Pseudosmittia windwardensis (Saether)

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 : 71-74

Pseudosmittia windwardensis (Saether)

( Figs 201–206 )

Smittia windwardensis Saether, 1981: 23 .

Pseudosmittia windwardensis (Saether) ; Pinho et al. (2009: 164).

Material examined. SAINT VINCENT: Majorca, Yambou River , 1.442 m a.s.l., below waterfall, holotype male, allotype female , 2 male paratypes, vii–viii.1972, Malaise trap, A.D. Harrison ( ZMBN Type No. 31); Golden Grove, Yambou River , 7 males, vii.1972, A.D. Harrison. BRAZIL: Santa Catarina State, Urubici, Morro da Igreja , cloud forest, 1.822 m a.s.l. , 2 males, 18.ix–05.xii.2004, Malaise trap, L.C. Pinho & L.E.M. Bizzo ( ZMBN) . São Paulo State, Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins, Peruíbe , 24º31'06''S, 47º12'06''W , 1 male, 3.v.2002, Malaise trap (Bosque 6), N.W. Perioto et al. (PEJU01: BIOTA-FAPESP); 2 males, same as previous except 6.v.2002, (PEJU08: BIOTA-FAPESP); 1 male, same as previous except Malaise trap (Trilha 1), (PEJU11: BIOTA-FAPESP); Parque Estadual Intervales, Ribeirão Grande, Barra Grande, 24º15'S, 48º10'W, 1 male, 10–13.xii.2000, Malaise trap (Bosque 4), M.T. Tavares et al. (PEIN03: BIOTA-FAPESP); Estação Biológica Boracéia , Salesópolis, Trilha dos Pilões, 23º39'07''S, 45º53'41.8''W , 3 males, 2–5.iv.2001, Malaise trap (Bosque 3), S.T.P. Amarante et al. (BORA11: BIOTA-FAPESP); 1 male, same as previous except 23º39'04.8''S, 45º53'41.8''W, 30.iii.–02.iv.2001, Malaise trap (Trilha 3), (BORA14: BIOTA-FAPESP); Parque Estadual Serra do Mar , Ubatuba, 23º21'43''S, 44º59'22''W , 1 male, 21.i.2002, Malaise trap (Bosque 9), N.W. Perioto et al. (BRUB13: BIOTA-FAPESP); 1 male, same as previous except Malaise trap (Bosque 8), (BRUB15: BIOTA-FAPESP); 2 males, same as previous except Malaise trap (Bosque 7), (BRUB16: BIOTA- FAPESP); 2 males, same as previous except 24.i.2002, Malaise trap (Trilha 4), (BRUB17: BIOTA-FAPESP) ( MZUSP, ZMBN) . Rio de Janeiro State, Reserva Biológica Tinguá, Nova Iguaçu , 22º34'37''S, 43º26'06.6''W , 1 male, 8–11.iii.2002, Malaise trap (Bosque 1), S.T.P. Amarante et al. (BRTIN07: BIOTA-FAPESP); 1 male, same as previous except 22º34'30''S, 43º26'07''W, Malaise trap (Trilha 4), (BRTIN12: BIOTA-FAPESP); 1 male, same as previous except 22º34'32''S, 43º26'07.6''W, Malaise trap (Bosque 3), (BRTIN18: BIOTA- FAPESP) ( MZUSP, ZMBN) . Bahia State, Reserva de Sapiranga, Mata de São João , 12º33'36.4''S, 38º02'57.2''W , 2 males, 19–22.vii.2001, Malaise trap (Bosque 3), M.T. Tavares et al. (BRBA4x: BIOTA- FAPESP); 3 males, same as previous except (BRBA5x: BIOTA-FAPESP); 2 males, same as previous except 11º22'39.6''S, 37º25'04.4''W, 22–25.vii.2001, Malaise trap (Trilha 1), (BRBA6x: BIOTA-FAPESP); 2 males, same as previous except 12º33'36.4''S, 38º02'57.2''W, Malaise trap (Bosque 3), (BRBA8x: BIOTA-FAPESP); 1 male, same as previous except 12º33'35.0''S, 38º02'48.8''W, 19–22.vii.2001, Malaise trap (Bosque 5), (BRBA10x: BIOTA-FAPESP) ( MZUSP, ZMBN) . Paraná State, Parque Estadual do Pau Oco , Morretes , 4 males, 10–13.iv.2002, Malaise trap (Trilha 2), M.T. Tavares et al. (BRPR34: BIOTA-FAPESP) ( MZUSP, ZMBN) . COSTA RICA: Guanacaste Province, Guanacaste Conservation Area, Cerro Cacao, Río San Josecito , 1.000 m a.s.l. , 1 male, 3–7.v.1993, Malaise trap, T. Andersen. Heredia Province, La Selva Biological Station , 1 male, 16.iii.1993, Malaise trap, O.A. Saether ( ZMBN) .

Diagnostic characters. The relatively long, narrow and curved inferior volsella combined with the triangular anal point will separate the male from other Neotropical members of the group. The female differs from other females with equally high VR and straight Cu 1 in having setae on tergite I and a costal extension nearly reaching wing apex.

Male (n = 10–12, except when otherwise stated). Total length 1.45–1.73, 1.63 mm. Wing length 0.85– 1.06, 0.97 mm. Total length / wing length 1.54–1.74, 1.63 (5). Wing length / length of profemur 2.70–3.03, 2.82.

Coloration. Thorax dark brown with lighter scutellum, abdomen brown with paler anterior margins of tergites.

