Culoptila denningi Bueno­Soria & Santiago­Fragoso

Fig. 21 A, B

Culoptila denningi Bueno­Soria & Santiago­Fragoso 1996: 451 .

Culoptila denningi is not obviously similar to any other species of Culoptila . It is easily diagnosed by the shape of the phallobase, which is short and bulbously rounded and possesses 2 short and characteristically shaped phallic spines, the larger one much thickened at its center and the smaller one a mere sclerotized curl, so small that it could easily be missed. The short, subtruncate tergum X and short inferior appendages are also useful diagnostic characters.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 3 mm. Color yellowish­brown in alcohol, appendages paler. Mesothorax of male narrow anteromesally; mesoscutal wart short, heart­shaped. Mesothoracic tegulae of male rounded, greatly enlarged; tegular gland elongate, pleated, concertina­like.

Male genitalia. Sternum VI process short, subtruncate. Tergum IX ventral margin rounded, tapered from anterolateral margin, slightly produced posteroventrally. Inferior appendages very short, truncate apically. Tergum X short, about as long as wide, apex in ventral view broadly rounded to subtruncate; ventrolateral processes with apices incurved, nearly planar in caudal view, mesal margin acute; apices not or scarcely posteriorly bent. Phallobase short, rounded in lateral view, apicodorsal projection weakly arched, apicodorsal projection short, apex rounded. Phallic apparatus with 1 apparent phallic spine and remnant of second; larger spine nearly straight, about 1/2 length of phallobase, thick, widened at middle, slightly enlarged basally, second (remnant?) spine easily missed, very short, flattened basally and wrapped around larger spine.

Material examined

MEXICO: Guerrero: NW Zihuatanejo, km 80, Ruta 130, 1200 m, 7.vi.1984 (Bueno & Barrera) — male holotype (UNAM); 1 male (NMNH).

Distribution

MEXICO (Guerrero).