Psyllipsocus proximus Lienhard, 2014

Lienhard, Charles & Ferreira, Rodrigo L., 2014, New species of Psyllipsocus from Brazilian caves (Psocodea: ‘ Psocoptera’: Psyllipsocidae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 121 (2), pp. 211-246 : 242-244

Psyllipsocus proximus Lienhard n. spec. Fig. 17C-F

HOLOTYPE: ISLA; 3 (slide-mounted); BRAZIL ( AM), Apuí , Parque Nacional do Juruena, Gruta Apiacá 1 cave, 13.ix.2011, leg. R. L. Ferreira.

PARATYPES: ISLA and MHNG, in alcohol and slide-mounted (allotype) ; 2♀ (one of them allotype), same data as for holotype .

DESCRIPTION: General colouration as in P. angustipennis (see description above). Forewing with characteristic colour pattern (Fig. 17C), membrane slightly tinged with brown, brown patches along M-branches clearly larger than in P. angustipennis . Brown ventral patch subapically on femora and tibial transversal bands distinct.

Both sexes macropterous (Fig. 17C). General morphology as in P. angustipennis . Forewing: FW/FWw 3.1-3.4; bcc/dcc ≈ 1.4. Hindwing: Basal portion of Rs present but very short, origin of R1 slightly basal to Rs-M fusion.

Hypandrium and phallosome as in Fig. 17F, similar to P. angustipennis , except for following details. Basal struts with a slender angulate anterior end, posterior lobes of phallosome long and slender, delimiting a deep V-shaped median incision.

FIG. 17

Psyllipsocus angustipennis Lienhard n. spec. (A-B), hypandrium and phallosome, ventral view (pilosity not shown) of male holotype (A) and male non-type from Apiacás (B). – Psyllipsocus proximus Lienhard n. spec. (C-F), female allotype (C-E) and male holotype (F). (C) Forewing. (D) Part of spermathecal duct and basal part of spermathecal sac with feather-like sclerite and one spermatophore. (E) Spermapore plate. (F) hypandrium and phallosome, ventral view (pilosity not shown).

Female genitalia similar to P. angustipennis . Spermapore plate as in Fig. 17E, weakly sclerotized. Spermatheca thin-walled (damaged by slide-mounting), lacking sclerotizations except for a weakly sclerotized slender feather-like structure near opening of duct (Fig. 17D). One elongate and very fragile spermatophore present in the spermatheca of the allotype, its slender basal part situated near base of the feather-like sclerite (Fig. 17D).

MEASUREMENTS: Male holotype: BL = 1.2 mm; FW = 1200 µm; FWw = 350 µm; FW/FWw = 3.4; HW = 1000 µm; F = 220 µm; T = 430 µm; t1= 180 µm; t2 = 39 µm; t3 = 43 µm; IO/D = 0.9. – Female allotype: BL = 1.4 mm; FW = 1330 µm; FWw = 423 µm; FW/FWw = 3.14; HW = 1130 µm; F = 240 µm; T = 475 µm; t1 = 178 µm; t2 = 39 µm; t3 = 50 µm; IO/D = 0.9.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet refers to the very close relationship of this species to P. angustipennis (Latin: proximus , - a, - um; nearest).

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT: P. proximus is only known from the type locality, the Gruta Apiacá 1 cave situated in Apuí municipality, Amazonas state. This cave belongs to a group of small caves, all located on a steep part of a sandstone outcrop in Juruena National Park. The external vegetation consists of well-preserved Amazonian forest. Some other caves were sampled in this area, but P. proximus was only found in this cave, which was the only one with aphotic zones. Specimens were found on bat guano piles, in the aphotic area of the cave.

DISCUSSION: See discussion of P. angustipennis .