Euplocania alfonnerii, González-Obando & Carrejo-Gironza, 2023

González-Obando, Ranulfo & Carrejo-Gironza, Nancy, 2023, Euplocania (Psocodea: Ptiloneuridae) in Peru, description of six new species, Zootaxa 5256 (2), pp. 173-187 : 175-176

Euplocania alfonnerii n. sp.

( Figs 1–6 )

Diagnosis. Belonging in species group daguensis, “Group B” in the classification of Garcia Aldrete et al. (2013). It is close to E. caquetensis González, García-Aldrete & Carrejo , E. daguaensis González, García-Aldrete & Carrejo and to E. gaitanae González, García-Aldrete & Carrejo. It differs mainly from these in the widened shape of the side structs of the phallosome, the boomerang shape of the anterior endophallic sclerite, and the shape of the anterior and posterior margin processes of the mesal endophallic sclerite ( Fig. 6 ).

Male. Color (in 80% ethanol). Head pattern ( Fig. 3 ). Compound eyes dark brown to black, ocelli hyaline, with ochre centripetal crescents. Vertex dark brown. Frons brown, with light brown cross band and dark brown spots laterally, postclypeus, anteclypeus and labrum brown, darker centrally. Genae brown, with ochre spot anteriorly. Antennae pale brown. Maxillary palp pale brown, Mx4 brown distally. Tergal lobes of meso- and metathorax dark brown. Thoracic pleura creamy, with small brown spots. Legs pale brown, coxae brown with pale brown spots; tibiae darker apically. Forewings almost hyaline, with a pale brown-yellowish band along margin, from R2+3 to near the wing base; veins brown, with a dark brown spot at wing margin. Pterostigma dark brown proximally, pale basally, pale brown distally, darker apically ( Fig. 1 ). Hindwings hyaline, veins brown, with a brown spot at end of R4+5 and M1 ( Fig. 2 ). Abdomen creamy, with brown spots. Hypandrium with side sclerites dark brown; central sclerite of hypandrium brown, with basal and distal part of lateral processes dark brown. Phallosome with side struts and endophallic sclerite dark brown. Epiproct light brown, darker basally; paraprocts pale brown to brown.

Morphology. As in diagnosis, plus the following: Head ( Fig. 3 ): H/MxW: 1.43; compound eyes large, H/D: 2.37; IO/MxW: 0.65. Outer cusp of lacinial tip broad, with eight denticles. Mx4/Mx2: 1.09. Forewings ( Fig. 1 ): L/W: 2.59. Pterostigma: lp/wp: 5.88, areola postica tall, with rounded apex: al/ah: 1.49; M 4-branched, M4 distally forked. Hindwings ( Fig. 2 ): l/w: 2.81. Hypandrium of three sclerites, central sclerite rounded anteriorly, triconcave posteriorly, one of them mesally, with two medial processes acuminate, lateral lobes with short apical teeth and process with rounded apex curved inward; side sclerites broadly triangular ( Fig. 5 ). Phallosome ( Fig. 6 ) anteriorly V-shaped, with broad side struts; external parameres membranous, distally rounded, bearing pores; two pairs of endophallic sclerites (anterior and lateral), and one transverse mesal sclerite; anterior sclerites less developed than the lateral ones, curved, boomerang-shaped and mesally close; the lateral sclerites more developed proximally, acuminate distally and curved inward. Mesal sclerite with two anterolateral processes, with lobe-like processes posterolaterally, posterior margins with four short acuminate processes originating in superior and inferior fields as illustrated. Paraprocts ( Fig. 4 ) semi elliptic, with a dense setal field; sensory fields with 26 trichobothria on basal rosettes. Epiproct ( Fig. 4 ) broad, convex anteriorly, with rounded apex and apical macrosetae; setal field broad, with abundant small setae and two macrosetae, one on each side, as illustrated.

Measurements (in microns). FW: 5550; HW: 3750; F: 1385; T: 2450; t1: 1050; t2: 110; t3: 170; ctt1: 38; f1: 1125; f2: 1175; f3: 1117.5; Mx4: 375; IO: 555; D: 520; d: 410; IO/d: 1.35; PO: 0.79

Material studied. Holotype male. PERU. Cuzco. Kosñipata, Pillcopata, Sapam Sachayoc-Tunky Wasi , 13°02’20.0”S: 71°30’22.2”W, 1150m, 28-29.IX.2019. N. Carrejo and R. González. LED light trap in forest canopy.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a word composed of the names Alfonso and Neri. Is dedicated to Alfonso Neri García Aldrete (RIP), in recognition to his important contributions to the taxonomy of the neotropical psocids, as well as for his teachings and leadership in the study of these.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Euplocania alfonnerii n. sp. Male. 1. Forewing. 2. Hindwing. 3. Front view of head. 4. Epiproct and right paraproct. 5. Hypandrium. 6. Phallosome. Scales in mm.