Eosembia paradorni, Poolprasert, Pisit, Sitthicharoenchai, Duangkhae, Lekprayoon, Chariya & Butcher, Buntika Areekul, 2011

Poolprasert, Pisit, Sitthicharoenchai, Duangkhae, Lekprayoon, Chariya & Butcher, Buntika Areekul, 2011, Two remarkable new species of webspinners in the genus Eosembia Ross, 2007 (Embioptera: Oligotomidae) from Thailand, Zootaxa 2967, pp. 1-11 : 8-9

Eosembia paradorni sp. n.

( Figs. 3 , 4)

Diagnosis. The male of E. paradorni can be readily distinguished from congeners by the very long H, which is basally extensively broadened caudally, and by the elongated basal segment of the left cercus, which is scoop-like and at the inner side evenly arcuate. The females are very similar to those of E. auripecta but differ in having a yellowish prothorax.

Material examined. Holotype male (CUMZ-EMB-Oli.2010.120), 3 paratype males, 10 paratype females (CUMZ-EMB-Oli.2010.121-133), Thailand, Kanchanaburi Province, Bo Phloi District, dry evergreen forest, 14°39.334’N 099°18.181’E, 223 m., 31.III.2008. same data as holotype, collected by P. Poolprasert.

Distribution. This species is known only from Bo Phloi District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.

Etymology. This species is named after Paradorn Dokchan, companion, friend, and colleague, in honour of his considerable contribution to collecting.

Description. Alate male ( Fig. 3 A) (n = 4, mean (range) ± SD): Head width × length 1.2 (1.1–1.2) ± 0.04 × 1.6 (1.6–1.8) ± 0.08 mm, body length 14.4 (14.0 – 15.1) ± 0.47 mm, width 1.8 (1.9–1.8) ± 0.11 mm, forewing 9.3 (9.2– 9.4) ± 0.09 mm, hindwing 8.3 (8.2–8.4) ± 0.07 mm. Head capsule blackish brown, longer than broad, sides caudally convergent. Eye dark and well developed. Anterior margin of labrum blackish brown. Submentum trapezoidal with medial concave anterior margin (Fig. 4A), blackish. Mandible dark and slender. Antennae long, dark throughout with white tips, 30-segmented. Prothorax yellowish throughout, slightly paler ventrally. Meso- and metathorax darkish brown. All legs entirely blackish. Hind basitarsus with two papillae (Fig. 4D). Wings dark brown with anterior medial vein (MA) not forked. Abdomen blackish throughout with pale lateral stripe. Terminalia darker with 10L broader than 10R. 10LP long, broad, spatulate, with a sharp-edged obtuse outer-apical angle; 10 RP very slender, narrow with a small hook at the apex, inner margin mostly membranous. Hypandrium (H) very long, extensively basally broadened caudally, forming a broad HP directed towards left cercus and beneath 10LP. Basal segment of LC1 elongated and incurved but not lobed.

Apterous female ( Fig. 3 B) (n = 10, mean (range) ± SD): Head width × length 1.7 (1.6–1.8) ± 0.1 × 2.1 (2.0– 2.3) ± 0.18 mm, Body length 18.6 (17.9–19.2) ± 0.53 mm, width 2.3 (2.1–2.5) ± 0.14 mm. Head capsule blackish brown, convex, longer than broad. Eyes almost concolorous with cranium, smaller and less reniform than in male. Antennae dark chocolate brown with white apex, 28-segmented. Prothorax yellowish. Meso- and metathoracic sclerites darkish brown. Forelegs concolorous with pronotum except for chestnut brown basitasi, mid-yellowish. Hind legs entirely dark brown except femoral-tibial joint pale. Hind basitarsus with two papillae. Abdomen blackish brown, dorsally and slightly paler ventrally. Sternites brownish throughout, membranous areas and posterior margins of tergites rufous brown. Ninth sternum deeply medially inset into segment with two inner lobes at the base (Fig. 4E). Tenth sternum symmetrically divided longitudinally into two lateral plates. Cerci entirely medium brown.

Remarks. This species is very common on tree trunks with a large and conspicuous white silk gallery ( Fig. 3 C) in dry evergreen forests or secondary growth. At the time of encounter (late March), adult females were found with their egg masses and early instar nymphs.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Light micrographs of Eosembia paradorni sp. n. (A) male, (B) female with eggs and (C) silk gallery.