Lepolepis trifasciata, Smithers, 2007

Smithers, C. N., 2007, Lord Howe Island Psocoptera (Insecta), Records of the Australian Museum 59 (1), pp. 9-26 : 12-14

Lepolepis trifasciata n.sp.

Material studied. 1! (HOLOTYPE) (K232557), Lagoon Beach between rubbish tip and airstrip, litter, closed rain forest, Drypetes / Cryptocarya , 27.xii.2000, LHIS. PARATYPES: 12??, 6!!, Lagoon Beach between rubbish tip and airstrip, litter, closed rain forest, Drypetes / Cryptocarya , leaf litter, 27.xi.2000, LHIS. 2!!, ridge top, northern end of Roach Island. broad-leafed herb layer, Ipomoea /Carpobrotus, pitfall trap, 29.xi–7.xii.2000, LHIS. 1!, Eastern slope of Dawsons Point Ridge above Old Settlement, closed rain forest, Drypetes / Cryptocarya (exposed), pitfall trap, 24.xi–1. xii.2000, LHIS. 2??, southeastern aspect of Transit Hill near summit, closed rain forest, Cleistocalyx / Chionanthus , pitfall trap, 24.xi–1.xii.2000, LHIS. 1?, western slope of Transit Hill, broad megaphyllous closed sclerophyll forest, Howea forsteriana , pitfall trap, 24.xi–1.xii.2000, LHIS. 1!, western face of Mt. Lidgbird, at base of summit tabletop, broad closed sclerophyll scrub, Dracophyllum / Metrosideros , pitfall trap, 25.xi–2.xii.2000, LHIS. 1?, on Boat Harbour walking trail, closed rain forest, Cleistocalyx / Chionanthus , pitfall trap, 26.xi–3.xii.2000, LHIS. 1!, point where walking trail first enters Erskine Valley from coast, narrow closed sclerophyll scrub, Melaleuca / Cassinia , pitfall trap, 25.xi–2. xii.2000, LHIS. 1!, western face of Mt. Lidgbird, at base of summit tabletop, broad closed sclerophyll scrub, Dracophyllum / Metrosideros , pitfall trap, 25.xi–2.xii.2000, LHIS. 1?, 1!, 4 nn, Little Island, coastal track to Erskine Valley, palm litter, 13.xii.2000, G. Cassis. 1?, 1 n, on Boat Harbour walking trail, leaf litter, closed rain forest, Cleistocalyx / Chionanthus , 21.xi.2000, LHIS. 3 nn, Walking trail through Erskine Valley, leaf litter, closed rain forest, Cleistocalyx / Chionanthus, LHIS. 1?, 3!!, 3 nn, on walking track to Erskine Valley, adjacent to Salmon Beach, leaf litter, collected at night, 10.xii.2000, G. Cassis. 1?, 2 nn, Eastern aspect of Transit Hill near summit, leaf litter, narrow closed sclerophyll scrub, 19. xi.2000, LHIS. 2??, 4 nn, ridge below Intermediate Hill, Boat Harbour walking trail, leaf litter, 12.xii.2000, G. Cassis. 4??, 1 n, on Boat Harbour walking trail, c. 200 m before harbour, leaf litter, broad megaphyllous closed sclerophyll forest, Pandanus habitat, 21.xi.2000, LHIS. 7 specs., point where walking trail first enters Erskine Valley from coast, leaf litter, narrow closed sclerophyll scrub Melaleuca / Cassinia , 2.xii.2000, LHIS. 4??, 2!!, 16 nn, LHI—site 9. 10 specs., southeastern aspect of Transit Hill near summit, leaf litter, closed rain forest, Cleistocalyx / Chionanthus habitat, 24.xi.2000, LHIS. 2!!, Malabar Hill, on path to Kims Lookout, leaf litter, narrow sclerophyll closed scrub, Dodonaea / Cassinia , 24.xi.2000, LHIS. 2??, 2!!, western slope of Malabar Ridge S of Kims Lookout trail, leaf litter, broad megaphyllous closed sclerophyll forest, Howea belmoreana , 24.xi.2000, LHIS. 2!!, Stephens Reserve, New Settlement, megaphyllous broad sclerophyll forest, Howea spp., 15–26.ii.2001, M.S. Moulds. 