Mengenilla moldrzyki, Pohl, Hans, Niehuis, Oliver, Gloyna, Kai, Misof, Bernhard & Beutel, Rolf G., 2012

Pohl, Hans, Niehuis, Oliver, Gloyna, Kai, Misof, Bernhard & Beutel, Rolf G., 2012, A new species of Mengenilla (Insecta, Strepsiptera) from Tunisia, ZooKeys 198, pp. 79-101 : 81-94

Mengenilla moldrzyki sp. n.

Etymology.

The species is named after the collector of the female, Uwe Moldrzyk (Berlin).

Diagnosis.

Six-segmented antennae with flabella on antennomeres 3-5, immobilized maxillae, a completely undivided labium, and five-segmented tarsi with well developed claws are generic features of the genus Mengenilla verified in the new species.

The males are distinguished from congeners as follows ( Mengenilla marikovskii Medvedev, 1970 from south-eastern Kazakhstan is excluded from the key, because the description and illustrations are too superficial. In contrast to the statement of Medvedev (1970), the type series of that species is not deposited in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia and could not be re-examined.):

The female of Mengenilla moldrzyki sp. n. is distinguished from Mengenilla chobauti and Mengenilla parvula by the much more slender distal part of its mandible,and from Mengenilla parvula additionally by its longer scapus. The female puparium is distinguished from that of Mengenilla chobauti and Mengenilla parvula by the complete absence of cuticular thorns, a rounded anterior prothoracic margin with rounded anterolateral edges, and a tapering caudal margin of the abdomen (Figs 12, 13).

Description of the male (Figs 2-6).

Measurements (male holotype, followed by minimum, maximum of paratypes, and mean values of all measured specimens in parentheses, critical point dried specimens and specimens in ethanol not measured, in µm): 1. total length 4,000 (3,450-4,785, avg. 4,182), 2. width of head 788 (613-875, avg. 762), 3. length of head 300 (250-350, avg. 296), 4. width between compound eyes 225 (188-300, avg. 237), 5. number of ommatidia (average of three counts) 71 ± 2 (44-77, avg. 65), 6. total length of antenna 1,015 (821-1,075, avg. 963), 7. length of flabellum of 3rd antennomere 940 (710-990, avg. 864), 8. length of flabellum of 4 th antennomere 900 (700-960, avg. 845), 9. length of flabellum of 5th antennomere 830 (610-890, avg. 785), 10. length of 6th antennomere 720 (580-790, avg. 695), 11. length of mandible 360 (275-375, avg. 331), 12. width of mandible 125 (105-145, avg. 122), 13. total length of maxilla including palp 260 (185-345, avg. 256), 14. length of proximal part of maxilla (cardo+stipes) 110 (65-125, avg. 89), 15. length of maxillary palp 200 (150-270, avg. 207), 16. length of pronotum 188 (125-213, avg. 167), 17. width of pronotum 463 (413-588, avg. 479), 18. width of mesonotum 525 (463-663, avg. 542), 19. length of metanotum 1,910 (1,540-2,150, avg. 1,862), 20. width of metathorax 1050 (750-1,150, avg. 971), 21. length of postlumbium 363 (275-488, avg. 373), 22. length of metapostscutellum 600 (413-688, avg. 550), 23. length of hind wing 3,440 (2,820-3,800, avg. 3,424), 24. length of procoxa 540 (440-590, avg. 525), 25. length of prothrochanterofemur 620 (500-680, avg. 600), 26. length of protibia 520 (410-600, avg. 506), 27-31. length of protarsi (proximal to distal) 310, 170, 135, 100, 180 (240- 370, avg. 314) (135-205, avg. 177) (90-195, avg. 144) (80-140, avg. 109) (140-220, avg. 175), 32. length of mesocoxa 670 (520-720, avg. 624), 33. length of mesothrochanterofemur 680 (550-760, avg. 664), 34. length of mesotibia 530 (410-630, avg. 522), 35-39. length of mesotarsi (proximal to distal) 315, 160, 130, 100, 185 (260-380, avg. 324) (140-210, avg. 176) (105-195, avg. 146) (80-140, avg. 109) (145-220, avg. 181), 40. length of metatrochanter 190 (170-255, avg. 216), 41. length of metafemur 570 (450-630, avg. 548), 42. length of metatibia 500 (380-580, avg. 480), 43-47. length of metatarsi (proximal to distal) 280, 150, 135, 95, 180 (215-345, avg. 290) (90-195, avg. 164) (105-185, avg. 141) (75-130, avg. 102) (145-220, avg. 180), 48. length of penis 355 (285-390, avg. 346).

