Plega spinosa Ardila, Cancino, Acevedo & Contreras, 2019

Ardila-Camacho, Adrian, Cancino-López, Rodolfo J., Acevedo, Fernando & Contreras-Ramos, Atilano, 2019, Four new species of Plega Navás, 1928 (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) from Mexico, Zootaxa 4612 (3), pp. 351-372 : 360-364

Plega spinosa Ardila, Cancino, Acevedo & Contreras , sp. n.

Figs. 7–9 , 13c

Material examined. Type material. Holotype ♂: Mexico: Oaxaca, San Juan B[autista] Cuicatlán, Santiago Dominguillo , 17°38’90.7” N, 96°54’70.3” W, 760 m, 26-I-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez and E. González, 1♂ [pinned, genitalia dissected] ( CNIN).

Paratypes: Guerrero, Atoyac-Stangei Delhi, El Ranchito , 20-IV-1988, A. Cadena, M. García, L. Cervantes, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Acahuizotla , 17-X-2009, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, E. González, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Acahuizotla , Puente El Rajado , 17º21’29.8” N, 99º27’46.4” W, 5-VII-2009, E. González-Soriano, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) . Jalisco, La Huerta, Chamela , 92 m, 28-III- 1988, E. Ramírez, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) . Morelos, Ayala, Villa de Ayala , Rancho El Polvorín, 29-I-1971, H. Pérez, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 22-VII-1971, H. Pérez, 2♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 19-IX-1971, H. Pérez, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data except 17-X-1971, H. Pérez, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 2-X-1972, H. Pérez, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; Tlaquiltenango, 2.5 Km, 4 Km W Huautla , Estación CEAMISH, 18°27’49.28” N, 99°02’15.05” W, 940 m, 15-II-1996, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, E. González, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; Huautla , 18º23’04.27” N, 99º03’00.03” W, 1028 m, 25-XI-2008, V.H. Toledo, 22♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; Huautla , 18º23’08.4” N, 99º03’04” W, 1023 m, 28–31-I-2009, V.H. Toledo, 19♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; Puente de Ixtla , S Coax- itlán, 18º25’46.9” N, 99º10’45.4” W, 1050 m, 3-III-2010, Toledo et al., 3♂ [pinned] ( CIUM) ; Tepalcingo , S El Limón, 18º31’42.6” N, 98º56’24.6” W, 1244 m, 9-II-2013, Villastangei et al., 6♂ [pinned] ( CIUM) . Nayarit, Tepic, P [resa] H[idroeléctrica] Aguamilpa, San Rafael, Arroyo de la Virgen , 1-XI-1991, R. Barba, E. Barrera, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; Tepic, Estación de Microondas, 8.3 Km W “El Cajón”, 21°25’40” N, 104°31’43” W, 902 m, 16-XI-2009, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, 1♂, [pinned] ( CNIN) . Oaxaca, San Juan Bautista Cuicatlán, Santiago Dominguillo , 17°38’90.7” N, 96°54’70.3” W, 760 m, 25-I-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, E. González, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 22-I-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, E. González, 2♂ [alcohol], 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 22-III-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, E. González, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 25-III-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, E. González, 1♂ [alcohol] ( CNIN) ; same data but 24-IV-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, E. González, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but S. Zaragoza [without geographic coordinates and altitude], 3♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) , 3♂ [light trap, in alcohol, genitalia dissected] ( CNIN) ; same data but 23-IX-1998, 1♂ [light trap, pinned, genitalia dissected] ( CNIN) ; same data but 20-IX-1998, 1♂ [light trap, pinned, genitalia dissected] ( CNIN) , 2♂ [light trap, pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 20-XI-1998, 1♂ [light trap, pinned] ( CNIN) ; San Juan Bautista Cuicatlán, Santiago Dominguillo , 24-III-2004, S. Zaragoza, 1♂ [pinned], 1♂ [alcohol] ( CNIN) ; San Juan Bautista Cuicatlán, Santiago Dominguillo, 19 Km SSE de Cuicatlán, 17°39’23” N, 96°54’40” W, 21-I-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 17-X-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; San Juan Bautista Cuicatlán, Santiago Dominguillo, 23.5 Km SSE Cuicatlán , 17º37’58.2” N, 96º55’7.26” W, 940 m, 25-XI-1997, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 21-I-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, 6♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 22-I-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, 10♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 23-I-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 22-II-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, 3♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 19-VI-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; same data but 20-VII-1998, S. Zaragoza, F. Noguera, E. Ramírez, 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) . Puebla, Jolalpan, Rancho El Salado , 18º20’49.38” N, 98º59 ‘23.02” W, 923 m, 6-X-2010, V.H. Toledo, F. Hinterholzer, J.G. Martínez, 3♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; Jolalpan , Ladera W Cerro Colorado, 18º20’11.61” N, 98º58’55.38” W, 1022 m, 5-X-2010, V.H. Toledo, F. Hinterholzer, J.G. Martínez, 2♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) ; Zapotitlán de las Salinas, Jardín Botánico Helia Bravo Hollis , 18º19’57.06” N, 97º27’30.06” W, 1488 m, 23–24-III-2017, F. Acevedo, R. López- García, V. Cuellar-Sánchez, P. Abad-Ballesteros, 14♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) . Veracruz, San Andrés Tuxtla, Est [ación] de Biol [ogía] Los Tuxtlas , 158 m, 20-V-1971, [no collector], 1♂ [pinned] ( CNIN) .

