Mythicomyia Coquillett, 1893

Mythicomyia Coquillett, 1893 View in CoL

Mythicomyia Coquillett, 1893: 209 View in CoL (in Empididae View in CoL ). Williston 1896: 73 (in Empididae View in CoL ); Melander, 1902: 337 (in Empididae View in CoL ); Aldrich, 1905: 218 (in Leptidae ); Cresson, 1915: 449 (in Empididae View in CoL ); Greene, 1924: 60. Melander, 1961: 161; Painter & Painter, 1965: 416; Cole & Schlinger, 1969: 238; Hull, 1973: 266; Painter, Painter & Hall, 1978: 11; Hall & Evenhuis, 1986: 327; Hall & Evenhuis, 1987: 596; Evenhuis, 2002: 36; Evenhuis, 2022: 1; Evenhuis, 2024: 46; Ramos-Pastrana, Rojas-Portilla & Evenhuis, 2024: 539 View Cited Treatment ; Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024: 514 View Cited Treatment .

Type species: Mythicomyia rileyi Coquillett (1893) View in CoL , by monotypy.

Key to the Neotropical species of Mythicomyia View in CoL

[modified from Sánchez & Evenhuis (2024)].

1 Eyes holoptic.................................................................................... Males

- Eyes dichoptic................................................................................. Females

MALES

1 Knob of halter brown to black, usually white below and at apex................................................ 2

- Halter knob white or yellowish above and below........................................................... 10

2 Proboscis short, less than height of eye.................................................................... 3

- Proboscis longer, either equal to or greater than height of eye.................................................. 9

3 Postpronotal lobe entirely black, posterior margin in some specimens brownish............... M. collina ( Philippi, 1866)

- Postpronotal lobe white or yellow........................................................................ 4

4 Scutellum with proximal half dark brown and distal half whitish.................................................................................................. M. bilobata Ramos-Pastrana, Rojas-Portilla & Evenhuis, 2024

- Scutellum entirely dark brown to black.................................................................... 5

5 First flagellomere ovoid ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ); cercus flattened or rounded in lateral view ( Figs 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ).......................... 6

- First flagellomere rod-like, cercus triangular-shaped in lateral view [ Sánchez & Evenhuis (2024: figs 8, 27)]............ 7

6 Ejaculatory apodeme large, somewhat rounded-shaped in lateral view ( Figs 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ); anterior arms of parameral sheath with rounded apex in lateral view ( Figs 3A, B View FIGURE 3 )............................................. M. curacaoensis sp. nov.

- Ejaculatory apodeme thin basally, thickened apically, with apex slightly truncated in lateral view ( Hall 1976: fig. 20); anterior arms of parameral sheath with acute apex in lateral view Hall 1976: fig. 20)............ M. hyalinipennis ( Brèthes, 1919)

7 Coxae and femora almost entirely brown; extreme base cell dm at level of R 2+3 bifurcation; anterior arms of parameral sheath characteristically spatulate with straight border......................... M. iskay Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024 (in part)

- Distal third of coxae and femora yellowish; extreme base of cell dm anterior to R 2+3 bifurcation....................... 8

8 Bifurcation of R 2+3 at same level of cross vein r-m ( Fig. 7F View FIGURE 7 ); vein m-m crossvein 0.5× shorter length than r-m crossvein ( Fig. 7F View FIGURE 7 ); ejaculatory apodeme strongly thickened in lateral view ( Figs 8A, B View FIGURE 8 ); anterior arms of parameral sheath with acute apex in lateral view ( Figs 8A, B View FIGURE 8 )........................................................... M. pedernalensis sp. nov.

