Psyllipsocus serrifer Lienhard, 2013

Lienhard, Charles & Ferreira, Rodrigo L., 2013, Three new species of Psyllipsocus (Psocodea: ‘ Psocoptera’: Psyllipsocidae) from Brazilian caves with description of a novel structure interpreted as a male accessory genital organ, Revue suisse de Zoologie 120 (3), pp. 421-443 : 429-433

Psyllipsocus serrifer Lienhard n. spec. Figs 4-6, 7A-E, 7H-J

HOLOTYPE: ISLA; 3 (slide-mounted); BRAZIL ( MG), Pains , cave Gruta Paranoá, 15.i.2008, leg. R. L. Ferreira.

PARATYPES: ISLA and MHNG, slide-mounted and/or in alcohol ; BRAZIL, leg. R. L. Ferreira (unless other collector mentioned), from the following municipalities. 2♀, 1 nymph, São Félix do Coribe (BA), cave PEA 377 (=BA 039), 10.v.2011, leg. S. S. Salgado. – 1♀, Arcos ( MG), cave Gruta Labirinto , 28.i.2006. 1♀, Arcos ( MG), cave Gruta da Bocaininha , 3.xii.2008. – 13, Cordisburgo ( MG), cave Gruta do Salitre , 22.iv.2011. – 1♀, Doresópolis ( MG), cave Gruta P43, 9.xi.2003. – 13, Itabirito ( MG), cave Gruta MP1 , 29.viii.2005. – 1♀, Januária / Itacarambi ( MG), cave Gruta Janelão , 28.vii.2003. – 13, Lagoa da Prata ( MG), cave Gruta Salão de Festas , 4.v.2003. – 1♀, Matozinhos ( MG), cave Gruta Pequenas III, 31.vii.2002. – 1♀, Pains ( MG), cave Buraco do Nando , 12.x.2003. 1♀ (allotype), 1 specimen lacking abdomen, Pains ( MG), cave Gruta Brasical, 28.ix.2003. 1♀, Pains ( MG), cave Gruta do Sobradinho, 5.v.2001 .

DESCRIPTION: See diagnosis of the species group, with the following complements. General colouration light to medium brown, exceptionally darker brown. Head often with a characteristic but rather variable pattern of brown hypodermal pigment (Fig. 6A), compound eyes dark brown to black. Tibiae uniformly brown, lacking transversal bands. Abdomen yellowish and usually with some red-brown hypodermal pigment, terminalia brown.

Both sexes macropterous (Fig. 4AB); one slightly brachypterous male has been observed, with vein Rs simple in both forewings (Fig. 4C). Three ocelli present; compound eyes relatively large, about same size in both sexes (IO/D 1.3-1.8). Antenna very long but usually damaged in preserved material.

Hypandrium (Fig. 5A) uniformly setose except for the glabrous and medially membranous apical lobe; the latter only bearing a transversal row of four short marginal setae; arrangement of the four dorsal placoid sensilla as shown in Fig. 5A. Shape of small postero-lateral sclerotizations of phallosome somewhat variable, probably partly depending on position after slide-mounting; phallosomal lobules posteriorly prominent, almost circular, each with two placoid sensilla (Fig. 5A). Clunial bridge relatively complex (Fig. 5BC), central part posteriorly with a movable membranous curtain held by a pair of sclerotized postero-lateral styli and, towards the middle of the cavity, by a sclerotized clip-like structure; the latter appears to be movable in dorsoventral and antero-posterior directions. Lateral borders of the central papillate cavity representing the ventralmost parts of the clunial bridge, the antero-dorsal bulbous structure may be tendon-like, for insertion of muscles (Fig. 5B).