Head capsule (Figs 2, 3A, 3C): dorsal side cream-coloured, lateral part brownish, subgenal region distinctly darkened at mandibular base and postoccipital ridge. Subprognathous, slightly to distinctly inclined; broader than long and strongly narrowed immediately posterior to compound eyes, not retracted into prothorax; laterocervicalia absent; posterodorsal margin of head emarginated; dorsal side densely covered with microtrichia; some short setae present on vertex, but absent from frons; area posterior to compound eyes and ventral side of head capsule glabrous and very smooth; ocelli absent; compound eye very large and extending to ventral side of head, composed of 44-77 large ommatidia (avg. 65); mediodorsal part creamy-white, lateral and ventral part seal brown; dorsal and lateral ommatida widely separated and intervals densely covered with microtrichia; ventral ommatidia slightly larger and closely adjacent; deep lyriform frontal impression present on dorsal side of head and longitudinal bulge laterally; bulges camel-coloured, anteriorly forming antennal insertion; transverse frontoclypeal strengthening ridge absent; anterior clypeofrons slightly emarginated, laterally separated from genal region by dark narrow zone ending posteriorly at antennal insertion; median part parallel-sided, brighter and more densely covered with microtrichia than lateral region; cranial part inflected, separated from frontal mandibular base and mouthfield sclerite by membranous area with distinct median brownish stripe extending laterad; subgenal area and gena seal brown; ventral head closed by lateral postgenal area and median undivided labial plate between maxilla and postgenal region; mouth opening transversely oval.

Antenna (Figs 2A, 5A): large, inserted at anterior end of dorsal longitudinal bulge; scapus and pedicellus very short, broad and cup-shaped, slightly conical at base; flabella of antennomeres 3-5 long, flattened, with rounded tips, decreasing in length from proximal to distal antennomeres, bole-coloured; antennomere 6 distinctly shorter than flabellum of antenommere 5; orifice of Hofeneder’s organ on ventrobasal part of antennomere 5 oval; flagellomeres and flabella densely covered with dome-shaped chemoreceptors.

Labrum: absent.

Mandible (Figs 2A, 3A, 5C, 6A): elongate, slender, and stylet-like; basal part rather narrow and triangular in cross section, seal brown; distal part slightly curved, medially intercrossing in resting position, translucent, brown; lateral and frontal side densely covered with microtrichia except for apical region; ventral side largely glabrous.

Maxilla (Figs 3C, 5B, 6B): basally fused with ventral wall of head capsule without articulatory membrane; surface covered with microtrichia; palp slightly curved inwards, apically attached on proximal element of maxilla (cardo+stipes), densely covered with microtrichia, without sensory spot.

Thorax (Figs 2B, 4B): pronotum v-shaped, with concave anterior margin and rounded caudal margin; slightly overlapping with anterior rim of mesonotum mesally; mesonotum broader than pronotum, nearly as broad as head, with concave caudal rim; prescutum forming distinct bulge, anteriorly extended; metascutum anteriorly with large lobes, covered with sensilla; metascutellum triangular; postlumbium distinctly wider than long, slightly convex anteriorly, strongly convex posteriorly, beige, translucent; metapostnotum slightly longer than wide; posterior margin rounded.

Legs (Figs 5 E–F): slender, basitarsus of all legs longer than other tarsomeres; tarsomeres 2-4 decreasing in length; distitarsus of all legs almost as long as tarsomere 2, with two well developed claws; trochanter of hind leg ear-shaped.

Halteres (Fig. 2B): slender, slightly longer as mesonotal width.

Hind wing (Fig. 4C): with typical venation of the genus; veins R2, R3, R5, MA1, Cu1, Cu2, and CuP detached; MA1, MA2, Cu1, and Cu2 reaching almost wing margin; colour beige, veins camel-coloured.

Abdomen (Figs 4, 5D, 6C): tergites less strongly sclerotised than sternites, brown; tergite and sternite of segment I reduced; tergite II partly covered by metapostnotum; tergites II–VIII, rectangular, increasing in width from segments II–VIII; pleural membrane of segments I–VIII wide, camel coloured; spiracles present on segments I–VII; shape of sternites II–VIII similar to corresponding tergites but distinctly broader, shovel-shaped, brown; segment IX strongly sclerotised, distinctly narrower than segment VIII, with caudally elongated subgenital plate; segment X tube-like, extending above tip of subgenital plate; penis curved, with bulbous proximal part; acumen thin, tapering towards apex.

Description of the female (Figs 7-10).

