A new species of the Neotropical genus Beebeomyia (Diptera: Richardiidae) with observations of its biology on Dieffenbachia oerstedii (Araceae)

Abstract

A new species of the genus Beebeomyia Curran found in central Veracruz (Mexico) is described, including characters of the male and female terminalia, and a key to the identification of the known species is provided. This new species was found feeding within inflorescences of Dieffenbachia oerstedii Schott (Araceae). Larvae were found throughout the inflorescence, with a proportion nearly three times higher in the female (bottom) than the male (top) section. The life cycle from larval stage to adult emergence takes place in an average time of 42 days, while pupation occurs within the inflorescence. Observations of the oviposition behaviour suggest that after oviposition, the female marks the inflorescence with a deterrent pheromone to prevent further ovipositions by other conspecific females.

http://zoobank.org/lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DC19F7E5-3AAF-4E5C-A35C-F4872C89D3B4

Keywords:

• Richardiidae
• Beebeomyia
• new species
• host plant
• Araceae

Acknowledgements

We thank Rosamond Coates (EBLT-UNAM) for her comments on the early draft of manuscript, improvement of the English translation and support to carry out this study at the Biological Station of Los Tuxtlas-UNAM; Dulce Rodríguez (UV) for her assistance on the oviposition behaviour in the field; and José F. Dzul (INECOL) for his assistance with rearing specimens at the laboratory. This work is a contribution to the project ‘Endophagous insects and trophic interactions in tropical fruits from Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico’.