Maabella stomalata, Hastriter & Bush, 2006

Hastriter, Michael W. & Bush, Sarah E., 2006, Maabella gen. nov. (Streblidae: Ascodipterinae) from Guangxi Province, China and Vietnam with notes on preservation of Ascodipterinae, Zootaxa 1176, pp. 27-40 : 33-35

Maabella stomalata sp. nov.

Material examined

Holotype, dealate female: Vietnam: Tuyen Quang Province, Na Hang Nature Reserve , (22°20'N, 105°25'E), ex. R. paradoxalophus ( ROM no. 107647), 17–19 V 1997, J. Eger, B. Lim, and L. Mitchell ( ROM).

Paratypes: China: Guangxi Province, Jing Xin County Provincial Nature Reserve , (978 m), (23°12'N, 105°09'E), ex. R. affinis ( ROM no.s 116035, 116084, 116085, 116089, and116092), 20 IX 2004, S. Bush (3♀ and 1 prepupa MWH; 7 ROM) ; same data except 3 X 2004, ( ROM no.s 116141 and 116142) (2♀ ROM) ; same data except ex. R. macrotis ( ROM no. 116115), 2 October 2004 (2♀ MWH, 1♀ ROM) ; Shiwandashan National Nature Preserve , ex. R. affinis ( ROM no.s 116404 and 116399), 20 IV 2005, S. Bush (2♀ NMNH, 1 ROM) . Vietnam: Tuyen Quang Province, Na Hang Nature Reserve , (22°20'N, 105°25'E), ex. R. macrotis ( ROM no. 107635), 16 V 1997, J. Eger, B. Lim, and L. Mitchell (2 ROM) .

Other Material Examined

China: Guangxi Province, Jing Xin County Provincial Nature Reserve , (978 m), (23°12'N, 105°09'E), ex. R. affinis ( ROM no. 116089 and 116035), 20 IX 2004, S. Bush [1♀ DNA, 1 prepupa MWH; 1♀ mounted on stub for SEM, see Hastriter et al. (2006), ROM] . Vietnam: Tuyen Quang Province, Na Hang Nature Reserve , (22°20'N, 105°25'E), ex. R. paradoxalophus ( ROM no.s 107647 and 107669), 17–19 V 1997, J. Eger, B. Lim, and L. Mitchell, (genital apertures of 3♀ ROM); same data except ex. R. macrotis ( ROM no. 107635), 16 V 1997, J. Eger, B. Lim, and L. Mitchell [1♀ mounted on stub for SEM, see Hastriter et al. (2006), ROM] .

Diagnosis

Setae on the gena, pleural sclerites, scutum, and lateral vertices are long and slender (longer that diameter of spiracle on mesopleuron); structures without peg­like spiniform setae. Protrochanter and mesotrochanter with a parallel tuft­like apical group of long setae. Sternites without setae.

