Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) ihorombeana, Sziráki, György, 2020

Sziráki, György, 2020, A Contribution To Knowledge Of The Genus Coniopteryx (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) In Madagascar, With Descriptions Of 18 New Species, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 66 (3), pp. 203-246 : 222-224

Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) ihorombeana sp. n.

( Figs 47–51)

Examined material – Holotype: male, Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park, Vahiporara at broken bridge, 21°13’34” S, 47°22’11”, 1100 m a.s.l., 12–19. III. 2002, mountain rain forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; deposited in the collection of CAS ; CASTYPE number: 20018. Paratypes: 1 male , Madagascar, Antsiranana Province, Montagne d’Ambre National Park , 12°30’52” S, 49°10’53” E, 960 m a.s.l., 19. III – 5. IV. 2001, Malaise trap, leg.: I, ES & HH; 1 male , Madagascar, Antsiranana Province, Montagne d’Ambre National Park , 12°31’13” S, 49°10’45” E, 1125 m a.s.l., 14–30. V . 2001, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; 1 male, Madagascar, Antsiranana Province, Sakalava Beach , 12°15’46” S, 49°23’51” E, 10 m a.s.l., (day?). VIII – (day?). IX. 2001, dwarf littoral forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; 1 male , Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, near to Isalo National Park , at a stream E of Interpretive Center, 22°37’36” S, 45°21’29” E, 750 m a.s.l., 21–29. XII. 2001, open area, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; 1 male , same data but 19–26. I. 2001; 1 male , same data but 10–15. VII. 2002; 1 male , Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, near to Isalo National Park , E of Interpretive Center, 22°37’36” S, 45°21’29” E, 885 m a.s.l., 17–25. XI. 2001, dry stream bed, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; 1 male , same data but 30. XI – 7. XII. 2001; 1 male , same data but 16–21. XII. 2001; 1 male , same data but 13–19. I. 2002; 1 male , same data but 26. I – 3. II. 2002; 1 male , same data but 3–10. II. 2002; 1 male , same data but 17–24. II. 2002; 1 male , same data but 13–20. V . 2002; 1 male, Madagascar, Toamasina Province, 7 km SE of Andasibe National Park headquarters, 18°57’46” S, 48°27’10” E, 1050 m a.s.l., 9–23. III. 2001, tropical forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH. Majority of paratypes deposited in the collection of CAS , while 3 paratype specimens are housed in HNHM .

Description: Length of the body 1.3–1.6 mm. Genae light brown, other parts of head capsule pale ochreous. Eyes relatively small, black or brownish. Antennae very light yellowish-brown, 1.0– 1.2 mm, 27–32 (most frequently 28) segmented. Scape about as wide as long, pedicel slightly (1.2–1.3 times) longer than wide. The relative length of the flagellar segments is rather variable: those 1.3–1.8 times wider than long in the basal half of flagellum and 1.1–1.4 times wider than long in the apical half. Ordinary hairs seems to be in a dorsal group on the scape, mostly in two rings on pedicel, while in a single, rather irregular ring on flagellar segments. Scale-like hairs are scattered on a considerable part of pedicel, and arranged in a dense apical whorl on flagellar segments. Inner setae of flagellar segments rather long. (About as long as the width of the segments in the apical half of flagellum.) Palpi pale ochreous.

Thorax yellowish-brown, thoracal apodemes and sutures, as well as the shoulder spots light brown. Legs pale ochreous. Length of fore wing 1.4–2.0 mm, of hind wing 1.1–1.4 mm. Wing membrane light yellowish-brown. Pregenital part of abdomen pale ochreous.

Male terminalia ( Figs 47–51) well sclerotized, medium brown. Hypandrium in lateral view about as high as long. Processus terminalis well developed, with in lateral view acute, in ventral view rounded caudal endings, and with broad and rather deep, u-shaped median incision. A well developed inner structure is connected to the dorsal surface of hypandrium. Its anterior part rounded dorsally, posterior one pointed caudally in lateral view. Processus lateralis large, subtriangular, directed caudally. Anterior apodeme of hy- lateral view, 51 = male internal genitalia, ventral view. Scales: 0.04 mm pandrium very narrow, its median part in some cases almost absent. Ventral apodeme of gonarcus evenly thin. Stylus forked; its inner branch rather narrow, in lateral view slightly bent, simple. No detectable ventral bridge between the two inner branches. Outer branch of the stylus slender, pointed (especially in ventral view), and directed forwards. Proximal part of paramere distinctly bent down, while the processus apicalis of this sclerite very broad and slightly hooked in lateral view. Processus ventralis normally developed. Penis sclerite consists of two, in lateral view slightly bent and ventrally pointed rods. Besides, the territory around the anus (including the tenth sternite) unusually protruded in all examined specimens.

Remarks: Because of the structure of male genitalia (e.g.: the non-truncat- ed processus apicalis of paramere) and absence of modifications on the head Coniopteryx (C.) ihorombeana sp. n. belongs to the Coniopteryx exigua group sensu SZIRÁKI (2005), however, because of the very wide processus apicalis, its position somewhat transitorial towards the Coniopteryx tineiformis group. Regarding the curving up ending and distinct, but not large processus ventralis of paramere, the well developed processus terminalis of hypandrium with ushaped median incision, the subtriangular processus lateralis Coniopteryx ihorombeana sp. n. slightly resembles to the Coniopteryx exigua Withycombe, 1925 . The main distinctive features of the new species are:

− the presence of setae on flagellar segments;

− the rounded endings of processus terminalis of hypandrium;

− the broad and rather deep median incision of hypandrium;

− the distinctly bent down proximal part of paramere;

− the forwards directing outer branch of the stylus;

− the paired structure of penis.

Etymology: The new species was named after the Ihorombe Region, where a large part of the type material was collected.