Lachesilla texana, Mockford, Edward L. & García, Alfonso N., 2010

Mockford, Edward L. & García, Alfonso N., 2010, A new species of Lachesilla Westwood (Psocoptera: Lachesillidae) in the andra group with a proposed classification of the andra group, Zootaxa 2335, pp. 49-58 : 50-55

Lachesilla texana sp. n.

Diagnosis. Habitus ( Fig. 1 ). Species of the andra group (sensu García Aldrete, 1974), sharing with Lachesilla mayorgae García Aldrete (2000) absence of hypandrial claspers (possibly represented in this species by a pair of rugose turrets on the hypandrium), dark P4, and radial spots in cells R5 and M1–M3 of the forewing. Differing from L. mayorgae in absence of distal seta on each terminal hypandrial lobe, presence of a mediallydirected serrulate-tipped blade arising on inner surface of each distal hypandrial lobe, and presence of a subapical turret on each distal hypandrial lobe.

Male color (specimen from northern Mexico, in alcohol 33 years). Compound eyes black; remainder of head creamy white with straw-brown areas as follows: band bordering median ecdysial line, spot bordering each eye dorso-medially, 8 relatively broad bands running lengthwise through postclypeus and converging antero-ventrally. Ocelli colorless; frons with a median brown spot darker than surroundings. Antennae medium brown; P4 dusky purplish-brown; remainder of mx palpus straw brown. Thorax creamy yellow except straw brown on notal lobes; suture lines reddish-brown. Legs straw brown, the tarsi somewhat darker brown. Forewing membrane very pale brown-washed; forewing marked as in Fig. 2 ; dark brown radial spots in cells R5, M1, M2, and M3; dark brown spots at distal ends of R, M, and Cu veins. Hindwing ( Fig. 3 ) with a cloudy brown spot at marginal end of each vein; spot at end of Cu2 only on basal side of vein. Preclunial abdominal segments each with a slender reddish-brown transverse band of subcuticular pigment, absent ventrally, on creamy yellow background. Clunium creamy yellow but brown along anterior margin and at paraproctal articular areas. Hypandrium and paraprocts brown; epiproct creamy yellow.

Male color differences of Great Smoky Mountains specimen (in alcohol 2 years). Most of head pale brown but white on parietal region of vertex and posterior and ventral edges of genae; the brown areas indicated above slightly darker; lateral ocelli brown, the median colorless; longitudinal bands of postclypeus reddish-brown. Antennal scape, pedicel, and f1 creamy white, remainder of flagellum brown. Legs creamy yellow except tarsi pale brown. Forewing ( Fig. 4 ) as described above but with a pale longitudinal brown band in basal R cell and a darker brown band running the length of cell Cu1b.

Male structural characteristics: head and thorax. Median ecdysial line distinct to ocellar field; frontal lines not visible. Lateral ocelli large and round, somewhat separated from smaller, lenticular median ocellus. Compound eyes small, IO/d range for 4 specimens = 3.16– 3.53. Antennae ca. equal to body length. Free margin of labrum, basal sensilla of P4, and lacinial tip as described for female. Forewing ( Fig. 2 ) relatively slender, L/W = 2.86; pterostigma rounded posteriorly, relatively deep; Rs-M junction a long fusion, almost half length of first Rs segment; Rs curved (arched) forward distal to Rs-M junction, the Rs fork stem ca. equal in length to vein R4+5; areola postica relatively large. In hindwing, Rs-M junction a long fusion. An inner row of setae on hind tibia with black basal scales, the row becoming double in distal half of tibia; a few setae in outer row of hind tibia also with black basal scales; middle tibia with 6–7 setae in inner row with black basal scales; middle and hind tibiae each with 4 terminal spurs, fore tibia with 3 terminal spurs; each pretarsal claw with a minute preapical denticle, a slender pulvillus slightly widened at its distal end, and a basal seta ( Fig. 5 ).

Differences of Great Smoky Mountains specimen. Compound eyes slightly larger, IO/d = 2.70. Antennae slightly shorter than body length.

Male terminal abdominal characters. Hypandrium ( Fig. 6 ) 2-segmented; distal segment terminating in 2 rounded lobes separated by a deep concavity, each lobe bearing a subdistal rugose turret laterally and a serrate-edged blade arising on its inner surface and projecting medially (enlarged area, Fig. 7 ). Phallosome ( Fig. 6 ) Consisting of 2 slender apodemes fused basally, ca. 1 1/ 3x length of hypandrium, each apodeme showing 2 diverging creases at its basal one-third and a groove running from about its middle nearly to its tip. Clunium slightly protruding in middle under base of epiproct; laterally with a horn-shaped process extending to lateral articular point of paraproct ( Fig. 8 ). Paraproct with distal process slender, bluntly pointed or truncated at tip; sensorium basal, compact, with 11–15 trichobothria with basal florets. Epiproct ( Fig. 9 ) transverse, bilobed distally, with broad distal shelf.