Description Characters are a composite of the dealate female holotype and paratypes. Head: Labial theca laterally expanded at apex, both dorsal and ventral; bearing pale short, sparsely scattered spiniform setae dorsolaterally, some extending onto ventral surface ( Figs. 1 A–B). Ventral surface with many fine, long setae scattered on anterior half. Theca bulged ventrally at base in lateral aspect. Twelve complex cheliceral blades (four dorsal and four ventral medially fixed); two laterals (one dorsal, one ventral each side). E pipharynx (labial gutter) with laterally expanded sclerotizations posterior to cheliceral blades ( Figs. 1 A–B). Clypeus horseshoe­shaped; vinculum heavily sclerotized, C­shaped plate ( Fig. 1D ). Frons expanded laterally; anterior margin gently convex, posterior margin darkly sclerotized ( Figs. 1C , 2B ). Antenna of two segments; arista multi­branched apically, arising from globular second segment. Lateral vertex wider than long, 9–12 long setae directed anteriorly on anterior half ( Fig. 2B ). Gena broadly rounded dorsally, with 9–10 slender setae on dorsal half ( Figs. 1C , 2A ); genae fused at ventor ( Fig. 1D ). Thorax: Scutum with many slender lateral and posterior setae, central area devoid of setae. Scutellum rounded from dorsal aspect, without setae ( Fig. 1C ). Mesopleuron devoid of setae anterior to round spiracle; 24–25 slender setae posteriorly. Hypopleuron and sternopleuron each without setae. Pteropleuron covered with about 20 long slender setae ( Fig. 2A ). Procoxa with 3–4 long setae, mesocoxa with 1–2 long setae, metacoxa broad, with long setae scattered along margins. Protrochanter and mesotrochanter each with apical group of 7–8 setae whose lengths exceed that of the trochanter; metatrochanter with two basal patches of minute setae and several longer setae towards apex. Prosternum, mesosternum, and metasternum without setae; latter two divided by medial suture ( Fig. 1D ). Genital Aperture: Fifth and sixth terminal pairs of spiracles dorsad to pair of cerci. Cercus with two long lateral setae and 8–9 shorter setae (variable between specimens). Seventh pair of spiracles ventrolateral to vaginal opening ( Fig. 2C ). Genital plate (possibly representing sternum VIII) bearing 3–5 stout setae; positioned between the anal and vaginal openings ( Figs. 2 C–F). Seven to eight slender setae between pair of seventh spiracles; two setae lateral to each cerca. Lateral to all spiracles are three roughly concentric rows of setae; each seta short and stout, but not arising from sclerotized plate. Vaginal orifice small and slit­like or enlarged (dependent on parity). Larva/prepupa: Larva without apparent features; tubular to elliptical. More developed larvae (or prepupae) have surface sculpturing ( Fig. 3D ), a sclerotized conical anus ( Fig. 3D ), ventral pair of spiracles less than half the length of dorsal pair, each with longitudinal raphe ( Fig. 3B ). General shape of prepupa flattened ventrally, dorsally convex, oval shaped ( Fig. 3A ). Prepupa: Length: 1.66 mm, height: 1.11 mm, width: 1.25 mm (n = 1).

Dimensions

Whole neosomes are highly pleomorphic but length, height, and width of mature females averaged 2185µ, 1550µ, and 1550µ (n = 4, range: 2080–2220µ; 1520–1660µ; 1520–1660µ), respectively. Head and thorax, average length: 1091µ (n = 5, range: 1035–1142µ). Labial theca, average length: 413µ (n =6, range: 389–442µ); average width: 483µ (n = 5, range: 462–515µ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–D. Maabella stomalata, gen. & sp. nov., Tuyen Quang Province, Vietnam: A. Labial theca, dorsal view (ex. R. macrotis); B. Labial theca, ventral view (ex. R. paradoxalophus); C. Thorax, dorsal (ex. R. macrotis); D. Thorax, ventral, white arrow illustrates vinculum; black arrows illustrates fusion of genae (ex. R. paradoxalophus). Scale A–D = 200.

FIGURE 2. A–F. Maabella stomalata, gen. & sp. nov. A. Head, posterior and thorax (ex. R. affinis); B. Frons and lateral vertex, ex. R. macrotis; C. Genital aperture (ex. R. macrotis); D–F. Cerci and genital plates; D–E. Guangxi Province, China (ex. R. macrotis and R. affinis, respectively); F. Tuyen Quasng Province, Vietnam (ex. R. affinis). Abbreviations: a.s., anterior thoracic spiracle; cx1, coxa 1; fr, frons; g, gena; hp, hypopleuron; lv, lateral vertex; ms, mesopleuron; pt, pteropleuron; s.w., stump of wing; sc, scutum; ster, sternopleuron; t.1, trochanter 1; and th, labial theca. Scale A–C = 200, D–F = 100.

FIGURE 3. A–D. Maabella stomalata, gen. & sp. nov., Prepupae, Guangxi Province, China (ex. R. affinis). A. Dorsal view; B. Spiracles, posterior; C. Anterior mouth; D. Anus. Abbreviations: an, anus; d.s., dorsal spiracle; es, esophagus; m, mouth; and v.s., ventral spiracle. Scale A–C = 200, D = 100.