Gondwanoscurus eximius (Quate)

Curler, Gregory R., 2009, A revision of the genus Gondwanoscurus Jezek (Diptera: Psychodidae), Zootaxa 2169, pp. 21-34 : 29

Gondwanoscurus eximius (Quate)

( Figs. 14–18 )

Telmatoscopus eximius Quate, 1962 a, 4: 8 (original description); Duckhouse, 1973: 31 (Oriental catalog).

Diagnosis. Adult: Male antennae: flagellomeres 1– 3 each bearing three lateral spines; ascoids simple or bifurcate, arranged in multiple irregular rows around each node. Male terminalia: gonostyli bifurcate, with medial rami sinuous; parameral sheath broad, wider than distance between gonocoxal bases, trilobed apically, with lateral lobes rounded, extending nearly to apices of gonocoxites, median lobe cordate apically, extending well beyond gonopods; basiphallus dorsoventrally compressed basally; distiphallus comprised of paired, spatulate sclerites; cercopodia curved approximately 90° at mid-length.

Redescription. Adult Male. See Quate (1962a). ( Figs. 14–18 ): Measurements, (N = 2) head width 0.45 mm (0.43–0.47), head length 0.51 mm, wing length 2.23 mm, wing width 1.62 mm, palpomere proportion: 1–2.3–2.2–3. Head: frontal scar patch subquadrate anteriorly, bilobed posteriorly, without median spur; antennae with scape approximately 2.5 times longer than wide; flagellomere nodes bulbous, not exserted laterally; flagellomeres 1– 3 each bearing three lateral spines; spines with apices acuminate; ascoids simple or bifurcate, arranged in multiple irregular rows around each node. Wing: broadly rounded, slightly longer than wide; radial and medial fork at same level, both arising basal to apex of CuA2; base of M2 incomplete. Terminalia: gonocoxites approximately 1.5 times longer than wide, widely separated at base; gonostyli bifurcate; lateral rami stout, tapered, with acute apices; medial rami arising at about mid-length on medial surface of lateral rami, slender, sinuous, with rounded apices; parameral sheath broad, wider than distance between gonocoxal bases, trilobed apically, with lateral lobes rounded, extending nearly to apices of gonocoxites, median lobe cordate apically, extending well beyond gonopods; basiphallus dorsoventrally compressed basally, bifid apically, with branches truncate, not extending beyond gonopods; distiphallus comprised of paired, spatulate sclerites; cercopodia curved approximately 90° at mid-length; retinacula spathulate, numbering 13.

Adult Female: Unknown.

Type material. Holotype [adult male]: NORTH BORNEO [ MALAYSIA, SABAH]. Ranau, hillside seepage area, 6.x.1958, coll. L. W. Quate. Type deposited at BPBM. Paratype: same data as holotype [3 adult males]. Paratypes deposited at USNM.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Remarks. Adult males of G. eximius can be easily distinguished by the acuminate spines on antennal flagellomeres 1–3, and characters of the terminalia, particularly the gonostyli with sinuous medial rami, and trilobate parameral sheath. Males of G. eximius are most similar to those of G. praecipuus in the structure of the antenna, and broadly rounded wing.

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 24. Gondwanoscurus eximius (Quate). 14. Male head, frontal view. 15. Male antennal flagellomere 8 with ascoids, left antenna, frontal view. 16. Male gonopods and phallus, ventral view. 17. Male cercopod and tenth tergite, dorsal view. 18. Wing. Gondwanoscurus mcclurei (Quate). 19. Male antennal scape, pedicel and flagellomeres 1 – 2, left antenna, frontal view. 20. Male gonopods and phallus, vental view. 21. Wing. Gondwanoscurus praecipuus (Quate). 22. Male antennal scape, pedicel and flagellomeres 1 – 3, left antenna, frontal view. 23. Male gonopods and phallus, dorsal view. 24. Wing. 25. Male cercopod and tenth tergite, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.05 mm (15), 0.25 mm (14), 0.125 mm (16 – 17, 19 – 20, 22 – 23, 25), 0.5 mm (18, 21, 24).