Dasyhelea caribbeana Spinelli & Wirth

Dasyhelea caribbeana Spinelli & Wirth

(Figs. 1–2)

Dasyhelea caribbeana Spinelli & Wirth, 1984: 596 (Jamaica; Haiti, Mexico, Panama); Borkent & Spinelli 2000: 25 (in New World catalog south of the USA; distribution); Borkent & Spinelli 2007: 60 (in Neotropical catalog; distribution).

Diagnosis. A moderate size species, male wing length 0.98–1.06 mm, female wing length 0.99–1.18 mm. Males are distinguished from males of other Neotropical species in the cincta group by their elongate Y-shaped paramere with a long, slender posterior extension. Females differ from other Neotropical species in the cincta group by the combination of their large (68 x 48 µm) elongate ovoid spermathecae with short, narrow necks; a short quadrangular subgenital plate; and, abdominal pleurae without dark streaks.

Male. Head (Fig. 1 A). Dark brown. Eyes contiguous for a distance equal to the width of 2–3 ommatidia. Antennal flagellum brown; flagellomeres 2–3 globular, 4–9 rhomboid, 10–13 elongate; antennal ratio 0.94–1.06 (1.00, n=3). Frontal sclerite slender, elliptical. Clypeus with 3 pairs of setae. Palpus (Fig. 1 B) brown; segments 3–5 elongate; segment 3 moderately slender with 6 capitate sensillae on mesobasal half; palpal ratio 2.37–2.55 (2.45, n=3). Thorax (Fig. 1 C). Scutum dark brown; scutellum (Fig. 1 D) dark brown on narrow midportion and distal portions beyond setal bases, subcentral portions lighter brown, dorsum with 8 large, 2–3 smaller setae. Legs light brown, femorotibial joints dark brown, tarsomeres 5 slightly infuscated; hind tibial comb with 6 spines; prothoracic tarsal ratio 1.57–1.69 (1.64, n=3), mesothoracic tarsal ratio 1.58–1.62 (1.60, n=3), metathoracic tarsal ratio 1.35– 1.44 (1.41, n=2). Wing (Fig. 1 E) membrane slightly infuscated, covered with dense long macrotrichia; fork of CuA1 at level of junction of radial cells; wing length 0.98–1.06 (1.01, n=3) mm, width 0.35 (n=3) mm; costal ratio 0.48–0.51 (0.50, n=3). Halter uniformly brown. Abdomen (Fig. 1 C) dark brown. Genitalia (Figs. 1 F, 2A). Tergite 9 tapering moderately distally to rounded apex, extending below apices of gonocoxites; apicolateral process very small, short, with single long apical seta; cercus very short, with 4–5 short setae. Sternite 9 (Figs. 1 F, 2B) 0.40 length of greatest width, posterior margin moderately concave with short, pointed ventrally directed apicolateral processes. Gonocoxite stout, 2 x longer than broad, with short rounded mesobasal lobe; gonostylus (Fig. 2 C) 0.56 length of gonocoxite, slender; proximal 2/3 nearly straight with short sub-basal tubercle, distal 1/3 curved, tapering distally to greatly curved apex, tip pointed. Gonocoxal apodemes and paramere (Figs. 1 F, 2D) narrowly separated, symmetrical; apodemes S-shaped, proximal portions slender, distal portions broad; proximal portion of paramere Y-shaped, apex bulbous, heavily sclerotized, distal portion very slender with pointed tip that extends just beyond apex of tergite 9. Aedeagus (Figs. 1 F, 2E) heavily sclerotized, 1.20 x longer than broad; basal arch extending 0.30 of total length; hyaline envelope extending to midlength of gonocoxite, with thick lateral margins, posterior margin straight; basal arms short, stout, recurved, mesally directed; posterolateral arms slender, extending just beyond posterior margin of hyaline envelope with a bulbous apex and a short, slender, recurved sub-apicolateral pointed process.

Discussion. This Neotropical species has been recorded in the Caribbean region from Jamaica (type locality) and Haiti, and, also from Mexico and Panama (Spinelli & Wirth 1984; Borkent & Spinelli 2000, 2007). We provide the first records of D. caribbeana from Guadeloupe as well as the first description and illustrations of the previously unknown male.

Material examined. Guadeloupe, Basse Terre, Pigeon, 9-IX-2011, MC Thomas & RH Turnbow, backlight trap, 1 male, 1 female; same data except NE Pigeon, 16.14404º N, 61.74977º W, 23-V-2012, RH Turnbow, 2 males, 1 female. New Guadeloupe record.