Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) pecki, Tauber & Tauber, 2010

Tauber, Catherine & Tauber, Maurice, 2010, Two new endemic species of Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) from the Galapagos Islands, ZooKeys 42 (42), pp. 47-78 : 67-74

Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) pecki sp. n.

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Diagnosis. Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) pecki , the third endemic species of Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) from the Galápagos, is known from two localities on Isabela Island – Volcán Wolf and Volcán Alcedo, where it is sympatric with C. (N.) nigripilosus . Although

col.g.

Figure Į3. Female terminus, internal, lateral view. Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) nigripilosus . a.d. accessory duct on bursal gland b.c. bursal copulatrix b.d. bursal duct (presumed) b.g. bursal gland col.g. colleterial gland col. r. colleterial reservoir inv invagination sp spermatheca s.d. spermathecal duct t.s. transverse sclerification.

the number of specimens that are available is small (N=3) and they share many external and internal features with C. (N.) nigripilosus and C. (N.) nigricubitus , their distinctive size and other features lead us to assign them to a new species.

The most prominent external features of C. (N.) pecki that are absent from the other two Galápagos species include: (a) a pair of brown spots on the dorsum of the head, posterolateral to the vertex (Fig. 3b) and (b) distinctive markings on the venter of the female abdomen ( Fig. 6d ). On the C. (N.) pecki females, S5 is dark brown, S6 has light brown pigmentation basally, and the distal portion of S6 and all of S7 are creamcolored. In comparison, C. (N.) nigripilosus females have dark brown pigmentation throughout S5, S6, and the base of S7, and C. (N.) nigricubitus females are without dark brown marks on the sternites. C. (N.) pecki is the only one of the three Galápagos species that has wings exceeding 13 mm in length. Like those of C. (N.) nigripilosus , the C. (N.) pecki wings do not show dark suffusion around the crossveins, but like C. (N.) nigricubitus , the second cubital crossvein is very dark and the center of the vein bears a dark brown swelling. In all three C. (N.) pecki specimens, the swelling tends to be smaller than that of C. (N.) nigricubitus (Table 4, Fig. 5c ).

C. (N.) pecki adults may also be characterized by an elongated pronotum. Both female specimens (preserved in alcohol) have a pronotum that is longer than that on C. (N.) nigripilosus (Table 2), and the C. (N.) pecki pronotal length: width ratio is greater than that of either C. (N.) nigripilosus or C. (N.) nigricubitus . The pronotum of the single male specimen (pinned) is distorted and compressed below the mesothorax; its length cannot be measured readily. However, we estimated the length from a lateral view, and it appears to be about as long as those on the female specimens

Figure Į4. Female, internal reproductive structures, dorsal view. Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) nigripilosus . a.d. accessory duct on bursal gland b.c. bursa copulatrix b.g. bursal gland col.g. colleterial gland col. r. colleterial reservoir inv invagination sp spermatheca s.d. spermathecal duct t.s. transverse sclerification.

C. (N.) pecki males have abdominal sclerites and genitalia that generally resemble those of C. (N.) nigripilosus and C. (N.) nigricubitus (Fig. 11). However, there are some distinguishing features. First, the size of the gonarcus (length of arms, bridge width) is larger than that of either C. (N.) nigripilosus or nigricubitus (Table 5). And, the lateral arms of the gonarcus are directed inward next to the mediuncus as in C. (N.) nigripilosus (Fig. 11b, c). Second, as in C. (N.) nigricubitus , the dorsal apodeme along the ventral margin of T9+ectoproct is relatively straight, and the caudal branch has a well sclerotized, unforked, pointed tip (Fig. 11a). However, in C. (N.) pecki the tip has a small, beak-like flange with a membrane attached (not visible on Fig. 11a). Third, unlike either of the other species, the ventral branch of the dorsal apodeme is elongate, well sclerotized, and angled anteriorly; distally it turns and invaginates within S8+9 (Fig. 11a). And, fourth, although the dorsal apodeme itself is thin (lateral view), the base of the dorsal branch (that extends under the callus cerci) is heavy and densely sclerotized.

In addition to the ventral marks on the abdomen, we detected some other characteristics that distinguish the female terminalia of the C. (N.) pecki specimen we examined. First, the sixth and seventh tergites were slightly longer in actual length, and in their length to height ratio, than those on any of the C. (N.) nigripilosus or C. (N.) nigricubitus specimens (Table 5). Second, as in the two other species, the membrane that is basolateral to the subgenitale bears a pair of invaginated pouches that are near, but separate from, the base of the bursal glands. In C. (N.) pecki , these pouches are clear and bulbous, not flat and folded as in the other two species (Fig. 15c). In all other traits, the female that we measured tended to be large, but the measurements overlapped with those of large C. (N.) nigricubitus specimens.

