Ceraeochrysa montoyana (Navás), Navas

Sosa, Francisco & Freitas, Sergio De, 2011, A new synonym, a new male description and new geographical records for three Ceraeochrysa species (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Zootaxa 2913, pp. 47-58 : 54-57

Ceraeochrysa montoyana (Navás)

Figures 30–42 , 49–54 .

Chrysopa montoyana Navás, 1913: 87 .

Ceraeochrysa montoyana (Navás) : Adams, 1982: 73; Brooks & Barnard, 1990: 269; Freitas & Penny, 2001: 262, fig. 14; Freitas et al., 2009: 561, fig. 35.

Diagnosis. The black flagellum distinguishes C. montoyana and C. claveri from other species in the “ cincta group”. C. montoyana is the most golden yellow in coloration compared to other species of the genus and has a double red-wine line on the scape, a dorsal and a lateral one, distinguishing it from C. claveri , which only has a dorsal one. Other members of the “ cincta group” may exhibit two lines on the scape, such as C. cincta (Schneider) , C. arioles (Navás) and C. pitieri Sosa & Freitas , but these may be distinguished from C. montoyana by their pale flagellum.

Description. Head. Vertex, Frons, gena, clypeus yellow; maxillary and labial palpi golden- yellow; scape and pedicel yellow with two lines, one lateral not reaching the base of the scape and the other dorsal extending along the vertex up to external edge of antennal fossae; flagellum black, becoming lighter towards the apex ( Figs. 30–31 ). Thorax. Pronotum yellowish green with a dark red lateral stripe. Meso- and metanotum golden- yellow; pleura light green; legs green pale; tarsus yellow. Forewing with green longitudinal veins; crossveins: costal 5–12; r–m1, radial 1–9, transversal m1–m2, ma, Psm–Psc 1–6, m–cu2, gradates; Cu and edges not bifurcated, black; 3–4 inner and 7–9 outer gradates. Hindwing: with green longitudinal veins; crossveins: radial crossveins 3–6 and gradate black; 3 inner and 7–8 outer gradates ( Fig. 32 ). Abdomen. Yellowish green. Male characters. Apodeme of tergite 9 + ectoproct strongly sclerotized with ventral branch curved ending in a sharp point; membrane of the genital atrium with numerous gonocristae; sternite 8 + 9 longer than wide ( Fig. 33 ). Gonarcus curved, with a median ventral process digitiform ( Figs. 34 , 52 ); lateral arms longer than wide; gonocornua prominent ( Figs. 36–38 ); entoprocessus posteroventrally directed ( Figs. 34, 38 ); arcessus with apex trifurcate, apical hook flanked by prominent lobes ( Figs. 35 , 54 ); gonossacus small; gonosetae in lateral groups; gonocristae small localized laterally. Gonapsis long, flat, apex bifurcated ( Fig. 39 ). Female characters. Subgenitale round with two dorsolateral wide lobes; spermatheca U-shaped; spermathecal duct with several strongly coiled, compact bends ( Figs. 42–42 ).

Male mean measurements (mm), n = 4. Head: width 1.9 (range 1.7–2.0). Pronotum: length 1.0 (range 0.8– 1.2), width 1.3 (range 1.2–1.4). Forewing: length 15.7 (range 14.5–16.6), width 5.0 (range 4.5–5.6), ratio = 3.1. 2– 4 inner gradates and 7–9 outer gradates. Hindwing: length 13.8 (range 12.7–14.7), width 4.2 (range 3.6–4.7), ratio = 3.4. 2–3 inner gradates and 6–7 outer gradates. Female mean measurements (mm), n = 4. Head: width 1.8. Pronotum: length 1.0 (range 0.9–1.0), width 1.3 (range 1.2–1.3). Forewing: length 15.9 (range 15.3–16.3), width 5.2 (range 5.1–5.3), ratio = 3.1. 3–4 inner gradates and 7–8 outer gradates. Hindwing: length 14.0 (range 13.7–14.2), width 4.2 (range 4.1–4.4), ratio = 3.3. 3 inner gradates and 6–7 outer gradates.

Remarks. C. montoyana belongs to the “ cincta group”, and C. claveri is its closest relative ( Freitas et al. 2009). The two species share the following characteristics: i) scape and pedicel with a dorsal red-wine line reaching the antennal fossae, ii) black flagellum, iii) pronotum with red-wine stripe laterally, iv) apodeme of tergite 9 + ectoproct strongly sclerotized with ventral branch curved ending in a sharp point, v) membrane of the genital atrium with numerous gonocristae, vi) sternite 8 + 9 longer than wide, and vii) gonapsis long with apex bifurcate. However, the presence of two lines, a dorsal and a lateral one on C. montoyana scape, distinguishes it from C. claveri . Furthermore, C. montoyana has head, mesonotum and metanotum golden-yellow in color, whereas for C. claveri , these structures are yellow-green.

