Sclerocoelus elephas Kuwahara, Marshall & Paiero, 2025, sp. nov.

Sclerocoelus elephas sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A297C0D2-4881-43C8-A4D4-1B03C751A4F4 Figs 6F, 50–52 Etymology This name refers to the elephant trunk-like epiphallus (from the Latin ‘ elephas ’, meaning ‘elephant’). Material examined Holotype VENEZUELA • ♂; Mérida, Los Chorros; 23 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweeps; DEBU. Paratypes BOLIVIA – La Paz • 7 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Chulumani, Apa-Apa Reserve; 16°21′15″ S, 67°30′21″ W; 2000 m a.s.l.; 1 Apr. 2001; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep; CBFC. ECUADOR – Napo • 1 ♀; 4.8 km W of El Chaco; 1750 m a.s.l.; 7 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; QCAZ • 1 ♀; Baeza; 1500 m a.s.l.; 16–19 May 1987; L.D. Coote and B.V. Brown leg.; wet montane rainforest, Malaise trap; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; SierrAzul Lodge, 14 km W of Cosanga; 5 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; QCAZ • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 2200 m a.s.l.; forest, sweep; QCAZ • 8 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; SierrAzul Reserve, 14 km W of Cosanga; 0°40′55″ S, 77°56′09″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 9 May 2002; M. Buck leg.; trail sweep; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 10–11 May 2002; Marshall and Paiero leg.; treefall, yellow pans; QCAZ • 3 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 9–11 May 2002; O. Lonsdale leg.; DEBU • 6 ♂♂; SierrAzul Reserve, 14 km W of Cosanga; 5 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; disturbed trail sweep; QCAZ. – Pichincha • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 11.7 km SE of Tandayapa, road to Nono; 28 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; near stream, litter/wood; DEBU • 3 ♂♂; 20 km N of Nono, road to Mindo; 1900 m a.s.l.; 24 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; path sweep; DEBU • 1 ♀; 22.7 km E of Tandapi; 2440 m a.s.l.; 24–29 Jun. 1975; S. Peck leg.; moss forest, dung traps; DEBU • 10 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 3.5 km SE of Tandayapa; 28 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; in green leaf litter (treefall); QCAZ • 1 ♂; Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve; 0°01′13″ S, 78°40′30″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 1 May 2011; S.A. Marshall leg.; pans near treefall; debu00339885 / MYCRO918-21 sequenced for CO1-5’; DEBU. – Zamora Chinchipe • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; San Francisco Biological Reserve, Canal trail; 3°58′30″ S, 79°04′25″ W; 2000 m a.s.l.; 18–25 Feb. 2009; M. Pollet and A. De Braekeleer leg.; blue pan traps; RBINS. VENEZUELA – Mérida • 16 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; DEBU • 32 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀; 6 km S of Azulita; 3 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; near road; DEBU • 9 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Jají-La Azulita; 3 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; roadside sweeps; DEBU • 7 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Mérida, El Vallecita; 2400 m a.s.l.; 1 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; second growth, sweep; DEBU • 1 ♂; Mérida, Los Chorros; 2100 m a.s.l.; 5 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep at trailhead; DEBU • 3 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; wet leaves; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 2200 m a.s.l.; 23 Apr. 1988; decaying vegetation; DEBU • 1 ♂; Mérida, Los Chorros; 1–5 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; leaf debris, flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; Mérida, Los Chorros, Santa Rosa Road; 30 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep; DEBU • 4 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Mérida, Mucui, 10 km E of Tobay; 2000 m a.s.l.; 28 Apr. 1981; H. Townes leg.; CNCI • 1 ♂; Mérida, Santa Rosa Trail; 23–30 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; flight-intercept trap; DEBU. Other material examined BOLIVIA – Chapare • 3 ♀♀; Paracti; 2200 m a.s.l.; 1–4 Feb. 1976; L.E. Peña leg.; CNCI • 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Yungas; 2200 m a.s.l.; 1–3 Feb. 1976; L.E. Peña leg.; CNCI. – La Paz • 1 ♀; 10 km NW of Caranavi, road to ENTEL tower; 15°46′35″ S, 67°35′48″ W; 1400 m a.s.l.; 13 Apr. 2001; S.A. Marshall leg.; dung pans; DEBU • 4 ♂♂; Chulumani, Apa-Apa Reserve; 16°21′15″ S, 67°30′21″ W; 2000 m a.s.l.; 1 Apr. 2001; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; dung baits; DEBU • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 1–3 Apr. 2001; pan traps; DEBU. ECUADOR – Napo • 2 ♀♀; 2.5 km W of Cosanga; 2150 m a.s.l.; 5–7 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; dung/pans; DEBU • 9 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; 4.2 km S of Cosanga, pipeline trail; 2200 m a.s.l.; 7 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 4.8 km W of El Chaco; 1750 m a.s.l.; 7 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀; Baeza; 1500 m a.s.l.; 16–19 May 1987; L.D. Coote and B.V. Brown leg.; wet montane rainforest, Malaise trap; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 27 ♀♀; Baeza; 1550 m a.s.l.; 15–19 May 1987; L.D. Coote and B.V. Brown leg.; wet montane rainforest/pasture, Malaise trap off stone trail; ROME • 3 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀; Baeza; 1700 m a.s.l.; 16–19 May 1987; L.D. Coote and B.V. Brown leg.; wet montane forest/ pasture, near small creek, Malaise head; ROME • 1 ♂; Baeza; 2000 m a.s.l.; 1 Mar. 1979; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 1–10 Mar. 1979; DEBU • 1 ♂; Jatun Sacha Reserve, 6 km W of Misahualli; 1°04′ S, 77°37′ W; 450 m a.s.l.; 7 May 2002; O. Lonsdale leg.; sweep; DEBU • 67 ♂♂, 28 ♀♀; SierrAzul Lodge, 14 km W of Cosanga; 2200 m a.s.l.; 5 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; forest, sweep; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; SierrAzul Lodge, 14 km W of Cosanga; 5 Nov. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 10 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; sweeping disturbed trail; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; SierrAzul Reserve, 14 km W of Cosanga; 0°40′55″ S, 77°56′09″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 9 May 2002; O. Lonsdale leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 10 May 2002; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; downed bromeliads, dung pans; DEBU • 6 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; treefall, yellow pans, 9–10 May 2002, M. Buck leg.; DEBU. – Pichincha • 3 ♀♀; 3.5 km SE of Tandayapa; 28 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; in green leaf litter (treefall); DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 7 km SE of Nanegalito, trout farm ‘San Jose’; 1500 m a.s.l.; 27–30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; riverine forest, sweep treefalls; DEBU • 8 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve; 0°01′13″ S, 78°40′30″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 9–13 May 2009; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 5 ♂♂; same collection data as preceding; 1 May 2011; pans near treefall; DEBU • 10 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve; 0°00′54″ S, 78°40′46″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 1 May 2011; S.A. Marshall leg.; treefall; DEBU • 5 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve; 0°01′13″ S, 78°40′30″ W; 2200 m a.s.l.; 1 May 2011; S.A. Marshall leg.; pans near treefall; DEBU • 3 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 9–13 May 2011; DEBU • 6 ♂♂, 38 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve; 2150 m a.s.l.; 30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; on sifted litter; DEBU • 16 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve; 2200 m a.s.l.; 30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Bellavista Reserve, ridge trail; 2200 m a.s.l.; 28–30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; pans near dung; DEBU • 69 ♂♂, 76 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve, ridge trail; 28 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweeping/aspirating; DEBU • 47 ♂♂, 43 ♀♀; Bellavista Reserve, trail ‘B’; 30 Oct. