Leptobasis candelaria Alayo 1968

Figs. 1 a, 2b, 3b, 5a, 6b, 10, 19a, 20b, 21b, 27

Leptobasis candelaria Alayo 1968a: 83 (description: holotype 3, Candelaria, Pinar del Río, Cuba, in IES [not examined]); 1968b: 45, 51 (illustrations of holotype 3); — Paulson 1982: 254, 260 (Mexico, West Indies); — Davies & Tobin 1984: 77 (catalog); — González-Soriano 1993: 296; — Bridges 1994: VII.43 (catalog); — González- Soriano & Novelo-Gutiérrez 1996: 164 (Mexico); — Flint 1996: 19 (checklist); — Steinmann 1997: 287 (catalog); — Tsuda 2000: 38 (catalog); — Förster 2001: 62 (key to species); — Trapero Quintana & Naranjo López 2003: 27 – 28 (Cuba); — Trapero Quintana & Naranjo López 2004: 179 (in key); — González-Soriano & Novelo-Gutiérrez 2007: 129 (Mexico); — Novelo-Gutiérrez & Gómez-Anaya 2009: 686 (record).

Specimens examined. Total 2 3, 2 Ƥ: 1 3, 1 Ƥ, Mexico, Veracruz State, stream 6.9 km E of Córdoba, by Mex. Hwy. 150, 18°53'24"N, 96°55'12"W, 12 xiii 1976, leg. R.W. & J.A. Garrison; 1 3, 1 Ƥ, Belize, Toledo District, Monkey River, 16°21'N, 88°29'W, 27 viii 1995, leg. Tineke Boomsma, All specimens deposited in RWG.

Diagnosis. The combination of metafemoral armature (Fig. 5 a) and convoluted, foliate cercus (Figs. 20 b, 21b) will distinguish males from all others except for L. guanacaste. The proximal large metafemoral spur of L. candelaria (Fig. 5 a) is not as long as that of L. guanacaste (Fig. 5 b) and the shape of the cerci differ between the two species. The ventro-basal process in L. candelaria is projected ventro-posteriorly and is visible in medio-dorsal view when the cerci are spread (Fig. 20 b); this structure is ventrally curved and hidden from view when the cercus is viewed medio-dorsally in L. guanacaste (Fig. 20 c). Females of L. candelaria and L. guanacaste are unique in having the dorsal margin of ovipositor concave in lateral view (Figs. 19 a, b); this structure is linear in all other species (Figs. 19 c–f). The female of L. candelaria differs by the unique morphology of its prothoracic hind lobe; its middle lobe is expanded with lateral margins angulate and overlying a smaller inferior margin (Fig. 2 b). In L. guanacaste, the hind lobe is upright, of even width, and its lateral arms are deflexed ventrally diverging from the carinate propleural extension (Fig. 2 c). Mature individuals of L. candelaria have broad mid-dorsal and humeral dark stripes and the pale postocular spots are round (Fig. 1 a); in mature L. guanacaste, the dark antehumeral stripe is lacking and the postocular spots are represented by narrow pale triangles (Fig. 1 b).

Dimensions. Males (n = 2): Hw 15.0–15.6; abdomen 28; total length 33–34. Females (n 2): Hw 17.2– 18.1; abdomen 26–28; total length 32–33.

Distribution. Cuba, Mexico, and Belize (Fig. 27).