Pseudosmittia digitata Saether, 1981

Ferrington Jr, Leonard C. & Saether, Ole A., 2011, A revision of the genera Pseudosmittia Edwards, 1932, Allocladius Kieffer, 1913, and Hydrosmittia gen. n. (Diptera: Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae) 2849, Zootaxa 2849 (1), pp. 1-314 : 180-184

Pseudosmittia digitata Saether

( Fig. 67 )

Pseudosmittia digitata Saether, 1981: 25 , pro parte; Cranston & Oliver 1988: 450.

Pseudosmittia digitata Saether ; Wang et al. 2005: 00; Andersen et al. 2010: 38.

Material examined: SAINT LUCIA: Castries, lower slope of mountain behind Castries, Malaise trap, holotype male, and 5 paratype male, 9.i.1973 & xii.1972, A. D. Harrison ( ZMBN No. 33); Castries, 1 male, 10–22.ix.1979 ( CU). SAINT VINCENT: Golden Grove Estate, Yambon River, Malaise trap, paratype male, vii.1972, A. D. Harrison ( ZMBN No. 32). SURINAM: Paramaribo, 1 male, 15–24.viii.1969, N. Nieser ( ZSM). BRAZIL: Bahia State, Estação Ecológica Pau Brazil, Porto Seguro, 16º23'17.6''S 39º10'55.6''W, 107m a.s.l., Malaise (Trilha 1), 1 male, 17.v.2002, C.O. Azevedo & eq. (BRPS10: BIOTA-FAPESP); São Paulo State, Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins, Peruíbe, 24º31'06''S 47º12'06''W, Malaise, (Bosque 8), 1 male, 6.v.2002, N. W. Perioto & eq. (PEJU09: BIOTA-FAPESP); Santa Catarina State, Urubici, Morro da Igreja, cloud forest, 1822m a.s.l., Malaise trap, 2 males, 18.ix.-05.xii.2004, L.C. Pinho & L.E. M. Bizzo ( MZUSP). USA: Florida: Miami-Dade County, Marineland, 1 male, 4.xi.1976, J. Shirley; Dade County, Subtrop. Exp. Sta., 1 male, 30.ix.1969, R. M. Baranowski; Monroe County, Islamorada, W. end of bridge, E. end of island along Highway 1, swarms, 3 males, 28.xi.1985, J. H. Epler; Saint Lucie County, 2 males, 11.xii.1985, R. C. Esher; Pinellas County, Lake Chautauqua, 3 males, 5.x.1982, M. W. Heyn; Columbia/Baker County, Osceola National Forest, Jct. Route 90, Malaise Trap, 6 males, 26.x.–22.xi.1976, 16–30.iii.1977, J. R. Wiley; Osceola/ Baker County line, Osceola National Forest, Jct. Route 90, Malaise trap, 1 male, 15.ii.–16.iii.1977, J. R. Wiley; Suwannee County, 5 mi S of Dowling Park at Suwannee River, blacklight trap, 1 male, 7–8.x.1976, J. R. Wiley & Woodruff; Santa Rosa County, Naval Live Oaks National Sea Shore, 1 male, 8.iii.1990, P. L. Hudson; Duval County, Jacksonville, blacklight trap, 2 males, 30.ix.1969, R. King. Georgia: DeKalb County, Home of B. A. Caldwell, 2392 Rockwood Way, Stone Mountain, 6 males, B. A. Caldwell; Glynn County, South end of Jekyll Island near paved road around salt marsh, 1 male. 2.iii.1988, B. A. Caldwell. South Carolina: Beaufort County, Barrier Pond, Hunting Island, 2 males, 1.ix.1977, P. L. Hudson. Kansas: Douglas County, Reservoir at Biological Survey, West Campus, Lawrence, 2 males, 11.ix.1979, J. K. Gelhaus; Douglas County, Kaw (Kansas) River, 2.5 mi NW of Lecompton, 3 males, 21.iii. & 15.vi.1989, D. S. Goldhammer. Missouri: Jefferson County, Pomme Creek, 1 male, 31.v.1990, C. A. Wright. Michigan: Saint Clair County, Saint Clair River, Rosswell Island, 1 male, 13.vi.1983, P. L. Hudson. South Dakota: Clay County Park, Missouri River, Vermillion, 1 male, 1.iv.1971, P. L. Hudson; Missouri River, 5 mi E., 6 mi S. of Gayville, 1 male, 6.viii.1972, P. L. Hudson. New Mexico: Santa Fe County, Rio Grande, Awai Bridge near San Ildefonso between Santa Fe & Los Alamos, 9 males, 8.ix.1974, Beard; Catron County, San Francisco River, Frisco Hot Springs, 1 mi S of Pleasenton, sweep net, 13 males, 10. & 18.vii., 17.ix.1974, J. E. Sublette; San Juan County, San Juan River at bridge 1 mi W San Juan Hospital, sweep net, 1 male, 18.vii.1976, J. E. Sublette; Hidalgo County, Gila River, 6 mi N Virden, sweep net, 3 males, 9.vii.1976, M. S. Sublette; Rio Arriba County, Naranjo River, Stateline nr Edith Colorado, Malaise trap, 3males, 17.vii.1976, J. E. Sublette; Eddy County, Pecos River, Malaga Bend, 2 males, 30.x.1978, J. E. Sublette; Chaves County, Bitter Creek, 2 males, 23.v.1983, P. Sanchez; Chaves County, Bob Crosby Draw, 1 male, 10.iv.1983, M. Baca & E. Tucker. California: Inyo County, Death Valley Monument, Furnace Creek, beating grass near drainage ditch in Tamarix grove, 17 males, 7.iv.1970, S. & S. Frommer; Inyo County, Death Valley, Saratoga Springs, 1 male, 19.iii.1955; Inyo County, Resting Springs, 1 male, 29.ii.1955; Imperial County, Laguna Lake, 3males, 1 female, 10.vi.1950, J. W. Belkin; Imperial County, Palo Verde, lake margin, 4 males, 8.iii.1949, W. W. Wirth. CAN- ADA: Ontario: 3 Km SE Marion Corners, 1 male 24 vii 1978, D. R. Oliver; James Bay, North Point, 1 male 28.vi.– 16.viii.1976, R. T. G. Morrison. Manitoba: Delta Marsh, 3 males, 1 female, 16.vi.1981, H. Murkin; Delta Marsh, seasonal wetland, 1 male, 28.vi.1982, H. Neckles ( BMNH, CNC, CAL, CU, FLAM, JES, UMSP, UCLA, CNCR, USNM, ZMBN, ZSM).

