Merucata caipora Soares, Camargo & Lamas, 2025

Merucata caipora Soares, Camargo & Lamas sp. nov.

( Figs 1–3 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 , 19 View FIGURE 19 )

Diagnosis (male). The new species can be easily distinguished from the congeners by the mystax composed of dense white macrosetae below and with a few black macrosetae above ( Fig. 1C, D View FIGURE 1 ); 1 postalar macroseta; anterior surface of femur I mostly covered with short black setae ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ); anterior surface of femora II and III covered with short white setae, except apical 1/3 of femur II and apical 1/4 of femur III with short black setae ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ); inner edge of epandrium with a median short, pointed dorsal process ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ); posterior margin of hypandrium with a tuft of long macrosetae at middle ( Fig. 2L View FIGURE 2 ).

Description. Holotype male ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Body Length: 9.5 mm; wing length: 6.4 mm. Head ( Fig. 1A, C, D View FIGURE 1 ). Antenna wholly black, scape and pedicel with short black setae. Face wholly silvery pruinose, except middle of face with narrow stripe with mixed silvery and golden pruinosity; face slightly gibbous at lower half, mystax restricted to gibbosity, with dense white macrosetae below and a few black macrosetae above and at oral margin, facial setae short and white; parafacial setae short and white. Frons mostly covered with golden pruinosity, except black short diamond-shaped area between ocellar tubercle and silvery pruinose base of antenna; a few long, white orbital setae; ocellar tubercle with 2 pairs of slender black setae; a few slender mixed white and black occipital median setae; upper-most 5 postocular macrosetae black, remaining postocular macrosetae white and slender; postcranium silvery pruinose, ventral half with dense, long and branched white setae. Palpus short, about 1/4 as long as proboscis, black and covered with concolor macrosetae; proboscis black, about 1/2 as long as eye height, basal 1/2 of ventral surface covered with long, slender white setae, apex with short and slender pale brown setae. Thorax ( Fig. 1A, B View FIGURE 1 ). Antepronotum and pronotum covered with long, slender white setae, with mixed silver and golden pruinosity, antepronotum with anterior row of short, strong white setae. Scutum wholly covered with short, scattered black setae, mostly golden and silvery mixed pruinose, except by median black stripe, wide anteriorly, narrowed towards posterior margin and discontinued from U-shaped macula at posterior margin; 2 black spots, 1 presutural, at level of notopleuron and 1 postsutural. One black postsutural dorsocentral macroseta, 2 black notopleural macrosetae, 1 black postsutural supra-alar macroseta, 1 short seta and 1 black postalar macroseta. Scutellum with 1 pair of black apical macrosetae, dorsal surface silvery pruinose and with scattered white short setae. Pleura mostly silvery pruinose, except for a few areas of anepisternum, katepisternum and meron golden pruinose; katatergite with vertical row of white macrosetae, a few sparse, long and slender white setae at posterior margins of anepisternum and katepisternum, and at anterior margin of meron. Legs ( Fig. 1A, C View FIGURE 1 ). Black, except all coxae obscured with dense silvery pruinosity, claws black, pulvilli reddish-brown. Legs with black setae/macrosetae, except as noted. Leg I. Anterior surface of coxa with dense, strong white macrosetae. Femur with anterior and dorsal surfaces with short black setae; ventral surface with white, short and sparse setae; posterior surface with longer and dense white setae. Tibia covered with short white setae, except apical 2/3 of anteroventral surface covered with comb of dense coppery setae in anterior view; ventral to anteroventral row of 4 macrosetae from basal 2/3 to apex; ventral row of slender, sparse setae; dorsal row of short, strong and sparse setae, with crown of strong short setae at apex. Basitarsus with 1 posteroventral macroseta near base, with crown of setae at apex; tarsomeres 2–4 with apical crown of strong setae; tarsomere 5 only with slender macrosetae at apex. Leg II. Apical