A NEW SPECIES

OF Forc ipomyia (DIPTERA, CERATOPOGONIDAE)

DESCRIBED IN ALL STAGES,
WITH AN ACCOUNT OF ITS ROLE AS A CACAO POLLINATOR
Saulo de J. Soria *
Paul G. Byslrak **

Forcipom yia (f.uforcipomyia) hatched in about 4 days and the

blalltoni n. sp. together with For-
cipomyia (Euforcipomyia) s patuli-
fera Saunders are the main pol-
Iinators of 'l'beobroma cacao L. in
Brazil (5). This crop contributed
approximately 310 million dollars
in 1974 to the foreign exchange of
this country (2). If it is remembered
that cacao is also an important
commercial crop for several coun-
tries in tropical America. it is easy
to understand the economic rele-
vance of any study that relates to
its reproduction.
Wild gravid females, collected
while visiting caca o f1owers, were
kept :llive under laboratory condi-
tions for an average of 3 da y s
feeding on 20% sucrose. Each fe-
male oviposited approximately 45
eggs shortly before death. Eggs
larvae were reared to pupation in
about 14 days on malt agar medium
innoculated with washings from
decaying matter. The pupal stage
was completed in about 3 days.
Laboratory obtained males and fe-
males did not live for more than 3
days with 20% sucrose, and appar-
e n ti Y no feeding occurred since
ali females died without ovipos-
iting.
Life cycle egg to egg was not
determined , but making a rough in-
terpolation from Hernandez (3) it
could be estimated at 34 days dis-
tributed as follows : egg 4 days,
larva 14 days , pupa 3 days , female
13 days and male 5 days. These
numbers need, of course. more ac-
curate experimental verification.
In Bahia collecting sites f o r
male and female Forcipom yia were

Rece ived for publicat ion on May, 1975.

• Ph.D., Divis ion of Phytopa rasi to logy, CEPEC.
.. M. Sc., Maryland De partme nt o f Agric ulture, Division of Plant [ndustries, C o l-
lege P ark, ~.!aryland 20810, U.S.A.

Revista 'l'b eobroma, CEPEC , Ilh é us, Brasil, 5(2) .. 3 -II. Abr. -]u ... 1975.

3
the flower blossoms , dry cherelles
and dry leaf tips of caca o (4). In
Florida it has been colIected from
the blossoms of Sambucus simp-
sona'.
The terminology used herein
folIows Wirth (6). The measure-
ments were obtained in the manner
of Chan and LeRoux (1) and the
ratios and proportions determined
as explained by Wirth and Messer-
smith (7). Antennal and palpal pro-
portions can be converted to milli-
meters by multiplying by 0,00394.
Types of the new species are de-
posited in lhe Museu de Zoologia,
Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil,
and paratypes, in the U.S. National
Museum in Washington, U. S. A.
DlAGNOSIS: The male of this spe-
cies (Figure 1) can be recognized
by its normal hind bas itarsus; a
broad, nat, slightly arched ae-
deagus with a vertical sclerotized
cleaft; and distalIy flared basis-
tylar apodemes joined by a broad
arch. The fema le (F igure 2) has
two unequal spermathecae, t h e
I a r g e r of which is pyriform in
shape with knobs around the base
of the neck.
LARVA (Figure 3): Length (4th
instar) 2.87 (2.39- 3.16, n= 12) mm.
Body elongated and tapered. Gen-
eral color milky, some specimens
bear reddish pigmentation on the
dorsal surface of the 1st three seg-
ments. Head smalI, sclerotized,
scalIoped in profile , p and q hairs
stout hastate , t hair simple. An-
tenna long, bent posteriorly from
4
about the middle. Eyes large and
conspicuous. Prothoracic pseu-
dopod a simple mound covered with
smaII hooks, a hairs stout hastate,
on darkened tuberc1es. b (?) hairs
dark, setose, arising from smaII
tubercles; missing on precaudal
and caudal segments. Each seg-
ment, except prothoracic, precau -
dai, and caudal, bearing four long ,
simple lateral setae. Cauda long
and slender, without fringe. Anal
blood gilIs bifid, stout.
PUPA (Figure 3): Length ri" 2.08
(1.90~2.29, n = 7) mm; ~ 1.99 (1.84
-2.16, n = 8) mm. GeneralIy light
gray-brown in color, without any
conspicuous features. Thorax with
three pairs of tubercles, the ante-
rior large and knobby, the posterior
smalI, simple mounds. Prothoracic
horn large with a long connecting
stem, averaging 0.14 (0.13-0.15,
n = 14) mm, with medio-posterior
heel and about 26 spiracular papil-
lae. Terminal processes s Iightly
divergent, longer in males . Male's
sexual processes dorsal. Larval
exuviae not retained.
FEMALE (Figure 2): Wing length
=
0.80 (0.74-0.87, n 9)mm; width
0.34 (0.32-0.39, n = 9) mm. Anten-
nal length 0.41 (0.38-0.46, =
n 9)
mm.
Head - Brown, with decumbent
setae. Eyes black, narrowly sep-
arated. Frontal sclerite (Fig. 2H)
with a strongly sclerotized, gently
arched mark and a large triangular
mediai projeclion. Mouthparts light
brown, mandible with many scle-
 A E

