Fitchiella zahniseri sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 24D79AE7-EA07-4A0D-AF6D-FFBA6D5A9107

Figs 13–15, 26F

Diagnosis

Body mainly stramineous with several dark brown maculae and sensory pits bordered by dark brown (Fig. 13); snout longer than interocular distance (measured from base to tip) with apex rounded in frontal and lateral view (Fig. 13A, C–D, F); lateral lobe of pronotum with four sensory pits arranged in a row (Fig. 13C); forewings with reticulated venation (Fig. 13 B–C, E–F); abdominal tergites (Figs 13C, F, 26F) with row of sensory pits followed by single isolated ventral sensory pit (tergite IV and V) or isolated pair of diagonally aligned ventral sensory pits (tergites VI to VII).

Etymology

The specific name ʻ zahniseri ʼ is in honor of Dr James Zahniser (USDA = US Department of Agriculture) who collected the type series of this species in Panama and kindly sent us photographs of holotypes of Caliscelidae deposited at the NMNH.

Material examined

Holotype

PANAMA • ♂; Verugas, Pan-Am Highway, 40 km W of Santiago; 08.20298° N, 081.18768° W; 166 m a.s.l.; Aug. 2005; J.N. Zahniser leg.; sweep; DNA voucher ENT4204; NMNH.

Paratypes

PANAMA • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; INHS • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; DZRJ .

Description

BODY LENGTH. Male = 2.7 mm; females = 3.5 mm.

COLORATION. Body mainly stramineous with several dark brown maculae and sensory pits bordered by dark brown; dark brown maculae darker and more extensive in males than females (Fig. 13 A–C vs Fig. 13 D–F). Vertex (Fig. 13B, E) with pair of large dark brown maculae. Frons (Fig. 13A, D) with pair of dark brown stripes bordering sublateral carinae and dark brown stripe covering median carina; side of frons (Fig. 13C, F) dark brown where sensory pits are lacking. Gena (Fig. 13C, F) with large dark brown macula. Clypeus in lateral view (Fig. 13C, F) with dorsal portion extended anteriorly dark brown, median portion stramineous, ventral portion dark brown. Lateral lobe of pronotum (Fig. 13C, F) with anterior portion dark brown. Mesonotum (Fig. 13B, E) region between lateral carinae stramineous with pair of elongated dark brown maculae near lateral carinae. Forewings (Fig. 13 B–C, E–F) light brown with veins white; white stripes within cells. Legs stramineous with some elongated dark brown maculae. Abdomen (Fig. 13 B–C, E–F) with several elongated dark brown maculae starting from sensory pits and extending posteriorly; dark brown maculae forming continuous longitudinal line between row of sensory pits and isolated one.

HEAD AND THORAX. Vertex (Fig. 13B, E) hexagonal, as long as half its width, as long as half of pronotum length, with slight median carina; posterior margin slightly elevated. Frons (Fig. 13A, D) with median carina and pair of sublateral carinae; sublateral carinae convergent and fused to each other ventrally (Fig. 13A, D); central plate (Fig. 13A, D) longer than wide at widest portion, visible in dorsal view (Fig. 13B, E), not extending anteriorly beyond sublateral carinae in lateral view (Fig. 13C, F); sides of frons partially visible in frontal view (Fig. 13A, D), fused above clypeus, with two rows of sensory pits in lateral view: anterior row with eight sensory pits, five dorsal ones grouped together, followed by three isolated ones ventrally to concavity on anterior margin of frons; posterior row with four sensory pits. Clypeus (Fig. 13C, F) not swollen, with dorsal portion extending anteriorly, consequently pushing frons and producing moderately produced snout; snout in dorsal view (Fig. 13B) longer than interocular distance (measured from base to tip), rounded in frontal and lateral view (Fig. 13C, F), with median carina. Ocelli absent. Eye oblong. Antenna short, with several small circular structures visible on pedicel. Pronotum (Fig. 13B, E) semicircular, shorter than half its width; posterior margin straight; with median carina; surface of disc almost completely covered by 15 sensory pits on each side; lateral lobe of pronotum (Fig. 13C, F) with four sensory pits arranged in a row. Mesonotum (Fig. 13B, E) with slight median carina and pair of lateral carinae; region between lateral carinae depressed, without sensory pits; region outerad of lateral carinae with 11 to 12 sensory pits on each side. Brachypterous, with reticulated venation. Legs simple, with carinae and setae; tibia III with single median spine.