Spermapore sclerite of slightly variable shape and length (Figs 6D-F). Spermathecal blade saw-like, well-sclerotized, with many prominent sharp denticles;

FIG. 4

Psyllipsocus serrifer Lienhard n. spec. A-B, E-H female; C-D male from Itabirito (MG). (A) Forewing. (B) Hindwing of the same specimen. (C) Forewing of slightly brachypterous male. (D) Hindwing of the same specimen. (E) Lacinal tip. (F) P2-P4 of maxillary palp, with detail of P2-chaetotaxy. (G) Pretarsal claw. (H) Scape, pedicel and the 8 basalmost antennal flagellomeres.

FIG. 5

Psyllipsocus serrifer Lienhard n. spec., male. (A) Hypandrium and phallosome, ventral view (phallosome observed through ventral wall of hypandrium). (B) Clunial bridge, posterior view. (C) Clunial bridge, ventral view, posterior part upwards directed in the figure (same magnification as B).

length and shape of sclerite and length of denticles rather variable [see Fig. 7A-E and Fig. 1: 7A-C correspond to the westernmost localities (Doresópolis and Pains), 7D corresponds to a locality situated towards central MG (Matozinhos) and 7E to the locality situated in northern MG (Gruta Janelão)]. In the females from northern MG FIG. 6

Psyllipsocus serrifer Lienhard n. spec., female. (A) Head pattern. (B) Epiproct, right paraproct, right hind corner of clunium (arrow), right ovipositor valvulae. (C) Subgenital plate, ventral view. (D) Spermapore sclerite, female from Doresópolis (MG). (E) Ditto, female from Pains (MG), Brasical cave. (F) Ditto, female from Matozinhos (MG). (G) Schematic representation of spread abdominal apex of a virgin female, showing subgenital plate, the pair of v3, paraprocts, spermapore sclerite surrounded by multiply folded membrane and empty spermatheca. (H) Spermatheca with three spermatophores (see General Discussion). (I) Spermatheca with one spermatophore.

and from nearby BA (see Fig. 1) prominent sharp denticles of the saw shorter than in the other females (Fig. 7E). Spermathecal duct not longer than spermathecal blade (Figs 6G, 7J), near spermathecal sac surrounded by a thickening (Fig. 7I), the latter weakly developed in the females from northern MG and nearby BA. Spermatophore usually sickle-shaped (Figs 6HI, 7J; in the spermatheca of one female three spermatophores could be observed, see Fig. 6H; this indicates that the species is polyandrous; see General Discussion, below).

MEASUREMENTS: Both sexes of about same size, body length 2. 0-2.7 mm. Male holotype (macropterous): BL = 2.0 mm; FW = 2850 µm; HW = 2170 µm; F = 564 µm; T = 1015 µm; t1= 480 µm; t2 = 62 µm; t3 = 73 µm; IO/ D = 1.5. – Female allotype (macropterous): BL = 2.5 mm; FW = 3040 µm; HW = 2360 µm; F = 606 µm; T = 1086 µm; hindtarsi broken; IO/D = 1.6.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet refers to the saw-like spermathecal blade

(Latin: serra – saw; suffix -fer, -fera, -ferum from ferre – to bear, carry).

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT: At present P. serrifer is known from 13 caves situated in 9 municipalities, mostly in southern and central Minas Gerais state, with one cave (Gruta Janelão) in northern Minas Gerais and one in nearby Bahia (see Fig. 1). Most of these caves are located in the southern part of the Bambuí limestone group; the two caves in northern Minas Gerais and Bahia states belong to the eastern branch of this formation. As with P. clunjunctus , the physical attributes of the caves inhabited by P. serrifer are very heterogeneous, but most of these caves are rich in old guano deposits.

DISCUSSION: This relatively large species is characterized by the presence of a saw-like spermathecal blade and by the complex clunial bridge, bearing a posterior membranous curtain which is laterally held by a pair of styli and medially by a cliplike sclerotized structure. The hypandrium is similar to that of P. similis except for the presence, in P. serrifer , of four marginal setae instead of two. The populations from northern MG and nearby BA slightly differ from the more southern populations of P. serrifer by two spermathecal characters (see description, above). A comparison of the characters of the clunial bridge between these populations was not possible because males are not yet known from the northern localities. See also General Discussion, below.