- Bifurcation of R 2+3 before of r-m crossvein ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 5); m-m crossvein about as long as r-m crossvein ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 5); ejaculatory apodeme slightly thickened in lateral view ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: figs 7–8); anterior arms of parameral sheath with rounded apex in lateral view ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: figs 7–8)................................................................................. M. huk Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024

9 Postalar callus brownish; cell dm six-sided; anterior arm of parameral sheath with apex rounded ( Hall 1976: fig. 21 left).................................................................................... M. brachytis Hall, 1976

- Postalar callus black; cell dm five-sided; anterior arm of parameral sheath with apex acute ( Hall 1976: fig. 23 left)........................................................................................... M. problis Hall, 1976

10 Middle tibia straight................................................................................. 11

- Middle tibia deformed ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 38) or somewhat arcuate basally ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 76), best seen in lateral view............................................................................... 16

11 Length of proboscis from oral margin equal to or longer than height of eye...................................... 14

- Length of proboscis from oral margin shorter than height of eye............................................... 12

12 Scutellum whitish yellow........................................................ M. pusillima Edwards, 1930

- Scutellum dull black................................................................................. 13

13 Epandrium somewhat rectangular-shaped and wide in lateral view; anterior arms of parameral sheath narrow with acute apex ( Hall 1976: fig. 22 right)............................................................... M. orthis Hall, 1976

- Epandrium somewhat triangular-shaped; anterior arms of parameral sheath characteristically spatulate with straight border ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: figs 26–27)............................... M. iskay Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024 (in part)

14 Scape subequal in length to pedicel; face black, except along oral margin, narrowly yellow; diadem (tomentose band on the occiput) present...................................................................... M. macra Hall, 1976

- Scape much shorter than pedicel; face yellowish on upper half, black bellow; diadem absent........................ 15

15 m-m crossvein absent, if present much shorter than r-m crossvein (i.e. cell dm usually five-sided); first abdominal segment narrowly yellow medially; ejaculatory apodeme squarish paddle-like ( Hall 1976: fig. 21 right)...... M. citrina Hall, 1976

- m-m crossvein present, as long as r-m crossvein (i.e. cell dm six-sided, rarely five-sided); first abdominal segment all black; ejaculatory apodeme broad, somewhat rounded ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: figs 61–62).................................................................................................... M. tawa Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024

16 Length of proboscis from oral margin less than height of eye................................................. 17

- Proboscis long, projecting at least twice eye height beyond oral margin............. M. kinsa Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024

17 Scape subequal to pedicel; middle leg without modifications.................................. M. trepta Hall, 1976

- Scape much shorter than pedicel; middle leg with modifications............................................... 18

18 m-m crossvein 2× longer than r-m crossvein ( Fig. 5F View FIGURE 5 ); vein CuA ending in lower ¾ (Fig. 25); cell m 2 narrow, with a spot brown apically ( Fig. 5F View FIGURE 5 ); cercus thickened with straight inner margins in posterior view ( Figs 6C, D View FIGURE 6 ); gonostylus thickened, somewhat rectangular-shaped, sideways-directed in dorsal view ( Figs 6E, F View FIGURE 6 )................................ M. nigra sp. nov.

- m-m cross vein subequal than r-m, ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 75); cell m 2 broad, without a spot brown apically ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 75); vein CuA ending at the edge of the wing ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 75); cercus narrowed with sinuous inner margins in posterior view ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 81); gonostylus narrowed, elongate, upward-directed in dorsal view, ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 83)............................. M. pisqa Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024

FEMALES

1 Legs black, knees at most yellow and occasionally underside of femora narrowly yellow............................ 2

- Legs predominantly yellow, sometimes basal half of femora and tips of tarsi blackish............................... 7

2 Proboscis projecting beyond oral margin shorter than height of eye............................................. 3

- Proboscis equal to or longer than eye height................................................................ 5

3 Light colored stripe on lateral margin of mesonotum inside above near transverse suture, but not interrupted at transverse suture; scutellum entirely black.......................................................................... 4

- Lateral pale stripe broadly interrupted at transverse suture; scutellum white with posterior margin narrowly black............................................................................................ M. orthis Hall, 1976

4 Frons black, narrowly yellow above antenna; first abdominal tergite yellow............. M. hyalinipennis ( Brèthes, 1919)

- Frons whitish on lower ¾, black on upper fourth; first abdominal tergite yellow on posterior margins......................................................................................... M. pisqa Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024