6??, 3!!, 10 nn, eastern slope of Malabar Ridge above Neds Beach, leaf litter, closed rain forest, Drypetes / Cryptocarya , 19.xi.2000, LHIS. 1?, 3 nn, North Hummock (trail to Intermediate Hill), leaf litter, lowland mixed rain forest, Cleistocalyx / Chionanthus , 3. xii.2000, LHIS. 1?, 1 n, western slope of Dawsons Point Ridge off North Beach Trail, leaf litter, closed rain forest, Drypetes / Cryptocarya (basalt), 20.xi.2000, LHIS. 4??, 2 nn, Malabar Hill, on path to Kims Lookout, leaf litter, narrow sclerophyll closed scrub, Dodonaea / Cassinia , 24.xi.2000, LHIS. 1?, 1!, Little Island, coastal track to Erskine Valley, palm litter, 13.xii.2000, G. Cassis. 1?, 1!, eastern end of Boat Harbour beach, leaf litter, narrow closed sclerophyll scrub, Melaleuca / Cassinia , 3.xii.2000, LHIS. 1!, Goat House walking track, c. 1km from junction with Erskine Valley track, Intermediate Hill, leaf litter, Pandanus , 6. xii.2000, G. Cassis. 1!, southern end of Salmon Beach, Little Island, 27.xi.2000, broad megaphyllous closed sclerophyll forest, Howea forsteriana leaf litter, LHIS. 4??, 3!!, 5 nn, eastern aspect of Transit Hill near summit, narrow closed sclerophyll scrub, Melaleuca / Cassinia leaf litter, 19.xi.2000, LHIS. 1!, near Goat House Cave, various mosses, lichens and liverworts, leaf litter, 23.ii.2001, J. Tarnawski. 2??, eastern slope of Dawsons Point Ridge above Old Settlement, closed rain forest, Drypetes / Cryptocarya (exposed), leaf litter, 1.xii.2000, LHIS. 2??, 1!, western face of Mt. Lidgbird, at base of summit tabletop, broad closed sclerophyll scrub, Dracophyllum / Metrosideros , pitfall trap, 25.xi–2.xii.2000, LHIS. 1?, 4 nn, southeastern aspect of Transit Hill near summit, closed rain forest, Cleistocalyx / Chionanthus leaf litter, 24.xi.2000, LHIS. 1 n, junction of Kims Lookout trail and North Beach trail, closed rain forest, Drypetes / Cryptocarya , pitfall trap, 25.xi–2.xii.2000, LHIS. 3??, 1!, 5 nn, Malabar Hill, on path to Kims Lookout, narrow sclerophyll closed scrub, Dodonaea / Cassinia , leaf litter, 24.xi.2000, LHIS. 1?, point where walking trail first enters Erskine Valley from coast, narrow closed sclerophyll scrub, Melaleuca / Cassinia , pitfall trap, 25.xi–2.xii.2000, LHIS. 1?, 1!, on walking track to Erskine Valley, adjacent to Salmon Beach, leaf litter, collected at night, 10.xii.2000, G. Cassis. 3??, 5 nn, Little Island, coastal track to Erskine Valley, palm leaf litter, 13.xii.2000, G. Cassis. 2??, Mt. Gower, north face, near creek crossing of walking track, leaf litter, Chionanthus quadristamineus , Guioa coriacea , Drypetes deplanchei , 19.v.2002, I. Hutton. 1!, Mt Gower summit on ridge between creeks 3 (most western) and 2 (middle), Pittosporum erioloma , Zygogynum , Metrosideros nervulosa , leaf litter, 25.vi.2001, Ian Hutton. 1!, Lagoon Beach between rubbish tip and airstrip, closed rain forest, Drypetes / Cryptocarya , pitfall trap, 27.xi.–4.xii.2000, LHIS. 1!, western slopes of Roach Island, orthophyll short grass, Poa , pitfall trap, 29.xi–7.xii.2000, LHIS. 1!, Transit Hill, 60 m, leaf litter, Chionanthus quadristamineus , Cleistocalyx fullagarii , 26.x.1979, T. Kingston. 2!!, same data, 10.x.1978, T. Kingston. 1, same data, 26.x.1979, T. Kingston. 1!, same data, 8.iv.1979, T. Kingston. 1?, 1!, Clear place, leaf litter, 6.i.1980, T. Kingston. 1?, south end, Settlement Beach, under bark, Lagunaria , 7.viii.2000, No collector. 1!, 2 nn, Transit Hill, north slope, Queensland Museum berlesate 151, volcanic soil, Pickard veg DaCt, 18.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. 1?, 1!, 2 nn, same data, Queensland Museum berlesate 152, volcanic soil, Pickard veg DaCt, sieved litter, 18.xi.1979, G. B. Monteith. 1?, same locality, west base, Queensland Museum berlesate 118, volcanic soil, 5 m, Pickard veg DaCt, sieved litter, 4.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. 