Merucata curupira Soares, Camargo & Lamas, 2025

Merucata curupira Soares, Camargo & Lamas sp. nov.

( Figs 10 View FIGURE 10 , 11 View FIGURE 11 , 19 View FIGURE 19 )

Diagnosis (male). Easily recognized by the bifurcation of vein R 4 and R 5 after apex of discal cell ( Fig. 10E View FIGURE 10 ); apicoventral margin of epandrium with rounded projection ( Figs 10A View FIGURE 10 , 11B, D View FIGURE 11 ); hypandrium with slightly concavity at middle of posterior edge, lacking apical tuft of setae (setae only at posterolateral margins) ( Fig. 11K View FIGURE 11 ); gonocoxite short, about 1/2 as long as gonostylus, subtriangular, and with 2–3 black macrosetae at ventral edge ( Fig. 11E, F View FIGURE 11 ).

Description. Holotype male ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ). Body Length: 11 mm; wing length: 7.5 mm. Similar to M. caipora sp. nov., except as noted: Head ( Fig. 10C, D View FIGURE 10 ). Face wholly silvery pruinose; mystax with mixed sparse black and white macrosetae, parafacial setae long and white; orbital setae short and white; occipital median setae black and curved dorsally; upper-most 5–6 postocular macrosetae black and strong. Thorax ( Fig. 10A, B View FIGURE 10 ). Scutum covered with longer setae at posterior 1/2, with 2–3 dorsocentral macrosetae; 2 postalar macrosetae. Legs ( Fig. 10A, C View FIGURE 10 ). Black, except tibiae and tarsus dark yellow to reddish brown. Leg I. Anterior surface of coxa with dense, slender white macrosetae. Femur covered with short white setae, longer and dense at basal 2/3 of ventral surface; a few short black setae at apical 1/3 of dorsal surface. Tibia with 4 posteroventral white macrosetae; apical crown of mixed white and black setae. Leg II. Femur covered with short white setae, longer at basal 1/2 of ventral surface, 2 anterior and 2 anteroventral short white macrosetae at apical 1/2. Tibia wholly covered with white setae, except apical crown of setae with a few black setae. Tarsus with mixed white and black setae. Leg III. Posterior margin of dorsal surface of coxa with 1–2 short white macrosetae. Femur covered with short white setae, ventral row of short, strong white setae; 2 short, strong anterior setae, 1 at basal 1/2 and 1 at apical 1/2; 1 antero- and 1 posterodorsal short, strong, short white preapical setae. Tibia wholly covered with white setae. Tarsus with mixed white and black setae. Wing ( Fig. 10E View FIGURE 10 ). Hyaline, veins brown. Bifurcation of vein R 4 and R 5 about 2 times length of crossvein m-m after apex of discal cell; petiole of cell cua as long as humeral vein; stump vein on vein R 4 present only on right wing. Abdomen ( Fig. 10A, B View FIGURE 10 ). Mostly black, becoming orange from posterior edge of segment 5. Posterior edge of tergites 1–4 with black macrosetae; posterolateral edges of tergites 1–6 with white macrosetae. Tergite 8 somewhat bow tie shaped, with row of black, sparse macrosetae at posterior edge ( Fig. 11H View FIGURE 11 ). Sternites wholly covered with weak silvery pruinosity. Sternite 8 somewhat rectangular, with posterior row of short setae ( Fig. 11I View FIGURE 11 ). Terminalia ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 ). Orangish-brown ( Fig. 11A, B View FIGURE 11 ). Epandrium mostly subrectangular in lateral view, with apicoventral rounded projection; inner edge with median short, rounded process dorsally; inner margin of dorsal process covered with sparse, short spine-like macrosetae ( Fig. 11C View FIGURE 11 ); apical edge of apicoventral projection of epandrium with comb of short macrosetae ( Fig. 11C View FIGURE 11 ). Hypandrium somewhat subrectangular, with rounded posterior corners, mostly covered with short black setae, longer at posterolateral margins and bare at middle ( Fig. 11K View FIGURE 11 ). Gonocoxite short, about 1/2 as long as gonostylus, mostly subtriangular, with rounded apex; outer edge covered with short setae, with 2–3 macrosetae at ventral margin ( Fig. 11E, F View FIGURE 11 ). Gonostylus about 2 times longer than gonocoxite, mostly subrectangular, weakly sclerotized at middle; apex digitiform, covered with spicules; base with short concavity, forming almost inconspicuous triangular lobe dorsally ( Fig. 11E, J View FIGURE 11 ). Ejaculatory apodeme short, somewhat spoon-shaped ( Fig. 11G View FIGURE 11 ).

Female. Similar to male, except by: Body length: 7.5–10.3, wing length: 6–7 mm (n = 2). Terminalia as in M. caipora sp. nov.

Variation. Specimens from the municipality of Bom Jesus are distinctly smaller than the holotype male from the municipality of Corrente, both in the state of Piauí, but the male terminalia are virtually identical. This size difference may be an artifact of the preservation method, as the specimens from Bom Jesus were collected using Malaise traps with pyrethroid-treated tapes, whereas those from Corrente were initially preserved in alcohol. Alternatively, the observed variation may reflect environmental influences associated with the distinct biomes in the region. The municipalities of Corrente and Bom Jesus, both located in the southern region of the state of Piauí, are situated in a transitional zone between the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes. As a result, these areas exhibit a high degree of biome diversity, with a predominance of Cerrado and Caatinga vegetation, along with ecotonal zones and remnants of Atlantic Forest. Consequently, the region includes both drier environments, typical of the Caatinga, and more humid areas, associated with the Atlantic Forest and some Cerrado formations, which may influence the morphological variation observed among specimens.

Such pronounced intraspecific variation is common in Asilidae , and therefore, molecular tools should be applied to better understand it. For the time being, the shorter specimens from Bom Jesus are not being designated as paratypes.

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂ ( MZUSP) labelled: “ BRASIL: PI [state of Piauí]: Corrente [ca 10°26'20.9"S 45°09'20.6"W] | 23–27.xi.1991 | Amarante, Brandão, Cancello | Martins & Ponte col.” “ HOLOTYPE | Merucata curupira | Soares, Camargo & Lamas [red label]” GoogleMaps . Holotype condition: Good, not dissected. PARATYPE: same data as holotype ( 1 ♂, dissected, MZUSP) GoogleMaps .

Additional material examined. Piauí, Bom Jesus, Riacho Palmeira , 09°03'04.04"S 44°21'25.3"W, 29– 01.xi.2018, Malaise, Fialho, R GoogleMaps . J.; Miranda, S. B. S. C.; Aragão, J. S.; Silva, B.; Câmara, J. T . ( 2 ♂, both dissected, 1 ♀, INPA; 1 ♂, 1♀, dissected, MZUSP) .

Remarks. The new species is easily recognized by the male epandrium with an apicoventral rounded projection (a unique and apomorphic condition in the genus).

Distribution. Brazil, state of Piauí ( Fig. 19 View FIGURE 19 ). The specimens were collected in the municipalities of Bom Jesus and Corrente in the state of Piauí, both in the transition zone between the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes.

Etymology. After the Brazilian native people legend of ‘Curupira’—a boy who lives in the wild, has the feet turned backwards and a hair of ‘fire’ and protects the forest from hunters and other nature wasters.