Dorsomitus Michel & Tjeder, 1992

Michel, Bruno & Mansell, Mervyn W., 2018, A new genus and species of owlfly from eastern and southern Africa (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 413, pp. 1-12 : 3

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2018.413
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DABB183A-F86C-4F48-B6FA-F1CFB1E2E89D
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5950221
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/7A616478-4C50-AB5E-AF38-FE12FDBEFDAC
treatment provided by	Plazi (2018-03-16 12:14:17, last updated by Guilherme 2024-12-24 15:21:51)
scientific name	Dorsomitus Michel & Tjeder
status

Treatment

Dorsomitus Michel & Tjeder View in CoL † gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6E1F9444-5B07-41AB-9B14-7BC3C6C72E98

Figs 1–3 View Fig. 1 View Fig.2 View Fig.3

Dorsomitus Tjeder, 1992: 25 View in CoL –26, figs 50–51. Nomen nudum.

Type species

Disparomitus neavei Kimmins, 1949 View in CoL , here designated.

Diagnosis

The genus Dorsomitus gen. nov. is well characterized by the combination of the following characters: the markings on the third abdominal sternite in both sexes ( Figs 1E View Fig. 1 , 2F View Fig.2 , 3C, F View Fig.3 ) and the shape of the first abdominal tergite of males being prolonged into a strong, apically forked projection directed backwards with the apex of each prong covered by dense short black hairs directed downwards ( Figs 1C–D View Fig. 1 , 2C–E View Fig.2 ).

Description

H EAD. Frons with a tuft of white erect setae on each side and a tuft of brownish setae between antennal bases. Antenna straight, shorter than distance between base of the forewing and pterostigma. Third segment of labial palpus without sensory pit.

THORAX. Lateral and ventral surface of thorax covered with long white setae ( Figs 1B View Fig. 1 , 2B View Fig.2 ). Wings hyaline. Pterostigma short, yellowish to light-brown with four cross-veins heavily bordered with dark brown.

L EGS. Femora covered by long white hairs. Tibiae with dark brown spine-like hairs ventrally, each side with long white hairs and dorsal surface glabrous.

ABDOMEN. First abdominal tergite of males prolonged into a strong, apically forked projection directed backwards with apex of each prong covered by dense short black hairs directed downwards ( Figs 1C– D View Fig. 1 , 2C–E View Fig.2 ). Sternite 2 with the posterior margin indented in the middle ( Figs 1E View Fig. 1 , 2F View Fig.2 , 3C, F View Fig.3 ). Sternite 3 with its surface slightly wavy transversally, with a shiny black S-shaped area at the antero-lateral angles and two longitudinal black sinuate lines ( Figs 1E View Fig. 1 , 2F View Fig.2 , 3C, F View Fig.3 ), which disappear gradually on the following segments. Male ectoprocts moderately developed laterally and downwards ( Fig. 2G View Fig.2 ). Gonarcus-parameres complex as in Fig 2H–J View Fig.2 . Parameres not prolonged downwards by a carina ( Fig. 2H, J View Fig.2 ). Female with head and thorax of same coloration as male ( Fig. 3A, D View Fig.3 ). First abdominal tergite not developed dorsally, divided along the midline into a pair of dorso-lateral plates united by membranous tissue ( Fig. 3A–B, D–E View Fig.3 ). Third abdominal segment shorter than in male ( Fig. 3C, F View Fig.3 ). Coloration of abdomen as in Fig. 3 View Fig.3 .

Tribal position

It is not possible to assign the genus Dorsomitus gen. nov. to a known tribe with certainty, given the lack of recent taxonomic work. The most closely related tribes seem to be Suhpalacsini and Acmonotini described by van der Weele (1909). However, according to this author, in the former tribe the ectoprocts are small and not expanded (“klappen-förmige Appendices”) and the basal tergite of the abdomen is never developed into a cone-like projection, and in the latter tribe it is the second and not the first abdominal tergite which is dorsally developed. Navás (1919) grouped both tribes in Suhpalacsini to include his new genus Fillus Navás, 1919 from Argentina, considering it closely related to Disparomitus van der Weele, 1909 and Acmonotus MacLachlan, 1873 . The genus Fillus is characterized by the first abdominal tergite elongated and folded horizontally on the second and third abdominal segments. The extremity of the protuberance is weakly forked, but is devoid of spines. The genus Dorsomitus gen. nov. could fit Navás’ description, but this clade is probably not monophyletic and further investigation is needed to provide comprehensive phylogenetic relationships between the genera, and to assign Dorsomitus gen. nov. to any existing tribe with certainty.

References

Kimmins D. E. 1949. Notes on Ascalaphidae in the British Museum collections, with descriptions of new species. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 13: 1 - 29.

Navas L. 1919. Algunos insectos Neuropteros de la Republica Argentina. Serie tercera. Revista de la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas Fisicas y Naturales de Madrid 17: 287 - 305.

Tjeder B. 1992. The Ascalaphidae of the Afrotropical Region (Neuroptera). 1. External morphology and bionomics of the family Ascalaphidae, and taxonomy of the subfamily Haplogleniinae including the tribes Proctolyrini n. tribe, Melambrotini n. tribe, Campylophlebini n. tribe, Tmesibasini n. tribe, Allocormodini n. tribe, and Ululomyiini n. tribe of Ascalaphinae. Entomologica Scandinavica Supplement 41: 7 - 169.

van der Weele H. W. 1909. Collections zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Catalogue Systematique et Descriptif, fasc. VIII: Ascalaphiden. Hayek, Brussels.

Figures

Fig. 1. Dorsomitus neavei (Kimmins, 1949) gen. et comb. nov., holotype, ♂ (NHMUK 1913-140). A. Habitus with associated labels. B. Lateral view of head and thorax. C. First to third abdominal tergites,leftlateralview.D.Sameasprevious,dorsalview.E.Baseofabdomen,ventralview.F.Original mounting of terminalia and genitalia.

Fig.2.Dorsomitustjederigen.et sp.nov., holotype, ♂(NHMUK1963-439).A.Habitus withassociated labels. B. Lateral view of head and thorax. C. First to third abdominal tergites, right lateral view. D. Same as previous, dorsal view. E. First abdominal tergite, front view. F. Base of abdomen, ventral view. G. Terminalia and genitalia, dorsal view. H. Gonarcus-parameres complex, caudal view. I. Same as previous, dorsal view. J. Same as previous, left lateral view.

Fig.3.FemalesofDorsomitusgen.nov.A.HabitusofDorsomitusgen.nov.sp.fromZimbabwe.B.Same as previous, left lateral view of base of abdomen. C. Same as previous, ventral view of abdomen. D. Habitus of Dorsomitus gen. nov. sp. from SouthAfrica.E. Same as previous, left lateral view of base of abdomen. F. Same as previous, ventral view of abdomen.