Head. AR 0.77–1.16, 1.01 (6); ultimate flagellomere 238–345, 308 (6) µm long; apical seta present in at least one specimen from Costa Rica, 32 µm long. Temporal setae 6–8, 7 including 3–4, 3 inner verticals and 2–4, 3 outer verticals. Clypeus with 4–8, 7 setae. Tentorium, stipes and cibarial pump as in Figure 201 . Tentorium 70–104, 94 µm long; 18 (2) µm wide. Stipes 77–99, 90 µm long. Palpomere ( Fig. 202 ) lengths (in µm): 11–23, 19; 20–27, 26; 43–57, 52; 40–74, 50; 45–116, 63 (8). Third palpomere with 7–13 (3) scalpellate sensilla clavata in one or two groups; longest 9–14, 12 µm long.

Thorax ( Fig. 203 ). Median antepronotal lobes reduced; antepronotum with 1–2, 1 lateral seta. Dorsocentrals 9–12, 10; acrostichals 2; prealars 2–3, 3; supraalar absent. Scutellum with 5–7, 6 setae.

Wing ( Fig. 204 ). Anal lobe absent. Cu 1 weakly sinuous. R 4+5 ending distal to apex of Cu 1. VR 1.65–1.79, 1.70. Costal extension 43–112, 83 µm long. Brachiolum with 1 seta, other veins bare.

Legs. Spur of fore tibia 36–52, 46 µm long; spurs of mid tibia 25–37, 31 (8) µm and 13–22, 18 (8) µm long; of hind tibia 28–49, 43 µm and 14–25, 20 (9) µm long. Width at apex of fore tibia 16–23, 18 µm; of mid tibia 17–22, 18 µm; of hind tibia 27–37, 33 µm. Comb with 12–13, 13 setae; longest 33–42, 38 µm long; shortest 15–26, 21 µm long. Length and proportions of legs as in Table 27.

Hypopygium ( Figs 205–206 ). Anal point 7–35, 21 µm long. Tergite IX with 6–11, 9 setae. Laterosternite IX with 2–3, 3 setae. Phallapodeme 50–64, 57 µm long. Sternapodeme evenly rounded without trace of oral projections, arched part about 50–59 (3) µm long. Virga composed of 2 spines; 15–24, 18 µm long. Gonocoxite 93–126, 115 µm long. Inferior volsella well developed, hooked, reaching to 0.63–0.74, 0.69 (7) of gonocoxite length. Gonostylus 45–56, 51 µm long; with rounded apical crista dorsalis; megaseta 5–9, 7 µm long. HR 1.95–2.66, 2.25. HV 2.93–3.25, 3.08 (9).

Female (n = 1). Total length 1.19 mm. Wing length 0.75 mm. Total length / wing length 2.00–2.16. Wing length / length of profemur 2.76.

Coloration. Thorax brown with lighter scutellum.

Head. Antenna lost. Temporal setae 6, consisting of 3 inner verticals and 3 outer verticals. Clypeus with 7 setae. Tentorium 72 µm long, 9 µm wide. Stipes 69 µm long. Palpomere lengths (in µm): 22, 23, 54, 49, 52. Third palpomere with 12 sensilla clavata. No coronal suture

Thorax. Median antepronotal lobes reduced; antepronotum with 1 lateral seta. Dorsocentrals 10, acrostichals 2, prealars 3, supraalar absent. Scutellum with 5 setae.

Wing. Anal lobe absent. Cu 1 nearly straight. R 4+5 ending distal to apex of Cu 1. VR 1.63. Postcubitus not forked. Costal extension 125 µm long, reaching to wing apex. Brachiolum with 1 seta, R with 7 setae, R 1 with 2, R 4+5 with 10, costa proximal to FR with 10 non-marginal setae, between FR and apex of R 4+5 with 30 nonmarginal setae, costal extension with 23 non-marginal setae, other veins bare.

Legs. Mid leg and all tarsi lost. Fore femur 273 µm long, hind femur 324 µm long, fore tibia 277 µm long, hind tibia 355 µm long. Comb of 12 setae, longest 40 µm long, shortest 22 µm long.

Abdomen. Tergite I with 4 setae, T II–VI each with 10–14 setae, T VII with 16 setae, T VIII with 8 setae. Sternite I bare, S II–VI each with 3–6 setae, S VII with 10 setae, S VIII with 25 setae.

Genitalia. Gonocoxite adpressed, with 2 strong and 3 weak setae. Tergite IX slightly divided, with 10 setae; apodeme against gonocoxite 62 µm long. Cercus lost. Seminal capsules relatively pale with 16 µm long microtrichia. Spermathecal ducts slightly widened before separate openings.

Remarks. This species is somewhat enigmatic. The costal extension especially in the female is relatively longer than in most other members of the genus. There appear to be two weak acrostichals which were overlooked in the original description. However, the male genitalia are quite similar to other species of the group.

Distribution and biology. The species is known from St. Vincent and St. Lucia and from Costa Rica and Brazil. The species is apparently quite common in Brazil where it was taken in several nature reserves along the coast at altitudes varying from sea level to above 1.800 m a.s.l. In Costa Rica it was taken in Malaise traps both in a tropical pre-montane wet forest at La Selva and in a cloud forest on the Volcano Cacao at about 1.000 m altitude.

Figures

FIGURES 201–206. Pseudosmittia windwardensis (Saether, 1981), male. 201—tentorium, stipes, and cibarial pump; 202—palp; 203—thorax; 204—wing; 205—hypopygium, dorsal aspect; 206—hypopygium with anal point and tergite IX removed, dorsal aspect to the left, ventral aspect to the right.