B ' ....

c~ , -r
:: =-/

o
"

• •
• • •
•
• • • • ••
.
• •

. ...... ..."
'-/
,

.'.. .'"j. j---,,~---,l,.!J

:."
.. . I,.
~' :

Figure 1 - Foreipomyia (Euforeipomyia) blantoni n. sp. male: A. Pai·

pus , B. Frontal sclerite, C. Anterior veins of wing, D. Genitalia, E.
Flagellum.

rotized teeth. Palpus (Fig. 2F) ments in proportion of 13-29-16-

Iight brown, third segment short
and stout with a lightly selerotized
shallow pit eontaining 10-12 eapi-
tate sensilla. Palpal ratio 3.34
(3.11 - 3.44, n = 9). Palpal seg-
10. Antenna (Fig. 2L) Iigth bro~n;
segments 3-10 near1y spherieal,
w ith eoarse vertie.ils and e I e a r
sensilla, ineluding some arranged
in pairs of a large slender one and

5
 L

J K

M
~ ~
\
.0
.. ..
N
~ ( .
<

\,
.:....~
• •• • • •

.,:
... ..' •......

.' .

Figure 2 - Forcipomyia (Euforcipomyia) bla ntoni tI . s p. female: F.

Palpus , G. Anterior veins of wing, H. Frontal scle ríte, I. Fore tibial
comb, J. frlid tíbial comb, K. lIind tibial comb, L . Flagellum, frI. Sper.
mathecae, N. Genítalia.

6
 Q s

qc?< ) \ T

,/' J \..
- , \..
-'
..., .(
~

Figure 3 - Forcipomyia (Euforcipomyia) blantoni n. sp. larva and pupa:

Q. Anterior portion ollarua, with named setae and antenna as illdicated,
R. Posterior portíon ollarua, S. Pupa showing dillerences he tween male
(lelt) and lema/e, T. Respiratory hom en/arged lor detail.

a small peglike one. Segments 11-
15 longer, tapered, with verticils
and many clear sensilla of various
types; segment 15 with a mediai
seta and an apical papilla. Anten-
nomeres in proportion of 14-10-10-
11-11-11-11 -11-16-18-17 -17 -25. An-
tennal ratio LO (0.93-1.1, n = 9).
T h o r a x - Mesonotum shining
brown, pleura and scutellum yellow
-brown. Scutellum and lateral edges
of mesonotum with a contiguous
row of larger than average setae.
Fore tibial comb (Fig. 21) with two
rows of stout, dark setae. Mid and
hind tibial combs (Figs. 2J-K) nor -
ma\. Prothoracic tarsal ratio 2.30
(2.08-2.36, n = 9); mesothoracic
tarsal ratio 1.83 (1.66-1.93, n = 9);
metathoracic tarsal ratio 1. 93 (1.82
-2.19, n = 9). Wing with adense
covering of dark, semi-erect mac-
rotrichia; first radial cell very nar-
row, second long and wide (Fig.
2G). Costal ratio 0.55 (0.50-0.60,
n = 9). Halters brown.
Abdomen - Brown, with smalI
brown pigment spots. Two unequal
spermathecae (Fig. 2M), d a r k I Y
scler'Jtized; the larger pyriform,

