Mauropsocus monteithi, Smithers, 2007

Smithers, C. N., 2007, Lord Howe Island Psocoptera (Insecta), Records of the Australian Museum 59 (1), pp. 9-26 : 19-20

Mauropsocus monteithi n.sp.

Material studied. 1! (HOLOTYPE), QM T 99350, Big Creek, Mountain Inn , rainforest, pyrethrum knockdown, 11.xi.1979, G.B. Monteith. Holotype in the Queensland Museum.

Etymology. Mauros = Gr. dark, referring to the dark colour of the species. This species is named for Dr Monteith in recognition of his immense contribution to Australian entomology.

Distribution. Known only from Lord Howe Island.

Description

Female. Coloration (in alcohol). Head dark brown, a paler spot in middle of front of head, in position usually occupied by ocelli. A darker mark from eye to antenna base, lateral and anterior transverse margin of postclypeus very dark brown. Median epicranial suture almost black; anterior arms absent. Postclypeus with indistinct, irregular, almost transverse, slightly converging dark stripes. Labrum pale. Antennae brown. Eyes black. Maxillary palps brown. Prothorax dorsally dark. Meso- and metanotum each with dark brown transverse band across posterior part of tergum in which dark spots are arranged in irregular transverse rows, the spots being large alveoli from which arise strong setae. Anterior part of tergum paler. Legs dark brown except for distal half of hind tibia and tarsus, which are slightly paler. Abdominal terga banded in similar way to thoracic terga i.e each tergum darker in posterior part in than in anterior part.A fine, pale, median longitudinal line from front of mesonotum to hindmost abdominal tergum.

Morphology. Micropterous. Length of body: 1.7 mm. Median epicranial suture very distinct, finer anteriorly, anterior arms absent. Head capsule with raised, enlarged alveoli giving most of head a rough appearance. Vertex narrow but rounded. Front of head flat. Frons poorly delimited because of lack of anterior arms of epicranial suture and posterior part of epistomial suture. Head from side ( Fig. 9 , setae not shown) short, postclypeus hardly protruding. Labrum without lateral styli on anterior margin. Five inner sensilla, two trichoid, three placoid. Genae glabrous, without enlarged alveoli, therefore having a smoother appearance than rest of head capsule. Antennae 13-segmented but short; apical segment strongly narrowed distally. Length of flagellar segments: f1: 0.055 mm.; f2: 0.045 mm. Eyes very small, round, of about 20 spaced ommatidia, placed on side of head slightly nearer to base of antenna than vertex. No ocelli. Fourth segment of maxillary palp short, width two-thirds of length. Thoracic and abdominal terga each with sclerotized transverse band in posterior part giving the dorsal view of the insect its strongly banded appearance. Integument of each segment anterior to the sclerotized band less heavily sclerotized. More heavily sclerotized part of the terga bears rows of strongly developed, variously modified setae ( Figs 10–12 ) each arising from an enlarged alveolus. Mesonotum with one posterior row of setae and two single setae representing an anterior row. Integument in heavily sclerotized posterior areas bears more or less evenly spaced tiny papillae.Abdominal terga as thoracic but surface papillae arranged roughly in transverse rows in some areas. Modified setae in two irregular rows, those of the posterior row on each segment larger than those of anterior row. Measurement of hind leg: F: 0.26 mm.; T: 0.39 mm.; t1: 0.07 mm.; t2: 0.02 mm.; t3: 0.04 mm.; rt: 3.5:1:2. No ctenidiobothria. Claws with one minute denticle on one claw of each pair. Outer side of femora sparsely setose, setae fine. Fore tibia bearing fine, normal setae overall, outer side with a row of a few larger, blunt-ended setae arising from larger raised alveoli. Mesotibia as front tibia but the row of setae on the outer side has expanded truncate tips. Metatibia as mesotibia but larger setae with expanded truncate apices in a row on the outer side arise from large alveoli. Pulvillus broad. No coxal organ. Fore wing ( Fig. 14 ) reduced to a very small lobe with a single, very large, modified apical seta ( Figs 13, 14 ). Hind wing ( Fig. 15 ) smaller, simple, without seta. Epiproct ( Fig. 16 ) a simple, lightly sclerotized lobe with a transverse ridge bearing a few long, fine setae. Paraproct ( Fig. 17 ) lightly sclerotized, with a few setae. Subgenital plate (damaged in preparation) apparently incipiently bilobed behind with a large seta on each lobe. Gonapophyses ( Fig. 18 ). Ventral and dorsal valves each with well-developed, long, fine, preapical apophysis.

Male. Unknown.

Figures

Figs 9–18. Mauropsocus monteithi n.gen. and n.sp. Female: (9) head, lateral (setae not shown); (10, 11, 12) modified setae; (13) large modified seta at wing apex; (14) fore wing; (15) hind wing; (16) epiproct; (17) paraproct; (18) gonapophyses.