Ptilocerembia thaidina, Poolprasert, Pisit & Edgerly, Janice S., 2014

Poolprasert, Pisit & Edgerly, Janice S., 2014, Description of four new species of the genus Ptilocerembia Friederichs, 1923 (Embioptera: Ptilocerembiidae) from Thailand, Zootaxa 3852 (3), pp. 359-372 : 360-362

Ptilocerembia thaidina sp. n.

( Figs. 1 A–1C, 6A, 7A–7D)

Diagnosis. Males of P. thaidina can be readily distinguished from congeners by the basal left cercus, excavated on the inner side in the basal half. The terminal left cercus, is short, subconical, the hemitergite of the tenth segment (10LP) is medially slightly expanded and terminally subacute and the medial flap (MF) has a dorsal hook curving forward. Females can be recognized by the abdomen mostly dark with white stripes on lateral plate and basal three abdominal terga blackish in contrast with the next four brown terga. Three terminal abdominal segments are dark brown. Coxae and trochanters are whitish, strongly contrasted by the dark femora, tibia and tarsi.

Material examined. Holotype male ( CUMNH), Thailand, Chiang Mai province, Mueang district, Huay Kaeo Arboretum, 18°48.348’N 098°57.585’E, 336 m, 01.II.2008. Two paratype males and 23 paratype females: 3 females ( CUMNH), same data as holotype; 2 females ( CUMNH), Loei province, Phu Kradueng district, orchard, 16°53.315’N 101°53.140’E, 227 m, 26.II.2007; 12 females ( CUMNH), Nong Bua Lam Phu province, Na Klang district, mixed deciduous forest, 17°25.044’N, 102°10.944’E, 376 m, 07.VII.2010; 1 female ( CUMNH), Phetchabun Province, Lom Sak district, dry evergreen forest, 16°46.462’N, 101°14.323’E, 129 m, 04.IV.2008; 1 male ( CUMNH), Phisanulok province, Nakhon Thai district, dry evergreen forest, 17°61.174’N, 100°50.156’E, 321 m, 14.III.2008; 1 male, 1 female ( CUMNH), Tak province, Mae Ramat district, dry evergreen forest, 16°58.591″N, 98°31.012’E, 353 m, 20.III.2008; 2 females ( CUMNH) Mae Sod district, hill evergreen forest, 16°45.837’N 098°54.533’E, 804 m, 26.VI.2009; 2 females ( CUMNH), Mae Sod district, deciduous dipterocarp forest, 16°45.233’N 098°53.113’E, 213 m, 26.VI.2009.

Distribution: This species was collected from several localities in Thailand.

Etymology: The new species is named after the Thai people.

Description. Alate male ( Fig. 1 A) (n = 3), mean (range): Head width × length 1.8 (1.7–1.9) × 2.3 (2.1–2.4) mm, body length 15.3 (14.9–15.8) mm, width 2.2 (2.1–2.3) mm, forewing length 12.5 (12.1–13.2) mm, hind wing length 11.8 (10.5–12.3) mm.

Head capsule elongate-oval (longer than broad), sides convergent ( Fig. 7 A). Eyes entirely dark, large, prominent, subreniform. Submentum trapezoidal. Antennae 36-segmented, dark with long perpendicular hairs, six most apical segments white.

Thorax dark throughout. Wings with MA forked, brown with hyaline inter-veinal lines. All legs dark. Hind basitarsus elongate with only one papilla, plantar setae long ( Fig. 7 D).

Abdomen very dark brown, paler ventrally. Terminalia with tenth abdominal tergite completely cleft, hemitergites separated basally by a trapezoidal plate; 10R transverse, inner margin ending posteriorly in a blunt 10 RP, anteriorly in a dorsal hook curving forward; 10L with inner margin produced backward to an elongate 10LP, medially slightly expanded, terminally subacute. LPPT broad, sclerotized, slightly arched leftward ( Fig. 7 B). Right cercus with two subcylindrical segments (RC1 and RC2) ( Figs. 7 B–7C). LC1 excavated on inner side in basal half, dilated terminally with a finely echinulated nodule. LC2 shorter, subconical, firmly set in first segment outside and inner dilation distally ( Figs. 7 B–7C).

Apterous female ( Fig. 1 B) (n = 23, mean [range] ± SD): Head width × length 1.9 (1.7–2.0) ± 1.32 × 2.3 (2.0–2.5) ± 0.11 mm, body length 17.4 (14.5–19.9) ± 0.43 mm, width 2.2 (2.0–2.4) ± 0.51 mm.

Head capsule as broad as long, sides short, parallel, broadly arcuated caudally, dark. Eyes dark, smaller and less kidney-shaped than in male. Submentum trapezoidal. Antennae 34-segmented, entirely black except six most distal segments white.

Thorax dark throughout. All legs concolorous with thorax except coxae and trochanters whitish, strongly contrasted by the dark femora, tibia, and tarsi.

Abdomen mostly dark with white-striped lateral plate, basal three abdominal terga blackish in contrast with the next four brown terga; three terminal three abdominal segments dark brown. Cerci medium brown.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Ptilocerembia thaidina sp. n. (A) male, (B) female and (C) a silk gallery showing the silk camouflaged by gathered materials, including frass, stitched onto its surface by the occupants. The white silk is barely visible. Sizes of these adults and others shown in subsequent photographs are provided in the text descriptions.

FIGURE 7. Important characters of male Ptilocerembia thaidina sp. n. (A – D), P. senathami sp. n. (E – H) P. catherinae sp. n. (I – L) and P. rossi sp. n. (M – P). A, E, I, M) Head. (B, F, J, N) Dorsal views of terminalia. (C, G, K, O) Ventral views of terminalia. (D, H, L, P) Hind basitarsus.