First record to Brazil of one genus and seven species of Psychodidae (Diptera) with further new records for 10 countries on the Neotropics

With a big territory and variety of biomes, Brazil is one of the most diverse countries in the World, with insects massively contributing to this diversity. Although presenting impressive numbers, many groups are poorly known concerning their diversity and distribution. Also, the knowledge of the species diversity is very heterogeneous when comparing Brazilian states and regions. With a recent review of part of Lawrence Quate’s collection deposited at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, more than 70 new geographical records for Psychodidae species were found on the Neotropics, including one genus (Eurygarka) and seven species first recorded to Brazil. The complete known distribution of these species was compiled and is presented along with new records for other 11 countries of the Neotropical region. On the Brazilian territory, most of the new records are for the state of Rondônia, on the northern region, followed by Minas Gerais, on the southeastern region. Key-Words. Moth flies; Neotropical Region; Psychodinae; Brazilian fauna.


INTRODUCTION
Considering insect diversity, Brazil has already been suggested as the most diverse country in the World, for its big territory and variety of biomes (Rafael et al., 2012). Diptera is the third most diverse order of Brazilian fauna, only behind Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. The current knowledge of the Brazilian Diptera fauna accounts 11,217 valid species in 1,950 genera and 99 families (Rafael, 2019; accessed 10/10/2019).
Psychodidae (moth flies and sand flies) is the fifth family in number of known species in Brazil, with 546 valid names, behind Phoridae (851), Tachinidae (777), Chironomidae (631) and Syrphidae (588) (Rafael, 2019; accessed 10/10/2019). Among the five subfamilies occurring in Brazil, Phlebotominae is the largest subfamily in number of known species, with more than 275 valid names. This subfamily has historically received more attention due to its medical importance: females are hematophagous, and many species are potential vectors of etiological agents of Leishmaniasis, arboviruses and Bartonellosis (Rangel & Lainson, 2009). Psychodinae is the second in number of known species in Brazil, and has the most varied biology, with larvae occupying a multitude of habitats (Wagner & Ibáñez-Bernal, 2009).
The geographic distribution of American sand flies has been being investigated by many studies, especially in the last three decades, with detailed distribution of sand flies in Brazilian territory (Aguiar & Vieira, 2018). On the opposite side the distribution of species of other subfamilies is still poorly known, and the knowledge of the diversity of Psychodidae (except of Phlebotominae) in Brazil is very heterogeneous when comparing states and regions (Bravo & Araújo, 2014). Knowing the diversity and distribution of species is fundamental to help studies on biogeography and conservation.
A recent visit to Los Angeles County Museum to collect information of Brazilian Psychodidae specimens deposited in their collection, allowed the study of the collection left by Lawrence Quate, which has many well-preserved Neotropical material. Herein, more than 70 new distributional records are made for Psychodidae species in the Neotropics, including one genus and seven species first recorded to Brazil.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
All specimens are slide mounted in Canada balsam and deposited at LACM Entomological collection. Images were taken on a Keyence VHX-5000 digital microscope.

Remarks: This female specimen is undoubtfully an
Eurygarka for the following characters: eye bridge with four rows of facets, divided by one facet diameter; palp segments two and three slightly swollen; palp segments 1-3 each with transverse, ovoid sensory organ placed mid-length on their lateral surface; first palp segment a little greater than ½ the length of second, distal three palp segments slightly increasing in length; female cerci short; hypovalvae with single median protuberance, digitiform (Curler & Moulton, 2008). This is the first record of this genus to Brazil. This is possibly the female of Eurygarka freyrei Jezek et al., 2011 (described from Bolivia), but its morphology is also similar to the male of E. cyphostylus Curler, 2008 (from the USA), so the association is dubious. The characters that link this female to the males of these two species are: distance of eyes, number of facet rows, the shape of frons groups of setae, the shape of palpus, the shape of Sc vein on the wing and infuscation of costal cell.

CONCLUSIONS
This study of a well preserved and curated collection provided more than 70 new geographic records, which can be very helpful in future efforts of rapid assessments, as well as may contribute to studies on biogeography and conservation. The number of known species of Brazilian Psychodidae was also increased to 553, including one genus first time reported, also increasing to 46 the number of Psychodidae genera in Brazil.