Crassabwa ludmilae, Kluge & Gattolliat & Salles, 2017

Kluge, Nikita J., Gattolliat, Jean-Luc & Salles, Frederico F., 2017, Redescription of the Afrotropical genus Crassabwa Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae: Protopatellata), Zootaxa 4350 (3), pp. 401-435 : 419-428

Crassabwa ludmilae sp. n.

( Figs 54–113 )

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Ludmila Sheyko, who collected mature larvae of this species.

Material examined. Holotype: L-S-I ♀ {specimen [V](9)A2014}, ZAMBIA, Luangwa river near Luangwa Bridge, 15°00'S / 30°13'E, 7.VIII.2014, coll. N. Kluge & L. Sheyko ( ZIN) . Paratypes: the same locality, 2– 8.VIII.2014, coll. N. Kluge & L. Sheyko: 1 S-I ♂ , 1 L-S-I♀, 1 I ♀, L/S♂, 3 larvae (ZIN). GUINEA: Loc. Sassambaya , basin of Niger, Niandan river, 02.III.1985, coll. J.- M. Elouard: 9 larvae ( MZL and CZNC) ; Tambicola-Beyla, Loc. Beyla ( Dion-Niger ), Le Kouan river, 11.III.1988, coll. J.- M. Elouard: 1 ♀ L ( MZL); Loc.

Diomagoudou ; basin of Senegal, Baoulé river, 10.III.1988, coll. J.- M. Elouard: 1 larva ( MZL) . MALI: Koulikoro, Loc. Tienfala, Niger river , 20.III.1985, coll. J.- M. Elouard: 35 larvae ( MZL and CZNC) ; same data but 26.VI.1985: 8 larvae ( MZL) .

Descriptions. Larva. CUTICULAR COLORATION. As characterized above [see Crassabwa (1)]. Cuticle of fore protoptera in last larval instar with dark lines along all veins: convex longitudinal veins, concave longitudinal veins and cross veins ( Figs 56–58 , 62 ); in previous larval instars, dark lines only along convex longitudinal veins (as in Figs 117–118 ). Coloration of thorax and abdomen varies from nearly uniform ( Figs 57 , 60 ) to light with very contrastingly darkened posterior part of mesonotum and abdominal terga III, VI and IX ( Figs 56, 59 ).

HYPODERMAL COLORATION. As characterized above [see Crassabwa (2)]. Before molt to subimago larva gets hypodermal coloration as in imago, including red coloration of proximal parts of cerci (see below).

STRUCTURE. Head and mouth parts as characterized above [see Crassabwa (3)–(10)]. Left mandible with dense setae between prostheca and mola; its mola proximad of distal molar projection forms 3 or 4 transverse ridges, which in dorsal or ventral view look as protuberances; fine molar processes do not form integral row, but are concentrated on tops of these protuberances ( Figs 70 , 77, 78, 80–81 ). Right mandible with dense setae between prostheca and mola; its mola bears separate distal protuberance and 4 or 5 transverse ridges, which in dorsal or ventral view look as protuberances ( Figs 69 , 76, 79, 82 ). Inner-apical projection of 2nd segment of labial palp large, sometimes nearly as large as 3rd segment ( Figs. 73–74 , 83 ).

Legs as characterized above [see Crassabwa (12)–(16), (19)] ( Figs 64 , 67 ). Fine colorless setae forming cross row near base of tibia and dispersed along posterior side of tibia and tarsus [see Crassabwa (14)] simple (nonbifurcate); oblique row on anterior side of tibia consists of 3 such setae. Claw relatively short, with distal portion (from distal denticle to apex) shorter than remainder part (from base to distal denticle); denticles on claw equal in two rows [see Crassabwa (19)]: two enlarged distal denticles in posterior row as large as two enlarged distal denticles in anterior row ( Fig. 66 , 95 ).

Abdomen as characterized above [see Crassabwa (22)–(24)]; all scales of terga short ( Fig. 94 ); sterna I–III without denticles, sternum IV with vestigial denticles, sterna V–IX with regular row of pointed denticles ( Fig. 104 ). Tergalius of first pair wide, asymmetric, with anal margin more convex than costal margin ( Fig. 85 ); in last larval instar nearly half of tergalius is bent ventrally ( Fig. 84 ) [see Crassabwa (25)]. Tergalii II–V subequal ( Figs 85–89 ), tergalii VI–VII gradually smaller, with anterior margin more convex ( Figs 90–91 ). Brown band on dorsal cuticle of tergalius [see Crassabwa (26)] either narrow, invisible on background of main trachea ( Figs 92–93 ), or absent. Tenth abdominal segment and caudalii as described above [see Crassabwa (28), (29)] ( Figs 60, 63, 65 ).

Subimago. CUTICULAR COLORATION. Head ocher with brown. Pronotum light brown. Mesonotum light brownish with colorless areas, with sutures in antero-lateral part contrastingly dark brown and with dark brown macula on posterior end of submedioscutum; parascutellum with contrasting dark brown macula on lateroposterior corner ( Fig. 99 ). Pleura and sterna of thorax light brownish with colorless membranes and certain sclerites dark brown ( Fig. 98 ). Legs light brown, fore tibiae and tarsi darker brown. Abdominal terga and sterna light brownish. Sternum IX of male subimago lighter than others; gonostyli dark brown. Cerci dark brown.

HYPODERMAL COLORATION. As in imago, but poorly visible through brown subimaginal cuticle.