Measurements: total length 3,200, width of head 590, width between compound eyes 400, 11-12 ommatidia, total length of antenna 270, length of scapus 20, length of pedicellus 30, length of 3rd antennomer 80, length of 4th antennomer 140, length of mandible 200, width of mandible 90, length of maxilla 400, length of maxillary palp 70, length of procoxa 240, length of protrochanterofemur 290, length of protibia 200, length of protarsi 90, 80, 130 (proximal to distal), length of mesocoxa 270, length of mesotrochanterofemur 330, length of meso- tibia 200, length of mesotarsi 100, 100, 150 (proximal to distal), length of metacoxa 330, length of metatrochanterofemur 400, length of metatibia 230, length of metatarsi 110, 90, 150 (proximal to distal).

Head capsule (Figs 7-9, 10 A– 10C): uniformly tan, with the exception of articulatory membranes of antenna and membranised ventral head areas. Relatively small, distinctly broader than long, and cuneiform in lateral aspect; orthognathous, with the posterior part distinctly retracted into the prothorax; laterocervicalia absent; dorsal side smooth, without vestiture of microtrichia; short setae present on anterior clypeal region, few setae present above antennal insertion and area posterior to compound eyes; ocelli absent; compound eye small, composed of 11-12 large, equally sized and closely adjacent ommatidia; microtrichia between ommatidia absent; central part of compound eye grey, peripheral ommatidia tan; circumocular ridge slightly darker; frontal impression on dorsal side of head absent; ventral side of head closed by membranised reduced labium and possibly cervical membrane; mouthfied sclerite small, oval, reaching posterior margin of maxilla; mouth opening transverse, oval.

Antenna (Fig. 9A): small, with 4 segments, without flabella; articulating with broad antennal membrane at anterior end of compound eye; scapus very short, conical, broadly connected with globular pedicellus; antennomere 3 bell-shaped, as long as scapus and pedicellus combined; antennomere 4 club-shaped, as long as antennomeres 1-3; few short setae inserted on distal margin of pedicellus and antennomere 4; Hofeneder’s organ absent, flagellomeres densely covered with sensilla placodea.

Labrum (Fig. 8F): very small fold anterior to mouth opening; setae absent.

Mandible (Figs 8C, F, 9C, 10A, B): hook-shaped; axis of articulation oblique, almost horizontal; secondary joint reduced; basal part broad and triangular in cross section; anterior rim convex, posterior border concave, apical part very slender, not intercrossing in resting position.

Maxilla (Fig. 9 C– 9F): pear-shaped, weakly sclerotised; insertion adjacent to primary mandibular joint; apex with ~20 stout setae; palp pin-shaped, slightly curved outwards, attached subterminally, with ~10 stout setae distally; sensory spot absent.

Thorax (Fig. 7): ivory-coloured and very weakly sclerotised, with the exception of tan pronotum and pleural sclerites; prothorax trapezoid in dorsal view, with rounded anterior and posterior border; anterior border of pronotum v-shaped, posterior border convex; pronotum divided into two longitudinal plates with broad, weakly sclerotised mesal area, each with ~35 short setae in anterior third; caudal region with about 5-6 short setae; meso- and metathorax dorsally strongly arched; nota of meso- and metathorax not present as sclerotised elements.

Legs (Fig. 10 D– 10F): stout, inserted laterally; tarsi with 3 segments; distitarsus of all legs almost as long as tarsomeres 1+2 combined; distitarsus with well developed claws.

Abdomen (Fig. 7): ivory-coloured and very weakly sclerotised; abdominal segments strongly arched dorsally, ± flattened ventrally; spiracles at lower third of segments I–VII; fissure-shaped birth opening present on posterior border of segment VII.

COI sequence: 100% identical between the female and the sequenced males.

Description of the female puparium (Fig. 11).

Measurements: total length 5,700, maximum width 2,800, maximum height 1,600, length of legs without claws 300.

Pro- and mesothorax fulvous, metathorax and abdomen reddish-brown, lateral side of abdomen with clearly separated fulvous stripe; cuticle shiny, cuticular thorns absent.

Head missing (already shed); dorsal side of puparium strongly arched, ventral side flattened; anterior margin of prothorax rounded and forming distinct bulge with rounded anterolateral edge; anterior third of metathorax slightly constricted; legs very short, inserted laterally, with thread-like claws; caudal margin of abdomen tapering; spiracles present at abdominal segments I–VII.

First instar larva.

unknown

Host.

unknown

Material examined.