edge of anterior surface of coxa with fringe of white macrosetae, lateral surface with 3–4 white macrosetae near apex. Femur mostly covered with short white setae, except ventral surface mostly bare; apical 1/3 of anterior surface with short black setae; anteroventral row of 3–4 short, strong and sparse setae; 2 short and strong anterior setae, 1 at basal 1/2 and 1 at apical 1/2, 1 short preapical posterior seta. Tibia covered with short white setae; posteroventral row of 3–4 short setae, 3–4 ventral longer setae at apical 1/2; apex with crown of short setae. Basitarsus with 1 anterior and 1 posterior strong seta, with crown of setae at apex; tarsomeres 2–5 as in leg I. Leg III. Apical edge of anterior surface of coxa with a few short, strong and white setae; posterior edge of dorsal surface with 1 short, strong and white seta at mid-length, surrounded by a few short, slender and white setae. Femur covered with white short setae, except apical 1/4 of anterior surface with black setae, 2 anterior short and strong setae, 1 at basal 1/2 and 1 at apical 1/2; 1 short, strong anterodorsal preapical seta; anteroventral row of 4 short, strong and sparse setae; 2–3 short, strong posteroventral setae at basal 1/2. Tibia covered with short white setae, except apical 2/3 of posterior surface with brush of coppery setae, extending to posterior surfaces of tarsomeres 1 and 2; 3 pairs of short, strong antero- and posterodorsal setae, 1 near base, 1 at middle and 1 at apical 1/3; 2 short, strong anteroventral setae at apical 1/2; one crown of short, strong setae at apex. Basitarsus with 1 long antero- and 1 posteroventral seta near base; one crown of setae at apex; tarsomeres 2–5 as in tarsomere of leg I. Wing ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Hyaline, veins brown. Apex of cell sc weakly microtrichose; bifurcation of veins R 4 and R 5 at apex of discal cell; cell cua closed shortly before wing margin, petiole shorter than humeral vein. Abdomen ( Fig. 1A, B View FIGURE 1 ). Mostly black, covered with coppery pruinosity, except tergite 1; anterior and posterior margins of tergite 2, posterior margins of tergites 3, 6 and 7, posterolateral margins of tergites 2–4 and lateral margins of tergites 5–7 with dense silvery pruinosity. Tergites mostly covered with short black setae, except tergite 1 with 5–7 posterolateral white macrosetae, preceded by group of long and slender white setae, and mostly covered with short white setae; tergites 2–8 with posterolateral black and/or white macrosetae. Tergite 8 somewhat saddle-shaped, narrowing at middle of anterior edge, with posterior row of sparse black macrosetae ( Fig. 2I View FIGURE 2 ). Sternites black and wholly covered with short black setae and brownish pruinosity. Sternite 8 somewhat trapezoidal, with short concavity at anterior edge and a few long black short setae at posterior edge ( Fig. 2J View FIGURE 2 ). Terminalia ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ). Orangish-brown ( Fig. 2A, B View FIGURE 2 ). Epandrium mostly rectangular in lateral view ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ), inner edge with median short and pointed dorsal process, inner margin of dorsal process covered with dense, short spine-like setae; apical edge of epandrium with comb of short setae ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ). Cercus short, digitiform. Subepandrial sclerite short, weakly sclerotized, with apex triangular, with wide opening at middle ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ). Hypandrium saddle-shaped, posterior margin with short setae, with tuft of long black macrosetae at middle ( Fig. 2L View FIGURE 2 ). Gonocoxite mostly squared basally, narrowed and curved dorsally at apex, forming short concavity at apicodorsal edge; outer edge covered with short setae, with a few macrosetae at apicoventral margin ( Fig. 2E, F View FIGURE 2 ). Gonostylus longer than gonocoxite, mostly knife-shaped, weakly sclerotized at middle; apex covered with spicules; base with deep concavity, forming triangular lobe dorsally ( Fig. 2E, K View FIGURE 2 ). Ejaculatory apodeme short, somewhat fan-shaped ( Fig. 2G View FIGURE 2 ). Phallus long and thin, about as long as gonostylus; posterior half divided into three long prongs ( Fig. 2G, H View FIGURE 2 ).