Imago, male ( Figs 100–101 ). Head, thorax and abdomen with hypodermal coloration forming ocher, orange, red or reddish-brownish areas [see Crassabwa (2)]. Turbinate eyes wide; facetted surface orange, bordered by thin brown line; stem orange. Thorax orange, equally dark on dorsal and ventral sides. Wings with membrane and veins colorless, as characterized above [see Crassabwa (20), (21)] ( Figs 54–55 ). Legs [see Crassabwa (17)] ocher, without dark coloration on proximal portion of tibia. Abdominal terga orange with ocher. Abdominal sterna lighter, mainly ocher, without dark lateral sigmoid marks. Cerci near base intensively colored by deep red, in remainder part colorless [see Crassabwa (2)]. Genitals ( Figs 106–107 ) poorly colored, ocher. Unistyligers with median projections [see Crassabwa (31)]. Median side of first segment of gonostylus evenly convex, without concavity, entirely covered by small spines ( Fig. 106 ). Gonovectes wide and pointed ( Fig. 107 ).

Imago, female ( Figs 96–97 ). Head ocher. Thorax ventrally lighter than dorsally. Coloration of legs, abdomen and cerci as in male.

Eggs ( Figs 108–113 ). Nearly ellipsoid, 0.15 mm length; chorion with relief characterized above [see Crassabwa (33)].

Dimension. Fore wing length of male 7 mm.

Comparison. Larva of the new species C. ludmilae sp. n. can be distinguished from that of C. flava by structure of mola of left and right mandibles, presence of setae on left mandible, cuticular coloration of fore protoptera in last larval instar, non-bifurcate setae on tibiae, and wider tergalii of first pair. Imagoes of both sexes of the new species C. ludmilae sp. n. differ from C. flava by absence of dark coloration at bases of tibiae and absence of dark sigmoid marks on abdominal sterna. Male imaginal genitals of C. ludmilae sp. n. differ from that of C. flava by wider gonovectes and shape of first segment of gonostylus. Eggs of C. ludmilae sp. n. are similar to that of C. flava , but shorter and more gradually narrowing toward poles (i.e. ellipsoid rater than elongate-oval).

Figures

FIGURES 51 – 55. Wings. 51 – 53, Crassabwa flava, hind wings of three individuals; 54 – 55, Crassabwa ludmilae sp. n., fore and hind wings on one scale.

FIGURES 56 – 59. Crassabwa ludmilae sp. n., larvae. 56 – 57, female ultimolarvae; 58 – 59, exuviae of half of pronotum and mesonotum and of abdomen of ultimolarva ready to molt to subimago (with subimaginal right cercus inside).

FIGURES 60 – 65. Crassabwa ludmilae sp. n., holotype, ultimolarval exuviae. 60, abdominal terga and caudalii; 61, head with labrum and right mandible; 62, exuviae of half of pronotum and mesonotum; 63, fragment of cercus; 64, hind leg (triangle shows point where patella-tibial suture crosses inner margin); 65, abdominal terga IX and X.

FIGURES 66 – 75. Crassabwa ludmilae sp. n., larva. 66, claw; 67, fore leg (anterior view); 68, paraproct; 69 – 70, right and left mandibles (ventral view); 71, labrum (at left ventral view, at right dorsal view); 72, maxilla; 73, labial palp (ventral view); 74, labium (at left ventral view, at right dorsal view); 75, hypopharynx and superlinguae.

FIGURES 76 – 83. Crassabwa ludmilae sp. n. 76 – 77, right and left mandibles; 78 – 79, biting edges of left and right mandibles of penultimolarva with developing ultimolarval mandibles inside; 80 – 82, biting edges of left and right mandibles of ultimolarva; 83, exuviae of labium with focus on ventral side.

FIGURES 84 – 95. Crassabwa ludmilae sp. n. 84, tergalius I of last instar larva in natural condition; 85, tergalius I spread on slide; 86 – 91, tergalii II – VII; 92, tergalius V with part of dorsal cuticle detached; 93, enlarged fragment of its detached cuticle; 94, part of cuticle from abdominal tergum III; 95, claw (84 – 93 and 95, holotype).

FIGURES 96 – 103. Crassabwa ludmilae sp. n. 96 – 97, female imagoes; 98, postsubalar sclerite of subimaginal exuviae (arrow shows concavity of dorsal margin of posterior-dorsal process); 99, half of exuviae of subimaginal mesonotum; 100 – 101, male imago; 102, fragment of fore leg of male imago with apex of tibia and 1 st and 2 nd tarsomeres; 103, apex of tibia and tarsus of hind leg.

FIGURES 104 – 107. Crassabwa ludmilae sp. n., male genitals. 104, subimaginal genitals developing under larval cuticle; 105, exuviae of subimaginal genitals; 106, genitals of male imago, ventral view (unistyligers and gonostyli unnaturally brought together because of wrong fixation; internal sclerites and muscles shown by interrupted lines, right gonostylar muscle not shown; large arrow shows median projection of dorsal wall of unistyliger); 107, penis enlarged, ventral view (gonoducts shown by dotted lines). Abbreviations: gs 1, gs 2, gs 3, segments of gonostylus; gv, gonovectis; mIX-X, places of attachment of muscles running to common base of paraprocts; pb, paired internal projection of penial bridge; usg, unistyliger.

FIGURES 108 – 113. Crassabwa ludmilae sp. n., eggs extracted from holotype.

FIGURES 114 – 118. Crassabwa ameliae sp. n. 114 – 116, last instar larvae; 117 – 118, larva of penultimate instar.