Diagnostic characters: The male imago differs from the other members of the group by having a well developed inferior volsella, as in P. joaquimvenancioi , but also by lacking an apical elongation of the third palpomere and having only 2 sensilla clavata on the palpomere. The female has tergite IX undivided and dark, circular seminal capsules as in P. joaquimvenancioi , but is also separable by characters of the third palpomere.

Male imago (n = 10–11, except when otherwise stated)

Total length 1.26–2.06, 1.68 mm. Wing length 0.64–1.02, 0.87 mm (75). Total length/wing length 1.72–2.03, 1.93. Wing length/length of profemur 2.61–3.11, 2.82. Coloration brown with darker vittae to fully blackish brown.

Head. AR 0.67–1.45, 1.10 (70). Terminal flagellomere 176–392, 294 µm (72) long; no apical strong seta. Temporal setae 4–6, 5 consisting of 1–2, 2 inner verticals and 3–4, 3 outer verticals. Clypeus with 7–10, 8 setae. Tentorium 80– 117, 96 µm long, 16–23, 19 µm wide. Stipes 69–110, 92 µm long, 18–27, 23 µm wide. Palpomere lengths (in µm): 14–23, 20; 21–34, 27; 30–73, 52 (84); 53–91, 69 (76); 71–137, 109 (56). Third palpomere ( Fig. 67 A ) with 2 scalpellate sensilla clavata, and without apical projection.

