Stenopsocus abnormis, Liang, Feiyang, Li, Fasheng & Liu, Xingyue, 2017

Liang, Feiyang, Li, Fasheng & Liu, Xingyue, 2017, The bark louse family Stenopsocidae (Psocodea: Psocomorpha) newly recorded from Laos, with description of three new species, Zootaxa 4243 (3), pp. 589-599 : 597-598

Stenopsocus abnormis sp. nov.

( Figs. 6–7 )

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by the mostly yellowish white vertex, the yellowish scape and pedicel, and the yellowish pterostigma with a subtrapezoidal dark brown marking. In additional, the body color of the new species is remarkably red when it is alive.

Female. Measurements. Body length 2.77 mm, length from postclypeus to wing tip 4.53 mm. IO: 0.53 mm, d: 0.19 mm, IO/d = 2.79, f1: 0.84 mm, f2: 0.66 mm, f3: 0.51 mm, FWL: 3.45 mm, FWW: 1.06 mm, HWL: 2.48 mm, HWW: 0.69 mm, t1: 0.35 mm, t2: 0.13 mm.

Coloration (in alcohol). Head ( Figs. 6 b–d) brown, vertex mostly yellowish white. Antennal scape and pedicel yellow, flagellum brown with yellowish brown base on 1st flagellomere. Mouthparts yellowish white with dark brown postclypeus. Prothorax yellowish white, meso- and metathorax brown. Legs mostly yellowish white, base of tibia and tarsomere 2 yellowish brown. Forewing ( Fig. 6 e) transparent, yellowish pterostigma, with a subtrapezoidal dark brown marking and yellowish anterior margin, costal vein from base to pterostigma brown, M+CuA yellow, other veins brown. Hind wing ( Fig. 6 f) transparent, immaculate. Abdomen dorsally light purple, genital segments dark brown.

Genitalia ( Fig. 7 a) distinctly sclerotized. Epiproct ( Fig. 7 b) subtrapezoid. Paraproct mostly sclerotized, with 26 trichobothrias. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 7 c) with U-shape sclerotized region. Gonapophyses ( Fig. 7 d) obviously sclerotized, external valve subtriangular, angle between external and dorsal valve nearly 90°, dorsal and ventral valve blade-shaped.

Type material. Holotype female, Laos: Xaignabouli, near Hatdai , 250 m, 26.III.2016, Xingyue Liu ( CAU).

Distribution. Laos (Xaignabouli).

Etymology. The specific name “ abnormis ” refers to the unusual reddish body color of the new species when it is alive.

Remarks. This new species appears to be closely related to Stenopsocus externus Bank, 1937 in having similar forewing marking patterns, but is can be distinguished from the latter species by the mostly yellowish white vertex and the yellowish pedicel. In S. externus , the vertex has distinct dark brown margin, and the pedicel is brown ( Banks 1937, Liang et al. 2015). It is noteworthy that the body color of the new species is remarkably red when collected based on the observation of the collector. Unfortunately, the unusual color was faded after preservation of the specimen in alcohol, and no photograph for the living specimen is available. However, this feature may stand as an important diagnosis of this species as no other red-colored Stenopsocus species has been found during our recent extensive field trips of Psocodea in China and other Asian countries.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Stenopsocus abnormis sp. nov., holotype female. a. habitus; b. head, frontal view; c. head, dorsal view; d. head, lateral view. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 7. Stenopsocus abnormis sp. nov., holotype female. a. genitalia; b. epiproct, c. subgenital plate; d. gonapophyses; e. spermathecal sac. Scale bar = 0.05 mm.