Dasyhelea woodruffi, Grogan & Hribar, 2025

Dasyhelea woodruffi sp. nov.

( Figs. 25–32 View FIGURES 25–32 )

Diagnosis. A medium size dark brown species most closely resembling D. danklinei sp. nov. but differing from that and other species in the D. atlantis-bermudae complex by the following combination of characters: Male wing length 0.71–0.86 mm; aedeagus with a stout, tubular, thick-walled distal portion that gradually tapers distally with a moderately deep, curved apex; gonocoxites massive, broad; gonostyli relatively short with a basal ventral group of stout setae and a slightly hooked apex. Female wing length 0.66–0.74 mm; sternite 9 with a poorly developed ventral plate with numerous tiny, thin surface setae; and a large (length 0.09–0.10 mm, (n=3), ovoid spermatheca with a moderately long tapered neck.

Males. Head ( Fig. 25 View FIGURES 25–32 ). Dark brown. Eyes contiguous or very narrowly separated. Antennal flagellum with flagellomeres 2–9 rhomboid, 10–13 elongate, 13 broader than 10–12; 2–9 with single whorl of long sensillae chaetica that comprise the dense plume; 10–12 with 2 rows of shorter setae; 13 with numerous very slender hyaline setae; antennal ratio 0.78–0.92 (0.85, n=13; flagellum length 0.43–0.51 (0.47 mm, n=13). Frontal sclerite broadly rhomboidal with a very slender ventral extension. Clypeus elongate, tapering distally with a slender pointed tip; with 4–5 pairs of slender setae. Palpus pale brown, elongate, apex extending beyond tip of proboscis; segment 3 slender, longer than 4–5 combined, with 2–3 capitate sensillae on inner surface of basal 1/3; palpal ratio 2.83–4.40 (3.71, n=14). Thorax. Scutum dark brown; scutellum yellow except lateral margins light brown with 6 large and 3–4 smaller setae. Wing ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 25–32 ) moderately slender, membrane hyaline with moderately dense macrotrichiae; anterior veins light brown, posterior veins paler; 2 nd radial cell very short or absent in some specimens; apices of costa, radius perpendicular with wing margin; fork of CuA 1 at level of base of 2 nd radial cell; anal lobe moderately developed; wing length 0.71–0.85 (0.78 mm, n=14), width 0.24–0.35 (0.28 mm, n=13); costal ratio 0.44–0.47 (0.45 mm, n=14). Abdomen. Dark brown on dorsum and distal ventral segments. Genitalia ( Figs. 27–28 View FIGURES 25–32 ) Tergite 9 moderately broad basally, tapering slightly distally to broad, rounded apex that extends to or just beyond apices of gonocoxites; apicolateral processes on raised humps, moderately long to more elongate and slender with a single long apical seta. Sternite 9 base broadly curved; posteromedian portion with elongate distal section, tapering slightly distally to a rounded apex that extends onto the basal section of the aedeagus. Gonocoxite very stout, elongate, extending near or just beyond apex of the aedeagus, the inner apical margin with dense elongate setae on raised round bases; gonostylus much shorter and slender than the gonocoxite, its base is moderately broad, gradually tapering and slightly curved distally with pointed beak-like apex. Gonocoxal apodemes symmetrical with curved bases and quadrate anterior extensions at curved sections, distal sections gradually tapering distally, apices curved 90° anteriorly and joined on extreme tip just below the base of the aedeagus; paramere absent. Aedeagus ( Figs. 27–28 View FIGURES 25–32 ) basal section with straight lightly sclerotized section that attaches to more heavily sclerotized lateral extensions that are bent laterally underneath medial lobes of gonocoxites; they are joined to stout “lateral flanges” as described by Borkent (1991: 108) as in D. atlantis . These lateral flanges are broad basally, curved 120° with slender very sharply pointed apices; distal portion of aedeagus is semi-connected with basal section by slender, pointed extensions; the basal section is composed of two bulbous portions that are lightly pigmented and connected to two other black bulbous portions that are apparently fused together and to the main body of the aedeagus; this distal section is broadest at just above levels of the curved lateral extension; the lateral walls are heavily sclerotized on the distal portion of the aedeagus and gradually taper to the bifid apex.

Females. Similar to males with the following notable sexual differences. Head ( Fig.29 View FIGURES 25–32 ). Dark brown. Eyes as in males. Antennal flagellum with flagellomeres 2–4 rhomboid, 5–8 slightly longer, 9–13 elongate, 13 longest; 2–12 with basal whorl of long, stout setae, 13 with sparse clear slender setae, without basal whorl of long, stout setae; antennal ratio 0.85–0.90 (0.88, n=5); flagellum length 0.34–0.38 (0.35 mm, n=5). Frontal sclerite similar to males but with a longer ventral extension. Clypeus similar to males. Palpus elongate, pale brown, similar to males; segment 3 similar to males but with more numerous capitate sensillae on entire length; palpal ratio 2.67–2.83 (2.70, n=5). Thorax. Scutum and scutellum as in males. Wing ( Fig. 31 View FIGURES 25–32 ) similar to males but shorter and broader; wing length 0.66–0.74 (0.66 mm, n=5), width 0.30–0.32 (0.31 mm, n=5); costal ratio 0.46–0.48 (0.47 mm, n=5). Abdomen. Similar to males in coloration, but much broader. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 32 View FIGURES 25–32 ) with a truncate moderately broad, light brown anterior portion that is connected to a slightly more heavily sclerotized, curved medial section. The distal-most section is more lightly sclerotized; the posteriorly indented portion is covered with tiny dark, pointed spicules that are most dense on the posterior-most section. A single large elongate ovoid spermatheca ( Fig. 32 View FIGURES 25–32 ) with thick dark black walls and an apparently tapered, slender neck. Spermatheca length 0.09–0.10 mm (n=3), width 0.06–0.07 mm (n=3).

Type Material. Holotype male, allotype female, paratypes 4 males, 3 females, JAMAICA, Clarendon Parish, Milk River Bath , 19 Nov. 1968, R. E. Woodruff, blacklight trap ( USNM) . Other paratypes, 15 males, 1 female: JAMAICA, Trelawny Parish, 1.9 mi. N. of Burnt Hill , 16-V-1968, R. E. Woodruff , 4 males. St. Catherine Parish, Caymans Estate , 17 Nov. 1968, S. A. Apeji, blacklight trap , 8 males, 1 female ( USNM & FSCA). Montego Bay , March 1963, J. B. Davies, wind trap , 1 male ( FSCA) .

Etymology. We dedicate this new species to our recently deceased colleague, Robert (Bob) Woodruff, who worked at the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Gainesville, Florida from 1958 to 1988. Bob collected over 50% of the type series of this new species in Jamaica during May and November 1968. He has five previous ceratopogonid patronyms: Atrichopogon (Psilokempia) woodruffi Spinelli, Marino & Huerta 2015: 58 ( Dominican Republic); Bezzia (Bezzia) woodruffi Spinelli & Wirth 1989: 120 ( Jamaica); Brachypogon (Brachypogon) woodruffi Spinelli & Grogan 1998: 72 ( Dominican Republic); Culicoides woodruffi Spinelli & Huerta 2015: 133 ( Mexico); and Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) woodruffi Szadziewski & Grogan 1998: 272 (fossil; Dominican amber).