Rediscovery, redescription, and reclassification of the rare and unusual fly Pyrgometopa penicillata Kertesz (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Author(s)

Pirani, Gabriela ^[1] ; Grimaldi, David A. ^{[2, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol, Lab Evolucao & Morfol Diptera, Av Bandeirantes 3900, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Amer Museum Nat Hist, Div Invertebrate Zool, Cent Pk West & 79th St, New York, NY 10024 - USA

^[3] Amer Museum Nat Hist, Gilder Grad Sch, Cent Pk West & 79th St, New York, NY 10024 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Zootaxa; v. 4661, n. 3, p. 445-456, AUG 29 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

For slightly more than a century only the type specimen has been known for Pyrgometopa penicillata, a monotypic genus of Drosophilidae whose sole species has an ocellar triangle distended into a bizarre tubercle bearing a tuft of large, spine-like bristles in both sexes. Here we report additional specimens of both sexes of the species, recently rediscovered from Brazil, Peru and French Guyana, allowing us to state that Pyrgometopa is a junior synonym for Stegana, a large cosmopolitan genus. A detailed redescription of Stegana penicillata (Kertesz) new combination is provided, including new morphological information, like the male and female terminalia, the egg and a short discussion is provided about its hallmark feature. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/02475-4 - Cladistic analysis of Cladochaetini (Diptera: Drosophilidae: Drosophilinae), including a taxonomic revision of Diathoneura Duda, 1924
• Grantee: Gabriela Pirani Ignácio
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/12337-3 - Improving the taxon sampling for a phylogeny of Cladochaetini, focusing on Diathoneura Duda, 1924 and outgroups (Diptera: Drosophilidae)
• Grantee: Gabriela Pirani Ignácio
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate