Thraulus (Masharikella) iteris sp. nov.

Figs 24 B, 25, 26, 34 B

Material examined.

Holotype. • Papua New Guinea, nymph on slide, Central Province, Kokoda Trek, 980 m, I.2008, 09°15.933'S, 147°36.590'E, Posman col [PNG 169], GBIFCH 01223115 (ZSM) . Paratypes. • Papua New Guinea, 1 nymph entirely mounted on slide, GBIFCH 01223116, 1 nymph in ethanol, GBIFCH 01523480, same data as holotype (MZL) . • Papua New Guinea, 1 nymph entirely mounted on slide, GBIFCH 01223117, some gills in ethanol, GBIFCH 01523479, Central Province, Kokoda Trek, 320 m, I.2008, 09°19.236'S, 147°31.791'E, Posman col [PNG 168] (MZL) .

Nymph.

Body length, female: 5.8–6.2 mm.

Diagnosis.

Labrum width smaller than clypeus width; proximal row of setae on dorsal face of labrum with <30 setae; ventral side of labrum with stout setae in a row; maxillary palp segment III 1.7–2.2 × as long as base width; posterior margin of abdominal segment VIII with well-developed denticles.

Colouration.

Head. Yellowish, pale brown between ocelli and below compound eyes. Antenna yellowish. Mouth parts pale brown, mandibles medium brown. Thorax. Pronotum medium brown, dark brown laterally and posteriorly, as well as two elongated dots close to the median line. Mesonotum medium brown, dark brown laterally and on the anterolateral corners; costal and subcostal areas of forewing pads strongly tinted with black (Fig. 24 B). Metanotum medium brown. Femur whitish, apex washed with pale orange. Tibia whitish, inner margin and apex washed with grey. Tarsi whitish. Abdomen. Terga brownish orange, with two longitudinal dark brown large stripes on segments I – IX; segment X medium brown. Sterna brownish orange, lateral margins washed with grey, posterolateral projections XIII – IX black. Gills purplish grey. Terminal filaments uniformly pale brown.

Description.

Head. Labrum cordiform (Fig. 25 A). Ratio labrum width / clypeus width 0.86–0.97. Ratio labrum width / insertion width 1.26–1.30. Medial emargination shallow with flat denticles. Proximal row of setae present, simple. Number of setae on proximal row 19–23. Distal row of setae present, simple. Median part of labrum in ventral view with stout setae in row (Fig. 25 B). Mandibles. Outer margin with middle and distal tuft of setae. Right mandible with 9–11 setae below the mola (Fig. 25 C). Maxillae. Posterior margin of cardo with many hair-like setae and one stout and long seta in submarginal position (Fig. 34 B). Proximo-lateral margin of stipes with a single stout and medium size seta. Apical-ventral row with 23–25 pectinate setae. Maxillary palp segment II 0.82–0.86 as long as segment I. Maxillary palp segment III 0.71–0.77 as long as segment I (Fig. 25 D). Stout setae on outer margin of segment I absent. Segment II inner margin with two to five stout setae. Segment II outer margin with three or four stout setae. Segment III inner margin with 4–6 stout setae, dorsal surface with few setae at apex. Segment III 1.82–2.44 × as long as base width. Labium. Labial palp segment II 0.67–0.80 as long as segment I. Labial palp segment III 0.79–0.90 as long as segment I (Fig. 25 E). Segment I inner margin with 5–9 stout setae, outer margin with 10–12 stout setae. Segment II outer margin with one or two stout setae. Segment III dorsal face with 5–7 stout setae. Segment III 3.50–3.80 × as long as base width. Hypopharynx. Apex of superlingua emarginated (Fig. 25 F).

Thorax. Dorsal margin of femur with a row of long, stout, pointed setae; submarginal row with shorter setae; ventral margin with short, blunt, stout setae and a submarginal row of feathered setae; central area of upper surface without setae (Fig. 26 A – B). Outer margin of fore tibia without setae; mid tibia with a row of stout, pointed setae on ventral margin; outer margin with only some hair-like setae; hind tibia covered with numerous simple and feathered setae, outer margin with a dense row of stout, pointed setae. Tarsal claw hooked, with 10–11 subequal denticles (Fig. 26 C).

Abdomen. Gill I dorsal lamella narrow and lanceolate, ventral lamella shaped as other gills. Gills II – VII with dorsal and ventral lamellae of the same size. Gill II to VI with ~ 40 filaments on each lamella (Fig. 26 G); gill VII with ~ 25 filaments on each lamella. Filamentous projections along entire margin. Posterior margin of terga VIII and IX with denticles (Fig. 26 D – E). Posterior margin of terga VII with minute denticles (Fig. 26 F). Posterior margin of terga V – VI without denticles. Posterolateral projections present on segment VII – IX.

Derivatio nominis.

This species is named after the Latin word iter, meaning path, to remember the new species has been collected along the trail from Port Moresby to Kokoda.