Biguembia flavibrunnea, Andrade & Szumik & Juárez & Krolow, 2023

Andrade, Bruna Santos, Szumik, Claudia, Juárez, María Laura & Krolow, Tiago Kütter, 2023, Revisiting Biguembia Szumik, 1997 (Embioptera: Archembiidae): New species, phylogeny and natural history, Zoologischer Anzeiger 307, pp. 70-82 : 75-79

Biguembia flavibrunnea n. sp.

( Figs. 2A–I , 3 A-E, 4A-G, 5A-G)

Type material. Male holotype: BRAZIL, Tocantins, Palmas, Vale [valley] do Vai Quem Quer , 10 ◦ 23′39.898″S, 48 ◦ 7′54.732″W, 29-XI-2018, Krolow, T.K. ( INPA) .

Etymology. The specific name refers to the general coloration of the specimens, brown and yellow.

Diagnosis. Biguembia flavibrunnea n. sp. is easily distinguished from other species of the genus by the shape of the LC1dp ( Fig. 2H and I , 3 D-E), which has an apical protuberance diagonally towards the center of the body. 10Lp1 twisted in relation to 10L ( Fig. 2H , 3 C-D), external tip about 2/3 of the length of the internal and Sm ( Figs. 2H and 3B ) with anterior margin slightly narrower than posterior margin, with central region curved (convex).

Male (holotype, Fig. 2A–I , 3A–E ): general coloration ( Fig. 2A and B ), body yellowish brown except for the black head, prothorax entirely yellow and the terminalia and wings dark brown, all legs are bicolor alternating between yellow and dark brown. Total length = 17.5 mm (antenna to cercus), body size = 11.0 mm (without antenna). Head ( Figs. 2A and 3A ) width/length = 0.92; anterior margin of the clypeus straight; epistomal sulcus continuous; ecdysial suture conspicuous; postocular suture represented by two marked notches; eyes small, OR = 0.70; Md with 3-2 incisor teeth and 1-1 molar teeth. Antenna with 26 black antennomeres ( Fig. 2A and B ). Mm and Sm well defined ( Figs. 2D and 3B ). Mm as a “mustache” with the lateral margins found the Sm. Sm with anterior margin slightly narrower in relation to posterior margin, central region curved (convex). Forewing length = 6.72 mm, hind wing length = 5.81 mm. Forewing ( Fig. 2E ),wing base union type A. C hirsute; Ma1 and Ma2 diffusely reaching the wing margin; external margin of the R1 vein reddish with central region less sclerotized; Rs+Ma with short connection about ¼ of the wing length; Ma with long bifurcation (more than 1 / 3 of the wing length); Cua diffuse; Mp reaching the margin of the wing in a diffuse way; Cu dark and well defined almost reaching the margin of the wing; A present and dark; C-R1: 3, R1-Rs: 6, Rs-Ma1: 3, Ma–Mp: 2. Hind wing ( Fig. 2F ): similar to fore wing, except for cross-veins R1-Rs: 2, Rs-Ma: 1, Rs-Ma1: 2, Ma–Mp: 2. Legs. Foreleg bicolor, with coxa, trochanter and femur yellow, tibia and tarsus brown, except for the basitarsus yellowish brown. Middle leg with coxa, trochanter and femur yellow, tibia yellowish brown and tarsus uniformly brown. Hind leg with coxa yellowish brown, trochanter and femur yellowish, tibia and tarsus brown. Posterior basitarsus ( Fig. 2G ) narrow: length = 0.34 mm, width/length = 0.38, both bladders large and protruding, medial bladder with diameter = 0.10 mm, medial bladder diameter/tarsal width = 0.70; 3 rows of setae on the retrolateral face, 5 rows on the anterolateral face, 4 rows of setae on the ventrobasal face. Tympanal organ present, on foreleg femora as a slender and elongated semicircle, on middle leg femora as a slender band, absent on hind femur. Terminalia ( Fig. 2H and I , 3 C-E): small unsclerotized sub circular area on the left side of the ninth tergite disconnected from another large central area unsclerotized. 10Lp1 twisted in relation to 10L, with two long tips, external about 2/3 of the length of the internal, not sclerotized and without longitudinal carinae, internal tip with a conspicuous longitudinal carinae. 10Rp1 acute, apical end curved towards the ventral region with a longitudinal keel. 10Rp2 conspicuous, straight with broad end. Ep sclerotized and clearly visible. LC1dp with diagonal apical protuberance, quite hirsute at apex. Hp with transverse keels, not sclerotized at the apex; internal caudal angle of Lpp with a well sclerotized node with microtrichia; Rpp inconspicuous. Longitudinal ratio of LC1/LC2: 1.10.