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweeping; DEBU • 1 ♀; Maquipucuna Biological Reserve; 0°07′34″ S, 78°37′57″ W; 1200 m a.s.l.; 27–28 Apr. 2002; M. Buck leg.; sweep; DEBU. – Zamora Chinchipe • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; San Francisco Biological Reserve, Canal trail; 3°58′30″ S, 79°04′25″ W; 2000 m a.s.l.; 13–18 Feb. 2009; M. Pollet and A. De Braekeleer leg.; red pan trap; RBINS • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; yellow pan trap; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 17–25 Feb. 2009; RBINS • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 18–25 Feb. 2009; DEBU. VENEZUELA – Aragua • 21 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; Colonia Tovar; 2300 m a.s.l.; 10 Mar. 1995; S.A. Marshall leg.; DEBU • 12 ♂♂, 14 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 2400 m a.s.l.; bamboo forest, sweep; DEBU • 1 ♀; Henri Pittier National Park, Rancho Grande, La Toma trail; 9 Apr. 1994; L. Masner leg.; CNCI • 1 ♂; Maracay, Rancho Grande Biological Station; 1250 m a.s.l.; 5 Mar. 1995; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweep along trail; DEBU. – Mérida • 1 ♀; Jají; 27 Apr.–3 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; cloud forest, flight-intercept trap; DEBU • 2 ♀♀; Jají to La Azulita; 3 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; roadside sweeps; DEBU • 2 ♀♀; Mérida, Los Chorros; 23 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; sweeps; DEBU • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 2200 m a.s.l.; decaying vegetation; DEBU • 7 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 2300 m a.s.l.; flight-intercept trap, 23–30 Apr. 1988; DEBU • 1 ♀; Mérida, Los Chorros; 2300 m a.s.l.; 5 May 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; wet leaves; DEBU • 1 ♀; Páramo La Culata; 3000 m a.s.l.; 25 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; Espeletia, pan traps; DEBU • 33 ♂♂, 18 ♀♀; Santa Rosa Trail; 1500 m a.s.l.; 24–30 Apr. 1988; S.A. Marshall leg.; flight-intercept trap along spring; DEBU. – Trujillo • 1 ♂; 10 km E of Bocono, Laguna de Lucerdo; 3 Mar. 1995; S.A. Marshall leg.; aspirated along river; DEBU • 3 ♂♂; Guaramacal National Park; 2000–3000 m a.s.l.; 26 Aug.–1 Sep. 1992; L. Masner leg.; car net; DEBU. Description BODY (Fig. 50A). Length 2.8–3.9 mm. Head dark brown, lower fifth of frons orange; face, gena, and antennae orange-brown. Frontal width 2.3–2.4× frontal height. Three pairs of strong interfrontal bristles surmounting a very fine fourth pair; anterior orbital 0.4–0.5 × length of posterior. Palpus pale yellow. Eye very large, greatest height about 5.0× shortest genal height. Thorax dark brown, scutum with paler lateral edges. Two pairs of dorsocentral bristles (anterior pair only slightly larger than surrounding acrostichal setulae) separated by 9–10 rows of acrostichal setulae. Membrane around prosternum sometimes with a lateral sclerite bearing 1–2 inner setulae. Legs brown, hind femur darker. Fore femur with three large ventral preapical setae. Ventral surface of male mid tibia with two rows of stout setae in apical third. Wing (Fig. 6F) slightly infuscate. CS2 0.7–0.8× CS3. Halter pale brown with white apex. MALE ABDOMEN (Figs 50B–D, 51). Dark brown, posterior edges of tergites sometimes slightly desclerotized. T2–5 and S2–4 uniformly long-setose with large posterolateral setae. S5 large, subquadrate, 3.0 × length of S4, anterior third overlapped by S4; laterally sparsely setose with a dark, rectangular posteromedial patch of dense setulae flanked by large desclerotized areas, patch extending posteriorly on right side. Anterior flange of S6+7 2.0 × as long as wide. Sclerite A small, slightly separated from S