Paragrallomyia diminuta new species

(Figs. 24–26)

Description (female only): Body length 4 mm; wing 3 mm. Head, thorax (mesonotum dark brown) and abdomen brown. Palpus dark brown except for white outer face. Clypeus brown with sparse pale microsetulae. First flagellomere brown. Fronto-orbital plate dark brown. Row of katepisternal setae brownish. Fore tibia brown. Fore tarsus white with brownish pubescence ventrally at base of tarsomere one. Hind femur mostly brown, white on basal fifth and with a small angled preapical white ring. Tergites brown. Oviscape brown.

Head: First flagellomere covered by pale microsetulae. Frontal vitta with a darkened spot anterior to ocellar plate. Frontal vitta flat, not swollen anterior to ocellar plate. Epicephala converging, not immediately merging posterior to ocellar plate (Fig. 24). Epicephalon somewhat swollen above frontal vitta level.

Thorax: Mesonotum with lines of thin brownish microsetulae. Anterior half of postpronotal lobe bare. Femur covered with sparse black microsetulae. Mid and hind tibia flattened, sulcus on outer face strongly pronounced and curved. Cervical sclerite with an oval white swelling. Cell r 4+5 open at the tip of the wing.

Abdomen: Single spermathecal duct with an apical rounded swelling. Single spermatheca cylindrical, with sparse small finger-like swellings on apical half. Paired spermathecal duct swollen apically before splitting into stems. Paired spermathecal duct stems tapered on basal third, followed by a rounded swelling and a tapered apical third with small finger-like processes (Fig. 26). Paired spermathecae oval and with an apical nipple-like swelling, invaginated apically only.

Type material: Holotype: COSTA RICA. Heredia, Estac. Biol. La Selva, 2.III.1993, Malaise trap, ALAS (1 ♀, DEBU01086461, MNCR). Paratypes: BELIZE. Cayo Dist., San Ignacio, Maya Mt. Lodge, 17º 9’ N 89º4’W, dung trap, 7–8.I.1991, S. A. Marshall (1 ♀ DEBU00151707); COSTA RICA. Heredia, Estac. Biol. La Selva, 15. VI.1993, Malaise trap, M 1/01/108, ALAS (1 ♀, DEBU01086462); Puntarenas, R. F. Golfo Dulce, 24 km W Piedra Blancas, 200 m, II.1992, Tp 2, P. Hanson (1 ♀ DEBU); Puntarenas, R. F. Golfo Dulce, 5 km W Piedra Blancas, 100 m, II.1990, P. Hanson (1 ♀ DEBU).

Distribution: Belize, Costa Rica.

Etymology: The specific name refers to the unusually small size of this species.

Comments: P. diminuta is distinct for its small size (4 mm) and its conspicuously flattened mid and hind tibiae.