Female ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 ). Similar to male, except anterior surface of femur III mostly covered with short black setae ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Body length: 8.25–10 mm; wing: 5.7–7 mm (n = 3). Terminalia ( Fig. 3B–F View FIGURE 3 ). Orangish-brown to black. Laterally compressed, long and slender, about 1.5 times longer than tergite 7, covered with short black setae, tergite and sternite 8 with a few sparse black macrosetae. Tergite 9+10 somewhat U-shaped in dorsal view, about 3 times longer than cercus. Cercus short, digitiform, covered with short white setae. Three sclerotized and rugose spermathecae present.

Variation. Body length 6.5–10.5 mm, wing length 5–7.8 mm (n = 10). Orbital setae black; mystax with more mixed black setae; 2–3 pairs of postsutural dc; anterior surface of femur I with a few sparse short white setae; ventral surface of femur I with a few short spiniform setae at basal 1/3 to basal 1/2; femora II and/or III with apical 1/2 of anterior surface covered with short black setae; katatergite with vertical row of mixed white and black setae.

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂ ( MZUSP) labelled: “ Brasil: MT [state of Mato Grosso]: Poconé | Fazenda Rio Clarinho | Antiga Transpantaneira | 16º35'28,7"S 56º43'57,1"W | Malaise 53 | 19.x–30.xii.2012 | Lamas, Nihei & eq. cols.” “ HOLOTYPE | Merucata caipora | Soares, Camargo & Lamas [red label]” GoogleMaps . Holotype condition: Good, not dissected. PARATYPES: Same data as holotype ( 3 ♂, 2 ♀, one dissected, MZUSP; 1 ♀, NHMW) GoogleMaps ; Chapada dos Guimarães—Trans. Ciliar / Cerrado, Trilha da Cachoeira Véu de Noiva , 15°24'33.5"S 55°49'59.0"W, Malaise 17, 22.xii.2011 – 22.i.2012, Lamas, Nihei & eq. col. ( 1 ♂, INPA) GoogleMaps ; same data, except, Trilha do Cerrado, Transição Ciliar / Cerrado , 15°24'34.1"S 55°49'56.0"W, Malaise 49, 31.x–29.xi.2012 ( 1 ♂, INPA) GoogleMaps ; same data, except, 15°24'47"S 55°50'27"W, Malaise, 03–12.xi.2008, Almeida col. ( 1 ♂, NHMW) GoogleMaps ; Cuiabá, Condomínio Flor do Cerrado , 15°29'29.7"S 56°04'30.4"W, Malaise 21, 04.xi–12.xii.2011, Lamas, Nihei e eq col. ( 5 ♂, MZUSP) GoogleMaps . Mato Grosso do Sul, Corguinho, Taboco, Reserva Quinta do Sol , 19°46'40.8"S 55°14'59.0"W, Malaise 12, 29.ix–12.x.2012, Lamas, Nihei e eq. cols. ( 3 ♂, MZUSP) GoogleMaps ; same data, except: 19°46'45.4"S 55°14'36.2"W, Malaise 13, 12.x–12.xi.2012 ( 1 ♂, MZUSP) GoogleMaps ; same data, except: 19°46'36.8"S 55°14'55.7"W, Malaise 14, 12–29.xi.2012 ( 1 ♂, MZUSP) GoogleMaps ; same data, except: 12.x–12.xi.2012 ( 1 ♀, NHMW) GoogleMaps ; Aquidauana, Reserva Ecológica UEMS, Vegetação Aberta / Flor. Est. Decidual , 20°25'59"S 55°39'20.8"W, Malaise 08, 26.x–11.xi.2011 ( 2 ♂, INPA) GoogleMaps ; same data, except, 26.ix–11.x.2011 ( 1 ♂ NHMW) GoogleMaps ; Três Lagoas, Horto