Scipopus (Phaeopterina) melaneuris Cresson 1926

Scipopus (Phaeopterina) melaneuris Cresson, 1926 Fig. 59 Scipopus melaneuris Cresson, 1926: 271. Scipopus melaneuris – Cresson 1930: 328 (listed). — Hennig 1934: 323 (key), 328 (listed), pl. 2, figs 14, 17. — Aczél 1949: 342 (catalog). — Steyskal 1967: 81 (notes); 1968: 48.16 (catalog). Differential diagnosis Scipopus (Phaeopterina) melaneuris resembles S. (Ph.) lineatus sp. nov. in having a dull, microtrichose epicephalon, but differs by the entirely dark brown or black femora and the uniformly brown infuscate wings. Type material examined Holotype (examined and photographed at USNM, 2001) DOMINICA • 1 ♀; Lesser Antilles; Jun.–Jul. 1913; H.W. Foote leg.; No. 27074; USNM. Other material examined DOMINICA • 3 ♀♀; Parish of St. Joseph Springfield Estate; 15°22.8′ N, 61°20.5′ W; 430 m a.s.l.; 15–20 Mar. 2003; M.E. Irwin et al. leg.; Malaise trap in humid forest; DEBU (dissected and photographed, Fig. 59B–C, F–G) • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; debu01089004/MYCRO571-19 sequenced for CO1–5′, CO1–3′, 12S, 28S; DEBU. MARTINIQUE • 1 ♀; nr Vert Caplet; 15 Aug. 2013; DEBU • 1 ♂; Macouba; 14°50.575′ N, 61°09.701′ W; 27 Oct. 2013; E. Dumbardon leg.; debu01089019/MYCRO602-19 sequenced for CO1–5′, CO1–3′, 12S, 28S; DEBU (dissected and photographed, Fig. 59A, D–E). Description LENGTH. 10–11 mm. HEAD. Palpus orange, pale microtrichose and setulose, narrow (length 5.0× width). Clypeus orange, width ~2.5 × height, silvery microtrichose on entire surface. Frontal vitta dull, orange, microtrichose. Epicephalon dull, orange, microtrichose, not clearly delineated from upper frontal vitta. 1–2 pairs of lower fronto-orbital setae; all other head chaetotaxy well-developed. THORAX. Scutum black-brown with a wide, silvery-blue median sheen. Female cervical sclerite slightly convex. Postpronotal lobe black-brown, some setulae on outer lateral margin. Notopleuron black-brown with spot of pale microtrichia posterior to anterior notopleural seta. Thorax black-brown with blue sheen, entirely silvery microtrichose, sometimes more sparsely distributed dorsally and medially on anepisternum and katepisternum, giving the appearance of no microtrichia at some angles. Legs dark brown or black; fore tarsomere 1 dark brown or black with ventral golden fringe; hind tarsomere 1 dark brown or black with slight golden ventral fringe. Wing evenly brown infuscate. ABDOMEN (J+ ♀). T1 with fine, long, white or black setae. FEMALE ABDOMEN. Pleuron pale grey, microtrichose, dark brown on dorsal half of P1–6. T1+2 ~2.0 × length of T3; posterior margin of T2 ~1.5× as wide as that of T1. T6 very short; oviscape black, setulose, white microtrichose on anterolateral and ventral ½, anteromedian ¼; ~4.0–4.5 × length of T6. Common duct rugose, clearly delineated from paired duct, long, ~½ of combined duct length. Paired spermathecal duct narrow distally, swollen apically, ringed with slight striae and ridges. Paired spermathecal stems very short, almost absent. Paired spermathecae elongate, wider distally, rounded, densely tuberculate. Single spermathecal duct arising from base of paired duct, narrow, <½ diameter and length of paired duct, slightly swollen distally. Single spermatheca elongate, with sparse tubercles. MALE ABDOMEN. Pleuron pale grey, microtrichose, dark brown on dorsal half of P1, dorsal, posterior and ventral margins of pleural sac, and dorsal half of P3–5. T1+2 ~2.3 × length of T3. Genital fork 1.5 × as long as T6, with arms converging; inner basal process pointed inwards, ¹/6 the length of arm. Epandrium elongate (length 2.0 × height), densely short setose posteroventrally. Basiphallus small, crescent-shaped. Basal distiphallus long (≈ length to epandrium), broad, ending in phallic bulb. Phallic bulb large, elongate (length 3.0 × height), irregular and complex, with multiple chambers. Distal distiphallus long and narrow (> length of epandrium). Phallapodeme apically broad and expanded. Anterior hypandrium slender, not expanded. Remarks Scipopus (Phaeopterina) melaneuris is placed in Scipopus (Phaeopterina) based on the entirely white microtrichose anepisternum, and the elongate thorax and postpronotal lobe. Scipopus (Ph.) melaneuris is likely closely related to S. (Ph.) lineatus sp. nov. based on shared apomorphic character states including the long, whip-like phallus and the single spermathecal duct arising from the base of the paired duct. Distribution Dominica, Martinique.

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