Tunisia: Grand Erg Oriental, Parc Nationale de Jebil, 265 ♂♂, 33°00'05"N, 9°01'13"E, 11.-15.x.1999, black light, leg. H. Pohl (1 ♂ holotype, on slide, PMJ, 33 ♂♂ paratypes, on slide, PMJ; 40 ♂♂ paratypes, on slides, SDEI; 159 ♂♂ paratypes, in ethanol, HP); same locality, 1 ♀ paratype, prepared from puparium, 08.xi.2005, excavated from sand, leg. U. Moldrzyk, HP, SEM-preparation; same locality, date and collector, 1 ♀ paratype, puparium, HP, dry preparation. Excluded from the type series: 15 ♂♂ (DNA extraction for genome sequencing; Niehuis et al. in press), 10 ♂♂ (poor preserved, SEM, histology).

Type locality and distribution: Parc Nationale de Jebil and surroundings (33°00'05"N, 9° 01'13"E), Tunisia (Fig. 13).

Compared material.

Mengenilla chobauti (Figs 3B, 3D, 12), Italy, Sicily, Randazzo, 37°52'17"N, 14°57'02" E, 06.-10.viii.1994, leg. H. Pohl, 5 ♂♂ reared from puparia, HP, in ethanol and SEM-preparation; 20 ♀ puparia, HP, dry preparation.

Mengenilla santchii (Pierce, 1918), Tunisia, Kairouan, viii.1907, F. Santchi, holotype ♂, on slide. Original labels: " Mengenilla chobauti ; HOFENEDER ( Tetrozocera santchii PIERCE); [Holotype]; Kartei-Nr. 0360; R. KINZELBACH; det. 1970" [handwritten and printed label]; "Kairouan, Marokko; VIII.1907, ♂; ex:?; USNM No. 21434; leg. F. Santchi" [handwritten and printed label]. NMNH.

Mengenilla theryi (Hofeneder, 1926), Morocco, Rabat, 17.vii.1923, A. Théry, holotype ♂, on slide. Original labels: " Mengenillopsis theryi Hfnd., Rabat. Maroc.; Type. B.M. 1930.193." [red printed label], " Mengenillopsis theryi Hfnd. ♂; Rabat, Maroc.; volant à la lumiere artificielle.; 17 juillet 1923; Voez: Bull. Soc. Sc. Nat. Maroc; VI (1926) p. 56-64. Fig 1-10.; Type; leg. Dr. A. Thèry” [handwritten label]; NHM.

Mengenilla mauretanica (Hofeneder, 1928), Morocco, Rabat, vii.1923, leg. A. Théry, 1 ♂, embedded laterally on slide. Original labels: “Théry N° 2" [handwritten label], " Mengenillopsis mauritanica Hfnd.; Rabat, Maroc. (a. Théry); B.M.1930.193" [handwritten label], " Mengenillopsis mauretanica ,♂; Rabat, Maroc.; Volant à la lumière artificielle; leg. Dr. A. Thèry - juilett 1923.; Voyes: Bull. Soc. Sc. Nat. Maroc VIII. (1928) p. 195-211. Fig. 4, 5, 6" [handwritten label] “L`exemplaire N° 2 dans la preparation en situation inverse compare avec les dessins fig. 5 et. 6." [handwritten label]. NHM. - Same locality, leg. A. Théry, 1 ♂, embedded dorsally on slide. Original labels: “Théry N° 3" [handwritten label], " Mengenillopsis mauritanica Hfnd.; Rabat, Maroc. (a. Théry); B.M.1930.193" [handwritten label]. NHM. - Same locality, leg. A. Théry, 1 ♂, embedded laterally on slide. Original labels: “Théry N° 5a" [handwritten label], " Mengenillopsis mauritanica Hfnd.; Rabat, Maroc. (a. Théry); B.M. 1930.193" [handwritten label]. NHM. - Same locality, leg. A. Théry, 1 ♂, on slide. Original labels: " Mengenillopsis mauritanica Hfnd.; Rabat, Maroc. (a. Théry); B.M. 1930.193" [handwritten label], "Rabat (Maroc); A. Théry leg.; R.Ph.D. prepar." [handwritten label], " Mengenillopsis mauretanica ♂; Rabat, Maroc.; volant à la lumière artificielle; leg. Dr. A. Théry … aout 1923.; Voyes: Bull. Soc. Sc. Nat. Maroc; VIII. (1928) p. 195-211. Fig. 1." [handwritten label]. NHM. - Same locality, leg. A. Théry, 1 ♂, on slide. Original labels: " Mengenillopsis mauritanica Hfnd.; Rabat, Maroc. (a. Théry); B.M. 1930.193" [handwritten label], "Rabat (Maroc); A. Théry leg.; R.Ph.D. prepar." [handwritten label], " Mengenillopsis mauretanica ♂; Rabat, Maroc.; volant à la lumière artificielle; leg. Dr. A. Théry … aout 1923.; Voyes: Bull. Soc. Sc. Nat. Maroc; VIII. (1928) p. 195-211. Fig. 2, 7." [handwritten label]. NHM.