Diagnosis. This species is included within the P. melitomae group due to the shape of the basal flagellomeres which are as long as wide. Plega spinosa sp. n. is the only species that lacks spines on the male gonocoxites 9. This species also presents the gonocoxites 9 elongated and thin, slightly sinuous. A prominent bump area between the antennae, which is surrounded by abundant pale setae is remarkable; the flagellomeres of distal half of flagellum are slightly longer than wide; the male ectoproct is subtriangular in lateral view with thickened spinous setae on postero-ventral region, ventrally it has a widened, sclerotized plate, slightly curved with conical apex and inner margin serrated. Gonarcus median lobe has two differentiated parts with a semicircular window between them, both parts of gonarcus with minute spinules.

Description. Body length: 5.6–12.9 mm. Forewing length: 5.9–14.3 mm. Hind wing length: 4.5–10.7 mm.

General coloration. Pale brown, with some dark brown spots.

Head. Mostly pale brown with dark areas. An irregular dark pattern from frons to occiput; a prominent bump area between the antennae, which is surrounded by abundant pale setae is present; a dark chevron-shaped mark on coronal suture; antenna with scape and pedicel pale brown, with dark lateral band on each side, flagellum brown with some pale flagellomeres: 30 or 31 segments, 18 to 20 basal flagellomeres pale brown, next three pale, and last ten pale brown; basal flagellomeres as long as wide, slightly longer than wide on antennal distal half ( Fig. 8a ); clypeus from pale to dark brown; labrum pale, slightly infuscate; mandibles dark brown; maxillary and labial palpi from pale to dark brown.

Thorax. Pronotum pale brown to brown, with two dark anterolateral regions; three rows of thick uneven stout setae on transverse outgrowths ( Fig. 8a ); meso and metanotum brown to dark brown, with thick and dark setae, and a white spot on anterior part of metanotum; pleural region dark brown with paler areas, with few stout dark setae and scattered slender pale setae.

Legs. Foreleg with coxa pale brown, with a dark spot on apex of internal side; trochanter pale with a pale brown spot ventrally; femur outer side mottled, inner surface mainly dark brown and pale basally ( Fig. 8b ), spines pale with dark apex; tibia dashed with pale and brown ( Fig. 8b ). Middle and hind leg stripped brown and pale brown.

Wings. Forewing hyaline with most crossveins dark brown, slightly darker areas on posterior margin ( Fig. 7 ), pterostigma dark brown with pale areas, longitudinal veins alternate brown and pale; 13–15 costal crossveins posterior to humeral vein; three veins arising from rarp1 cell and two or three veins arising from rarp2 cell; six or seven gradate veins on RP; hind wing hyaline with crossveins only finely infuscate, amber shaded areas adjacent to posterior and apical margins, pterostigma dark brown and pale subapically; five costal crossveins; two or three veins arising from rarp1 cell, one or two from rarp2 cell; three or four gradate crossveins on RP.

Abdomen. Generally pale brown, with two dark longitudinal bands on each side.

Male genitalia. Tergite 9 sclerotized, dorsally narrower than laterally; ectoproct subtriangular in lateral view ( Fig. 8c ), with long fine setae on postero-dorsal margin, and thickened spinous setae on postero-ventral margin ( Fig. 8c ); ventrally with a thickened rounded lobe, which has a more sclerotized inner zone, arched and concave ( Fig. 8d ); sternite 9 dark brown, pentagonal in ventral view with posterolateral sides rounded ( Fig. 8d ), setose; mediuncus short, basally spatulated ( Fig. 9c ), two median lateral pointed processes; pseudopenis long, wide at the base, curved dorsad, often with a small apical loop, leaving from the abdomen; the base of pseudopenis protected by a weakly developed dorsal membranous dome ventrally connected to hypomeres; hypomeres elongated and narrow ( Fig. 9c ); gonarcus median lobe with two differentiated parts: dorsal one with apical region bent dorsad ( Fig. 9a ), tongue shaped, caudally projected, transversally elongated, entire surface with minute spinules, ventral area tongue shaped, curved, with a median ridge, and minute spinules, between these parts a semicircular window is present ( Fig. 9b ); gonarcus arms short and straight in lateral and ventral view ( Fig. 9c ); gonocoxite 9 elongated and thin, slightly sinuous, without spines ( Figs. 9 , 13c ).

Remarks. In previous accounts ( Reynoso-Velasco & Contreras-Ramos 2008, 2009, 2010; Cancino-López et al. 2015) this species was cited as Plega sp.1.

Geographical distribution. Mexico: Guerrero (Atoyac and Chilpancingo de los Bravo), Jalisco (La Huerta), Morelos (Ayala, Puente de Ixtla, Tepalcingo, and Tlaquiltenango), Nayarit (Tepic), Oaxaca (San Juan Bautista Cuicatlán ), Puebla (Jolalpan and Zapotitlán de las Salinas), and Veracruz (San Andrés Tuxtla).

Etymology. The species name refers to the prominent and strongly sclerotized spines on the posterior margin of the ectoprocts.

Biological notes. This new species was found in tropical dry forest, evergreen tropical forest, and xeric scrubland, in an altitudinal range between 92–1488 m. Adults have been collected from January through November. At Santiago Dominguillo, Oaxaca, several individuals were caught from January to April, which correspond to dry season.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Plega spinosa sp. n.: a, habitus of male holotype, lateral; b, wing venation.

FIGURE 8. Plega spinosa sp. n.: a, head and prothorax, lateral; b, forelegs; c, male terminalia, lateral; d, same, ventral.

FIGURE 9. Plega spinosa sp. n.: a, male genitalia, lateral; b, same, caudal; c, same, ventral.

FIGURE 13. Plega spp., male gonocoxites 9: a, P. mixteca sp. n.; b, P. sonorae sp. n.; c, P. spinosa sp. n.; d, P. stangei sp. n.