Phyllodromica iberica, Published, 2007

KNEBELSBERGER, THOMAS & MILLER, MICHAEL A., 2007, Revision and phylogeny of the subaptera-group of Phyllodromica (Blattoptera: Blattellidae: Ectobiinae), including a parthenogenetic species and the evaluation of COI sequences for species identification (DNA barcoding), Zootaxa 1522 (1), pp. 1-68 : 15-16

Phyllodromica iberica morph #2

( Figs 6 A–I , 7 A–H , 8 A–G , 17 )

Phyllodromica subaptera morph #2. —Knebelsberger & Bohn, 2003.

Material. Numerous specimens from the following localities: Spain. Sp 265, a, 266, a, 267, a, b, c, d, 268, a, 269a, 364, 365, a, 366, 512, a.

Description. Size. Length of pronotum: ♂ 1.46–1.59 (mean 1.53) mm; ♀ 1.76–1.93 (mean 1.83) mm.

Legs. Distal end of mid tibia with 5 spines.

Male

Tergites. —Tergite 6. Emargination of the posterior border narrower than in all other representatives of the group and deeper than in morph #1 ( Figs 6 C , 8 A–D ). Immediately behind the transversal ridge cuticle elevated to a narrow torus running in parallel to the transversal ridge ( Fig. 7 A–C ). The torus is interrupted in the middle and fades away laterally, shortly before the ridge disappears. Along the torus the bristles are arranged in an extraordinary density. Posteriorly the torus declines medio-laterally to two shallow longitudinal depressions (white arrows in Fig. 7 A ). Tergite 7. Median lobe somewhat longer than in morph #1, but shorter than distance between bristle fields and the posterior border of the tergite, almost without glandular pores ( Fig. 6 D ). Trough ( Figs 6 D , 7 D ) less deep than in morph #1, anterior wall scarcely hollowed out anteriorly, medially relatively steep. Mound low and small, less broad than the median lobe ( Fig. 6 D ). Bristle fields small, longitudinally oval, immediately adjacent, rarely separated by a very narrow bristleless ridge ( Fig. 6 D ). The bristle fields are on both sides of the ridge deepened to shallow grooves with relative strongly declining posterior wall, appearing as a crescent-shaped black shadow posteriorly of each of the two bristle fields (white arrow heads in Fig. 6 D ), but less deep than in morph #1. Tergite 8. Similar as in morph #1, but central mound lower, sinusoidal edge anteriorly less steeply declining, mound not broader than the lateral pits, with a smaller conelike process; median gap of bristles smaller ( Figs 7 F–H ). Tergite 10, supraanal plate triangular, more rounded than in morph #1 ( Fig. 6 G ).

Sternites. —Paraproct. Medio-anterior process of right paraproct without bulge ( Fig. 6 G ).

Colouration. —Tergites 2–5. Posterior extensions of the dark area usually weakly developed ( Fig. 6 B ) or missing. Tergite 6. Dark area not reaching the posterior border of the tergite leaving a light margin ( Fig. 6 C ), often with small lightenings forming a central Y - or v -shaped figure ( Fig. 8 A, C ) occasionally with prolonged transversal arms along the tori ( Fig. 8 B, D ). Tergite 7 ( Fig. 6 D ). Very similar to morph #1, but very dark (brown) colouration posteriorly and laterally of the mound, often extended latero-posteriorly. Tergite 8 ( Fig. 6 E ). Very similar to morph #1, but dark area posteriorly less extended with median and mediolateral extensions. Conical process lighter coloured than in morph #1.

Female ( Fig. 8 F, G )

For description of legs, genitalia and colouration see description of P. subaptera .

Genetic Data. 1597 basepairs of the mitochondrial genome including the complete cytochrome c oxidase subunit I ( COI) gene were analysed in two specimens (Sp 267d/M5, Sp 267d/M6). DNA and associated parts of body are stored in the DNATAX collection of the ZSM under storage numbers DNATAX02863 (Sp 267d/ M5) and DNATAX02864 (Sp 267d/M6) . The sequences were submitted to GenBank under the accession numbers: AM 600687 ( DNATAX02863 ) and AM 600688 ( DNATAX02864 ) .

