Culoptila bidentata, new species

Figs. 15 A, B, 16A, B

This species is probably closely related to C. aluca and C. azulae, agreeing in having an inflated phallobase with 2 prominent spines, one strongly curved and with a greatly enlarged base. In general form it probably most closely resembles C. azulae in that the longer spine is the one with the enlarged base and the inferior appendages are nearly as elongate. It differs from either of those species in being smaller overall, and with a shorter tergum X. The apicolateral process of tergum X bears a prominent apical spine, somewhat like C. aluca, but not so enlarged and differently oriented.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2–2.2 mm.; female 2.2–2.5 mm. Color brown in alcohol. Mesothorax of male not noticeably modified; mesoscutal wart prominent, subtriangular, wide at anterior margin. Mesothoracic tegulae of male flattened and weakly cupped, distinctly enlarged; tegular setae short; tegular gland short, pleated, concertinalike.

Male genitalia. Sternum VI process short, subtruncate. Tergum IX ventral margin rounded, tapered from anterolateral margin, slightly produced posteroventrally. Inferior appendages moderately long, narrow apically, divergent from base. Tergum X very short, length much less than width, apex in ventral view truncate to subtruncate; ventrolateral processes with apices incurved, slightly narrowed and anteriorly bent, and with diverging fork or branch from posterior margin, forming acute spine­like projection. Phallobase large, broadly rounded in lateral view, apicodorsal projection short, with slight inflection at base, apex subacute. Phallic apparatus with 2 phallic spines, one greatly elongate, overall length exceeding length of phallobase, narrow, strongly recurved at base, basally greatly enlarged, sclerotized, the other spine elongate, narrow, nearly straight, about 1/2 length of phallobase, without basal enlargement.

Material examined

Holotype male: COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Río Pizote, ca. 5 km N Dos Rios, 10°56’53"N, 085°17’28"W, 470 m, 9.iii.1986 (Holzenthal & Fasth) (UMSP 000018803) (UMSP).

Paratypes: COSTA RICA: Alajuela: same data as holotype — 1 male, 6 females (UMSP); Río Pizote, ca. 5 km (air) S Brasilia, 10°58’19"N, 085°20’42"W, 390 m, 12.iii.1986 (Holzenthal & Fasth) — 7 males (UMSP, NMNH, INBIO).