the specimen inside él microvial filled who presented a revision of Mexican ropalomerids, including with pure glycerol and a drop of70% ethanol. The termina­ five genera and six species, proposing one new synonymy and lia can be observed, variously oriented, under él compound desclibing one new species. A taxonomic revision of t\Vo genera microscope using a depression microscope slide without \Vas presented by Marques and Ale-Rocha (2004, 2005). deforming the structures.

8 Ropalomera el' 10 Kroeberia el'

9 Willísloniella el'

11 Lenkokroeberia Q 12 Mexicoo el'

Figs. 76.8-12. I-lind legs: posterior view of (8) Ropalol11era femorata (Fabricius); (9) Willistonie//a pleuropunctala (Wiedelllann); (10) Kroeberiafu/iginosa Lindner; (1 J) Lenkokroeheria chryserea Prado; and (12) ¡V!exicoa mexicana Steyskal. Figures 8-12 redrawn from Ramírez-García and I-lernández-Ortiz (1994) figs. 4A, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F, respectively. 1028 MANUAL OF CENTRAL AMERICAN DIPTERA - VOlUME 2

Key to the genera of Ropalomeridae of the world

1. Postpronotal bristles present ...... 2 Postpronotal bristles absent 6

2. Arista bare or microscopically pitose (Figs. 5--6) 3 Arista with long rays or bipectinate (Figs. 2--4) 5

3. Face with median vertical carina (similar to Fig. 4); genal surface striated; scutellum bare on disc with only one pair ofmarginal and one pair ofapicaJ scutelJar bristles; hind ti bia weakly flattened; Florida (USA), Argentina. .. . [Rhylidops Lindner] Face with small median rounded tubercle (Figs. 3, 5-7); genal surface smooth; scutellum seluJose on disc and with two to five pairs (including apical pair) of scuteJlar bristles; hind tibia strongly f1attened (Figs. J 0-11) ...... 4

\ J/~~/ pgt t.'~.--:~ . ..'.~ J I.:K,I cere

.... I sur

i t ,1 :/J..J­ pgl .... • i·.... 13 Ropa/omera el' sur

14 Willistoniella el'

.IJ.C- sur

11- _':- pgl !k~\lrw 1T.fF1\{l1I~ _.. _. .. , cere "U..~~'- '-.. cere

/J;;?,":,,: sur 15 Kroeberia el' f":::/.' pgl

16 Mexicoa el'

Figs. 76.13-16. Male tenninalia: posterior view of(13) Ropalomerafemol'Ola (Fabricius); (14) Wi//iSloniella p/europul1clala (Wiedemann); (15) Kroeberiafu/iginosa Lindner; and (16) Mexicoa mexicana Steyskal. Figures 13-16 redrawn from Ramírez-García and Hernández-Ortíz (1994) figs. 5e, 7e, 8e, and ge, respectively. Abbreviations: cerc, cel'cus: pgt, postgonite; sur, surstylus. ROPALOMERIDAE (ROPALOMERID FLlES) 76 1029

4. Two postpronotaJ bristJes on each side; ocellar bristles welJ developed; posterior thoracic spiracle with more than three bristles; scutellum convex dorsally; scutellum with two to three pairs of scutellar bristles Kroeberia Lindner One postpronotal bristle on each side; ocellar bristles absent; posterior thoracic spiracle with one to three bristles; scutellum weakly concave or grooved dorsally with four to five pairs (including apical pair) of scutellar bristles Lenkokroeberia Prado

5. Face with median vel1ical carina that ends as hump between antennal bases (Fig. 4); posterior thoracic spiracle with four to seven bristles; scutellum f1attened on dorsal surface ...... Wi/lislonie//a Mik Face with rounded proruberance distant from antennal bases (Figs. 2-3); posterior thoracic spiracle with one to three bristles; dorsal surface ofscutellum weakly concave ...... Ropa/omera Wiedemann

6. Arista furnished on all sides with Aattened hairs (Fig. 7); scutellum witb two pairs (including apical pair) of scutellar bristles; posterior tboracic spiracle witb five to six bristles ...Mexicoa Steyskal Arista microscopically pubescent or bipectinate, but not densely plumose; only apical pair of scutelJar bristles present; posterior thoracic spiracle with one to four bristJes ...... 7

7. Arista bipectinate 01' long plumose; ocelJar brisUes absent; nrst flagellomere short and rounded, less than 2 times as long as broad; Bolivia, Brazil. [Apophorhynchus WiJliston] Arista mícroscopically pubescent; ocellar and postocellar, inner and outer vertical bristles present; first f1ageJlomere digitiform and elongated, more than 2 times longer than broad; Brazil, Paraguay [Daclylissa FischerJ

