Pseudosmittia invirgata, Andersen & Saether & Mendes, 2010

Andersen, Trond, Saether, Ole A. & Mendes, Humberto F., 2010, Neotropical Allocladius Kieffer, 1913 and Pseudosmittia Edwards, 1932 (Diptera: Chironomidae) 2472, Zootaxa 2472 (1), pp. 1-77 : 43-45

Pseudosmittia invirgata sp. n.

( Figs 119–124 )

Type material. Holotype male, MEXICO: Campeche State, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Aguada pequeña, 1 km Northeast of Hormiguero, 18º24'10.9''N, 89º29'13.8''W, 300 m a.s.l., 6–7.v.1997, Malaise trap, A. Contreras-Ramos et al. ( ZMBN Type No. 426) . Paratypes: 30 males, as holotype; 2 males, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve , Ejido Nuevo Becan, El Choro, 18º35'25.5''N, 89º15'28.8''W, 130 m a.s.l., 30.iv.1997, Malaise trap, A. Contreras-Ramos et al. ( MZUSP, ZMBN, ZSM) .

Diagnostic characters. The absence of a virga and the broad median volsella will separate the male imago from P. forcipata .

Etymology. From Latin in, without, and virgata, with virga (twigs), referring to the lack of virga.

Male (n = 10–15, except when otherwise stated). Total length 1.08–1.19, 1.12 mm. Wing length 0.61– 0.77, 0.73 (28) mm. Total length / wing length 1.47–1.65, 1.56. Wing length / length of profemur 2.62–3.00, 2.84 (22).

Coloration. Pale brown with blackish brown markings.

Head. AR 0.59–0.72, 0.66 (33). Ultimate flagellomere 169–209, 188 (33) µm long. Temporal setae 6–8, 7; consisting of 3–4, 3 weak inner verticals; 2–3, 2 stronger outer verticals and 1–2, 1 postorbitals. Clypeus with 5–9, 7 setae. Tentorium, stipes and cibarial pump as in Figure 119 . Tentorium 50–81, 63 µm long; 11–19, 15 µm wide. Stipes 64–82, 71 µm long; 25–28 (2) µm wide. Palpomere ( Fig. 120 ) lengths (in µm): 11–16, 14; 16–25, 20; 34–54, 51; 52–61, 57; 61–86, 74. Third palpomere with 2–5, 4 lanceolate sensilla clavata; 9–14, 11 µm long.

Thorax ( Fig. 121 ). Median antepronotal lobes reduced; antepronotum with 1–2, 1 lateral seta. Dorsocentrals 8–13, 10; acrostichals 2; prealars 2–4, 3; supraalar absent. Scutellum with 4 setae.

Wing ( Fig. 122 ). VR 1.41–1.59, 1.48 (26). Anal lobe weak. Costal extension 27–52, 39 (26) µm long. R 4+5 ending slightly proximal to apex of M 3+4; Cu 1 weakly sinuate. Brachiolum with 1 seta, other veins bare.

Legs. Spur of fore tibia 25–34, 30 µm long; spurs of mid tibia 14–20, 16 µm and 11–18, 13 µm long; of hind tibia 29–34, 32 µm and 16–18, 17 µm long. Width at apex of fore- and mid tibia 16–18, 17 µm; of hind tibia 23–27, 25 µm. Comb of 10–12, 11 setae; longest 24–29, 26 µm long; shortest 16–18, 17 µm long. Length and proportions of legs as in Table 13.

Hypopygium ( Figs 123–124 ). Anal point 9–20, 14 µm long; 3–6, 4 µm wide at base. Tergite IX with 8–16, 11 setae. Laterosternite IX with 3–5, 4 setae. Phallapodeme 54–68, 60 µm long; apodeme lobe with wrinkles, anteriorly with strongly sclerotized hook-like structure. Sternapodeme with oral projections indicated in some specimens; transverse sternapodeme about 40–48, 45 µm long. Virga apparently lacking. Gonocoxite 77–98, 87 µm long. Superior volsella club-shaped, 19–21, 20 µm long, with strong, curved microtrichia and 1–2, 1 strong seta on tubercle at base. Median volsella single, broadly rounded to subtriangular, 18–22, 19 µm wide at base, 15–19, 17 µm long, with fringe of strong, curved microtrichia. Inferior volsella with digitiform, apically bilobed anterior lobe, 17–19, 18 µm long, 6–7, 7 µm wide, with several dorsal setae; median lobe inconspicuous, with microtrichia; posterior lobe broadly rounded, 15–18, 17 µm wide at base, with microtrichia and few marginal setae. Gonostylus 41–50, 46 µm long, tapering; densely covered with up to 14 µm long medially directed microtrichia; megaseta 4–7, 6 µm long. HR 1.62–2.39, 1.92. HV 2.17–2.78, 2.47.

Distribution and biology. The species is known from Campeche, Mexico where it was collected in Malaise traps in a lowland rain forest between 130 and 300 m altitude.

Figures

FIGURES 119–124. Pseudosmittia invirgata sp. n., male. 119—tentorium, stipes, and cibarial pump; 120—palp; 121— thorax; 122—wing; 123—hypopygium, dorsal aspect; 124—hypopygium with anal point and tergite IX removed, dorsal aspect to the left, ventral aspect to the right.