Pseudosmittia kauaiensis (Hardy) Ferrington Jr & Saether, 2011

Ferrington Jr, Leonard C. & Saether, Ole A., 2011, A revision of the genera Pseudosmittia Edwards, 1932, Allocladius Kieffer, 1913, and Hydrosmittia gen. n. (Diptera: Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae) 2849, Zootaxa 2849 (1), pp. 1-314 : 215-217

Pseudosmittia kauaiensis (Hardy) comb. n.

( Figs. 83 B–F )

Orthocladius (Smittia) kauaiensis Hardy 1960: 139 .

Material examined: USA: Hawaii, Kauai, Nawiliwili , paratype female, 8.ix.1946, W. W. Wirth ( BBM) ;

Diagnostic characters: The male appear to be separable from similar species with posterior placed inferior volsella by a leg ratio of the front leg of 0.63. The female has a wing with reduced anal lobe, no postcubital fork, Cu 1 slightly curved but not sinuate, and R 4+5 ending above or slightly distal to apex of M 3+4. The coronal suture is complete, palpomere 3 has about 6 sensilla clavata, LR 1 is 0.62, tergite IX is divided, and gonocoxite IX is sharply triangular projecting posteriorly.

Male imago

The male type specimens could not be located. According to the description by Hardy (1960: 139) the coloration is yellow lightly tinged with brown, the wing length 1.0 mm. Flagellomere 13 is said to be slightly shorter than flagellomeres 9 to 12 combined, which would make an AR of about 0.3. There are 3 outer verticals. The leg ratios of front to hind leg are 0.63, 0.62, 0.62. The cubital fork is said to be situated “just before a point opposite to the tip of R 1 ”, i.e. the VR is likely to be high, but lower than 1.5. According to Hardy (1960, fig.40) there is no anal point, no superior volsella and the inferior volsella is placed posteriorly on the gonocoxite, i.e. about as in P. brachydicrana , P. kraussi and similar species.

Female imago (n = 1)

Total length 1.54 mm. Wing length 0.93. Total length/wing length 1.66. Wing length/length of profemur 2.80. Coloration pale with darker markings.

Head. Antennal apex lost, three basal flagellomere 83, 49 and 49 µm long. Temporal setae 6, consisting of 3 inner verticals, and 3 outer verticals; no postorbitals. Clypeus with 10 setae. Tentorium 86 µm long, 11 µm wide. Palpomere lengths (in µm): 19, 26, 56, 26, 86. Third palpomere with 6, fourth with 2, scalpellate sensilla clavata. Coronal suture complete.

Thorax. Antepronotal lobes reduced medially, antepronotum with 1 lateral seta. Dorsocentrals 7, acrostichals 2, prealars 4. Scutellum with 4 setae.

Wing. VR 1.56, postcubitus apparently not forked. Anal lobe reduced. Costal extension 60 µm long. R 4+5 ending above or very slightly distal to apex of M 3+4; Cu 1 slightly curved. Brachiolum with 1 seta, costa between FR and apex of R 4+5 with about 15 non-marginal setae, costal extension with 3 non-marginal setae, R with 7 setae, R 1 with 2, R 4+5 with 6 setae, other veins bare.

Legs. Spur of front tibia 27 µm long, spurs of hind tibia broken. Width at apex of front tibia 23 µm, of hind tibia 34 µm. Comb not measurable. Mid leg missing. Lengths and proportions of front and hind legs as in Table 52.

Abdomen. Tergite I bare, T VIII with about 7 setae. Sternites VIII with 32 setae.

Genitalia ( Fig. 83 B–F ). Gonocoxite with triangular, sharply pointed posterior extension, with 2 strong and 4 weak setae. Tergite IX with 12 setae, divided; apodeme against gonocoxite 59 µm long. Seminal capsule partly colored, without microtrichia or striations, 75 µm long, 45 µm wide; spermathecal ducts not measurable. Notum 86 µm long. Cercus 86 µm long

Pupa and larva

Unknown.

Remarks

Although the male types not could be located and the female lacks the mid legs, the species appear to be closely related to P. brachydicrana and related species. It is likely that the mid tibia only has one spur. At least the relatively high leg ratio will separate the species from related species.

Distribution

The species is known from Hawaii only.

Figures

FIGURE 83. Pseudosmittia spp., imagines. A—P. oahuensis (Hardy), hypopygium, left dorsal aspect, right ventral aspect. B— F. P. kauaiensis (Hardy), female; B—genitalia, ventral view; C—genitalia, dorsal view; D—ventrolateral lobe; E—dorsomesal lobe; F—apodeme lobe.