Mansonia (Mansonia) fonsecai ( Pinto, 1932 )

Barbosa, Andreia Aparecida, Silva, Mário Antônio Navarro Da & Sallum, Maria Anice Mureb, 2005, Description and revalidation of Mansonia (Mansonia) fonsecai (Pinto) (Diptera: Culicidae), Zootaxa 905, pp. 1-11 : 2-9

Mansonia (Mansonia) fonsecai ( Pinto, 1932)

(Figs. 1,2)

Taeniorhynchus fonsecai Pinto 1932: 29 (Ψ). Type locality: Los Naranjos, Bolívia. Ref­ Costa Lima 1935: 467 (synonym for Ma. indubitans ).

Diagnosis. Adults with abdominal tergites without conspicuous patches of white scales laterally, with only light golden scales mixed with dark scales. Male genitalia with short gonostyle, ventral margin of gonostyle with angular projection. Pupal seta 4­VIII as long as 0.3 length of paddle. Larval seta 5­VIII single and flattened, 4­X comprised of 3 pairs of setae.

Female. Medium­sized mosquito with dark brown integument; proboscis, maxillary palpi, wings, femora, fore­, mid­ and hindtarsomeres 1, and abdomen spotted with pale and dark scales. Head: vertex and ocular margin with light golden, slender, decumbent scales; occiput and vertex with erect forked dark scales; long, strong, dark setae along ocular margin. Proboscis slightly longer than forefemur (2.28 ± 0.13 mm), predominantly covered with dark scales, middle third mostly covered with light golden scales and with conspicuous apical white band. Maxillary palpus approximately one fourth proboscis length (0.56 ± 0. 0 5 mm), palpomeres 2 and 3 light and dark­scaled laterally, inner surface without scales, palpomere 4 minute, white and without scales. Antenna shorter than proboscis (1.84 ± 0.19 mm), flagellomeres whitish at base and remainder dark, pedicel with few light scales on medial surface. Thorax: acrostichal, dorsocentral, prescutellar, posterior acrostichal, and supraalar areas with numerous long, strong, slightly curved, dark brown setae. Scutum glabrous between acrostichal and dorsocentral areas. Acrostichal, dorsocentral, fossal area, and prescutellar areas predominately covered with dark brown scales with bronzy sheen; narrow and short scales on anterior prescutellar area and midlle dorsocentral area; prescutellar area with narrow, light golden scales; supraalar area with tuft of long dark brown, truncate scales intermixed with supraalar setae. Scutum with brown integument, areas between acrostichal and dorsocentral areas and fossal area light to median brown. Scutellum with light golden scales and long, strong chestnut­colored setae in middle and on lateral lobes. Antepronotum, postpronotum, and upper proepisternum with strong, chestnut­colored setae. Postspiracular area, upper and lower mesokatepisternum and anterior and upper mesepimeron with narrow, light golden setae. Antepronotum and postpronotum with narrow, light­golden scales; upper proepisternum, upper and lower mesokatepisternum with broad, light golden scales. Coxae and trochanters with patches of light and dark scales and strong, dark setae. Femora spotted with dark and pale scales, inner surface of middle and posterior femora mainly pale­scaled. Anterior femur length 1.87 + 0.23 mm. Tibiae mostly dark­scaled. Foretarsomeres 1, 2, and 3 with pale scales at base, not forming complete ring; foretarsomere 4 completely dark­scaled or with few pale scales at base, not forming ring; foretarsomere 5 entirely dark­scaled. Midtarsomeres 1, 2, 3, and 4 with pale scales at base not forming complete ring; midtarsomere 5 entirely dark­scaled. Hindtarsomeres 1­5 with white pale scales at base not forming complete ring. Wings covered with broad asymmetrical and elongated scales. Wing scales predominantly dark, intermixed with pale scales. Wing length 4.5 0.28 mm. Wing fringe with elongated, light grey, scales. Halter: pedicel pale, capitellum dark­scaled. Abdomen: length 2.83 0.24 mm; tergum I with medial, somewhat triangular patch of pale scales; terga II­VII mostly dark­scaled, with light golden scales intermixed with dark scales laterally, without conspicuous patch of pale scales. Tergum VII ( Fig. 2 D) with posterior row of short spines, disposed in two irregular rows, spines smaller laterally, longer and stronger medially; tergum VIII ( Fig. 2 E) with anterior row of about 18 strong dark spines and 1 posterior row of about 19 spines and 1 central group with 5 spines and 1 element on each side of central group.

