Pneumia toubkalensis Omelková & Ježek, 2012

Omelková, Markéta & Ježek, Jan, 2012, Two new species of Pneumia Enderlein (Diptera, Psychodidae, Psychodinae) from the Palaearctic region, Zootaxa 3180, pp. 1-18 : 12-15

Pneumia toubkalensis Omelková & Ježek sp. nov.

Type locality. Morocco, High Atlas Mts.–Toubkal Massif, Imlil, irrigation ditch, 1800 m a.s.l.

Type material. Holotype: Morocco, High Atlas Mts.–Toubkal Massif, Imlil, 1800 m a.s.l., 5.x.1994, SW, P. Chvojka leg. Slide Cat. No. 34554, Inv. No. 19718, dissected. Paratypes: 7 males dissected, slides, same data, Cat. No. 34555–34561, Inv. No. 19719–19725. All material is deposited in the NMPC.

Description. Male. The head is pyriform, the vertex elevated, becoming narrower basally (Fig. 44) and uniformly set with numerous seta alveoli, with a horizontal border of setae above the upper apices of the eyes, which are slightly convex on both sides and a little concave medially. Numbers 4–6 of the supraocular setae above the dorsal margins of the eyes on both sides of the head are developed, conspicuous, stout and long, extending slightly beyond the bases of the first palpomeres. The eyes are separated, the eye bridge has five facet rows, divided by a width of five facet diameters ( Fig. 54 ). The interocular suture is inverted, U-shaped, not well sclerotized, and doubled by a straight, barely transparent ligament. The ratio of the distance of the apices of the eyes (tangential points) to a minimum width of the frons is approximately 4.3:1. The frontoclypeus (Fig. 44) has a large, three-lobed central scar that has a rectangular base, a medial, irregularly narrow lobe, prolonged almost to the interocular suture ( Fig. 54 ), with small, rounded lateral lobes. The antennae (Figs. 45, 46) are 16–partite and covered with minute setae. The scape is cylindrical, only inconspicuously widened distally, and the pedicel is almost ball-shaped, with many lanceolate setae that are 1.6 times shorter than the length of the first flagellomere.

The flagellomeres are spindle-shaped except for the last two; the subapical flagellomere is ovoid, a little prolonged, and the terminator has a long excentric digitiform process, as long as the basal bulbose part. The flagellomeres are covered with numerous setae, approximately as long as the terminator. The sensory filaments (ascoids) are needleshaped ( Fig. 55 ) and short, in fact twice as short as the length of a middle flagellomere, upright and paired. The length ratios of the maxillary palpomeres are 1.0:1.6:1.7:2.7, and the last palpomere is annulated ( Fig. 56 ). The mouthparts extend markedly beyond the basal palpomere (Fig. 44). For the terminal lobe of the labium, as shown in Fig. 47, the lines of small spines between both lobes are soft, and not conspicuously visible. The index of the maximum length of the cibarium to the length of the epipharynx is approximately 1.5. The labrum and the epipharynx are shown in Fig. 48. The anepisternum has numerous seta alveoli ( Fig. 57 ), the anterior margin of the patch of hairs is rounded, the meropleural suture (rib) is missing, the thoracic spiracle is ladyfinger shaped, with a conspicuously sclerotized lower part and a transversely cut upper one. The halteres ( Fig. 58 ) are stick shaped, microscopically haired, and the ratio of the maximum length of the halteres to their maximum width is 2.8:1. The wings ( Fig. 59 ) are ovate, with a convex posterior margin that is 3.1 mm long (paratypes 2.9–3.1 mm). The membrane of the wing is generally clear, not infuscated. Strengthened veins: Sc (conspicuously, at both ends), R1 distally, R2+3, R2, R4 basally, M1+2 basally, CuA1 basally, the whole CuA2 (conspicuously, at both ends). The radial fork and medial fork are complete; however, the bases of R2 and M2 are markedly decreased in contrast, as in the origin of R 2+3. Some additional connections are inconspicuous: Sc-R1, the distal end of the basal cell and CuA1 - CuA2. The CuA2 is reduced in the wing margin. The index of maximum wing length to the maximum width of the wing is 2.3:1, R5 ends beyond the wing apex, and a long linear streak runs parallel to R1. The wing indices are AB:AC:AD = 3.3:3.1:3.5 and BC:CD:BD = 1.0:1.3:2.3. The medial wing angle (BCD) is 193°. The radial fork arises at approximately the same level as the apex of CuA2 and both points are fixed basally to the medial fork. The CuA2 and M3 connect basally to CuA1. The length ratios of the femora, tibiae and first tarsomeres are: P1 1.7:1.9:1.0; P2 1.8:2.1:1.1; P3 1.9:2.5:1.1. The paired tarsal claws of P1, as shown in Fig. 49, are haired, but are subapically bare. The basal apodeme of the male aedeagus (Figs. 51, 61, 63) is thin from dorsal and lateral views, almost straight, cavernous in the middle, and stick shaped proximally. The central chamber of the aedeagal complex (Figs. 51, 61, 63) is proximally narrow, with a sclerotized lining, supported by a rib with a triangular cross-section, with a chuck-shaped turning device inside. The cleft of the spatula is broadly U-shaped ( Fig. 61 ). The caudal part of the aedeagus is ostensibly cut and expands to both edges (dorsal view). Two pairs of inner lamellae are developed: the central one is clasped and terminally hooked (left and right hooks) in contrast to the lamellae that are similar to beaker tongs, with pointed tops. The gonocoxites (Figs. 50, 51, 61) are thick and short, with a length half of that of the aedeagal complex (including the basal apodeme). The gonostyli (Figs. 50–51, 61– 62) is spherical with a lateral protuberance that is long, narrow, bent, and tapers to the end, with 2–4 sensory digits outside near the apex, directed caudally, and one small seta subapically. The epandrium is approximately quadrilateral (Figs. 52, 60), almost bare, with hairs only in a proximal part on both sides, with a broad and deep notch caudally. The basal paired apertures are inconspicuously connected, and together they are almost ovalshaped (barely rectangular), conspicuously bordered caudally by sclerotized folds. The remainders of ventral epandrial sclerite are stout, almost spindle-shaped, with several transverse wrinkles. The hypandrium is narrow (Figs. 51, 61). The epiproct is featureless and sinuous, the hypoproct is large, almost tongue shaped or triangular, and the caudal top is rounded, both parts having setae (Figs. 52, 60). The surstyli (Figs. 52–53, 60) are 1.7 times as long as the epandrium, almost straight from the dorsal view, C-shaped from the lateral view, with 5–8 retinaculi subapically, almost arranged in a circular field. The retinaculi are bevelled and rounded terminally, gradually shortening towards the top of the surstylus. The surstyli bear many lanceolate hairs that are almost as long as the epandrium.