7
with sma 11 knobs around base of
neck, averaging 77 x 50 microns;
the smaller spherical with a dis-
tinct neck, averaging 60 x 41 mi-
crons (n = 9). Distai edge of eighth
sternite (Fig. 2N) transverse, in-
terna I apodemes gently rounded.
MALE (Figure 1): Wing length 0.95
(0.87-1.0, n = 10) mm; width 0.29
(0.26-0.32, n = 10)mm. Antennal
length 0.61 (0.57-0.68, n = 8) mm.
Head - Brown, with semi-erect
setae. Frontal sclerite (Fig. lB)
with mediai triangular projection
and a dark, arched, sclerotized
mark. Mouthparts light brown. Pal-
pus (Fig. IA) light brown; third
segment long and narrow , with a
small, shallow unsclerotized pit
containing a few capitate sensilla.
Palpal ratio 4.83 (4.29-5.67, n = 9).
Palpal proportions 16 -33 -17 -10.
Pedicel brown, flagellar pit slight-
Iy rugose, striated. Antenna (Fig.
1E) light brown, with dense , light
brown plume. Segments 3-11 vasi-
form, becoming narrower and ob-
lique distally, with a pair of long
sens illa. Se gments 12 and 13 long,
narrow, with scattered coarse setae
a n d clear :sensilla . Segment 14
and 15 densely covered with elear
sensilla, segment 15 without ver-
ticils and with an apical papilla.
Antennal proportions 26 -15-15-15-
13-13-13-13-15-51-33-20-29. Anten-
nal ratio 0.95 (0.90-1.0, n = 9).
Thorax - Colors as in female.
Prothoracic tarsal ratio 1.98 (1.86 -
2.40, n = 10); mesothoracic tarsal
ratio 1.51 (1.23-1.67, n = 9); meta-
8
thoracic tarsal ratio 1.66 (1.56-
1.77, n = 10) Hind basitarsus nor-
mal. Claws bifid. Wing covered
with fine decumbent macrotrichia ;
first radial cell obliterated, second
nearly closed (Fig. lC). Costal
ratio 0.48 (0.41 -0.52, n = 10). Hal-
ters brown.
Abdomen - Brown, with scat-
tered setae . Genitalia as in Fig.
10. Basistyles about 1.7 times
long as wide and about 1.2 times
long as dististyles. Dististyles
tapered, with a darker slight hook
at tipo Aedeagus a broad, lightly
sclerotized arch with a .d a r k I Y
selerotized vertical eleft. Basis-
tylar apodemes flared distally and
joined by a broad arch. No pa-
rameres visible .
DlSTRIBUTION : Circum-caribean,
reaching from coastal South Caro-
lina in North America to at least
central Brazil in South America .
TYPES: Holotype male, reared in
laboratory from wild female col-
lected by S. Soria at Ilhéus (CE-
PEC), Bahia, Brazil, 7 Aug. 1973.
Allotype female, parent of holo-
type. Four males, 5 females, 5
larvae, and 5 pupae from the same
elutch are designated as paratypes .
SPECIMENS EXAMINED: BRAZIL,
BAHIA - Ilheus (CEPEC), S. So-
ria, 14 May 1974, 1 male, 2 fe-
males, 2 larvae, 4 pupae; 16 May
1974,5 males, 5 females, 3 larvae,
4 pupae; 17 May 1974, 1 female;
21 May 1974, 3 females, 1 pupa;
24 May 1974, 3 males, 3 females,
3 larvae, 4 pupae; 30 May 1974, 2
females .
UNITED STATES: ALABAMA -
Wilson Dam, W.E . Snow, 17 May
1954, 1 male. FLORIDA - Arch-
bold Biological S t a t i o n (High-
land Co.), S.W. Frost, on flowers
of Sambucus ' simpsoni, 23 Mar.
1970, 4 females; Fellsmere, light
trap, 17 Mar. 1956,1 female; Gain-
esville, Chantilly Acres, F. S.
Blanton , May 1967, 7 males, 1 fe-
male ; 2 May 1967, 4 females; 3
May 1967, 3 females; 8 May 1967,
2 males, 4 females ; 10 May 1967,
3 males , 2 females ; 12 May 1967,
3 males, 4 females; 18 May 1967,
1 female ; June 1967, 4 males, 3 fe-
males; 2 July 1967,2 males, 5 fe-
males; 16 July 1967, 1 female; 25
Aug. 1%7, 5 females; Sept. 1967,
3 females; Gilchrist County, Gerald
Hicks, 3 July 1960, 1 female; Glen
St. Mary, E.W. Holder, Jr., car
window, 11 June 1957, 1 male;
Homestead, R.M. Baranowski, UV
trap, 9 Sept. 1968, 2 males, 3 fe-
males; Juniper Springs, W.W. Wirth,
28 Aug. 1970, 2 females; Lake
Magnolia Park, E. Irons, UV trap,
6 Aug. 1970, 1 male, 1 female;
Lons' Lake (Putnam Co.), F.S.
Blanton, UV trap, Sept. 1971, 1
male, 13 females; Miami, W. W.
Wirth, light trap, 1944, 1 male;
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We wish to thank Dr. Willis W. Wirth of the U.S. National Museum of
Natural History for his assistance and guidance in the preparation of this
9
Molina, F .S. Blanton, UV trap, 4
males ; Monticello, W.H. Whitcomb,
UV trap, Oct. 1969, 1 male, 2 fe-
males; Orchid Jungle, R.M. Bara-
nowski, UV trapo May-June 1969,
4 males, 2 females; Sebring, High-
land Hammock St. Pk., W.W. Wirth,
light trap, 15 April 1970, 1 female;
Tallahassee, F .S . Blanton, UV
trap, May 1970, 2 males; Tampa, -.
Taylor, Mar. 1967, 1 fema le;
Torreya St. Pk., F.S. Blanton, 30
June 1957, 3 females , H.V. Weems,
4 July 1965, 1 female; Vero Beach,
Entorno!. Research Center, light
trap, Apr. 1956, 1 female; Jan.
1957, 1 male; Nov. 1957,2 males,
7 females; Oct. 1958, 1 female ;
Feb. 1959, 6 females; Mar. 1959,
6 males, 8 females; Apr. 1959, 1
male, 3 females; Jan. 1960, 1 fe-
male; Apr.1960, 1 male, 4 females;
May 1960, 4 females; Dec . 1960, 1
female; Wachulla, W. Jenigan, 13
June 1960, 1 male. MISSISSIPPI:
Gulfport, R. E. Woodruff, UV trapo
1 Aug. 1968, 1 female. SOUTH
CAROLINA: Charleston, W. B.
Ezell, light trapo Sept. 1969, 3
males, 1 female .
DISCUSSION: T h i s species has
been named in recognition of Dr.
Franklin S. Blanton, of Gainesville,
Florida, and his voluminous con-
tributions to the study of the fam-
ily Ceratopogonidae.
paper. We ais o thank Eng.-Agr~ Pedrito Silva for suggestions on the style
for Revista Theobroma.

