Wheeleriola perplexa, Jaschhof & Jaschhof, 2020

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2020, Wheeleriola perplexa gen. et sp. nov., the first member of Catotrichinae (Diptera Cecidomyiidae) found in New Zealand, Zootaxa 4852 (5), pp. 565-570 : 567

Wheeleriola perplexa sp. nov.

Figs 1–6

Diagnosis. Wheeleriola perplexa , the only species of the genus Wheeleriola , is distinguished from other Catotrichinae by the characters mentioned in the generic diagnosis. Should congeners with similar wing venation be found in the future, the genitalic description given below is supposed to provide detail enough for the positive identification of this species.

Male characters (other than those referred to in the generic description). Body size 2.1 mm. Head. Occiput with sparse setae of normal size. Vertex non-setose. Compound eyes large, occupying most of head capsule; eye bridge laterally 3–4 ommatidia long, dorsally interrupted for short distance. No interommatidial setae visible. Postfrons non-setose.Antenna: scape slightly larger than pedicel, both with a few setae; neck of second flagellomere 1.6 times as long as node, node 2.2 times as long as wide ( Fig. 2 ). Clypeus small, setose. Labella small, apical segment with 5–6 stiff setae. Palpus shorter than head height, all segments with hair-shaped translucent sensilla, fourth segment longest of all ( Fig. 3 ). Wing ( Fig. 1 ) clearly longer than body, 3.2 times longer than broad. Sc long, extending well beyond r-m. R 1 long, ending at same level with CuA. Rs short, only slightly longer than r-m. R 4+5 ending slightly beyond wing apex. CuA gently bent. CuP very short. Setae present on stem vein, Sc, R 1, R 4+5, and CuA. Genitalia. Ninth tergite fairly small, with sparse, large setae; anterior edge straight, indistinct; posterior edge tapered, with sclerotized, ventrally oriented process medially ( Fig. 4 ). Gonocoxal synsclerite broader than long, densely setose ventrally except for narrow, non-setose stripes medially and anteriorly; ventral emargination U-shaped, with broad, reinforced margin lacking microtrichia; lateral edges strongly convex; ventroanterior edge straight; ventroposterior portions protruding slightly beyond dorsoposterior portions; dorsal apodemes moderately long, separated from each other by deep, V-shaped incision ( Fig. 4 ). Ventral lobe of gonostylus large, its outline somewhat angular in ventral view, densely setose, with broad pectinate claw along inner (medial) edge; dorsal lobe much smaller, thumb-shaped, with sparse setae ( Fig. 5 ). Tegmen sclerotized, large, twice as long as broad; lateral edges slightly convex; a pair of wing-shaped processes apically; parameral apodemes large, subrectangular ( Fig. 6 ). Aedeagal apodeme much shorter than tegmen; rodlike portion fairly thin, sclerotized; apex broadened into poorly sclerotized, conical cap; junctions of accessory gland ducts distinct ( Fig. 6 ). Hypoproct and cerci (both not illustrated) as small and concealed as in other Catotrichinae .

Etymology. The Latin adjective perplexa means perplexing, an allusion to the unusual morphology found in this species.

Type material. Holotype. Male , New Zealand, North Island , Taupo , Pureora Forest Park , Waipapa Ecological Area, shrubland, 570 m elevation, 22 March 1984, Malaise trap, J. Hutcheson (in NZAC).

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Male morphology of Wheeleriola perplexa, holotype. 1: Wing, dorsal. 2: Second flagellomere, lateral (x = area with sensilla in other Catotrichinae). 3: Palpus, lateral. 4: Genitalia, ventral. 5: Gonostylus, ventral. 6: Tegmen and aedeagal apodeme, ventral. Scale for 1, 0.5 mm; for 2–6, 0.05 mm.