Barra da Moeda , 28–30.vii.2009, S.P. Rosa col. ( 1 ♂, MZUSP) ; Rio Verde, Pousada Quedas D’Água , 18°9'38.7"S 54°9'00.1"W, Malaise 39, 01–05.iv.2012, Lamas, Nihei & eq. col. ( 1 ♂, MZUSP) GoogleMaps ; same data, except: 15–30.vi.2012 ( 1 ♂, MZUSP) GoogleMaps ; same data, except: 30.viii–14.ix.2012 ( 1 ♂, MZUSP) GoogleMaps ; same data, except: 18°9'39.3"S 54°08'59.6"W Malaise 40, 14–30.x.2012 ( 1 ♂, MZUSP) GoogleMaps . Goiás, Niquelândia, RPDS Legado Verdes do Cerrado, Malaise 3— Cerrado s.s. 3, 14°36'46.65"S 48°29'54.33"W, 21.x–19.xi.2019, Oliveira R.S. & Lopes, W. cols. ( 2 ♂, one dissected, UFG; 1 ♂ dissected, MZUSP) GoogleMaps ; same data, except: Malaise 2— Mata de Galeria 2, 14°36'43.71"S 48°28'49.93"W, 24.vi–21.vii.2021 ( 1 ♂, UFG) GoogleMaps ; Silvânia, Floresta Nacional de Silvânia, Malaise Cerrado 1, 24.x–29.xi.2019, Oliveira R.S. & Lopes, W. cols. ( 10 ♂, MZUSP; 7 ♂ UFG) ; same data, except: Mata de Galeria 1, 16°38'20.08"S 48°39'27.06"W, 20.xii.2019 – 30.i.2020 ( 2 ♂, MZUSP) GoogleMaps ; Mineiros, PARNA das Emas, Malaise—Parcela 2, Mata , 17°54'08.0"S 52°59'47.1"W ( 1 ♂, NHMW) GoogleMaps ; Formosa, Distrito do Bezerra, Fazenda Santo Antônio, 15°18'27.2"S 47°11'45.0"W, 28.i–05.ii.2012, Excursão Disciplina Entomologia de Verão ( 1 ♂, DZUB) GoogleMaps . Tocantins, Caaseara [ca 9°16'14.6"S 49°57'12.0"W], PEC. 27–31/v/07, JRPujol col. ( 1 ♂, dissected, DZUB) GoogleMaps .

Remarks. The new species is remarkably similar to M. vieirai sp. nov. by the legs black, bifurcation of veins R 4 and R 5 nearly at apex of discal cell, and male terminalia narrow in dorsal view, but can be easily segregated by the anterior surface of femur I mostly covered with short black setae ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ), only one postalar macroseta present, apical 1/3 of anterior surface of femora II and III covered with short black setae ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ) and hypandrium with apical tuft of black macrosetae at posterior edge ( Fig. 2L View FIGURE 2 ) versus anterior surface of femur I with short white setae ( Fig. 17C View FIGURE 17 ), 2 postalar macrosetae present, femora II and III wholly covered with white setae ( Fig. 17A View FIGURE 17 ) and hypandrium only with posterolateral black macrosetae at posterior edge ( Fig. 18K View FIGURE 18 ) in M. vieirai sp. nov.

Distribution. Brazil (states of Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Tocantins), along the biomes of Cerrado and Pantanal ( Fig. 19 View FIGURE 19 ).

Etymology. From the Tupi-guarani: kaa = woods, forest, and pora = inhabitant. Caipora is a mythological entity, protector of the forests and animals. Most of the specimens of this species were collected in forest fragments, demonstrating the importance of preserving and maintaining these areas. The species’ name is treated as a noun in apposition.