Open access journal: http://periodicos.uefs.br/ojs/index.php/sociobiology ISSN: 0361-6525 DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v61i3.341-344Sociobiology 61(3): 341-344 (September 2014) New Records, Including a New Species, of Scuttle Flies (Diptera: Phoridae) Associated with Leaf Cutter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Brazil R. Henry L. Disney1 & Marcos A. L. Bragança2 Introduction During 2012 MALB and his colleagues Cliver Gomes, Leandro Silva, Hendria Martins and Marcos Teixeira collected Diptera attacking or hovering in the vicinity of leaf cutter ants. The scuttle flies (Phoridae) were preserved in 70% ethanol and sent to RHLD for slide mounting and identification. The ants were identified by the Brazilian team. The following species were obtained with the ant hosts indicated. The specimens are deposited in the Collection of the Museu de Zoologia, Uni- versidade de São Paulo, Brazil (MZSP) and the University of Cambridge Museum of Zoology (UCMZ). Genus Allochaeta Borgmeier The genotype is A. excedens described from the female only, from Petropolis in Brazil (Borgmeier, 1924). In the same paper A. metatarsalis was described from the male only, from Blumenau (Santa Catharina). Later, from Petropolis, A. longi- ciliata, known only from the female and A. propinqua known Abstract Among scuttle flies caught at colonies of leaf cutter ants were Apterophora bragancai Disney new species, and new host records for other species. Sociobiology An international journal on social insects 1- University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Cambridge, United Kingdom 2- Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil Article History Edited by Evandro N. Silva, UEFS, Brazil Received 02 May 2014 Initial acceptance 12 June 2014 Final acceptance 26 June 2014 Keywords new species, Apterophora bragancai Disney new species, Taxonomy Corresponding author Dr Henry L. Disney Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge Downing Street, CB2 3EJ, U. K. E-Mail: rhld2@hermes.cam.ac.uk only from the male were then added (Borgmeier, 1926). How- ever, subsequently these two were procured in copula, so A. propinqua was then synonymised with A. longiciliata (Borg- meier, 1928). This served to emphasize the sexual dimorphism in this genus. Subsequently A. senex, known from the female only was added from São Paulo State, Campinas (Borgmeier & Prado, 1975) and A. wallerae Disney known from the male only was added from Mexico (Disney & Bragança, 2000) along with possible males of A. excedens from Viçosa, MG, Brazil. In the present study further examples of these males were ob- tained (see below). Borgmeier (1928) reported A. longiciliata soliciting food from its ant host, Acromyrmex muticinodus. Other reported hosts are the same species with Acromyrmex niger Smith (Borgmeier, 1928), A. muticinodus with Ac. niger (Borg- meier, 1928), the putative males of A. excedens with Atta laevigata Smith and A. wallerae with Atta cephalotes (Linn.) (Disney & Bragança, 2000); and A. metatarsalis from a colony of the ter- mite Nasutitermes rippertii (Rambur) (Borgmeier, 1924). In the present study the following further records of the putative males of A. excedens were obtained (see below). SHORT NOTE R. H. L. Disney & M. A. L. Bragança - New Species of Scuttle Flies Associated with Leaf Cutter Ants342 Material examined. 3 males, Minas Gerais State, Viçosa, vii.2012, at Atta sexdens (Linn.) (Marcos Bragança, TO-137). 4 males, Minas Gerais State, Florestal, x.2012, at A. sexdens (Cliver Gomes, TO-128, TO-129). This species was previously reported with Atta laevi- gata (see above). Genus Apterophora Brues This genus closely resembles the large genus Puliciphora. The flightless females differ only in having a longer probos- cis. The males differ in having modified front tibiae. How- ever, the form of these modifications ranges from a clearly distinct excavation of the ventral margin to an apical ventral projection. In the genus Puliciphora modifications of the legs are not uncommon. Thus several have swollen front basitarsi or these are otherwise modified (e.g. see Puliciphora species B below). This genus may therefore eventually prove to be merely a subset of Puliciphora. The species of Apterophora are discussed by Prado (1976), allowing identification of males. In our present state of knowledge, females can only be named when associated with their males. Apterophora attophila Borgmeier Material examined. 