Female. (Paratype, Fig. 4A–E ). Similar to the male, except for the quadrangular head ( Fig. 4A and B ), antenna with whitish basal and apical flagellomeres, yellow mesothorax ( Fig. 4A ), fore leg with bicolor femur. Total length =14.00 mm (antenna to cercus), body size = 11.03 mm (without antenna). Head ( Fig. 4C and D ) quadrangular, width/ length = 1.11; eyes small, OR = 0.80; anterior margin of the clypeus straight; epistomal sulcus continuous; ecdysial suture conspicuous; postocular sutures represented by two notches; 25 antennomeres with alternating shades of brown, except for the white apex and base. Mm and Sm similar to male except yellowish brown color ( Fig. 4D ). Femur of hind leg more enlarged than male. Basitarsus of hind leg large, length = 0.41, width/length = 0.48, medial bladder large and prominent, diameter/basitarsus width = 0.60; 3 rows of setae on the ventrobasal face, 2 rows of setae on the retrolateral face, 5 rows of setae on the anterolateral face. Tympanal organ present on fore and middle femora leg, similar appearance to male. Terminalia ( Fig. 4E–G ): central plate differentiated with yellowish-brown anterior region and a pale cream posterior region. First valvifers dark brown with light brown apical tip turned to the second valvifers. Second valvifers inconspicuous, opening of the spermathecal oviduct inconspicuous, covered by the central plate. Longitudinal ratio of LC1/LC2: 1. Coloration of cerci: base of LC1 and tip of LC2 depigmented.

Egg and nymphs ( Fig. 5A–G ). Egg ( Fig. 5B ) pale yellow, operculum white; oval shape; operculum about 1/4 the length of the egg; cuticular ridge with high relief; the upper edge is bowed. First instar ( Fig. 5C ), uniformly pale cream with few bristles on the body; head very large; antennomere demarcations diffuse; digestive system visible; thorax and abdomen compressed; body length = 1.6 mm. Second instar ( Fig. 5D ), head, prothorax, legs and abdomen yellowish-brown, antenna, mesothorax, metathorax and cerci pale cream; head rounded; last antennomeres white; abdominal segments not compressed except 8th, 9th and 10th; body length = 7.0 mm. Third instar, female ( Fig. 5E ), light brown, except for antennae, head and cerci light yellow, and mesothorax cream; head pentagonal; last seven antennomeres white; terminalia with light yellow central plate; cerci pale yellow; body length = 10.30 mm. Third instar, male ( Fig. 5E ) same color pattern as female except for yellowish brown mesothorax; head rounded; antennomeres cream; mesothorax slightly elevated; rudimentary wing pads; terminalia undifferentiated, tergite 10 undivided; Sternite 10 with paraprocts of the same size and color; body length = 9.3 mm. Fourth instar, female ( Fig. 5F ), head, prothorax, mesothorax, coxa and femur light yellow, tibia, tarsi and abdomen yellowish brown; head pentagonal; basal and apical antennomeres cream, median antennomeres brown; Sternite 8 with central plate with conspicuous ridge; cream cerci; body length = 10.70 mm. Fourth instar, male ( Fig. 5F ), cream color with abdomen yellowish brown; head pentagonal; median antennomeres light brown; wing pads pale yellow and well development; veins C, Sc and R1 highlighted, dark brown and straight; terminalia differentiated, tergite 10 with a suture delimiting the hemitergites (10L and 10R), body length = 11.8 mm. Fifth instar, female ( Fig. 5G ), head, prothorax and mesothorax light yellow, metathorax and abdomen yellowish brown; head rounded; last six antennomeres white; S8 with central plate and hirsute valvifers; 1 ◦ Vfs slightly darker, central plate yellow with median region darker and elevated; yellow cerci, brown in the basal and caudal connections; body length = 12, 5 mm. Fifth instar, male ( Fig. 5G ), yellowish brown; head rounded; dark brown antennomeres; wing pads with C, Sc and R1 sinuous; 10 Lp1 with rudimentary internal tip, 10 Rp1 with well-developed tip, both with carinae and brown color; body length = 11.4 mm.

