Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) geayi ( Navas , 1910)

Silva, Patricia S., Tauber, Catherine A., Albuquerque, Gilberto S. & Tauber, Maurice J., 2013, Larvae of five horticulturally important species of Chrysopodes (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae): shared generic features, descriptions and keys, ZooKeys 262, pp. 39-92 : 58-65

Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) geayi ( Navas, 1910) Figs 2 –414– 18

Discussion.

Among Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) species, Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) geayi [= Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) pulchellus (Banks); see Legrand et al. 2008] are relatively large bodied. Adults have distinctive forewings: tall costal cells (especially basally); quadrate intramedian cell; sinuate subcostal, radial and radial sector veins; irregular gradate veins. Both the female and male genitalia are distinctive. Adults of this species can be identified using the key and information in Adams and Penny [1985: 423, as Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) pulchella ].

Known geographic distribution.

Brazil ( Banks 1910: 152, as Allochrysa pulchella ), French Guiana ( Navás 1910), Suriname ( Banks 1944, not confirmed). See Adams and Penny (1985), Adams (1985), Legrand et al. (2008).

Larval diagnosis.

Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) geayi larvae are recognized by their relatively large size, dense setation, and unique pronotal Sc1 sclerites (having dark brown lateral and mesal bands and an unmarked, cream-colored central band). The Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) geayi dorsal head markings resemble those of Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) fumosus and Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) spinellus (longitudinally elongate and divided, brown epicranial markings; unmarked intermandibular and clypeal regions). However, unlike as in Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) fumosus [but not Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) spinellus ], the posterior ends of the frontal markings curve and connect with each other mesally. Semaphoront A of Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) geayi is distinguished from that of Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) spinellus by the presence of thorns on only two or three cranial setae (S1, S11, sometimes S4) and its dark brown thoracic and abdominal LS. The Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) geayi Semaphoront B differs from Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) spinellus [but not Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) fumosus ] by the presence of several secondary sclerites on the pronotal midline.

First instar.

(Semaphoront A). Body (Fig. 14A) 2.7-3.1 mm long. Surface predominantly white to cream-colored, with some small, light brown marks, light dusting of brown, especially on sides and venter.

Head (Figs 2C, 14B) 0.42-0.45 mm wide; mandibles 0.37-0.39 mm long (ratio, mandible length: head width = 0.84-0.92: 1). Cranium mostly white, with elongate, brown to dark brown markings. Epicranial marking consisting of two, unconnected, elongate, brown stripes; mesal arm contiguous with postfrontal marking, extending from base of cranium to anteromesal margin of antennal socket; lateral arm brown, especially dark basally, extending from posterolateral margin of cranial suture approximately to distal base of mandible. Postfrontal marking indistinguishable, fused with epicranial marking. Frontal marking narrow, paired, extending from midregion of cranium anteriorly to level of antennal socket, then bending laterally toward mesal margin of mandibular base; mesal ends of marking curving inward, fusing narrowly at tip. Intermandibular, clypeal area white. Cranial setae amber to brown; S1, S11 long, thorny; S4 intermediate-length, smooth or thorny; others short, smooth.

Gena brown with small central white spot, ventral region of head capsule white to cream-colored, with ventral margin of head capsule brown. Labial palpus white, with tinge of light brown on basal segment, lateral side of middle segment, darker brown on distal annulation, terminal segment. Mandibles amber to light brown, with dark brown basally. Antenna with light brown scape, pedicel light brown basally, brown distally; flagellum brown. Cervix with pair of light brown sublateral spots.

Thorax (Figs 2C, 14B) mostly white, with small to large patches of brown forming pair of submedian longitudinal, brown bands; sclerotized structures mostly light brown; pleural region with distinct brown band running through episterna, epimera, membranes between; episternum, epimeron dark brown. Legs white; base of coxa dark brown, tibia, tarsus tinged with very light brown; tarsal claws, empodia, brown. LS dark brown; other setae amber to dark brown.

T1: Row of three very small setae (R1) at anteromesal base of LTs present. Sc1 with distal section light brown, center white; S2Sc1 very small, immediately above S1Sc1. S1 intermediate-length; S3 intermediate-length to short, thorny. T2: Spiracle with lip of atrium protruding slightly beyond level of integumental protuberance. Sc1, Sc2, Sc 3 light brown; S2Sc3, S2 small to intermediate length, thorny, of approximately equal size. T3: S1Sc1, S2Sc1, S1Sc2 very small; S2Sc2 absent. S1, S2 absent. Raised posterior fold with row (R1) of four very long, robust, thorny, pointed setae on chalazae with ovate, light brown marks anteriorly.