Description. All features as in C. (N.) nigripilosus except as noted below. Head (Table 2; Fig. 3). Vertex: surface with small, amber setae. Labrum: distal margin with slight mesal cleft. Coloration. Head cream-colored frontally, lateral to eyes, tan dorsally; frons with pair of triangular to bowl-shaped, dark brown marks below torulus; clypeus with lateral margins dark tan, dark brown streak extending dorsolaterally from distal margin of tentorial pits almost to eye; toruli cream-colored, with light tan border surrounding sclerotized margins; dorsal torulus with or without grape-brown, vertical streak. Genae cream-colored with dark brown on ventral margin, dark brown dorsally.

Figure Į5. Subgenitale, ventral view. a Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) nigripilosus b C. (N.) nigricubitus c C. (N.) pecki . f membranous fold; pouch invaginated pouch s.p. sclerotized process at terminal end of subgenitale S7 terminal margin of seventh sternite. The scale applies to all three images.

Scapes tan, unmarked; pedicel tan to light brown; flagellum tan. Venter: basilateral margins of submentum dark brown.

Thorax (Table 2; Fig. 3b). Pronotum (females) wider than long; large basal section without setae; cream-colored, with sublateral, mesal, mottled light brown markings. Meso-, metanota cream to light tan, without spots; setae on mesonotum, amber. Pleural areas cream-colored, without markings. Legs: setae amber.

Wings (Table 4; Figs 4 , 5 ). Forewing about three times longer than tall. Costal area: greatest height ̴0.17 times height of wing; tallest at costal cell (#4–5). Subcosta: two crossveins below stigma. Ten radial crossveins (between R and Rs); two rows of gradates; inner row with four gradates, outer row with six, both rows in regular, parallel pattern. Cubitus: icux2 curved, thickened, with small, bubble-like expansion mesally.

Hindwing narrow, length approximately three times height. Ten radial crossveins; four inner gradates; six outer gradate veins; three b cells; t cell present.

Forewing hyaline, very slight suffusion of brown to dark brown coloration around Rs at intersection with rcx1, first outer gradate, Cu near icu2. Subcostal crossveins within stigma brown, surrounded with dark brown suffusion. Costal veinlets, gradates dark brown to black; ma1 black; icux2, small bubble-like swelling dark brown to black; marginal cell below 3A partially dark brown. Hindwing: stigma slightly opaque, veinlets within stigma brown, with brown pigment in surrounding membrane; icux2 cream-colored to light brown.

Abdomen (male & female) (Table 5; Figs 6 , 11). Cream-colored, dorsally with faint, broken, brown mesal stripe, mottled brown spotting sublaterally; pleural regions creamcolored, without marks; sternites cream-colored, except S5, 6 (male) dark brown, S5 (female) dark brown; setae (female) cream-colored basally, brown distally; setae (male) long, cream-colored throughout. Tergites 6, 7: length: 2.3–3.0 ( T6 ), 1.8–2.1 ( T7 ) times greater than height (lateral view). Sternite 6: length ̴0.9–1.0 times height. Spiracles ̴ 0.05–0.06 mm diameter ; atria noticably larger than spiracular openings.

Male (Table 5, Fig. 11). Apodeme of T9+ectoproct thin (dorsal apodeme): dorsal branch very heavily sclerotized basally, becoming abuptly thinner, extending upward, around and below callus cerci, fused mesally at top of tergite; ventral branch extending anteroventrally well into membrane below tergite, narrow, well-sclerotized, curving inward and invaginating distally; caudal branch with acute, unforked tip; tip with dorsal flange of heavy membrane. Callus cerci taller than wide (0.22 mm tall, 0.16 mm wide), with 30 trichobothria. S8+9 length 1.8 times proximal height; shape in lateral view: gradually tapering to truncate apex. Gonarcus: span near arch 0.39 mm, span between gonarcal arms distally 0.57 mm. Gonarcal arms long, narrow, ̴ 0.39 mm length. Mediuncus: sclerotized surface slightly textured, with sparse microsetae; membrane immediately below beak (base of gonosaccus) smooth, tight, bearing setose glands; base of glands with small protuberances; gonosaccus delicate.