Notes on biology: the eggs are arranged horizontally and apparently do not have a clear design or pattern of organization in the position of the egg masses within the colonies. Each egg mass is covered by several layers of silk, the margins are flush with the substrate and the mass is closed until the nymphs hatch, thus, when there is more than one egg mass they are distinctly separated.

The developmental time of Biguembia flavibrunnea n. sp. ( Table 3 ) was among 261 and 283 days, between egg laying and adult emergence. In the adult stage, males lived up to five days, while females 76–88 days, thus, the total development time for males was between 266 and 288 days, while for females it was 337–371 days.

Additional records (paratypes). BRAZIL, Tocantins: same data as holotype from culture in lab (2♀, 56 CEUFT; 2♀, 26 INPA; 3♀, 56 MZUSP; 4♀, 66 IFML) ; idem, Cachoeira[waterfall] Roncadeira , 10 ◦ 18′13.550″S; 48 ◦ 8′20.445″W, 16-23-XI-2012, Malaise trap, Almeida, L.D. & Silva, M.D. (1♀, 16 INPA) ; ibidem, 14-III-2017, culture in lab., Ganns, B.A.C. (1♀, 66 CEUFT) ; Fazenda[farm] Encantada , 10 ◦ 14′48.473″S; 48 ◦ 7′26.015″W, Malaise trap, 16-23- XI.2012, Krolow, T.K. & Lima, H.I.L. (26 CEUFT) ; ibidem, 30-xi-07-XII-2012, Malaise trap, Krolow, T.K. & Lima, H.I.L. (16 INPA) ; ibidem, 23- 30-XI-2012, Malaise trap, Krolow, T.K. & Lima, H.I.L. (26 CEUFT).

Figures

Fig. 2. Biguembia flavibrunnea n. sp. (holotype male, A–I). A- habitus (dorsal view); B- habitus (ventral view); C- head (dorsal view); D- head (ventral view); E forewing (dorsal view); F- hind wing (dorsal view); G- hind basitarsus with medial bladder (ventral view); H- terminalia (dorsal view); I- terminalia (ventral view).

Fig. 3. Biguembia flavibrunnea n. sp. (holotype male, A–E). A- head (dorsal view); B- mentum and submentum (ventral view); C- 10Lp1 (dorsal view); Dterminalia (dorsal view); E- terminalia (ventral view).

Fig. 4. Biguembia flavibrunnea n. sp. (paratype female, A–G). A- habitus (dorsal view); B- habitus (ventral view); C- head (dorsal view); D- head (ventral view); E sternites 8–9 (ventral view); F- terminalia (dorsal view); G- terminalia (ventral view).

Fig. 5. Biguembia flavibrunnea n. sp. (immature stages, A–G). A- egg mass; B- egg; C- first instar (dorsal view); D- second instar (dorsal view); E third instar (dorsal view), female and male; F- fourth instar (dorsal view), female and male; G-fifth instar (dorsal view), female and male.