Coproica cacti ( Richards, 1960 )

Bergeron, Matthew D., Marshall, Stephen A. & Swann, John E., 2015, A review of the New World Coproica (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) with a description of 8 new species, Zootaxa 3953 (1), pp. 1-157 : 24

Coproica cacti ( Richards, 1960)

Figure: 77

Leptocera (Coproica) cacti Richards, 1960 c: 203 [both sexes, illustr.]. Type locality: USA, Arizona, Maricopa Co., 2.2 mi NE Morristown. HT male (USNM).

Description. Body length 1.1 mm. Body colour brown. Face and frons brown. Interfrontals in 3 strong, erect pairs, 2nd pair stronger than others; postocellar bristles slightly convergent, small postocellar setulae absent. Eye small, eye to gena ratio approximately 1.4:1; gena with longitudinal row of 3 small setae posterior to vibrissa.

Scutellum with approximately 12 setae arranged in 2 rows between basal 1/4 and basal 1/2; 1 lateral scutellar bristle between larger anterior and posterior marginal scutellar bristles. Katepisternum with 2 small, subequal dorsal bristles, each approximately 1/8 as long as the distance between dorsal margin of katepisternum and wing base. Legs and fore coxae light brown. Mid tibia with proximal posterodorsal bristle at 2/5. Mid basitarsus with row of 6 anterior bristles extending from 3/4 to apex, 1 posteroventral basal bristle, 2 anterior bristles at 3/5, and 1 posteroventral bristle between 2 anteroventral bristles. Second costal sector 1.0–1.1 times as long as third costal sector. Costal bypass long, extending 7 or more vein widths beyond R 4+5.

Type material. Holotype male: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: AZ: Maricopa Co., 2.2mi. NE Morristown , 10.ii.1958, em. 6.iii–7.v.1958 ( USNM, not examined) . Paratypes (all individuals listed here were examined): UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: AZ: Pinal Co., 33mi E of Gila Bend, 11.ii.1958, Reared: ADM 15 11.iii.1958, R. E. Ryckman & E. T. Ryckman , Paratype No. 65054 USNM (1(sex unknown)*–w, 2♂, 2♀, USNM) same as previous except 31.iii.1958 (2♀, USNM); ADM 16 25.iv.1958 (1♂, USNM) ; Maricopa Co., 4.7mi. NE of Morristown , 10.ii.1958, reared: ADM 13 22.iv.1958 (2♂, USNM) ; same as previous except ADM 12 14.iv.1958 (1♂, 4♀, USNM); ADM 12 7.v.1958 (1♂, 3♀, USNM); ADM 13 28.iii.1958 (3♀, USNM); ADM 12 10.iii.1958 (1♂, USNM); ADM 12 31.iii.1958 (1♂, USNM); ADM 12 22.iv.1958 (1♂, USNM); ADM 13 9.iv.1958 (1♀, USNM); ADM 13 15.iv.1958 (1♀, USNM). CA: Los Angeles Co., San Dimas Can. , 2.ii.1958, reared 14.iv.1958 (2♀, USNM) ; same as previous except reared 17.iv.1958 (2♂, 2♀, USNM) ; reared 6.v.1958 (1♀, USNM) .

Other material examined. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: AZ: Tucson , 10.vi.1959, barrel cactus rot, M. Adachi; (1♂ *, 1♀) . Pima Co., Tuscon , Saguaro Nat. Mon., coll. 20.viii.1960, reared 6.x.1960, F.J. Santana (3♂, 2♀, USNM).

Distribution: Nearctic: USA (AZ, CA); Neotropical: Mexico (BCN).

Comments. Coproica cacti is only known from specimens reared from broken or decaying cacti. Whether or not C. cacti has a preference for a particular species of cactus is unknown, although label data state that they have been reared from barrel cactus (genus Echincactus or Ferocactus ). Although very similar to C. urbana , the species is easily distinguished from other species of Coproica by the presence of small eyes, a thickened central interfrontal bristle, and its very specific microhabitat. We have no doubt that the reared specimens examined are conspecific with the type.

Male and female genitalia have not been illustrated or included in the redescription of Coproica cacti because the specimens available to us were either already missing abdomens (previously cleared and disintegrated) or were considered too valuable to risk dissection.