Differences of Great Smoky Mountains specimen. Serrate-edged blade of lateral lobe of hypandrium broader at tip ( Fig. 10 ). Base of phallosome (fused area of apodemes) broader ( Fig. 11 ). Clunium slightly excavated in middle before base of epiproct. Distal shelf of epiproct slenderer ( Fig. 12 ).

Male measurements (microns, figure for a male from type locality followed by figure for male from Great Smoky Mountains National Park in parentheses). FW= 2356 (1959); HW= 1762 (1433); F= 369 (315); T= 751 (620); t1= 198 (148); t2= 88 (95); t1ct= 11 (8); f1= 248 (190); f2= 235 (173); f3= 206 (161); f4= 169 (129).

Female color (in alcohol 2 mo.; those in alcohol 33 years as described for the male). Compound eyes pale greenish-gray. Rest of head: vertex white with broad grayish-brown band bordering ecdysial line from hind margin almost to ocellar field; another band of grayish-brown bordering each compound eye mesally; ocelli red-rimmed; a dusky grayish-brown spot on frons in front of ocellar field; postclypeus white with grayishbrown chevron lines; antennal sockets bordered in reddish brown; genae mottled pale gray and white; mouthparts grayish-brown, except P4 dark purplish brown. Antennae grayish-brown from base through f3, dark brown from f4 to tip. Thorax mostly rusty brown, darkest on notal lobes and pale gray between notal lobes. Legs pale grayish brown. Forewing ( Fig. 13 ) hyaline with dark brown spot at marginal end of each vein R1 through nodulus; a distinct subdistal brown spot in cell R5; less distinct brown spot in each of the M cells. Hindwing hyaline with a brown spot bordering marginal end of each vein R2+3 through Cu2 and a vague brown spot in distal end of cell Cu2. Abdomen white with brown rings, incomplete ventrally, in segments 2– 7, the rings darkest and somewhat reddish in segments 2 and 3.

Differences of Great Smoky Mountains specimens (in alcohol 7 years). Border of antennal socket brown, incomplete posteriorly. Median ecdysial line brown bordered only in its posterior half. Thorax in general somewhat paler. Legs straw brown, the tarsi somewhat darker brown than rest of leg. Forewing membrane very pale brown-washed. Forewing markings ( Fig. 14 ) as noted for male.

Female structural characters: head and thorax. Ecdysial lines as described for male. Lateral ocelli smaller than in male, but larger than median ocellus. Compound eyes relatively smaller than in male, IO/d = 3.98. Antennae slightly shorter than body length; sparse, distally slanting setae on all flagellomeres, in length ca. 1.5x width of their segment. Free margin of labrum with short stylets ( Fig. 15 ); inner row of sensilla consisting of two short setiforms alternating with 3 placoids. Paired basal sensilla of P4 ( Fig. 16 ) minute and situated close to base of palpomere. Lacinial tip ( Fig. 17 ) with its 2 tines about equal in length, the lateral broader. Forewing ( Fig. 11 ) proportions much as in male, L/W = 3.12; venation as described for male, but Rs- M junction shorter and areola postica not as high. In hindwing, Rs and M joined a short distance. Legs as described for male except inner row of setae of middle tibia lacking basal scales.

Differences in Great Smoky Mountains specimens. In forewing ( Fig. 14 ), Rs-M junction slightly shorter. In hindwing, a slight cuticular thickening along hind margin of subapical pigment spot of vein Cu2.

Female terminal abdominal characters. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 18 ) with posterior margin straight; a belt of sclerotic thickening curving anteriorly across the plate near hind margin; scattered setae over plate surface, those at and near distal margin, plus 4 others longer. Ovipositor valvulae ( Figs. 19, 20 ) attached basally to 9th sternum, divided into basal and distal regions by a transverse sclerotized band; distal region bearing 3 setae at and near apex. Ninth sternum ( Figs. 19, 20 ) in 2 segments, the distal segment trapezoidal with spermapore in middle; the proximal segment bearing paired arms with rugose surfaces, broadened at tips. Some Mexican females with the arms curving forward ( Fig. 20 ). Spermatheca folded under distal segment of 9th sternum, with tube broadened immediately after curving back upon itself, ending in a thin-walled sperm sac. Epiproct and paraprocts normal for the genus; paraproctal sensorium with 9–11 trichobothria with basal florets and a peripheral with simple base.

