Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) geniculata, Sziráki, György, 2020

Sziráki, György, 2020, A Contribution To Knowledge Of The Genus Coniopteryx (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) In Madagascar, With Descriptions Of 18 New Species, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 66 (3), pp. 203-246 : 217-220

Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) geniculata sp. n.

( Figs 35–40)

Examined material – Holotype: male, Madagascar, Antsiranana Province, Montagne d’Ambre National Park, 12°30’52” S, 49°10’53” E, 960 m a.s.l., 19. III–5. IV. 2001, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; deposited in the collection of CAS; CASTYPE number: 20016. Paratypes: 6 males, same data as holotype; 1 male, Madagascar, Antsiranana Province, 7 km N of Joffreville , 12°20’ S, 49°15’ E, 360 m a.s.l., 6–20. III. 2001, dry forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; 1 male, same data but 27. IV – 13. V . 2001 ; 1 male, Madagascar, Antsiranana Province, Marojejy National Park, at Manantenina River , 14 ° 26’12” S, 49°46’30” E, 450 m a.s.l., 12–25. XI. 2003, rain forest, Malaise trap, leg.: F et al., 1 male, Madagascar, Antsiranana Province, Montagne d’Ambre National Park , 12°30’52” S, 49°10’53” E, 960 m a.s.l., 26–29. I. 2001, Malaise trap, leg.: I, ES & HH; 1 male, Madagascar, Antsiranana Province, Montagne d’Ambre National Park , 12 ° 31’ S, 49°11’ E, 975 m a.s.l., 21–25. I. 2001, Malaise trap, leg.: I, S & HH; 1 male, Madagascar, Antsiranana Province, Montagne d’Ambre National Park , 12°31’13” S, 49°10’45” E, 1125 m a.s.l., 29. I – 11. II. 2001, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; 1 male, Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park , radio tower at forest edge , 21°15’03” S, 47°24’26” E, 1130 m a.s.l., 16. X – 8. XI. 2002, mixed tropical forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; 1 male, Madagascar, Toamasina Province, 7 km SE of Andasibe National Park headquarters , 18°57’46” S, 48°27’10” E, 1050 m a.s.l., 9–23. III. 2001, tropical forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; 1 male, same data but 7–9. IV. 2001; 1 male, same data but 9–23. IV. 2001; 1 male, Madagascar, Toamasina Province, botanic garden near to entrance to Andasibe National Park , 18°55’35” S, 48°24’28” E, 1025 m a.s.l., 23–30. IV. 2001, tropical forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; 1 male, same data but 21. V – 4. VI . 2001 ; 1 male, same data but 29. VI – 14. VII. 2001 ; 2 males, same data but 8–16. X. 2001; 1 male, same data but 7–16. XI. 2001. Majority of paratypes deposited in the collection of CAS , while 3 paratype specimens are housed in HNHM .

Description: Length of the body 1.3–1.6 mm. Head capsule and palpi pale ochreous. Anterior edge of vertex with a large, laterally flattened projection between the antennae. Eyes rather large, black. Antennae ( Fig. 35) light or medium brown, 0.8–1.0 mm, 27–28 segmented. Scape slightly wider than, or as wide as long, pedicel about 1.3 times longer than wide. Basal flagellar segments about 3 times wider than long, while in the apical half of the antennae most of the segments 2 times wider than long. (In some cases the 1–3 flagellar segments have similar length/width proportions as the apical ones.) Pedicel with a small, the first flagellar segment with a considerable setose outgrowth. Regular setae are moderately long. These setae situated on prominent bases in the case of the 2–8 flagellar segments. Ordinary hairs are in an apical ring on the scape, apically in a ring but otherwise irregularly on pedicel, and in two more or less irregular rings on flagellar segments. Scalelike hairs are dispersed rather densely on large part of pedicel, and arranged in a narrow apical whorl on the flagellomeres.

Thorax and legs light brown, thoracal sutures and apodemes medium or dark brown, shoulder spots medium brown. Length of the fore wing 1.7–1.8 mm, of hind wing 1.2–1.5 mm. Wing membrane light brown, but along the veins hyaline. Pregenital part of the abdomen pale ochreous.

Male terminalia ( Figs 36–40) well sclerotized, dark or medium brown. Hypandrium in lateral view somewhat higher than long. Processus terminalis moderately long, with pointed, laterally curved caudal endings. Median incision of processus terminalis broadly v-shaped, with rounded anterior line. A pair of hyaline, but well sclerotized, prominent, knot-like inner structure is attached dorsally to the processus terminalis of hypandrium. Processus lateralis rather large, subtriangular, and directed caudally. Its setae moderately long, without prominent bases. Anterior apodeme of hypandrium narrow, but widened medially. Ventral apodeme of ectoproct well developed. Stylus forked; its outer branch moderately long, directed ventrally, and serrated very finely. The inner branches of styli construct a rather complicated looped structure (visible most clearly in caudal view), which has a band supporting the penis sclerites ventrally. Besides, a moderately sclerotized dorsal arch is connected to this band above the penis. Paramere distinctly curved, and has a broad caudal and a relatively narrow proximal part. Processus apicalis has a dorsal tip tapering in caudal, pointed in lateral view, and a small, acute inner projection. Processus ventralis of paramere distinctly visible. Penis consists of two sclerites, with ventro-caudally tapering, dorso-proximally flattened endings.

Remarks: Coniopteryx (C.) geniculata sp. n. belongs to the Coniopteryx lobifrons group sensu SZIRÁKI (2005), and – because of the prominent paired inner structure of hypandrium and the finely serrated outer branch of the stylus – it related most closely to Coniopteryx (C.) fianarantsoana sp. n..

The main distinctive features of Coniopteryx (C.) geniculata sp. n. are:

− presence of a setose inner outgrowth on apical half of pedicel;

− the setose outgrowth of the first flagellar segment large and homogeneous;

− processus terminalis of hypandrium moderately long, with pointed, laterally curved caudal endings;

− inner structure of hypandrium rounded in lateral view;

− outer branch of the stylus relatively short, and directed ventrally;

− inner branch of stylus has a special looped structure;

− paramere in ventral view distinctly curved near to well detectable processus ventralis;

− processus apicalis of paramere has a small inner projection and a dorsal tip tapering in caudal view.

Etymology: The new species is named after the prominent knot-like internal structure of hypandrium (knot = geniculum in Latin).