Female unknown.

Differential diagnosis. Pneumia toubkalensis has a frontoclypeus (Fig. 44) with one large central three-lobed patch of hairs (the lateral lobuli are short, the medial frontal strip is the longest). The wings ( Fig. 59 ) have no sensory setae on the CuA2, the gonostylus is spherical with a lateral protuberance that is long, narrow, bent, tapers to the end, with four small sensory digits subapically (Figs. 50-51, 61). The aedeagal complex has no acute triangular protuberances from the dorsal view (Figs. 51, 61, 63). Pneumia mutua is readily distinguishable by the frontoclypeus with three separate patches of setae alveoli (two oval ventro-lateral ones and one elongated vertical patch that is a little narrower. The wings bear many conspicuous sensory setae (as a comb) in the two posterior thirds of the CuA2. The gonostylus is cylindrical at the base, not spherical, with two protuberances of quite different lengths, one short and blunt, the second is longer and pointed, with no sensory digits subapically. The aedeagal complex has conspicuous and acute triangular protuberances from the dorsal view.

FIGURES 44–53. Pneumia toubkalensis Omelková & Ježek sp. nov. male. 44. Head, frontal view. 45. Basal flagellomeres. 46. Apical flagellomeres. 47. Terminal lobe of labium. 48. Labrum and epipharynx. 49. Tarsal claws of P1, dorsal and lateral views. 50. Left gonopod, lateral view, 51. Left gonopod and aedeagal complex, dorsolateral view. 52. Epandrium and surstyli, dorsal view, retinacula omitted. 53. Surstylus, dorsolateral view. [Scale: = 0.05 mm (Fig. 49); = 0.1 mm (Figs. 46–48) and = 0.2 mm (Figs. 44–45, 50–53)]

Etymology. Named after Toubkal Massif in the High Atlas Mts. where the specimens were collected. Bionomics. Unknown.

Distribution. North Africa, Morocco

Figures

FIGURES 54 – 63. Pneumia toubkalensis Omelková & Ježek sp. nov. male. 54. Frons and facets in detail. 55. Middle flagellomere with ascoid. 56. Maxilla and palpus maxillaris. 57. Thoracic sclerites, lateral view. 58. Haltere, lateral view. 59. Wing. 60. Epandrium and surstylus, lateral view. 61. Aedeagal complex and gonopods, dorsal view. 62. Narrowed part of gonostylus in detail. 63. Aedeagal complex, lateral view. [Scale: 55, 62 = 0.05 mm; 54, 63 = 0.1 mm; 56 – 58, 60, 61 = 0.2 mm; 59 = 1 mm]