Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) harinhalai, 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 : 220-222

Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) harinhalai sp. n.

( Figs 41–46)

Examined material – Holotyte: male, Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park , Vahiporara at broken bridge, 21°13’34” S, 47°22’11”, 1100 m a.s.l., 14– 21. I. 2002, mountain rain forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; deposited in collection of CAS ; CASTYPE number: 20017. Paratypes: 2 males , same data as holotype but 28. XI – 6. XII. 2001; 1 male , same data but 6–15. XII. 2001; 1 male , same data but 6–15. V . 2002; 1 male, same data but 22–28. XI. 2002; 1 male , Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Forêt d’ Ambalagoavy, Nord Ikongo, Ambatombe , 21°49’17” S, 47°21’27” E, 625(?) m a.s.l., (day?) XII. 2000, Malaise trap, leg.: HH & I; 3 males , Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park, Belle Vue at Talatakely , 21°15’59” S, 47°25’13” E, 1200 m a.s.l., 16. X – 8. 11. 2001, secondary tropical forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; 1 male , same data but 24. XII. 2001 – 2. I. 2002; 1 male , same data but 21–28. I. 2002; 1 male , same data but 26–31. III. 2002; 1 male , same data but 7–14. IV. 2002; 1 male , Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park, Jirama Water Works , 21°14’55” S, 47°27’08” E, 690 m a.s.l., 21–24. XII. 2001, near to the river, Malaise trap, leg. HH; 2 males , 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. 2001, mixed tropical forest, Malaise trap, leg.: HH; 1 male , Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park, Talatakely , 21°15’ S, 47°25’ E, 900 m a.s.l., 16. IV. 1998, leg.: G, K, P, MR, JS & U. Majority of paratypes are deposited in the collection of CAS , while 3 paratype specimens are housed in HNHM .

Description: Length of the body 1.3–1.7 mm. Head capsule and palpi medium or light brown. Anterior edge of vertex with a large, laterally flattened projection between the antennae. Eyes moderately large, black. Antennae ( Fig. 41) dark brown, 0.9–1.1 mm, usually 27, rarely 28 segmented. Scape 1.1–1.3 times wider than long, pedicel slightly longer than wide. Length of the flagellar segments rather variable. Therefore, basal flagellar segments 1.4–2.3 times wider than long, while in the apical half of antennae most of the segments 1.4–2 times wider than long. Pedicel has only a slightly emerging setose outgrowth, while the first flagellar segment has a large, prominent one. Regular setae of flagelomeres and the setae of the outgrowths are relatively short. The rather long ordinary hairs distributed irregularly on pedicel, and situated in two irregular rings on flagellar segments. Scale-like hairs dispersed on considerable part of pedicel, and arranged in a dense apical whorl on flagellomeres.

Thorax pale ochreous, legs medium brown, shoulder spots, as well as the thoracal sutures and apodemes dark brown. Length of the fore wing 1.6–2.0 mm, of hind wing 1.3–1.7 mm. Wing membrane light brown, longitudinal veins and the basal M-Cu cross vein medium brown. Pregenital part of the abdomen pale ochreous.

Male terminalia ( Figs 42–46) well sclerotized, dark brown. Hypandrium in lateral view slightly higher than long. Processus terminalis very short, truncated and broad. Median incision absent. A pair of moderately emerging inner structure is attached to the processus terminalis of hypandrium. The two parts of this structure is connected by a low crest. Processus lateralis bulky subtriangular, and directed caudally. Its setae moderately long, without prominent bases. Anterior apodeme of hypandrium moderately broad. Its dorsal part is continued in a ventro-caudally directed section. Ventral apodeme of ectoproct well sclerotized, and its anterior part distinctly widened. Stylus forked; its outer branch distinctly curved forwards, while the wide, lobular inner branch situated laterally and ventrally of parameres. Besides, the two inner branches appear connected by a narrow subapical belt. Paramere bent evenly in lateral, but straight in ventral view. Processus apicalis deeply bifid in lateral view, and the larger caudal branch of this process clearly triangular in caudal view. Processus ventralis of paramere present, but very small. Penis consists of two narrow, in lateral view hooked, ventrally tapering sclerites.

Remarks: Coniopteryx (C.) harinhalai sp. n. belongs to the Coniopteryx lobifrons group sensu SZIRÁKI (2005), and – because of the very short processus terminalis, the presence of the inner structure of hypandrium and the curving forwards outer branch of the stylus – it most closely related to Coniopteryx (C.) fianarantsoana sp. n., but it resembles somewhat to Coniopteryx (C.) geniculata sp. n. also.

Regarding C. fianarantsoana the main distinctive features of Coniopteryx (C.) harinhalai sp. n. are:

− presence of a small setose outgrowth on pedicel;

− broad, truncated and very short processus terminalis of hypandrium;

− relatively small inner structure of hypandrium;

− simple edge and ending of outer branch of stylus;

− in lateral view deeply bifid processus apicalis of paramere.

As C. geniculata regards C. harinhalai sp. n. clearly separable from it by the − very short and broad processus terminalis of hypandrium;

− absence of median incision;

− the deeply bifid processus apicalis of paramere.

Etymology: The new species is dedicated to Mr. Rasolondalao Harin’Hala (Schlinger Foundation, Madagascar), collector of the majority of the examined Madagascan coniopterygid material.