Male genitalia are distinctive as well. The gonarcus is arched, the gonocornua prominent and the arcessus trifurcate in C. montoyana , whereas in C. claveri , the gornarcus is not arched, the gonocornua are vestigial, and the arcessus is flanked by vestigial lateral lobes.

Moreover, Adams & Penny (1985) and Penny (2002) reported the presence of two lines, a dorsal and a lateral one on C. claveri scape, which difficult C. montoyana and C. claveri separation.

Navás (1911, 1913, 1930), Smith (1931), Banks (1946), Alayo (1968), Tauber et al. (2000), Freitas & Penny (2001), and Freitas et al. (2009), do not make reference to the existence of the double lines on the scape of C. claveri .

Freitas et al. (2009) state that the black flagellum distinguishes C. montoyana and C. claveri from other species in the “ cincta group”, and that the double red-wine line on the scape is present in C. montoyana but not in C. claveri .

Males of C. montoyana have been erroneously identified as C. claveri , because both species share similarities. Here, we provide visual evidence that illustrates important differences between the species.

Material examined. VENEZUELA. Carabobo: San Esteban, Las Quiguas, 185 m, 5–8.xii.1974, J. Salcedo, R. Dietz & J.L. García, 13 ( MIZA); Delta Amacuro: Mouth of the river Amacuro, 3.iii.1958, F. Fernádez Y, 13 ( MIZA); Yaracuy: Nirgua (10º 09’ N, 68º 33’ W, 782 m), 26.ii.2008, F. Sosa, F. Díaz & R. Zúñiga, 13, 1Ƥ (CSF); Idem, 26.ii.2008, F. Sosa, F. Díaz & R. Zúñiga, 1Ƥ ( UCOB); San Felipe, Hacienda Guáquira (10º 17’ N, 68º 39’ W, 108 m), 14.ii.2010, F. Sosa & J. Torres, 13 ( UCOB); Idem, 19–20.ii.2010, F. Sosa, F. Díaz & J. Torres, 33 ( UCOB). BRASIL. São Paulo: Jaboticabal [21º 14’ S, 48º 17’W], 20.vii.2001, S. Freitas, 13 ( SFC); Idem, 22.ix.2004, Carvalho, J. S., 1Ƥ ( SFC); Idem, 8.iii.1994, Narciso. R, 13 ( SFC); Mato Grosso: Itiquira (MICHELIN), 16.vii.2001, Freitas. S., 13, 1Ƥ ( SFC); Minas Gerais: Peti, 19.ix.1987, 1Ƥ ( SFC).

Geographical distribution. BRAZIL, PARAGUAY, and VENEZUELA (new record).

Figures

FIGURES 30 – 31. Ceraeochrysa montoyana (San Felipe, Yaracuy, Venezuela), head and thorax. 30) Dorsal view; 31) Lateral view. Note golden-yellow coloration and double maroon (narrow dorsal and wide lateral) lines on scape.

FIGURES 32 – 42. Ceraeochrysa montoyana. 32) Wings; 33 – 39) Male genitalia (San Felipe, Yaracuy, Venezuela): 33) Tergite 9 + ectoproct; 34) Gonarcus complex, dorsal view; 35) Gonarcus complex, dorsocaudal view, note trifurcate apex; 36) Gonarcus, dorsocaudal view showing prominent gonocornua; 37 – 38) Gonarcus complex, lateral view showing lateral arm, gonarcus, gonocornu and entoprocessus; 39) Gonapsis; 40 – 42) Female genitalia (Nirgua, Yaracuy, Venezuela): 40) Subgenitale; 41) ‘ U’ - shaped spermatheca; 42) ‘ U’ - shaped spermatheca of teneral female. ar = arcessus; ap = apodeme; dp = digitiform process of gonarcus; ent = entoprocessus; go = gonarcus; gco = gonocornua; gst = gonosetae; la = lateral arm; sd = spermathecal duct; vbr = apodeme ventral branch.

FIGURES 43 – 54. Comparison of Ceraeochrysa claveri and C. montoyana. 43 – 48) Ceraeochrysa claveri; 49 – 54) Ceraeochrysa montoyana. Notes: wings, sternite 9 + ectoproct and gonapsis are very similar and not useful in distinguishing the two species. The gonarcus shape and arsessus are very useful to separate both species. The narrow gonarcus and prominent gonocornua in C. montoyana contrast with wider gonarcus and small gonocornua in C. claveri. The arcessus is clearly trifurcate in C. montoyana and not in C. claveri. ar = arcessus; ap = apodeme; dp = digitiform process; ent = entoprocessus; gco = gonocornu; ig = inner gradates; im = intramedian cell; la = lateral arm; l. lb = lateral lobe; mu = mediuncus; og = outer gradates; vbr = apodeme ventral branch.