3 males, Minas Gerais State, Flo- restal, x.2012, at Atta sexdens (Linn.) (Cliver Gomes, TO- 126, TO-127, TO-129). 1 male, Minas Gerais State, Viçosa, vii.2012, at A. sexdens (Marcos Bragança, TO-137). The type series was recorded with A. sexdens and Pra- do (1976) added further records with the same ant along with records with Eciton burchelli (Westwood) and Solenopsis geminata (F.); and also with the termite Nasutiterms sp. Apterophora borgmeieri Prado Material examined. 1 male, Minas Gerais State, Viçosa, vii.2012, at Atta sexdens (Linn.) (Marcos Bragança, TO-136). Apterophora bragancai Disney new species The fore tibia closely resembles that of A. caliginosa Brues, but the longer anal tube and left hypandrial lobe of the hypopygium immediately distinguish the new species. Male. Postpedicels brown, tapered, 0.16 mm long and with about a dozen subcutaneous pit sensilla. Palps brown, 0.24 mm long and 0.06 mm wide, with apical bristle 0.07 mm long. Thorax brown. Notopleuron with 3 bristles. Scutellum with and anterior pair of fine hairs and a posterior pair of bristles. Abdomen with brown tergites and paler brown venter. Hy- popygium as Fig. 1. Apart from brown patches in mid coaxa the legs are mainly yellow apart from the distal halves of the femora shading to brown. Front tibia as Fig. 2. Front tarsus with posterodorsal hair palisades on segments 1 to 4. Hairs below basal half of hind femur shorter than hairs of antero- ventral row of outer half. Wing 2.46 mm long. Costal thicker than vein 3. Costal index 0.65. Costal ratios 0.55 : 1. Haltere knob brown. Material examined. Holotype male, BRAZIL, Minas Gerais State, Viçosa, vii.2012, at Atta sexdens (Linn.) (Marcos Bragança, TO-136) (5-162, MZSP). This fly was captured when it was flying over the ants along the foraging trail. Genus Mymosicarius Borgmeier The females are keyed by Disney, Elizalde & Folgarait (2006). Mymosicarius grandicornis Borgmeier Material examined. 4 females, Minas Gerais State, Viçosa, 14.iv.2012, at Atta bisphaerica Forel (M. Bragança, TO-132, TO-133), 1 female, same locality and ant host, 28.vi.2012 (M. Bragança, TO-135), 4 females, same locality and host ant, ix, 2012 (Hendria Martins, TO-140, TO-141); 1 female, (Jalapão) Mateiros, 3.v.2012, at Atta sexdens (Linn.) (Leandro Silva, TO-131). 11 females, Minas Gerais State, Florestal, x.2012, at A. sexdens (Cliver Gomes, TO-125-128, TO-130). These records confirm previous records with these two ant hosts, which has also been recorded with A. laevigata (Disney, Elizalde & Folgarait (2006). Genus Puliciphora Dahl More than one hundred species are known in this cos- mopolitan genus. Species recognition has been based on the flightless females in the first instance and for most regions keys only exist for the females, those of the Neotropical Region being keyed by Disney (2003). The boundaries of the genus are still not settled. The males of the following two species were obtained. These flies were captured when they were fly- ing over the ants in a disturbed nest. Puliciphora species A Male. Frons much wider than long and with 10 bristles level with or below anterior ocellus (4 supra antennals and 2-4 bristles). Postpedicels brown, 1.0-1.1 mm wide and lacking SPS vesicles. Palps brown, 1.4 mm long, 0.3 mm wide and the longest bristles 0.9 mm long. Thorax brown, but tending to be paler on sides. Notopleuron with 3 bristles. Scutellum with and anterior pair of small hairs and a posterior pair of bris- tles. Abdomial tergites brown and venter gray. Hypopygium as Fig. 3, notably with a long anal tube relative to the length of the epandrium. Legs pale dusky yellow. Front tarsus with a posterodorsal hair palisade on segments 1-4. The 3 hairs Sociobiology 61(3): 341-344 (September 2014) 343 below basal half of hind femur about as long as those of an- teroventral row of outer half but clearly more robust. Wings 1.1 mm long. Costa about as wide as vein 3. Costal index 0.6. Costal ratios 0.37 : 1. Haltere knob brownish gray. Material examined.1 male, Minas Gerais State, Viçosa, vi.2012, at Atta sexdens (Linn.) (M. Bragança, TO-138, MZSP). Puliciphora species B Male. Frons brown, clearly wider than