1?, same locality, north slope, Queensland Museum berlesate 137, Pickard veg Cflq, sieved litter, 18.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. 1?, 3!!, North Bay, 5 m, leaf litter, Howea forsteriana , 15.xi.1978, T. Kingston. 1?, North Bay, west end, 5 m, Queensland Museum berlesate 156, Pickard veg Hf, sieved litter, volcanic soil, 19.ix.1979, G.B. Monteith. 3??, 2!!, Old Settlement, 80 m, litter, Drypetes deplanchei , Cryptocarya triplinervis , 18.iv.1979, T. Kingston. 3??, 5!!, same data, 2. vi.1979, T. Kingston. 1!, same data, 8.iv.1979, T. Kingston. 1?, 1!, Stevens Reserve, 5 m, leaf litter, Howea forsteriana , 1.x.1978, T. Kingston. 1?, 1!, same data, LHI 168, No 8, 25.ix.1978, T. Kingston. 1?, same data, LHI 191, No 8, T. Kingston. 1?, 2!!, same data, 30.ix.1978, T. Kingston. 1?, Intermediate Hill, leaf litter, Cleistocalyx fullagarii , Chionanthus quadristamineus, LHI 327, No 8, 24.i.1979, T. Kingston. 2!!, same locality, LHI 316, No 8, 19.i.1979, T. Kingston. 5??, 1!, same locality, North Hummock, Queensland Museum berlesate 125, volcanic soil, 180 m, Pickard veg CfLq, sieved litter, 6.xi.1979. G.B. Monteith. 1?, 1!, Intermediate Hill, Cleistocalyx fullagarii , Chionanthus quadristamineus , 100 m, LHI 347, No 8, 24.i.1979, T. Kingston. 9??, 11!!, 31 nn, S of Clear Place, 6.ii.1980, T. Kingston. 1?, Mt. Gower, leaf litter, 100 m, no date, T. Kingston. 1!. Mt. Gower, 350 m, ii.1979, T. Kingston. 1?, 1!, Lord Howe Island Stations: 007–0037, no date, T. Kingston. 1?, Erskine Valley, leaf litter, no date, T. Kingston. 1?, Erskine Valley, 175 m, leaf litter, Drypetes deplanchei , Cryptocarya triplinervis, LHI 454, No 8, 1.viii. T. Kingston. 4??, 1!, 10 nn, Broken Banyan Apartments, leaf litter, 7.x.1994, D.S.Horning and D.Horning. 3!!, Lord Howe Island, no date, D. Horning. 1?, Smoking Tree Ridge summit, Queensland Museum berlesate 130, volcanic soil, 150 m, Pickard veg DaCt, sieved litter, 7.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. 1?, same locality, east face, Queensland Museum berlesate, 163, volcanic soil, Pickard veg CfLq, sieved litter, 23.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. 2??, Gully at Catalina crash, Queensland Museum berlesate 169, volcanic soil, 20 m, Pickard veg Hb, sieved litter, 25.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. 1?, 1!, Lagoon Road, opposite museum, Queensland Museum berlesate 122, alluvial soil, Pickard veg DaCt, sieved litter, 5. xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. 5??, 10!!, Lagoon Road, opposite hospital, Queensland Museum berlesate 119, alluvial soil, 2 m, Pickard veg DaCt, sieved litter, 4.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. 1?, 1!, Malabar summit, Queensland Museum berlesate, 168, volcanic soil, 200 m, Pickard veg DaCt, sieved litter, 25.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. 1!, Boat Harbour, Queensland Museum berlesate 161, 10 m, volcanic soil, Pickard veg CfLq, sieved litter, 23.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. 1?, Mount Eliza summit, Queensland Museum berlesate 154, volcanic soil, 150 m, Pickard veg MnCa, sieved litter, 19.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. 1?, Dawsons Point Ridge summit, 150 m, Queensland Museum berlesate 120, Pickard veg DaCt, sieved litter, 5.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. 1?, Little Slope, 50 m, leaf litter, Howea forsteriana, LHI 355 No. 8, 22.xi.1979. T. Kingston. 4??, 5!!, Behind Leanda Lei, Queensland Museum berlesate 127, calcareous soil, Pickard veg Hf, sieved litter, 6.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith.

