Zorotypus hainanensis Yin and Li

Yin, Zi-Wei, Li, Li-Zhen & Wu, Chao, 2015, New and little known species of Zorotypus Silvestri (Zoraptera: Zorotypidae) from China, Zootaxa 4007 (4), pp. 557-566 : 558-564

Zorotypus hainanensis Yin and Li , new species

( Figs 1–5 )

Type material (2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀). Holotype: CHINA: apteron ♂, labeled ‘ China: Hainan, Ledong Hsien [ffi÷θ], Jianfengling N.R. [*RΚ], Mingfenggu [d¼☺], 18°44’30’’N, 108°50’29’’E, rainforest, decaying log, 995 m, 25.i.2015, Xiao-Bin Song ( SNUC). Paratypes: CHINA: 1 apteron ♂, same label data as holotype; 1 apteron ♀, also at Jianfengling, ‘District V [Ϫ∬U], 18°43’57’’N, 108°52’41’’E, broad-leaved forest, decaying log, 975 m, 24.i.2015, Zhong Peng’; 1 apteron ♀, labeled ‘ China: Hainan, Qiongzhong Hsien [¼φθ], Limu Mt. [ϔDzM], nr. reservoir, 19°09’01’’N, 109°45’08’’E, mixed forest, decaying log, 580 m, 30.i.2015, De-Yao Zhou’; 1 apteron ♀, also at Limu Mt., ‘path to peak, 19°10’27’’N, 109°45’29’’E, mixed forest, decaying log, 1000 m, 31.i.2015, Zhong Peng’. (all SNUC)

Description. Apteron male ( Fig. 1 ). Body length 2.54–2.60 mm (exclusive of antennae), color glossy brown except membranous regions and yellowish white cercus; head ( Fig. 2 A) sub-triangular, slightly wider than pronotum, with whitish area in posterolateral corner; cephalic chaetotaxy as depicted in Fig. 2 A; compound eyes and ocelli absent; maxillary palpus ( Fig. 2 B) five-segmented; labial palpus ( Fig. 2 C) three-segmented; antennae nine-segmented, antennomeres VII paler than preceding ones (antennomeres VIII–IX missing) ( Fig. 4 B), antennomere I slightly curved outward, antennomere II faintly curved, short, about one-half length of antennomere III, antennomeres III–VII longer than wide, length of each subequal to that of antennomere I ( Fig. 4 B); both mandibles with five apical teeth and well-developed molar region ( Fig. 4 D–E). Pronotum ( Fig. 2 D) subrectangular, slightly narrowed posteriorly; mesonotum ( Fig. 2 D) trapezoidal, slightly shorter than pronotum; metanotum ( Fig. 2 D) trapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, shorter than mesonotum; thorax sparsely setose as depicted in Fig. 2 D. Legs with setae of moderate length; tibiae and tarsi of all legs paler in color; posterior surface of profemur broadly setose, anterior and dorsal surfaces covered with setae of moderate length only distally; protibia covered with setae of moderate length, bristles arranged like comb in distal half along ventral surface, with two apical spurs; mesofemur about as broad as profemur, anterior surface broadly setose, posterior and dorsal surfaces covered with setae of moderate length on distal half and several short setae on proximal half; mesotibia covered with setae of moderate length, with two apical spurs; metafemur broader than profemur, more swollen proximally than distally ( Fig. 4 C), anterior surface broadly setose, posterior and dorsal surfaces covered with setae of moderate length on distal half and several short setae on proximal half, ventral surface with eight to nine long stout bristles ( Fig. 4 C); metatibia covered with setae of moderate length, with two apical spurs.

Abdominal tergites I–VI ( Fig. 3 A) with single transverse row of four to six setae of moderate length and a few lateral, short setae on each side of midline; tergite VII ( Fig. 3 A) with single transverse row of one long seta, two moderate-length setae, and a few short setae laterally on each side of midline; tergite VIII ( Fig. 3 A) with single transverse row of one short seta, three long erect setae, and three moderate-length setae on each side of midline; tergite IX ( Fig. 3 A) short, anterior trapezoidal expansion extending beneath tergite VIII, with single row of seven to eight short, thick setae on each side of midline; tergite X ( Fig. 3 A) posteromedially incised, with several moderate-length setae on each side of midline, one pair of stout setae near incision; tergite XI with small median upcurved projection (= male mating hook) and two lateral, subtriangular sclerites, several moderate-length setae on each sclerite; epiproct and paraproct unsclerotized; cercus ( Fig. 2 E) unsegmented, oval, with one long apical seta, three or four preapical moderate-length setae, several short setae, and very long, fine setae; surface covered with numerous minute spicules except at base and apex; sternite I scarcely sclerotized; sternite II ( Fig. 3 B) weakly sclerotized; sternite III ( Fig. 3 B) with single transverse row of several moderate-length; sternites IV–V ( Fig. 3 B) with single transverse row of five to six moderate-length setae on each side of midline; sternites VI–VII ( Fig. 3 B) with two transverse rows of moderate-length setae, anterior row with several setae, posterior row with five or six setae on each side of midline; sternite VIII ( Fig. 3 B) wider than long, with evenly scattered fine setae, one longer setae on posterior margin on each side of midline; sternite IX trapezoidal, with small, fine setae; posterior margin with two moderate-length setae on each side of midline; sternite X invaginated beneath sternite IX, not visible externally; sternite XI with two lateral sclerites, each with fine setae. Genitalia symmetrical; basal plate ( Fig. 4 G) well sclerotized, posteriorly bifurcate, with long, anterior tongue-like process; flagellum ( Fig. 4 F) long, sclerotized, coiled; aedeagus with hook ( Fig. 4 F).