long and with 10 bristles below anterior ocellus. Subglobose postpedicels light brown, 0.1 mm wide, with numerous SPS vesicles. Palps yellowish gray, 0.1-0.12 mm long, 0.04 mm wide and longest bristle 0.06-0.07 mm long. Thorax brown, but paler at sides, with 3 bristles on notopleuron. Scutellum with an anterior pair of small hairs and a posterior pair of bristles. Abdominal terrgites brown and venter gray. Hypopygium as Fig 4. Legs with slightly dusky but pale yellow femora and tibiae but tar- si all pale. Front tarsus with posterodorsal hair palisades on segments 1-4 and basitarsus as Fig. 5. Hind femur with hairs below basal half shorter than those of anteroventral row of outer half. Wings 1.5 mm long. Costa about as wide as vein 3. Costal index 0.55. Costal ratios 0.7 : 1. Haltere with pale stem and brown knob. Material examined.1 male, Minas Gerais State, Viçosa, vi.2012, at Atta sexdens (Linn.) (M. Bragança, TO-138, MZSP). A damaged specimen A distinctive male that has lost both its wings appears to be an undescribed species of the poorly defined genus Macrocerides Borgmeier or a similar genus subsequently distinguished from this genus. An intact specimen will be re- quired to settle thee identity of this species. Male. Frons as Fig. 6. Postpedicels yellowish gray brown, 0.14 mm long and 0.25 mm greatest breadth. Palps yellow, 0.12 mm long, 0.03 mm wide and longest bristle 0.05 mm long. Thorax brown. Notopleuron with 2 bristles. Meso- pleuron bare. Scutellum with an anterior pair of small hairs and a posterior pair of bristles. Abdominal tergites and venter brown. Hypopygium as Fig. 7. Legs apart from brown on mid coxae yellow. Front tarsus as Fig. 8. Hairs below basal half of hind femur shorter and finer than those of anteroventral row of outer half. Material examined. 1 male, Minas Gerais State, Flo- restal, x.2012, at Trachymyrex sp. (Cliver Gomes, TO-124, MZSP). This fly was captured when it was flying over the ants. Acknowledgments MALB thanks to CNPq and Secretaria Estadual de Desenvolvimento Econômico, Ciência, Tecnologia e In- ovação do Tocantins, for the financial support to collect the phorid flies in several localities. RHLD’s studies of Phoridae are currently supported by grants from the Balfour-Browne Trust Fund (University of Cambridge). We are grateful to Terezinha Della Lucia, Marco Antonio Oliveira for logisti- cal support in localities of collect. We also thank to Cliver Gomes, Leandro Silva and Hendria Martins for helping to collect the flies. References Borgmeier T (1924) Novos generos e especies de Phorideos do Brasil. Boletim do Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, 1: 167-202. Borgmeier T (1926) Phorideos novos ou pouco conhecidos do Brasil. Boletim do Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, 2(5), 39-52. Borgmeier T (1928). Nota prévia sobre alguns Phorideos que parasitam formigas cortadeiras dos generos Atta e Acromyrmex. Boletim Biológico Laboratorio de Parasitologia, São Paulo, 14: 119-26. Borgmeier T, Prado, AP do (1975) New or little-known Neo- tropical Phorid flies, with description of eight new genera (Diptera, Phoridae). Studia Entomologica, 18: 3-90. Disney, R. H. L., (2003). Seven new species of New World Puliciphora Dahl (Diptera: Phoridae) with a new key to the Neotropical species. Zootaxa, 162: 1-22. Figs 1-2. Apterophora bragancai male.1, left face of hypopygium; 2, front tibia. Figs 3-5. Puliciphora males. 3, species A, left face of hypopygium; 4-5, species B; 4, left face of hypopygium; 5, front basitarsus. Figs 6-8. Problem damaged specimen, male. 6, frontal view of head; 7, front tarsus; 8, left face of hypopygium. 1 2 543 6 7 8 R. H. L. Disney & M. A. L. Bragança - New Species of Scuttle Flies Associated with Leaf Cutter Ants344 Disney, R. H. L. & Bragança, A. L., (2000). Two new species of Phoridae (Diptera) associated with leaf-cutter ants (Hyme- noptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology, 36: 33-39. Disney, R. H. L., Elizalde, L. & Folgarait, P. J. (2006). New species and revision of Myrmosicarius (Diptera: Phoridae) that parasitize leaf-cutter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology, 47: 771-809. Prado, AP do (1976) Records and descriptions of phorid flies, mainly of the Neotropical Region (Diptera; Phoridae). Studia Entomologica, 19: 561-609.