Abdomen (Figs 14A, 14 C–D) white, with light dusting of brown, especially on sides and venter of A2-A6, dorsum of A7, A8. LTs, LDTs marked with brown; most dorsal chalazae brown to dark brown.

A 1-A5: Dorsum with 12 SMS in two rows, with lateral-most two pairs juxtaposed. Spiracle with SSp elongate, robust, mesal to spiracle. A6: Anterior region with two SMS. Spiracle with SSp mesally. A7: Anterior region without setae or microsetae. Spiracle anterior to LT, without apparent SSp. A8: Venter with two pairs of medium-length setae posteriorly.

Second and third instars.

(Semaphoront B). Body (Figs 15E, 16 A–B) length 4.6-5.1 mm (L2), 7.5-7.9 mm (L3); surface white to cream-colored, with light to dark brown integumental spinules especially dense, dark on pronotum; primary pronotal, mesonotal sclerites brown to dark brown, other dorsal marks brown; sclerites around coxae, base of coxae dark brown, abdomen (lateral) with brownish hue interrupted by white lateral stripe through abdominal lateral tubercles.

Head (Figs 3C, 4C, 15 A–B, 16 C–D) cream-colored, with brown to dark brown markings. Epicranial marking brown, with two elongate arms, separate from each other, both in contact with posterior margin of head; lateral arm extending from distolateral margin of cranium to upper level of eye, touching eye, tapering distally; mesal arm extending from base of head, becoming confluent with postfrontal marking, which extends to inner margin of scape. Postfrontal marking dark brown, narrow throughout. Frontal marking dark brown, with each arm narrow, separate (except at basal tip), extending from midsection of head, beyond tentorial pit to inner base of mandible; base of each arm tapering, turning mesally, contacting tip of other arm. Intermandibular marking absent. Clypeolabral region cream-colored, tinged with light brown. Gena cream-colored, with large, brown marking from base of eye to posterior margin of cranium, with small, cream-colored mesal spot. Mandible, maxilla amber basally, mesally, dark brown laterally, distally. Labial palpus: basal segment cream-colored with very slight tinge of brown; mesal segment ringed with brown laterally, cream-colored mesally, with terminal subsegment brown; terminal segment brown. Antenna: scape and pedicel (basal, mesal sections) light brown, distal one-fifth of pedicel, entire flagellum, darker brown. Venter cream-colored, with large, white central area; margin of cranium, cardo with dark brown longitudinal marks; mentum with large, brown spot basally.

Cephalic seta S1 moderately long, thorny, S2-S12 smooth, S11 long; Vx setae relatively long.

Head width across eyes, 0.64-0.66 mm (L2), 0.98-1.05 mm (L3); mandible length, 0.51-0.58 mm (L2), 0.91-0.98 mm (L3); ratio mandible length to head width = 0.82-0.87: 1 (L2), 0.93-0.99: 1 (L3). Tip of mandible with four teeth mesally.

Cervix: dorsum cream-colored, tinged with light brown; sides with pair of broad brown patches; venter brown laterally, becoming cream-colored mesally.

Thorax (Figs 3C, 4C, 15C, 15E, 16 A–B, 17A) white to cream-colored; dorsum lightly tinged with brown, the darkness of which depends on density, color of integumental spinules; with sclerites, markings brown; LTs white, with LS amber to light brown. Venter white to cream-colored, with light brown tinge laterally where spinules extend toward ventral surface, without other marks. Legs: coxa white, with dark brown on dorsal surface; trochanter cream-colored to white, base of femur cream-colored, becoming brownish distally; tibia white to tinged with very light brown, with light brown setae; tarsus very light brown with dark tip; empodium brown; claws amber.