LlTERATURE CITED

1. CHAN, K.L. and LeROVX, E.J. Description of Forcipomyia (Neofor·

cipomyia) sp. n. and redescription of Porcipomyia (Neoforcipo-
myia) eques Oohannsen) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), with an
account of the digestive and reproductive systems. Phytopro-
tection 46 : 74-104. 1965.
2. FUNDAÇÃO GETÚLIO VARGAS. Balança de pagamentos - deficit
global em US$I,2 bilhão em 1974. Conjuntura Econômica (Bra-
zil) 29(2): 112-119. 1975.
3. HERNANDEZ, J. Insect pollination of cacao (Theobroma caca o L.)
in Costa Rica. Ph.D. Thesis. Madison, University of Wiscon-
sin, 1965. 167 p.

4. SORIA, S. de J. Locais de coleta e distribuição de Forcipomyia (Dip-

tera, Ceratopogonidae) relacionadas com a floração e frutifica-
ção do cacaueiro na Bahia, Brasil. Revista Theobroma (Brazil)
3 (2) : 41-49. 1973.

5. . and WI~TH W. W. Identidade e caracterização taxonômica

preliminar das mosquinhas Forcipomyia (Diptera, Ceratopogo-
nidae) associadas com a polinização do cacaueiro na Bahia.
Revista Theobroma (Brazil) 4 (1): 3-12. 1974.

6. WIRTH, W. W. The Heleidae of California. University California Pub-

lications Entomology 9 : 95-266. 1952.

7. . and MESSERSMITH D.H. Studies on the genus Forcipo·

myia. 1. The North American parasitic midges of the subgenus
Trichohelea (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae). Annals of the Entomo-
logical Society of America 64: 15-26. 1971.

ABSTRACT

Forcipomyia (Euforcipomyia) blantoni, a new species of ceratopogonid

midge from the Americas, is described in all stages. Methods oí rearing
this species in the laboratory and its importance to cacao production are
also mentioned.

10