ABDOMEN. Terga with longitudinal carina. Tergite III (Figs 13C, F, 26F) without sensory pits. Tergite IV (Figs 13C, F, 26F) with one row of four to seven (four in holotype) sensory pits, with penultimate one slightly displaced, followed by single isolated ventral one. Tergite V (Figs 13C, F, 26F) with one row of four to five (five in holotype) sensory pits, with penultimate one slightly displaced, followed by single isolated ventral one. Tergites VI and VII (Figs 13C, F, 26F) with one row of four to five (five in holotype) sensory pits, with penultimate one slightly displaced, followed by isolated ventral pair aligned diagonally. Tergite VIII (Fig. 26F) with one sensory pit.

MALE TERMINALIA. Pygofer (Fig. 14A) narrow, with anterior margin deeply concave; posterior margin almost straight, except for slight concavity near ventral portion. Connective (Fig. 14B) inverted Y-shaped, with support bridge with dorsal lap. Style (Fig. 14 C–D) hook-like; anterior portion pointed; caudal portion strongly curved anterodorsally and converging towards the other in dorsal view (Fig. 14C); dorsal margin (Fig. 14D) with slight protuberance on median third; ventral margin (Fig. 14D) with straight angle between anterior and middle third, after that mostly rounded; median portion (Fig. 14D) longer than high, setose; apex serrated. Phallobase (Fig. 14 E–H) sclerotized, symmetrical, with two defined lobes; apex with pair of lobes truncate in dorsal view (Fig. 14 E–F), rounded in lateral view (Fig. 14 G–H), with dorsal process near apex in lateral view (Fig. 14 G–H) surrounding apical half of aedeagus; with flap covering aedeagal hook in lateral view (Fig. 14 G–H). Aedeagus (Fig. 14 E–F) apex narrow and open dorsally; with pair of hooks, one curved anterodorsally, other curved posteroventrally in lateral view (Fig. 14 G–H). Suspensorium V-shaped. Segment X of anal tube (Fig. 14 I–J) as long as wide; posterior margin (Fig. 14I) rounded; segment XI of anal tube almost reaching posterior margin of segment X; setose.

FEMALE TERMINALIA. Posterior margin of sternite VII (Fig. 15B) with median portion produced, setose. Gonoplac (Fig. 15C) sclerotized, sub-rectangular with apex truncate, setose. Anterior connective lamina of gonapophysis VIII (Fig. 15D) with two conspicuous apical teeth: innermost narrower and longer than outer one; with two small spines laterad of outer tooth. Posterior connective lamina of gonapophysis IX (Fig. 15 E–F) distal part in lateral view (Fig. 15F) with longitudinal row of nine to 10 wide, triangular, inclined spines; middle portion with several pits (Fig. 15F); apex setose (Fig. 15F). Segment X of anal tube (Fig. 15 G–H) longer than wide at widest portion; posterior margin (Fig. 15G) with apex rounded; setose.

Remarks

The new species resembles Fitchiella robertsoni (type species) and F. brachyrhina sp. nov., sharing the following characteristics: (1) pattern of coloration (Figs 11, 13); (2) brachypterous with reticulated venation and with stripes within cells (Figs 11B, E, 13B, E); (3) overall shape of snout (Figs 11C, F, 13C, F), with anteroventrally produced clypeus, concavity on anterior margin of frons, and knobbed apex (Figs 11C, 13C, E); and (4) pattern of distribution of abdominal sensory pits (Fig. 26 E–F). However, the new species can be distinguished from these two similar species by the following combination of characteristics: (1) snout (Fig. 13C, F) intermediate in length between the two previously described species, with apex less rounded and swollen than in F. robertsoni; and (2) lateral lobe of pronotum with four sensory pits (Fig. 13C, F). Other species in Fitchiella, such as F. rufipes Lawson, 1933 and F. grandis Lawson, 1933, among other, are easily distinguished from these species, F. robertsoni and F. brachyrhina sp. nov., by: (1) overall shape of snout, which is straight in some species, without concavity on anterior margin of frons and flattened laterally; (2) different pattern of coloration; (3) forewings without reticulated venation; (4) dorsoventrally expanded legs, more or less foliaceous in some species; and (5) different pattern of distribution of abdominal sensory pits (based on photographs of F. rufipes). More studies are necessary to better define Fitchiella .