Synopsis of the fauna (type locality), Mexico (Oaxaca), Venezuela, and Costa Rica (unpublisbed data); and L. ciliola (Williston) on]y recorded PubJished records for Central America and Mexico con­ fmm Brazil (type 10caJity), and Bolivia. finn the presence offive genera and six species in this region. In Mexico aH five genera and six species are present (Ramírez­ Mexicoa Steyskal. This is a monotypic genus with a dis­ García & Hernández-Ortiz, 1994), but in the other countries tinctive species, M. mexicana Steyskal, known only from of Central America only three genera and four species have the states of Sonora (type locality), Guerrero, Jalisco, and been ('ecorded, demonstrating the scarcity of studies in the Morelos in Mexico. area (tbere are only records from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ropalomera Wiedemann. This genus contains more than Nicaragua, and Panama). hall' 01' all known ropalomerid species. Fifteen valid species Kroeberia Lindner. Tbis genus includes two species, can be recognized using tbe key presented by Prado (1966), K. fuliginosa Lindner and K. minor Marques & AJe-Rocba. except for Ropa/omera /atifórceps Ramírez-García & Kroeberia fuliginosa was previously recorded for Mexico Hernández-Ortiz. described from Mexico and Panama in (Campeche, Chiapas, Guerrero, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Quintana 1994. There are records of two species in Central America Roo, Veracruz, Yucatán), Panama, Venezuela, and Brazil, but and Mexico. Newly examined material from Costa Rica \Ve have seen specimens from Costa Rica. Kroeberia minor incJuded the well-known R. fcmorala (Fabricius), at least. is known onJy from Brazil (Pará and Amazonas). Marques & Ale-Rocha (2004) revised this genus. Willistoniella Mik. This genus is represented by W p/euro­ punclala, a species widely distributed from central Mexico Lenkokroeberia Prado. Two described species are includ­ to northern Argentina. Marques & Ale-Rocha (200S) revised ed in this genus: L. chryscrco Prado known to occur in Brazil the genus.

Literature cited

Aldrich, J.M. 1932. New Diptera, or two-winged fiies, froOl Amer­ Baez, M. J 985. Los Ropaloméridos de Venezuela (Diplera: ica, Asia, and Java, with additional notes. Proceedings o/the Ropalomeridae). Bolé/in Enlol11ológico Venezolano. N. S. 4: Uniled States NalUral Museul11 81; 1-28. 77-81. 1030 MANUAL OF CENTRAL AMERICAN DIPTERA - VOLUME 2

Fisciler, e.R. 1932. Um género e duas espécies novas de Rho­ Marques, A.P.e. & R. Ale-Rocha. 2005. Revisao do género Wil· palomeridae do BI'asil, e o pupário de Wi//isloniella p/euro­ /islonie//a Mik, 1895 (Diplera, Ropalomeridae) da Regiao Neo· punctala Wied. (Dipt.). Revisla de Enlom%gia 2: 441-450. tropical. Revista Brasi/eira de Enlomo/agio 49: 210-227. Foote, R.H. 1965. Ropalomeridae, p. 679. In Stone, A., e.w. Sa­ McAlpine, lF. 1989. Phylogeny.and Classification of the Musco­ bl'Osky, W.W. Wirlh, R.H. Foote, & J.R. Coulson (editors). A morpha, pp. 1397-15 J 8. MND, Volume 3. Meier, R. 1995. Cladistic analysis of tile Sepsidae (Cyclorrhapha: cata/og oi Ihe Diplera o/ Al1'Ierica norlh o/ Mexico. United Diptera) based on a comparative scanning eleclron microscopic States Deparlment of AgricuJture, Agriculture Handbook study of larvae. Syslemalic Enlom%gy 20: 99-128. 276, Washington, D.C., iv + 1696 pp. Prado, A.P. do. 1963. Primeira contribuiyao ao conhecimento da Ibáñcz-Bernal, S., O. Canul-González, & J.F. Camal-Mex. 1992. familia Rhopalomeridae (Diptera). Memúrias do InstilUlo Os­ Ropalomeridae (Diptera) de la Reserva de [a Biosfera de Sian wa/do Cruz 61: 459-470. Ka'an, Quintana Roo, México. Folia Entom%gica Mexi­ Prado, A.P. do. 1966. Segunda contribuiyao ao conhecimento da cana 84: 85-103. familia Rhopalomeridae (Diptera, Acalyplratae). Sludia El1Io­ Lindner, E. 1930. Revision der amerikaniscilen Dipteren-Familie m%gica 8: 209-268. (1965) der Rhopalomeridae. Deulsche Enlom%gische Zeitschnji Ramírez-Garcia, E. & V. Hemández-Ortiz, 1994. Revisión de la 1930: 122-137. familia Ropalorneridae (Diptera) en México. Acla Zoológica Mexicana (N S.) 61: 57-85. Lopes, H.S. 1932. Sobre a Rhopa/omera SliClica Wied., 1828 Steyskal, G.e. 1967. 60. Family Ropalomeridae. In Papavero, N. (Diptera: Rilopalomeridae). Anais da Academia Brasi/eira de (editor). JI Cala/ague o/Ihe Diplero oIlhe Americas Soulh oI Ciencias 4: 127-129. Ihe Uniled Stales. Departamento de Zoologia, Secretaria da Ag­ Marques, A.Pe. & R. Ale-Rocha. 2004. Revisao do género Kroe­ ricultura, Sao Paulo, 7 pp. heria Lindner (Diptera, Ropalorneridae) da Regiao Neotropical. Steyskal, G.e. 1987. Ropalomeridae, pp. 941-944. MND, Revisla Brasi/eira de Emom%gia 48: 315-322. Volurne 2.