Gravatamberus, Mendes & Andersen, 2008

Gravatamberus View in CoL

- The genus was established by Mendes & Andersen (2008); they included five species found in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela. Gravatamberus curtus Mendes & Andersen was described from material ( three specimens) from Mexico and northwestern Costa Rica; G. guatemaltecus was described from a single specimen from Guatemala. The two species were diagnosed by the number of setae in cell m proximal to RM, number of setae on the subcosta, the length of the costal extension and the AR: G. curtus has <10 setae in cell m proximal to RM ( G. guatemaltecus >10); subcosta with 6–15 setae ( G. guatemaltecus 16), costal extension 68-86 µm ( G. guatemaltecus 161); AR 0.64–0.69 ( G. guatemaltecus 0.26).

Eighteen males of Gravatamberus were collected; unfortunately, antennae were missing on all of them. All had a costal extension, ranging from 128 to 200 µm ( Table 1 View Table 1 ), greater than that recorded for G. curtus . However, the range of setae in cell m proximal to RM ranged from 0 to 24 in the Zurqui material, regardless of costal extension length, suggesting that this character does not aid in distinguishing G. curtus from G. guatemaltecus . All Gravatamberus collected in this study are considered to represent G. guatemaltecus .

Data also indicate that the midges had more setae in cell m and on the subcosta from February to May, with fewer setae present in those wing areas from May ( one specimen) through October.