Male. Similar to female except having pale scales more abundant on terga I­VII. Abdomen: tergum I almost entirely covered with light scales; tergum II with pale scales, covering posterior 0.5 of segment; terga III­VI with posterior band of pale scales, narrower than band of tergum II, terga VII, and VIII, without apical bands of pale scales, entirely dark­scaled. Maxillary palpus longer than proboscis by length of palpomere 5; dorsal surface with light scales intermixed with dark scales, with conspicuous bands of white scales on palpomere articulations; medial surface without scales; apex of palpomere 3 with tuft of fine straight setae ventrally, extending to middle of palpomere 5; palpomeres 4 and 5 with long, strong, straight setae projecting downward. Wing length 4.5 ± 0.15 mm; forefemur 1.91 ± 0.08 mm; maxillary palpus length 2.6 mm ± 0.22 mm; proboscis length 2.17 ± 0.21 mm; abdomen length 3.19 ± 0.29 mm; antennal length 1.85 ± 0.12 mm. Male genitalia ( Fig. 1 D): tergum VIII with row of 5­10 setae posteriorly, apex of each seta divided into 2­5 branches. Segment IX poorly developed, membranous, covered with minute spicules. Gonocoxite elongate, equal in width for entire length, slightly wider at apex, dorsal and ventral surfaces separated by medial membrane. Gonocoxite with tuft of somewhat curved, long, strong setae arising apicolaterally, these setae shorter than gonocoxite length, basolateral surface with tuft of long, strong setae, extending beyond apex of gonocoxite, area of gonocoxite between basolateral and apicolateral setal tufts with short, sparse setae; lateral and ventral surfaces with scales. Gonostyle short ( Fig. 1 F), arising from gonocoxite apex, gonostyle wide at base, narrowed and curved distally, ending in one short strong, apical seta, gonostyle with one acute angular projection on the ventral margin, and basolateral lobe projecting distally and downward. Claspette long, nearly reaching apex of gonocoxite; stem of claspette long, narrowing towards distal end; apical setae of claspette short and thick; claspette forked at base, internal branch of claspette joined to that of opposite side, lateral branch of claspette articulated with base of gonocoxite. Proctiger long, wide at base, subtriangular and membranous; paraproct strongly sclerotized; 9 minute cercal setae, medial constriction at level of insertion of tergite X. Paramere ( Fig 1 G) elongated, wide, narrowed, and curved distally; gonocoxal apodema ( Fig 1 G) elongated, wide and slightly rounded at base, lateral margin with angular projection directed outwards at less than 90o angle, that articulated with gonocoxite, medial distal margin with projection articulated with base of paramere. Aedeagus ( Fig 1 H) short and thick, conspicuously swollen and less sclerotized at distal 0.5, basal 0.5 more sclerotized and smaller than distal part.

Pupa. Chaetotaxy as in Figure 1 ; setae generally single and simple, except 9­VII,VIII. Cephalothorax ( Fig. 1 B) light brown, setae dark brown; respiratory trumpet brown ( Fig. 1 C), trumpet index 6.3 (n = 10), tracheoid area dark brown, extending along posterior surface to pinna; pinna light brown, curved laterally in distal part, with brown apical process that perforates and fixes pupa to plant tissues. Metanotum and abdomen ( Fig. 1 A) light brown; most setae well­developed, long and dark brown; spicules inconspicuous. Abdomen 3.93 ± 0.09 mm in length (n = 10); dorsal setae strongly developed, ventral setae smaller; setae 1,5­II not extending beyond following segment; seta 6­III­VI not extending beyond following segment; seta 2 I­VII present; 3 I­VI present, 3­VII,VIII absent; 6­I­VI present, 6­VII, VIII absent; 8­I,II,VIII absent, 8­II­VII present; 9 II­VIII present, 9­I absent; 10­I,II,VIII absent, 10­III­VII present; 11–I­VI, VIII absent, 11­VII present. Paddle light brown, with serrated edges; paddle index (length/width) 4.11 (n = 10).