Mengenilla cf. chobauti, Tunisia, Bou Hedma National Parc, 34° 29' 40" N; 09° 38' 37" E, 06.x.1999, leg. H. Pohl. 2 ♀♀ puparia, HP, dry preparation.

Mengenilla gracilipes (Lea, 1910), Australia, Bridgetown, Western Australia, at light, Syntype ♂, on slide. Original labels: " Mengenilla gracilipes (Lea, 1910); Cotype, B.M. 1910.323; Bridgetown W.A.; to lights; leg. Lea; det. Kinzelbach 1968" [handwritten label]. "Bridgetown; W.a. (Lea); To lights" [handwritten label, probably original label of Lea]; NHM.

Mengenilla orientalis Kifune and Hirashima, 1980, Sri Lanka, Mannar District, 10 miles NW of Mannar, 04.-05.xi.1976, black light, leg. G.F. Hevel, R.E. Dietz IV, S. Karunaratne, D.W. Balasooriya, holotype ♂, in ethanol. Original labels: "Holotype, Mengenilla orientalis , Kifune et Hirashima" [handwritten label]. "SRI LANKA: Man. Dist.; Olaithoduvae, 10 mi NW; of Mannr, 0-50 feet; black light; 4-5 November 1976" [printed label]. "Collected by: G.F. Hevel, R.E. Dietz IV, S. Karunaratne; D.W. Balasooriya" [printed label]. "USNM #; 76712" [printed label]; NMNH.

Mengenilla australiensis Kifune and Hirashima, 1983, Australia, Northern Territory, 8 km N of Kulgera, 03.iv.1980, blacklight, leg. G.F. Hevel, J.A. Fortin, paratype ♂, in ethanol. Original labels: " Mengenilla australiensis ; PARATYPE" [handwritten label], "AUSTRALIA: N.T.; 8 KmN of Kulgera; at blacklight; 3 April 1980; GFHevel & JAFortin" [printed label]; NMNH.

Mengenilla kaszabi Kinzelbach, 1970, Mongolia, Bajanchongor Aimak, Oasis Echin gol, about 90 km NE borderguard Caganbulag, 950 m, 28.vi.1967, at light, leg. S. Kaszab, paratype ♂, on slide. Original labels " Mengenilla kaszabi Kinzelbach ♂ Paratypus, Kartei-Nr. 0128, R. KINZELBACH det. 1969" [handwritten and printed label], "Mongolia, Bajanchongor aimak: Oase Echin gol, 90 km von Caganbulag, 28.VI.1967, an Licht, leg. S. KASZAB" [handwritten label]; HP.

Mengenilla arabica Kinzelbach, 1979, Kuwait, 04.vi.1983, leg. W. al-Houty, ♂, on slide. Original labels " Mengenilla arabica KINZELBACH, 1979, Kartei-Nr. 1217, R. Kinzelbach det. 1984" [handwritten and printed label], "W Kuwait, 4.06.1983, ex: …, det. …, leg. W. al-Houty" [handwritten and printed label]; HP.

Distribution.

Mengenilla moldrzyki sp. n. is only known from the type locality.

Ecology and phenology.

In contrast to Mengenilla chobauti , Mengenilla moldrzyki sp. n. apparently only occurs in pure sand dune areas. Despite intense search no puparia were found among widely scattered stones in the habitat during collecting trips in 1999 and 2010. The puparia might be buried in sand, as suggested by the discovery of a female within its puparium in such a situation. The reduction of the characteristic cuticular thorns of the puparium is likely related to this lifestyle. The thorns function as attachment structures that are frequently additionally enhanced by using silk spun from spiders under rocks and stones ( Pohl and Beutel 2008).

Presently, no statements can be made on the seasonal occurrence of the adult males of Mengenilla moldrzyki sp. n. before and beyond October. However, it was observed that the period of activity (and life span) of the adult males is very short (maximum ca. 2 hours). In October 1999 and 2010, males were only found about half an hour after sunset (~6.30 p.m.). No specimens were found after 8.30 p.m. Most of the flying males were observed between 6.30 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. Captured males lost their ability to fly approximately 2 hours after they had been captured and died half an our later.