Paraephydra Mathis, 2008

Mathis, Wayne N. & Sepúlveda, Luciane Marinoni and Tatiana A., 2025, Phylogeny and taxonomy of the shore-fly tribe Ephydrini with comments on related tribes in Ephydrinae (Diptera: Ephydridae), Zoologia (e 24044) 42, pp. 1-42 : 30

Paraephydra Mathis, 2008

Figs 75–81

Paraephydra Mathis 2008: 4 (feminine; type species: Ephydrella freitasi Oliveira 1954c , original designation).

Diagnosis. Paraephydra is distinguished from other genera of Ephydrini by the following combination of characters: Moderately small to medium-sized shore flies, body length 2.40–3.80 mm; setation normally developed, not generally appearing pilose.

Head: Mesofrons shiny, with metallic luster, differentiated from microtomentose parafrons; cruciate interfrontal setae l; two well-developed lateroclinate setae antennal groove distinct but not deeply impressed; basal flagellomere lacking large seta inserted on lateral surface; arista as long or slightly longer than combined length of first 3 antennal segments, gradually tapered from base to apex, with subpectinate, dorsally branching rays on basal 2/3; postocular setae normally developed, not conspicuous; larger facial setae extended from interfoveal hump with 1–2, distinctly porrect to anaclinate.

Thorax: Females with one prescutellar, acrostichal setae; well-developed dorsocentral setae 4 (1+3); supra-alar seta present; presutural supra-alar seta lacking; intrapostalar seta either weakly developed or lacking; disc of scutellum concolorous with posterior portion of scutum; females lacking dense patch of setae between posterior 2 dorsocentral setae. Costal vein ratio 0.23–0.43; M 1 vein ratio 0.72–0.79. Hindtibia with apical, anteroventral seta, length equal to or larger than width of tibia at widest point.

Abdomen: Male terminalia: symmetrical; epandrium longer than wide, narrowed ventrally, fused almost imperceptibly with base of united surstyli; surstyli fused medially except at near apex; posterior surstylar process only slightly longer than lateral process; both processes apical; gonite, hypandrium, and apparently aedeagus fused to form one compact structure, curved anteriorly, wide basally, tapered to rounded apex. Female terminalia: Female ventral receptacle with operculum flat, disc-like.

Natural History: Like other ephydrines, Paraephydra occurs in wetlands. In southern Chile (Osorno Province), we collected specimens of P. stauros in a sedge meadow near the margins of small but apparently permanent ponds. Nothing is known about the immature stages or the microhabitat of the genus.

Distribution. Neotropical; widespread but uncommon, from Puerto Rico south through Brazil to Chile. None of the congeners is known to be sympatric.

Remarks. Paraephydra was proposed to accommodate two closely related species, P. freitasi (Oliveira) and P. stauros Mathis.

Sexual dimorphism is evident in the chaetotaxy of Paraephydra . Females, unlike males, have a prescutellar acrostichal seta that is larger than other acrostichal setulae. Based on this character, Oliveira (1954c) described P. freitasi in the genus Ephydrella , as that genus, unlike species of Neoephydra , lacks these setae.

Figures

Figures 67–86. Paracoenia, Paraephydra and Setacera. Paracoenia wirthi, (67) head anterior; (68) head lateral; (69) thorax dorsal; (70) epandrium and surstyli posterior; (71) epandrium and surstyli lateral; (72) male 5th tergite lateral; (73) male 5th sternite ventral; (74) female ventral receptacle lateral. Paraephydra freitasi, (75) head anterolateral; (76) thorax dorsal; (77) epandrium and cerci posterior; (78) internal structures of male terminalia lateral; (79) surstylus lateral; (80) gonite lateral; (81) female ventral receptacle lateral. Setacera trichoscelis, (82) head anterolateral; (83) thorax dorsal; (84) internal structures of male terminalia lateral; (85) male terminalia lateral; (86) fused surstyli posterior.