5 Scutellum black, or black in middle and yellow at sides...................................................... 6

- Scutellum entirely yellow, never with black............................................... M. citrina Hall, 1976

6 Proboscis equal to eye height or nearly so.............................................. M. brachytis Hall, 1976

- Length of proboscis at least three times height of eye........................................ M. macra Hall, 1976

7 Abdominal dorsum black, first segment yellowish white in middle of posterior margin only, rest of abdominal segments narrowly fasciate with yellow-white across their posterior margins or Abdominal dorsum black, tergite I entirely yellow or at least posterior and lateral margins of all segments yellow..................................................... 8

- Abdominal dorsum nearly entirely yellow; only extreme bases of all segments black, black color most extensive on two basal segments......................................................................... M. diasema Hall, 1976

8 Proboscis at most equals eye height, usually less........................................................... 11

- Proboscis projecting at least twice eye height, usually more, frons marked with small black stripe..................... 9

9 Halter black, at least dorsally; M. problis Hall, 1976

- Halter whitish...................................................................................... 10

10 Frons with conspicuous dark stripe on upper half; lateral margin of mesonotum (notopleural and supraalar regions) black emarginate above notopleural suture; spermathecal reservoir fusiform, extending to abdominal segment V...................................................................................... M. kinsa Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024

- Frons with faint dark stripe at middle; lateral margin of mesonotum shallowly emarginate above notopleural suture; spermathecal reservoir knob-like, extending to abdominal segment III.......................... M. tawa Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024

11 Abdominal segments narrowly yellow on posterior margins, bases broadly black, not reduced in extent posteriorly...... 12

- Posterior margin of abdominal segments broadly yellow, amount of black color at base reduced posteriorly............ 15

12 First flagellomere at least four times longer than scape and pedicel combined; frons black, lower half yellow; halter knob entirely yellow.................................................................. M. collina ( Philippi, 1866)

- First flagellomere at most three times as long as scape and pedicel combined; frons yellowish, upper ¼ dark brown; halter knob whitish, usually dark brown dorsally..................................................................... 13

13 Scutellum yellowish, usually with subtriangular brown suffusion at middle ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 34); sperm pump phallus-shaped with plate-like base and apex ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 37); spermathecal reservoir homogeneous in thickness throughout its length, digitiform-shape ( Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 37).. M. iskay Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024

- Scutellum entirely whitish yellow ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ); sperm pump phallus-shaped with plate-like only at apex ( Figs 4E, F View FIGURE 4 ); spermathecal reservoir not homogeneous in thickness throughout its length, no digitiform-shape ( Figs 4E, F View FIGURE 4 )...................... 14

14 Mesonotum with broad yellow margins in dorsal view ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ); Genital fork U-shaped ( Figs 4E, F View FIGURE 4 ); proximal spermathecal duct about 2× wider than distal ( Figs 4E, F View FIGURE 4 ); spermathecal reservoir thin on proximal ½, thickened on distal ²⁄₄ and gradually thins on distal ¼, at its widest point ( Figs 4E, F View FIGURE 4 )........................................ M. curacaoensis sp. nov.

- Mesonotum with narrow yellow margins in dorsal view ( Fig. 9C View FIGURE 9 ); genital fork V-shaped ( Figs 9E, F View FIGURE 9 ); proximal spermathecal duct translucent, about 3× longer than sperm pump ( Figs 9E, F View FIGURE 9 ); spermathecal reservoir rhomboid-shaped ( Figs 9E, F View FIGURE 9 ).................................................................................... M. pedernalensis sp. nov.

15 Mesonotum with ground color brownish yellow, with three thick longitudinal bands................................................................................... M. bilobata Ramos-Pastrana, Rojas-Portilla & Evenhuis, 2024

- Mesonotum black with yellow markings, without longitudinal bands........................................... 16

16 Frons black with a small triangular yellow spot above antenna; lateral margin of mesonotum not emarginated above notopleural suture.............................................................................. M. trepta Hall, 1976

- Frons whitish yellow, except right below the ocellar triangle, dark brown; lateral margin of mesonotum broadly emarginated above notopleural suture................................................... M. huk Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024