Brakemyia, Carvalho-Filho & Barbosa & Soares, 2023Brakemyia metallica, Carvalho-Filho & Barbosa & Soares, 2023

Carvalho-Filho, Fernando S., Barbosa, Rodrigo R. & Soares, Matheus M. M., 2023, , a New Neotropical Jackal Fly Genus of Milichiidae (Insecta: Diptera) Associated with Carton Ant Nest., Zoological Studies 62 (36), pp. 1-11 : 3-10

Brakemyia gen. nov.

( Figs. 2–5 )

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Type species: Brakemyia metallica sp. nov., by present designation. Gender: feminine.

Diagnosis: Small ( 1.8–2.2 mm) and stout flies ( Fig. 2A ). Lunule broadened, extending well posterior of the antennae to the vicinity of the orbital plate ( Figs. 2E– F , 3C ). Interfrontal setae absent. Vibrissal angle present ( Fig. 2B ). Gena reduced, about 0.1 times as high as eye ( Fig. 2B ). Anepimeron bare. Vein C extending to vein M 1, after the wing apex ( Fig. 3A ). Surstylus not fused with epandrium ( Fig. 4B ). Hypandrium higher than epandrium ( Fig. 4B ). Hypandrial complex parallel to epandrium ( Fig. 4B ).

Etymology: The new genus is named after the German dipterist, Dr. Irina Brake, in recognition of her contribution to milichiid systematics, adding the Greek feminine word myia, meaning fly.

Distribution: Brakemyia gen. nov. is known from the Brazilian Amazon (states of Amazonas, Maranhão, Pará, and Roraima).

Remarks: Brakemyia gen. nov. runs to Undescribed Genus B in the last published key to the Neotropical genera of Milichiidae by Swann (2010). We were not able to examine these specimens, but according to the information and illustrations provided by Swann (2010), the specimens described in the present paper may belong to this genus as well.

The systematics of Neotropical Milichiidae is complex and challenging: keys and taxonomic revisions are not available for species identifications; many species descriptions are more than 60 years old and are sufficiently vague that species-level identifications are extremely difficult and would necessitate examination of types. Added to this, most genera are paraphyletic, and many others remain undescribed ( Swann 2010).

Despite the complications mentioned above, Brakemyia gen. nov. can be easily distinguished from other Neotropical genera in having lunule broadened, extending well posterior of the antennae, and hypandrial complex parallel to epandrium. In all milichiid genera, whose males are described, the hypandrial complex is perpendicular to epandrium (see plates 13, 14 and 16 of male terminalia in Brake (2000)).

The new genus is placed into Milichiinae ( sensu Brake 2000) based on vibrissal angle obsolescence, and vibrissa above lower margin of eye. The presence of strong anepisternal bristles may indicate a possible relationship between Brakemyia gen. nov., Eusiphona Coquillett, 1897 , Pholeomyia Bilimek, 1867 , Pseudomilichia Becker, 1907 , and an undescribed genus (Undescribed Genus A, sensu Swann (2010)) ( Swann 2010).

[Research Campus of Museu Paraense Emilío Goeldi, 1°27'04.34"S 48°26'40.77"W] / mata secundária [= secondary forest] / F.S. Carvalho-Filho & R.R. Barbosa [collectors] / II.2021 [printed on rectangular white label] // Criado de ninho de Azteca [= reared from Azteca nest] [printed on rectangular white label] // Holotype / Brakemyia / metallica [handwritten on red label]. Holotype in good condition with abdomen and terminalia cleared and preserved in glycerin in a microvial pinned beneath the specimen. Paratypes. Same data as holotype ( 1ò and 3ññ, MPEG; 4ññ, INPA ); same data, except: 22.IX.2005, Sobre ninho de Azteca [= on Azteca nest], F.S. Carvalho-Filho [collector] (1ñ, MPEG); same data, except: II.2005, F.S. Carvalho-Filho [collector] (2ññ, MPEG).

Figures

Fig. 2. Brakemyia metallica, gen. et sp. nov. A–E: Female, from Amazonas state. F: Male (holotype), from Pará state. A: Habitus, lateral view. B: Head and thorax, lateral view. C: Head and thorax, dorsal view (the dented mesonotum was an accidental artefact from handling or the drying process). D: Abdomen, dorsal view. E: Head, anterior view. F: Head, anterior view.

Fig. 3. Brakemyia metallica, gen. et sp. nov., female from Amazonas state. A: Wing, posterior view. B: Head, anterior view. C: Postfrons, anterior view. D: First flagellomere, lateral view. Abbreviations: C = Costal vein; CuA+CuP anterior branch of cubital vein + posterior branch of cubital vein; dm-m = discal medial crossvein; M1 = first branch of media; M4 = fourth branch of media; R1 = anterior branch of radius; R2+3 = second branch of radius; R4+5 = third branch of radius.

Fig. 4. Brakemyia metallica, gen. et sp. nov., male (holotype). A: Genitalia, ventral view. B: Genitalia, lateral view. C: Hypandrial complex, ventral view. Abbreviations: cerc = cercus; epand = epandrium; hypd arm = hypandrial arm; distph = distiphallus; phapod scl = phallapodeme sclerite; pregt = pregonite; sur = surstylus.

Fig. 5. Brakemyia metallica, gen. et sp. nov., female, ovipositor (paratype). A: Dorsal view. B: Ventral view. Abbreviations: cerc = cercus; st = sternite; tg = tergite.

Fig. 6. Distribution map of known occurrence of Brakemyia metallica, gen. et sp. nov.

Fig. 1. A: Carton nest of Azteca aff. chartifex Forel (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae). B: Emerging box.