Fourth­instar larva. Chaetotaxy as in Figure 2 ; range and mode for number of setae branches in Table I. Most setae strongly developed. Head ( Fig.2 A) moderately pigmented, except for darkened areas of collar and ocular region; length 1.02 0.03 mm (n = 10), width 1.56 ± 0.05 mm (n = 10). Cephalic capsule distinctly wider than long; lateral and ocular regions with conspicuous spike­like anterior projection, beneath which is second, smaller, projection, which forms a tubercle; setae light colored except seta 1­C, which is dark brown; seta 7­C prominent, multi­branched, strongly spiculated. Apex of antennal socket with long, smooth spine arising ventrolateraly. Antenna: light brown, with short spicules, more prominent and dense dorsolaterally; apical flagellar appendix yellowish, slightly shorter than antenna, seta 1­A plumose, light brown; setae 2, 3­A simple, slightly longer than last flagellomere. Thorax ( Fig. 2 B): tubercles of thoracic setae vary from light beige to dark brown, integument without spicules, setae long and well pigmented, most setae long, flattened and multibranched. Abdomen ( Fig. 2 B) as pigmented as thorax; tubercles moderately pigmented, setae long and well pigmented, most flattened and multibranched; seta 6­I­VI simple and multibranched, seta 6­I sometimes double; 1­II­V single and simple. Segment VIII ( Fig. 2 F) with 5 (4­7) comb scales ( Fig. 2 G), scales similar in size; 3­VIII double, 5­VIII single. Siphon ( Fig. 2 F) moderately pigmented, light brown, dark pigmented at apex and adapted to perforate and fix larva to plant tissues; siphon index 1.39 (n = 10). Seta 1­S double, rarely triple. Segment X ( Fig. 2 F) with saddle slightly shorter than siphon; saddle/siphon index 0.95; saddle light yellowish to beige; conspicuous spicules on dorsal surface; setae 2­ 4 ­X brown, strongly pigmented at base, seta 4­X consisting of three pairs of flattened, well pigmented, single setae arising from grid, 4 setae inserted outside grid.

Geographical distribution. Mansonia fonsecai is known from the type locality, Los Naranjos, Bolívia (21° 31' 60'' S 64° 7' 60'' W), and Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil (25° 25' 4'' S 49° 14' 30'' W). The geographical distribution is possibly underestimated because Ma. fonsecai is a junior synonym of Ma. indubitans and, thus, it has been largely misidentified as the latter species.

Bionomics. Immatures of Ma. fonsecai are associated with the roots and leaves of the aquatic plant Pistia stratiotes L. Adults female are vicious blood suckers and preferentially active at sunset and night. The species is sylvatic; however, it also is found in cities and nearby areas when favorable conditions exist. In the Parque Regional do Iguaçu where there is a large breeding habitat with floating vegetation, Ma. fonsecai is a nuisance attacking at any time of day. The female blood­feeding activity peaks at sunset (Navarro­Silva et al. 2004, Tissot & Navarro­Silva 2004).

Medical importance. Nothing is known about the medical importance of Ma. fonsecai .

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: Mansonia fonsecai, Los Naranjos (21° 31' 60'' S 64° 7' 60'' W), BOLÍVIA, 23/II/1925, O. Fonseca coll. ( IOC), 1 Ψ (160). PARATYPES: 2 Ψ (159, 161), one with head mounted on slide (2057), same date and collector as holotype ( IOC). HOLOTYPE: Mansonia pessoai , Paraná, Curitiba (25° 25' 4'' S 49° 14' 30'' W), BRASIL, X/1939, G. Ramalho coll. (FSP), 1 ɗ (1822). OTHER MATERIAL: BRASIL, Paraná, Curitiba, Iguaçu Regional Park (25° 25' 4'' S, 49° 14' 30'' W), A. A. Barbosa coll., 28/VI/2002, adults reared from larvae collected with plankton nets, 5 ɗ with associated larval and pupal exuviae and genitalia mounted on slides, 5 ɗ with associated larval and pupal exuviae, 2 ɗ with associated larval exuviae, 3 larval and pupal exuviae ɗ without associated adult, 7 ɗ, 3 Ψ with associated larval and pupal exuviae and genitalia mounted on slides, 10 Ψ with associated larval and pupal exuviae, 1 Ψ with associated larval exuviae, 1 Ψ with associated pupal exuviae, 4 larval and pupal exuviae Ψ without associated adult; 8 entire larvae, D. C. Calado coll., 13/III/2002 ( DZUP). Mansonia indubitans, Codajas , Amazonas, BRASIL, 26­27/IX/2003, R. S. G. Hutchings et al. coll. ( INPA), 3 Ψ.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mansonia fonsecai. (A) Pupal metanotum and abdomen (dorsal and ventral views), (B) Pupal cephalothorax, (C) Pupal respiratory trumpet, (D) Male genitalia (dorsal and ventral views), (E) Male tergum VIII (ventral view), (F) Male gonostyle (lateral view), (G) Paramere and gonocoxal apodema (dorsal view), (H) Male aedeagus (dorsal view). Scale bars in mm.

FIGURE 2. Mansonia fonsecai. (A) Larval head (dorsal and ventral views), (B) Larval thorax and abdomen (dorsal and ventral views), (C) Larval mental plate (dorsal view), (D) Female tergum VII, (E) Female tergum VIII, (F) Larval terga VII, VIII, X, and siphon (lateral view), (G) Larval comb scales of tergum VIII. Scale bars in mm.