Differences of Great Smoky Mountains specimens. Subgenital plate with posterior margin slightly depressed in middle. Anterior arms of ninth sternum ( Fig. 21 ) wider distally.

Female measurements (microns, figure for a female from type locality followed by figure for a female from Great Smoky Mountains National Park in parentheses). FW= 2125 (1841); HW= 1578 (1389); F= 347 (316); T= 663 (632); t1= 166 (166); t2= 88 (94); t1ct= 7 (9); f1= 196 (172); f2= 186 (147); f3= 156 (135); f4= 123 (112).

Material studied (collected by ANGA unless indicated otherwise). Holotype, male, MEXICO: Nuevo León: San Nicolás de los Garza, el. 500m, 24 December 1975, in dry Buffel grass; same data, 43, 8Ƥ paratypes ( IBUNAM). Additional paratypes: MEXICO: Coahuila: 3km NE Zaragoza, 28 December 1968, 2Ƥ; Nuevo León: Cerro de la Silla, E slope, 7 April 1974, 1Ƥ; same loc., 7 June 1974, on dead grasses, 2Ƥ; same loc, 30 March 1988, 13; Cerro de la Silla NW slope, el. 600m, 30 December 2007, 13; Cerro de la Silla, W slope, 23 December 1973, beating dried grasses, 33, 2Ƥ; El Cerrito nr. Santiago, 30 July 1985, 1Ƥ; 16.1km NE Iturbide, 13 June 1962, beating cycad, Dioon edule , 13, 1Ƥ, coll. E. L. Mockford & F. Hill. USA: Tennessee: Blount Co.: Great Smoky Mountains National Park: ATBI Plot: Cades Cove, 18 June – 2 July 2001, Malaise trap 0 3, coll. Stocks & Hightower, 2Ƥ; same loc., 29 August – 14 September 2006, 2 -meter Malaise trap, 13, coll. J. Gulbransen; Texas: Bell Co.: 2km NE Salado, 2 September 1971, 13, 2Ƥ; Hays Co.: Aquarena Springs, 26 February 2009, beating vine, coll. D. Young, 1Ƥ; same loc., 2 March 2009, beating Myrica cerifera , coll. D. Young, 1Ƥ; Hill Co.: Lake Whitney State Park, 11 September 1986, 13, 1Ƥ; Kerr Co.: Kerrville, 3 April 1958, coll. E. Becker & H. Howden, 13, 1 Ƥ.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Lachesilla texana n. sp. Female, lateral view, freshly preserved specimen (San Marcos, T exas). Scale bar = 1.00 mm.

FIGURES 2 – 10 Lachesilla texana n. sp., male. (2) Forewing (type, north Mexico); (3) Hindwing (type); (4) Forewing (Great Smoky Mountains); (5) Pretarsal claw (type); (6) Hypandrium and phallosome (type); (7) Distal lobe of hypandrium (north Mexican paratype); (8) Paraproct and clunial articular region, Cl = clunial arm (type); (9) Epiproct (type); (10) Distal lobe of hypandrium, enlarged (Great Smoky Mountains). Scale bars = 0.1 mm unless indicated otherwise. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 to common scale; Fig. 9 to scale of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 to scale of Fig. 7.

FIGURES 11 – 17. Lachesilla texana n. sp. (11) Male, phallosome (Great Smoky Mountains); (12) Male, epiproct (Great Smoky Mountains); (13) Female, forewing (north Mexican paratype); (14) Female, forewing (Great Smoky Mountains); (15) Female, free margin of labrum (north Mexican paratype); (16) Female, paired basal sensilla of P 4 (north Mexican paratype); (17) Female, lacinial tip (north Mexican paratype). Scale bars = 0.1 mm unless indicated otherwise. Fig. 14 to scale of Fig. 13. Fig. 16 to scale of Fig. 17.

FIGURES 18 – 21. Lachesilla texana n. sp. Female. (18) Subgenital plate (north Mexican); (19) Ninth sternum and ovipositor valvulae (Texan); (20) Ninth sternum and ovipositor valvulae (north Mexican); (21) Ninth sternum and ovipositor valvulae (Great Smoky Mountains). Scale bar = 0.1 mm. All figures to same scale.