Corresponding author: Brian V. Brown (
Academic editor: Torsten Dikow
Flies of the family
A second minute, limuloid female phorid parasitoid fly (
There are few other families of insects with such a wide variety of body forms and life histories as the
Although phorids are commonly described as scavengers, with a few parasitoid species, this generalisation is false. The “scavenger” moniker commonly affixed to phorids is based largely on the ubiquity and abundance of
Previously, one of the most unusual and remarkable phorids ever discovered was described, the minute (0.4 mm body length) female of
The specimen described herein was collected by a Malaise trap (
Same as for species.
There are a small number of minute, limuloid phorid genera in the world. In the New World tropics, the only relatively similar genera have large, differentiated frontal setae that are several times longer than the short frontal setae and do not have the scutellum covering the abdomen (
Female (Figs
Male unknown (but see below).
Female. Minute, limuloid; body setae scattered, sparse; wing with shed blades and short costa; head and scutum large, scutellum covering almost entire abdomen; oviscape thin, pointed, indicating a parasitoid lifestyle. Edge of scutum lateroventrally extended, posteriorly ending in narrowed flange (Fig.
Similar genera. Males of
The genus name is Latin for large foreleg, referring to the structure of the female. The specific epithet refers to Arnold Schwarzenegger, former governor of California, whose own greatly enlarged forelimbs distinguished him in his pre-political careers.
Amazonian Brazil
Unknown, but almost certainly a parasitoid. The torn wing membrane is reminiscent of other phorid flies that shed their wings when entering a social insect colony. It seems likely that the greatly enlarged forelegs are used to clutch a host, upon which the small, rounded body would appear similar to that of many phoretic mites.
A potential male specimen was accidentally destroyed during illustration process, but from memory only, it was as follows: minute, with small head; frons greatly reduced (as in male
It is common for researchers to change the alcohol in Malaise trap samples, pouring off the old liquid, stained yellow with body fluids of the many preserved insects. Also, we commonly drain the alcohol out of samples for safer or at least more legal transport of these chemicals. Fortunately, the samples including the
I thank D. Amorim, J. Raphael, W. Porras, G. Kung, and all my colleagues from the 2013 expedition to Manuas for their help and camaraderie in the field. I am further grateful to L. Chiappe (LACM Research & Collections Division) for moral and financial support. Field work in Brazil also has been funded by R. Lavenberg. Illustrations were skilfully provided by I. Strazhnik and T. Hayden.
Known lifestyles of