Thorax ( Fig. 67 B ). Antepronotal lobes reduced medially, but apparently less so than in P. joaquimvenancioi , antepronotum with 1–2, 1 lateral setae. Dorsocentrals 8–12, 10; acrostichals 2; prealars 3. Scutellum with 4–6, 4 setae.

Wing ( Fig. 67 D ). VR 1.54–1.81, 1.71. VR 2 1.28–1.50, 1.40. Anal lobe reduced. Costal extension 11–48, 27 µm long. R 4+5 ending well proximal to apex of M 3+4; Cu 1 straight. Brachiolum with 1 (75) seta, other veins bare.

Legs. Spur of front tibia 23–41, 34 µm long, spur of middle tibia 14–32, 21 µm long (one spur only), of hind tibia 23–37, 32 µm and 10–21, 16 µm long. Width at apex of front tibia 18–27, 23 µm, of middle tibia 21–27, 23 µm, of hind tibia 25–37, 32 µm. Comb of 10–12, 11 setae, shortest setae 14–23, 18 µm long, longest setae 23–32, 28 µm long. Lengths and proportions of legs as in Table 41.

Hypopygium ( Fig. 67 E–G ). Anal point 23–53, 37 µm (89) long, with lateral setae; tergite IX with 6–10, 8 setae; laterosternite IX with 2–3, 2 setae. Phallapodeme 50–71, 61 µm long; transverse sternapodeme 34–55, 48 µm long, no oral projections. Virga 25–66, 46 µm long. Gonocoxite 93–121, 109 µm long; superior volsella absent; inferior volsella and accessory lobe present and reaching to 0.55–0.70, 0.62 and 0.70–0.82, 0.76 gonocoxite length, respectively. Gonostylus 43–59, 54 µm long; megaseta 6––9, 7 µm long. HR 1.91–2.17, 2.04; HV 2.78–3.49, 3.12.

Female imago (n = 1––2)

All measurements and ratios within the range of variation of P. forcipata (p. 299) with the following exceptions and additions: Total length 1.24–1.49 mm; wing length 1.85–2.04 mm; wing length/length of profemur 2.87; clypeus with 10–13 setae; tentorium 7–11 µm wide; stipes 91–101 µm long, 32 µm wide; coronal suture absent; VR 1.80–1.87; VR 2 1.48–1.67; Cu 1 straight; costa between FR and apex of R 4+5 with 15–23 non-marginal setae; sternite VIII with 24–32 setae; tergite IX with about 8–12 setae, gonocoxite without posterolateral extension; seminal capsule nearly circular, 41––50 µm long and 41–50 µm wide, darkly sclerotized and with 11 µm long, fine microtrichia.

Pupa and larva

Unknown.

Remarks

The original description of Pseudosmittia digitata ( Saether 1981: 25) was based on a mixed collection. The specimens were in bad condition and several had lost all or some palpomeres. Unfortunately the male holotype chosen for the species did not have a good complete palp. Re-examination of the type material showed that all except one specimen from St. Lucia belongs to P. digitata , while all except one specimen from St. Vincent belongs to P. joaquimvenancioi , which always has a distinct elongation of the third palpomere and also has more numerous sensilla clavata. Several specimens in the original type material cannot be determined to species since the third palpomeres on them are lacking. As here redefined, the third palpomere of P. digitata does not have an elongation of the third palpomere. This species is widespread in the Antilles and across North America, and is often locally and seasonally abundant. There is considerable variation, both across populations and seasonally within populations, especially in size, setal arrangement and structure of the anal point.

Ecology and distribution

The unknown larva probably lives in wet sand areas near rivers, lakes or the seashore, and probably tolerate high salinity. The species is known from Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Surinam, Brazil, and from the USA from Florida,

Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota , New Mexico and California, and in Canada from Ontario and Manitoba .

Figures

FIGURE 67. Pseudosmittia spp., male. A, C–H. P. digitata Saether. A—palp; C—thorax; D—wing; E—hypopygium, dorsal aspect; F—anal point, James Bay; G—anal point, Delta Marsh; H—hypopygium, ventral aspect. B, I, J. P. joaquimvenancioi (Messias et Oliveira). [B, I, J from Andersen et al. 2010.]