Apteron female. Body length 2.48–2.51 mm (exclusive of antennae). General features corresponding to those of males. Antennomere III ( Fig. 4 A) slightly shorter than that of male; tergite X not posteromedially incised, with three or four setae of moderate length on each side of midline; tergite XI evenly sclerotized, not divided into two halves (hemitergites), with small scattered setae and a pair of paramedian setae of moderate length apically; sternite IX ( Fig. 2 F) transverse, short, anterior margin with bifurcate projection extending beneath sternite VIII, several fine setae scattered and one pair of setae as depicted in Fig. 2 F.

Alate form. Unknown.

Comparative notes. This new species is similar to Z. sinensis and Z. medoensis in general appearance, but can be readily separated from both by a different placement of the bristles on the ventral margin of the metafemur ( Fig. 4 C; Hwang 1974: Fig. 3 ), relatively shorter cerci ( Fig. 1 ; Hwang 1974: Fig. 1 ), setation on the posterior margin of male sternum VIII ( Fig. 3 B; Hwang 1976: Figs 1 , 2 ), and form of the male genitalia ( Fig. 4 F–G; Hwang 1976: Figs 3–4 ). The Taiwanese Z. newi has a unique combination of elongate first tarsomere and cercus ( Chao & Chen 2000: Figs 1 , 3 , 6 ), which leads to a quick separation of this species from all other zorapterans ( Engel & Grimaldi 2000: 155). Zorotypus hainanensis seems closely allied to the Malaysian Z. caudelli Karny , Z. magnicaudelli Mashimo, Engel, Dallai, Beutel & Machida , and Z. cervicornis Mashimo, Yoshizawa & Engel , and possibly to the central American Z. cramptoni Gurney , Z. gurneyi Choe , Z. hamiltoni New , and Z. snyderi Caudell by sharing a strongly elongate and coiled flagellum. As discussed in Mashimo et al. (2013), this character possibly ‘represents a complex synapomorphy of these species’, and ‘it appears plausible that these species comprise a clade within Zorotypus .’ On the other hand, Zorotypus hainanensis can be separated from all these congeners by the unique forms of the male genital basal plate and aedeagal hooks.

Biology. The two male and one female adults from Jianfengling were collected from several fallen decomposing logs ( Fig. 5 B) in rainforests at an elevation of ca. 1000 m ( Fig. 5 A, C–D). The other two females from Limu Mountain were also collected from decaying logs in broad-leaved forests, one at an elevation of ca. 1000 m ( Fig. 5 E), and the other at ca. 580 m.

Distribution. Zorotypus hainanensis is currently known only from the Jianfengling Nature Reserve and Limu Mountain ( Fig. 5 F), but it seems reasonable to expect the occurrence of this species in other well-preserved forested areas of the Hainan Island.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the region in which specimens were collected, i.e., Hainan Island.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal habitus of Zorotypus hainanensis n. sp., male (antennomeres VII – IX of left antenna and antennomeres VI – IX of right antenna missing). Scale: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Zorotypus hainanensis n. sp. A. Head of apteron male, in dorsal view. B. Maxillary palpus of apteron male. C. Labial palpus of apteron male. D. Thorax of apteron male, in dorsal view. E. Cercus of apteron male. F. Abdominal sternum IX of apteron female. Scales: A = 0.2 mm; D = 0.3 mm; B – F = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Zorotypus hainanensis n. sp. A. Abdomen of apteron male, in dorsal view. B. Abdomen of apteron male, in ventral view (dotted line indicates position of the genitalia). Scales = 0.3 mm.

FIGURE 4. Zorotypus hainanensis n. sp. A. Left antenna of apteron female. B. Left antenna of apteron male (antennomeres VIII – IX missing). C. Left metaleg of apteron male. D. Left mandible of apteron male. E. Right mandible of apteron male. F. Aedeagal hook and flagellum of male genitalia, in lateral view. G. Basal plate of male genitalia, in dorsal view. Abbreviations: AH—aedeagal hook; BP—basal plate; F—flagellum. Scales: A – C = 0.5 mm; D, E = 0.1 mm; F, G = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 5. Habitat and distribution of Zorotypus hainanensis n. sp. A. General environment of a rainforest at Jianfengling. B. Zhong Peng (left) and De-Yao Zhou (right) collecting Zorotypus at Mingfeng Valley. C. Environment of District V, Jianfengling. D. Environment of Mingfeng Valley, Jianfengling. E. Environment of Limu Mountain. F. Distribution of Zorotypus hainanensis in Hainan Island (left spot: Jianfengling; right spot: Limu Mountain).

FIGURE 6. Diagnostic features of Zorotypus medoensis collected from the type locality. A. Forewing venation in alate female. B. Hind wing venation in alate female. C. Metaleg of apteron male. D. Posterior segments of abdomen in apteron male. E. Sternite VIII of apteron male. F – G. Male genitalia. Abbreviations: AH—aedeagal hook; Aed—aedeagus. Scales: A – C = 0.5 mm; D – F = 0.2 mm.