Protrocha punctatosa sp. nov.

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Figs 24–25, 26J

Diagnosis

Body mainly brown with broad pale-yellow median stripe crossing vertex, pronotum and mesonotum (Fig. 24); frons with median carina (Fig. 24A), sublateral carinae ventrally curved (Fig. 24A), central plate of frons oblong (Fig. 24A), not extending anteriorly beyond sublateral carinae in lateral view (Fig. 24C); sides of frons with two well-defined rows of sensory pits and some sensory pits between rows on each side (Fig. 24C); abdominal tergites (Figs 24C, 26J) with row (tergite IV) or group of sensory pits followed by three to four sensory pits almost aligned vertically (tergites V to VII).

Etymology

The specific name ʻ punctatosa ʼ (ʻ punctat- ʼ, Latin = ʻpuncturedʼ; ʻ -osa ʼ, Latin = ʻfull ofʼ) refers to several sensory pits covering some structures of the body of this species.

Material examined

Holotype

MEXICO • ♂; “COAH” [Coahuila de Zaragoza], Cuahtemoc rd., Km 7.4; 25.27970° N, 100.98747° W; 2120 m a.s.l.; Oct. 2005; C. Dietrich leg.; vacuum sample; DNA voucher ENT4916; INHS.

Description

BODY LENGTH. Male = 2.3 mm.

COLORATION. Body mainly brown with broad pale-yellow median stripe crossing vertex, pronotum and mesonotum (Fig. 24 A–C). Clypeus with median longitudinal pale-yellow stripe (Fig. 24B). Sensory pits on body lighter than background color (Fig. 24 A–C). Forewings hyaline brown (Fig. 24 B–C). Legs (Fig. 24A, C) pale-yellow with brown maculae on femora and longitudinal stripes on tibiae.

HEAD AND THORAX. Vertex (Fig. 24B) hexagonal, as long as half its width, as long as pronotum; posterior margin slightly elevated. Frons (Fig. 24A) with median carina and pair of sublateral carinae; sublateral carinae convergent and almost fused ventrally (Fig. 24A); central plate (Fig. 24A) oblong, as long as wide at widest portion, not visible in dorsal view (Fig. 24B), not extending anteriorly beyond sublateral carinae in lateral view (Fig. 24C); sides of frons partially visible in frontal view, almost fused above clypeus (Fig. 24A) in lateral view, with two well-defined rows of sensory pits and some sensory pits between rows on each side: anterior row with 10 sensory pits, seven dorsal ones grouped, followed by eighth isolated one aligned to antenna and isolated ventral pair, with three to four sensory pits between anterior and posterior row; posterior row with six to seven sensory pits. Clypeus (Fig. 24A, C) not swollen and without carina. Ocelli absent. Eye oblong. Antenna short, with several small circular structures visible on pedicel. Pronotum (Fig. 24B) semicircular, as long as half its width; posterior margin concave; with median carina; median portion of disc depressed, without sensory pits; lateral portion of disc with 20 to 22 sensory pits on each side; lateral lobe of pronotum (Fig. 24C) with four sensory pits arranged in group. Mesonotum (Fig. 24B) with median carina and pair of lateral carinae; region between lateral carinae depressed and without sensory pits; region laterad of lateral carina with 11 sensory pits. Brachypterous, with reduced venation. Legs simple, with carinae and setose; tibia III with single median spine.

ABDOMEN. Terga with longitudinal carina. Tergite III (Figs 24C, 26J) without sensory pits. Tergite IV (Figs 24C, 26J) with one row of four sensory pits followed by one isolated ventral row of three pits. Tergites V to VI (Figs 24C, 26J) with one anterior row of five sensory pits and posterior single displaced one, followed by isolated ventral row of three pits. Tergite VII (Figs 24C, 26J) with one anterior row of five sensory pits and posterior row of two pits, followed by one isolated ventral group of four pits. Tergite VIII with one sensory pit.

MALE TERMINALIA. Pygofer (Fig. 25A) with anterior margin deeply concave; posterior margin with dorsal third almost straight and with slight concavity at middle third. Connective (Fig. 25B) inverted Y-shaped, with support bridge with dorsal flap. Styles (Fig. 25 C–D) hook-like; anterior portion pointed; posterior portion curved anterodorsally, converging towards the other in dorsal view (Fig. 25C); dorsal margin (Fig. 25D) mostly straight before curvature with three small spines near apex; ventral margin (Fig. 25D) with straight angle between anterior and middle third, after that mostly rounded; middle portion longer than high, setose; apex serrated. Phallobase (Fig. 25 E–H) sclerotized, asymmetrical, with one side more extended anteriorly and more elevated than other side (Fig. 25 E–F); apex rounded in lateral view (Fig. 25 G–H), surrounding apical half of aedeagus. Aedeagus (Fig. 25 E–F) with apex narrow and open dorsally; with single aedeagal hook curved anteriorly to right side in dorsal view (Fig. 25 E–F) and curved anteroventrally in lateral view (Fig. 25 G–H). Suspensorium V-shaped. Segment X of anal tube (Fig. 25I and 25J) longer than wide; posterior margin (Fig. 25I) pointed with apex rounded; setose.

Remarks

The new species presents all of the diagnostic characteristics of Protrocha mentioned by Emeljanov (1996; see Discussion) and is therefore placed in this genus. The new species was compared to species of Aphelonema described and illustrated in the works of Doering (1941) and Caldwell (1945) and it can be distinguished from them by the following combination of characteristics: (1) all abdominal tergites (except VIII) with a group of three isolated sensory pits (Figs 24C, 26J); (2) pattern of coloration (Fig. 24 A–C); and (3) overall shape of male terminalia (Fig. 25 A–J). Additionally, this species was compared to photographs of the holotype of the type species of the genus, Protrocha orbiculata (Ball, 1935), and it is similar in overall body shape and distribution of sensory pits on the frons and abdomen.