Specimens collected by other than G.B.Monteith are in the Australian Museum; specimens collected by G.B.Monteith are deposited in the Queensland Museum .

Description

Female. Coloration (in alcohol). This species exhibits extreme variation in depth of colour, ranging from pale testaceous to specimens which are almost black. The variation may be age-related; nymphs are very pale. Parts are consistently relatively darker than one another through the series of specimens. Vertex, postclypeus, labrum and maxillary palps a little darker than the frons, genae darkest. Antennae very pale to dark brown. Eyes black. Thoracic nota variable, pleura darker. Legs variable with tarsi always paler than other segments. Fore wings ( Fig. 1 ) pale with basal, middle and preapical irregular brown bands, the colour varies in depth to similar degree as other parts of the body of the same specimen. Abdomen dorsally pale in basal half, where it is covered by the reduced wings, distally darker where it is exposed. Terminal structures dark.

Morphology. Brachypterous. Length of body: 2.0 mm. Median epicranial suture distinct, anterior arms very short, evanescent near origin. Vertex sharp. Postclypeus very slightly bulging. Head strongly pubescent, genal setae especially long and stout. Top of eyes about level with vertex. IO/D: 2.3; PO: 0.8. Ocelli absent. Labrum ( Fig. 3 ) with five distal inner labral sensilla. Lacinia ( Fig. 7 ). Measurements of hind leg: F: 0.62 mm; T: 0.73 mm; t1: 0.29 mm; t2: 0.07 mm; t3: 0.06 mm; rt: 4.1:1:0.85. No ctenidiobothria. Fore wing length: 1.2 mm; width: 0.5 mm. Fore wing ( Fig. 1 ) somewhat elytriform, veinless. Costal and hind margins with thickened band in basal half of wing. Wing surface with vestiture of very narrow scale-like setae as well as fairly dense cover of well-developed, erect, setae (nearly all lost in preservative). Wings reach to about three quarters of length of the abdomen. Hind wings reduced to a small, membranous, flap. Epiproct ( Fig. 2 ) simple, rounded behind, sparsely setose. Paraproct simple, two trichobothria with ornamented alveoli and a few setae in distal half. Posterior spine slightly downwardly curved. Subgenital plate simple, wider than long, sparsely setose. Gonapophyses ( Fig. 4 ). Spermathecal sac membranous, apparently without dentate sclerotic ring and without maculae.Associated with the sac is a large, strongly sclerotized, partly hollow, peg-like structure ( Fig. 5 , Fig. 6 [enlarged]). The structure is pointed at one end, widened at the other and hollow almost to the pointed end. The wider end of the funnel thus formed is open along one side. The peg-like structure appears to arise in and be an integral part of the otherwise thin, membranous wall of the sac. It lies in an outwardly-directed tube-like extension of the wall the mouth of which is firmly attached to the peg about half way along it so that part of the peg appears to be inside and part outside the sac tube. There are folds at the base of the tube which suggest that the peg is capable of being moved inwards and outwards along the lumen of the tube whilst being attached to its inner wall. The structure is seen in various positions through the abdominal wall, depending on the position occupied by the spermathecal sac and is possibly equivalent to the sheath of the spermathecal duct opening of Mockford ( Mockford, 2005). It is large enough to be seen as a sclerotized, peg-like rod in the undissected abdomen.

Male. Coloration (in alcohol). As in female, equally variable.

Morphology. General morphology as in female. Length of body 2.2 mm. IO/D: 2.4; PO: 0.86. Fore wing length: 0.98 mm; width: 0.46 mm. Measurements of hind leg: F: 0.60 mm.; T: 0.68 mm; t1: 0.29 mm; t2: 0.07 mm; t3: 0.06; rt: 4.1:1:0.85. Ctenidiobothria absent. Epiproct as in female, simple, rounded behind, sparsely setose. Paraproct simple, two trichobothria with ornamented alveoli and a few setae in distal half. Hypandrium simple, rounded behind, setose. Phallosome ( Fig. 8 ).

Figures

Figs 1–8. Lepolepis trifasciata n.sp. Female: (1) fore wing; (2) epiproct; (3) labrum; (4) gonapophyses; (5) structure associated with spermatheca; (6) same, enlarged; (7) lacinia. Male: (8) phallosome.