T1: LT with 15-19 (L2), 18-22 (L3) LS. Sc1 with elongate brown marks laterally, mesally, cream-colored streak centrally; two heavily sclerotized rods extending from base of sclerite, mesal one stretching along mesal margin of Sc1 to mesal base of LT, lateral one forked distally, with mesal fork extending onto posterolateral margin of LT, lateral fork extending laterally below posterior base of LT. Sc2 triangular, included in elongate mesal brown mark, with two small, brown, secondary sclerites anteriorly. S2, S3 thorny. T2: Anterior sclerite (Sc1) brown; spiracles on small protuberances. Posterior subsegment with Sc2 light brown; Sc3 pronounced, brown. LT with 15-19 (L2, L3) LS. T3: LT with 14-18 (L2, L3) LS. Posterior fold with row (R1) of twelve robust, thorny setae.

Abdomen (Figs 15D-F, 16A-B, 17B-C) white to cream-colored, with light brown chalazae and setae; white fat-body visible beneath integument; setae mostly amber-colored. A6, A7 each with pair of large, dark brown marks dorsal to LTs; LDTs white with dark brown chalazae, brown marks anterior and posterior to LDTs. A8 with pair of dark brown marks mesal to spiracles. A9 with three elongate brown marks dorsally. A10 with inverted V-shaped, dark brown dorsal mark; light brown laterally. Venter white to cream-colored, without marks, except with some light brown pigmentation ventrolaterally; tip of A10 with pair of small, triangular dark brown marks.

A1: Dorsum with 62-76 (L2), ~ 156-188 (L3) SMS in two double-triple transverse bands between spiracles. A2-A5: Dorsum with 62-114 (L2), 176-268 (L3) SMS in two broad transverse bands. LTs each with 9-14 (L2), 12-34 (L3) LS: four to eight long, robust, thorny, pointed to spatulate LS on distal surface; remaining LS less robust, smooth, hooked, in patch on dorsal surface. A6: Dorsum with transverse band of 22-32 (L2), 42-56 (L3) SMS across anterior of segment; midsection with two pairs of smooth setae, mesal pair hooked, lateral pair pointed. LT with 8-10 (L2), ~11-14 (L3) LS of various sizes. A7: Dorsum with three pairs of very short setae anteriorly, between spiracles. LT with ~8-10 (L2), 11-14 (L3) LS of various sizes. A8: Dorsum with two pairs of very small setae between spiracles; four pairs of small setae in transverse row between LTs. Venter with two transverse rows of setae, each with three to four smooth, small, pointed setae. A9: Dorsum with one pair of very small setae anteriorly. Middle and posterior regions with two transverse rings of setae extending around segment; each ring with ~14-16 short to medium-length setae, several in each ring robust. A10: Dorsum with two pairs of small setae: one posterior to V-shaped anterior sclerites, one slightly anterior to terminus. Two pairs of lateral setae, robust. Venter with ~five pairs of small setae, posterior row of microsetae anterior to terminus.

Egg.

Green, ovoid, 0.95-1.00 mm long; 0.43-0.45 mm wide; stalk hyaline, 10.7-12.6 mm long.

Larval specimens examined.

Several lots, each originating from a single gravid female collected in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro: Campos dos Goytacazes, Parque Estadual do Desengano, Babilônia III-27-2001, X-26-2003 (Tauber Lot 2001:003, Albuquerque Lot 2003:018); Campos dos Goytacazes, near Parque Estadual do Desengano, Fazenda Boa Vista, V-16-2002 (Tauber Lot 2002:016); Campos dos Goytacazes, Distrito de Morangaba, Fazenda São Julião, X-18-2005 (Tauber Lot 2005:034). Two field-collected specimens from RJ, all collected by Albuquerque, Tauber and Tauber: an L3 collected from Santo Antônio do Imbé, Parque Estadual do Desengano on III-31-1999, and an L3 from the Babilônia site, collected on V-4-2003.

Biology.

Eggs of Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) geayi are deposited separately, with isolated stalks, in no particular pattern. Adults were collected in disturbed, forested areas of coastal Brazil. Occasionally, we encountered fairly substantial numbers in moist habitats near streams. The two larvae (L2, L3) from small trees in the field at Babilônia and Santo Antônio do Imbé (see data above) were both carrying relatively sparse coverings of plant material (brownish leaflets or bracts) and fibers loosely attached to the dorsal setae. On the two specimens from different localities, the leaflets or bracts appeared to be from the same or similar type of plant (Fig. 18).