The sequences of P. iberica morph #2_ Sp 267d/M5_1597bp and P. iberica morph #2 Sp 267d/ M6_1597bp differ in one position (Appendix 5). The complete sequences are shown in Appendix 4.

Geographical distribution ( Fig. 17 ). Small distribution area in eastern Spain, running ± parallel to the coast between Rio Ebro and Rio Túria.

Other species of the subaptera -group found. P subaptera: Sp 365.

Other morphs of P.iberica found. Morph #1: Sp 366, 512; morph #3: Sp 512.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Phyllodromica iberica morph #2, male. A Thoracal nota. B–F Abdominal tergites 5–9. (B) Tergite 5; (C) tergite 6 with a narrow transversal torus (white arrow heads) bearing bristles (white spots) in extraordinary density; (D) tergite 7, white arrow heads point to the shallow pouches appearing as crescent–shaped black shadows; (E) tergite 8; (F) tergite 9 on glass rod. G Terminalia with tergite 10 (sa), cerci and paraprocts. H Hook of left phallomere with the posterior end on the top. I Subgenital plate with remaining genital sclerites (without hook). Abbreviations: ap anterior process, bf bristle field cm central mound, cp conelike process, m mound, ml median lobe, mp medio-anterior process of right paraproct, r ridge between bristle fields, rp right paraproct, sa supraanal plate, se sinusoidal edge, sp shallow pit, tt transversal trough. Same scale for (B, C, G) and (D, E, H). Identification: Sp 267c/M2.

FIGURE 7. Phyllodromica iberica morph #2, male, SEM pictures of tergite 6 and the tergal glandular structures. A–C Tergite 6. (A) Latero-frontal view from slightly above, white arrows point to two shallow longitudinal depressions posteriorly of the torus (to); (B) dorsal view of the whole tergite; (C) transversal torus with bristles (between arrows) of the right half of the tergite. As a result of the preparation procedure for SEM the posterior margin of the tergite and its emargination in the middle (in B) appear narrower than under natural conditions. D, E Tergite 7. (D) Lateral view of tergite from slightly above; (E) glandular region in dorsal view. F–H Tergite 8. (F) Dorsal view of the whole tergite with median emargination in the distribution of the bristles (white arrow heads); (G) latero-frontal view from slightly above; (H) lateral view of the anterior part of the tergite. Abbreviations: bf bristle field, cm central mound, cp conelike process, m mound, se sinusoidal edge, sp shallow pit, to transversal torus, tr transversal ridge, tt transversal trough. Same scale for (A, B) and (D, F, G). Identification: (A–C) Sp 267b/M6, (D–H) Sp 267b/M4.

FIGURE 8. A–E Phyllodromica iberica morph #2, male. (A–D) Different colour patterns of tergite 6; (E) helmet sclerite. F, G Phyllodromica iberica morph #2, female. (F) Thoracal nota; (G) abdominal tergite 5. H Right front leg of Phyllodromica iberica morph #1, male in frontal view. I Right front leg of Phyllodromica quadracantha, male in frontal view. Abbreviations: fr “frontal” part of helmet sclerite, cox coxa, fem femur, hs helmet sclerite re “rear” of helmet sclerite, tib tibia, tm tegmen. Same scale for (A–D), (F, G) and (H, I). Identification: (A) Sp 266/2, (B) Sp 365/3, (C) Sp 365a/M14, (D) Sp 365a/M8, (E) Sp 267c/M1, (F, G) Sp 267c/W2, (H) Sp 510/M11, (I) Sp 203d/M1 (holotype)..

FIGURE 17. Distribution of the bisexual species of the subaptera-group: Phyllodromica iberica morph #1, #2 and #3, and P. quadracantha; these species only occur on the Iberian Peninsula. In cases where two different symbols partly overlap, two P. iberica morphs are found at the same locality; in one case all three morphs occur together (Fig. 15, Sp 510 ca. 1° W, 40° N). P. iberica morph #3 symbols labeled with a “+” (Fig. 15, Sp 335) or an “ ” (Fig. 15, Sp 186, 270, 469 and 512) indicate the presence of morphological variations. At some localities no males have been found (“sad face” symbol) but females with spermathecae containing sperms and/or with oothecae containing male and female offspring. Both facts indicate the presence of a bisexual species of unknown specifity.