Gondwanoscurus Jezek 2001

Curler, Gregory R., 2009, A revision of the genus Gondwanoscurus Jezek (Diptera: Psychodidae), Zootaxa 2169, pp. 21-34 : 22-23

Gondwanoscurus Jezek 2001

Diagnosis. Adult: Head: eye bridge contiguous, with four facet rows; antenna 16-segmented; scape at least two times longer than wide; pedicel globular; flagellomeres nodiform, gradually decreasing in size from base to apex, terminal three not diminutive. Mouthparts reduced; labellum bulbous, without blunt apical teeth. Wing ovate or broadly rounded, with Sc vein approaching but not ending in R1. Body with vestiture comprised of dense patches of spathulate and spatulate hairs; hairs longer and wider than those of most other Psychodinae . Male terminalia: gonocoxites each with cluster of 5–6 prominent setiform sensilla inserted basally on their medial surface; aedeagus symmetrical, consisting of multiple sclerites, basiphallus comprised of single sclerite, dorsoventrally or laterally compressed basally, bifid apically; distiphallus comprised of paired sclerites of varying shape. Cercopodia tapered, with 7–14 retinacula inserted dorsoapically or with multiple clusters of retinacula dorsally. Female terminalia: cerci membranous or lightly sclerotized, triangular in shape from lateral aspect, about two times longer than broad, with few clusters of minute setiform sensilla laterally; hypovalvae bilobed, lobes digitiform, broadly rounded or acuminate; subgenital plate smooth or with prominent bulge medially.

Description. Adult Male: See Jezek (2001). Head longer than wide in most species. Vertex elongated, constricted at cervix. Male eye bridge contiguous, with four facet rows. Frontal scar patch subquadrate anteriorly, bilobed posteriorly, with median spur in some species. Antenna 16-segmented; scape at least two times longer than wide; pedicel globular; flagellomeres nodiform, gradually decreasing in size from base to apex, terminal three not diminutive; nodes exserted laterally in most species; internodes about as long as their preceding node. Shape and number of ascoids variable among species; flagellomeres 1–7 with numerous ascoids encircling each node, flagellomeres 8–14 with fewer ascoids; ascoids lanceolate or with 2–4 digitiform branches. Palpi typical of Psychodinae ; medial surface of palpomeres with numerous setiform sensilla directed medially, palpomere 4 with pair of setiform sensilla inserted at apex. Mouthparts extending slightly beyond palpomere 1; labellum bulbous, bearing numerous setiform sensilla of varying length. Body with vestiture comprised of dense patches of spathulate and spatulate hairs; hairs longer and wider than those of most other Psychodinae . Wings ovate or broadly rounded, with apex rounded; base of costa with single break, wings held horizontally over body in life; most species with costal cell infuscated (except G. ornithostylus ); vein Sc narrow compared to costa, approaching but not ending in vein R1. Legs typical of Psychodinae , with femora and tibia slender, parallel-sided; tibial spurs or appendages absent. Terminalia with hypandrium (sternite IX) represented by narrow, transverse sclerite; epandrium (tergite IX) about as long as wide or slightly longer than wide; tergite X triangular, rounded apically, about 1.5 times longer than its basal width; aedeagus symmetrical, consisting of multiple sclerites; basiphallus comprised of single sclerite, dorsoventrally or laterally compressed basally, bifid apically; distiphallus comprised of paired sclerites, varying in shape among species; parameres membranous, fused, forming sheath around distiphallus. Gonocoxites widely separated or with medial extensions meeting dorsally, each with cluster of 5–6 prominent setiform sensilla inserted basally on their medial surface. Gonostyli simple or bifurcate, varying in shape among species. Cercopodia tapered, straight or curved dorsad, with retinacula numbering 7–14 or more than 20, inserted dorsoapically or in multiple clusters dorsally; retinacula variable in length, with simple or bifurcate apices.

Adult Female: Head shape as in male. Frontal scar patch identical to male. Eyebridge contiguous, with four facet rows. Antenna similar to male, flagellomeres nodiform, nodes not exserted laterally. Ascoids numbering two per flagellomere, shaped as in male. Mouthparts shaped as in male. Wing always ovate, not broadly rounded as in males of some species. Legs as in male. Terminalia with cerci membranous or lightly sclerotized, triangular in shape from lateral aspect, about two times longer than broad with few clusters of minute setiform sensilla laterally; hypovalvae bilobed, lobes digitiform, broadly rounded or with acute apices; subgenital plate (hypogynium) smooth or with prominent bulge medially; genital duct with paired ovoid components, with reticulated pattern laterally or ventrally; struts inconspicuous, less than ¼ width of ovoid component.

Remarks. Larvae and pupae are unknown for all species of Gondwanoscurus . Adult Gondwanoscurus are easily distinguished from other Psychodinae by the structure of the male and female head and terminalia; specifically the contiguous eye bridge with four facet rows, antennal flagellomeres with numerous ascoids and laterally exserted nodes in many species; gonopods with gonocoxites bearing a cluster of setiform sensilla medially, and gonostyli usually bifurcate; unusually elongate cercopodia of the males, as well as the subgenital plate with a medial bulge, and the lightly scleritized, conical cercus of the females. The striking vestiture is characteristic of all species in the genus, but has been lost in most specimens in the process of preservation and mounting.