Female [Table 5, Fig. 15c; see C. (N.) nigripilosus , Figs 12, 13, 14]. Tergite 8: height of sclerite (including less sclerotized ventral extension) ̴1.8 times length of sclerite. Ninth tergite + ectoproct (lateral view): distal margin with dorsal and ventral bulges. Callus cerci taller than broad (0.19 mm tall, 0.17 mm wide), with 35 trichobothria. Gonapophyses laterales ̴0.5 times height of T9+ectoproct; 3.3 times taller than wide; orientated posteroventrally (̴40° angle from midline). Subgenitale: base consisting of transversely folded, uninvaginated membrane, attached to terminus of S7; lateral margins of base with pair of sparsely setose, bulbous pouches, near, but separate from base of bursal glands; pouches slightly shorter than spermatheca. Bursal glands: with broad, elongate accessory ducts distally. Spermatheca: 0.13 mm diameter at mouth (distal end), 0.19 mm diameter in midsection (widest area), 0.6 mm long; invagination extending ̴0.3 times length of spermatheca (length 0.17 mm). Spermathecal duct ̴ 0.7 mm long (not including pale, brushy tip), after leaving subgenitale, bending right, becoming pale; distal ̴1/10 brushy.

Type material. The holotype (a male, pinned) is in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., ( USNM). The type locality is Ecuador, Galápagos Archipelago, Isla Isabela, Volcán Wolf, 4 km NE Puerto Bravo. The labels on the holotype read: (1) ECU: Galap: Isabela / V. Wolf, 4 km NE. P. Bravo / humid for, 17. V.96 / uv light / S. Peck, 96–192; (2) HOLOTYPE / Chrysopodes (Neo- suarius) pecki Tauber & Tauber , des. 2010 [red]. There are two paratypes (females, in alcohol) in the Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Bruxelles, Belgium ( IRSNB). Their labels read: (1) Ecuador, Galápagos Arch., Isla Isabela, Volcán Alcedo, SE crater rim at “Geyser”, 1000 m, 3/IV/1996, L. Baert, K. Desender & J.-P. Maelfait, B96/0074; (2) PARATYPE / Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) pecki Tauber & Tauber , des. 2010 [yellow].

Etymology. The species is named in honor of Stewart B. Peck, Carlton University ( Canada), in recognition of his contributions and devotion to the study of Galápagos insects.

Specimens examined. Type material only.

Intraspecific variation. Sample size very small, but see Tables 2, 4, and 5.

Undetermined specimen

There is a single specimen from Floreana (a male) that we were unable to place within any of the three species. Externally, it is very similar to C. (N.) nigripilosus , but the genitalia, in part, resemble those of C. (N.) nigricubitus and in part, they are unique. Specifically, the head coloration and markings are very similar to those of C. (N.) nigripilosus from Baltra; the dorsum is largely light brown and the pleural and ventral regions appear to be cream-colored as in the Baltra and Isabela populations. The membrane of the forewing has no markings or suffusion of pigment; the size and pattern of venation and thickened veins do not differ from those of C. (N.) nigripilosus ; there are three crossveins below the stigma.

The genitalia resemble those of C. nigricubitus in that the gonaracus is relatively flat; the gonarcal arms extend laterally from the gonarcal bridge; and only the tips of the gonarcal arms bend downward toward the mediuncus. However, unlike any other specimens we have examined, the eversible pouches at the tip of S8+9 are relatively short, tapered distally, juxtaposed and partially fused mesally, and the membrane between the pouches is loose and large. Further study, especially analysis of the reproductive pheromones, might demonstrate that this is yet another undescribed, cryptic species.

Specimen examined: Floreana (= Charles, Santa Maria). Black Beach, II/17/1964, R. L. Usinger (1M, CAS).

Figures

Figure 4. Forewing. Į Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) nigripilosus 2 C. (N.) nigricubitus 3 C. (N.) pecki. icux2, second intracubital crossvein; i.g., inner gradate veins; ma, median arculus; scx, subcostal crossveins (between subcosta and radius). The scale applies to all images.

Figure 5. Base of forewing. a Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) nigripilosus b C. (N.) nigricubitus c C. (N.) pecki. icux2, second intracubital crossvein; ma, median arculus.

Figure 6. Abdomen, ventral view.a Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) nigripilosus male b Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) nigripilosus female c C. (N.) nigricubitus female d C. (N.) pecki female. The scale applies to all images.