Psyllipsocus punctulatus 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 : 236-237

Psyllipsocus punctulatus Lienhard n. spec. Fig. 14

HOLOTYPE: ISLA; 3 (slide-mounted); BRAZIL ( PI), Coronel José Dias , Toca do Inferno cave, 12.ix.2008, leg. R. L. Ferreira.

DESCRIPTION OF MALE: Head medium to dark brown, compound eyes dark brown, thorax and legs light brown, tibiae without transversal bands, forewings with characteristic colour pattern (Fig. 14A), abdomen whitish, terminalia light brown.

Macropterous (Fig. 14AB). Forewing: Rs and M fused for a considerable length; distal closed cell longer than marginal length of pterostigma but slightly shorter than basal closed cell (bcc/dcc ≈ 1.3); first portion of pterostigmal R1 slightly longer than R1-Rs crossvein; CuA1 moderately curved distally, AP relatively low. Hindwing: Basal portion of Rs not differentiated and R1 originating from R-M fusion, thus closed cell triangular. Three ocelli present. Pilosity of frons and vertex almost uniform. Antennal flagellomeres with uneven surface (due to insertion points of long and relatively thick setae), in basal half of antenna maximal length of flagellar hairs about 5x greatest width of their flagellomeres. Pedicellar microspades organ well-developed, with 6 units in both antennae (Fig. 14D). Maxillary palp as in Fig. 14C, P2 with a slender stout sensillum, P4 slender hatchet-shaped. Lacinial tip as in Fig. 14F. Pretarsal claws simple, symmetrical, with a small preapical denticle; hind legs with well-developed coxal organ. Clunium, epiproct and paraproct simple (Fig. 14E); the latter with a very long anal spine and a setal organ consisting of two short fine setae of about equal length; paraproctal sensorium with 6 fine trichobothria on basal florets and one shorter normal seta.

Hypandrium and phallosome as in Fig. 14G; hypandrium apically with 4 marginal setal sensilla and subapically on dorsal (inner) side with a median group of 4 placoid sensilla; phallosome on each side with a prominent denticulate posterointernal lobe; basal struts slender but short, fused to posterior sclerites of phallosome; endophallic tube on each side with a slender pore-bearing sclerite; phallic cradle differentiated as a sclerotized median arch, posteriorly fused to phallosome and joined by a postero-lateral arm to the lateral sclerotizations of the hypandrium.

MEASUREMENTS: Male holotype: BL = 1.5 mm; FW = 1680 µm; FWw = 580 µm; FW/FWw = 2.9; HW = 1380 µm; F = 300 µm; T = 606 µm; t1= 202 µm; t2 = 43 µm; t3 = 52 µm; IO/D = 2.0.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet ( punctulatus , - a, - um) refers to the characteristic forewing pattern (Latin: punctulum; small spot).

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT: P. punctulatus is only known from the type locality, the Toca do Inferno cave, situated in Coronel José Dias municipality, Piauí state. This sandstone cave is located in a National Park ( Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara ). The sandstone caves in this area were mainly formed by the expansion of FIG. 14

Psyllipsocus punctulatus Lienhard n. spec., male holotype. (A) Forewing. (B) Hindwing. (C) Maxillary palp. (D) Pedicel with microspades organ (pilosity not shown). (E) Epiproct, left paraproct and left hind corner of clunium. (F) Lacinial tip. (G) Hypandrium and phallosome, ventral view (pilosity not shown except for distal marginal sensilla).

cracks in the rock by water, so most of them do not have true aphotic zones. P. punctulatus was observed on the cave wall, where it may feed on algae. There are many caves and rock shelters in this area, but only a few caves were surveyed.

DISCUSSION: This species is characterized by the arrangement of the brown pigment patches on the forewing and by the male genitalia. The presence of a pair of denticulate posterior lobes of the phallosome and of a well-developed phallic cradle laterally fused to the phallosome and joined by a postero-lateral arm to the lateral sclerotizations of the hypandrium might be synapomorphies between P. punctulatus , P. subtilis and P. fuscistigma . See also discussion of the female cf. punctulatus , described below.