Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) escomeli (Navás, 1922)

Tauber, Catherine, 2010, Revision of Neosuarius, a subgenus of Chrysopodes (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae), ZooKeys 44 (44), pp. 1-104 : 58-64

Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) escomeli (Navás, 1922)

Figs 40a , 41a, 42–48a

Chrysopa escomeli Navás, 1921a [1922]: 259 [MNHN, Lectotype (by previous designation): “ Pérou. Env. d’Aréquipa, Dr. Escomel, 1912”]. Navás 1932a: 57 [biological note]; Navás 1933b: 195 [re-description, new specimens from type locality]; Penny 1977: 17 [species list]; Legrand et al. 2008 [2009]: 135 [lectotype designation, taxonomy].

Suarius escomeli (Navás) . Núñez Z., E. 1989: 72 [species list, Peru].

Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) escomeli (Navás) . Adams and Penny 1985 [1987]: 436 [transfer to Chrysopodes ; biological note]; Adams and Penny 1986: 122 [biological note]; Brooks and Barnard 1990: 272 [species list]; Oswald 2007 [catalog listing, nomenclature; reference to original description and date in error].

Diagnosis. Chrysopodes (N.) escomeli is one of several Andean species (including C. (N.) flavescens , porterinus and figuralis ) that have robust, waxy bodies; like C. (N.) porterinus and C. (N.) flavescens , C. (N.) escomeli adults have more or less darkly marked bodies. C. (N.) escomeli can often be separated from the other two species by their long wings (usually 16–17 mm) ( Fig. 42 ), the veins of which are alternately light and dark throughout. Unlike in C. (N.) porterinus , the antennae of C. (N.) escomeli are creamcolored to tan, not dark brown, and the dorsal surface of the scapes has a brown stripe on the mesal margin and a darker, sublateral stripe that extends up from the torulus through the pedicel ( Figs 40a , 41a).

The male abdomen, with its heavy dorsal and ventral apodemes on T9+ectoproct and S8+9, internal apodeme on the ventral midline of S8+9, and compact genitalia, is particularly distinctive ( Figs 43 , 44 ). However, only a few, subtle differences distinguish the C. (N.) escomel i female genitalia from those of C. (N.) flavescens and porterinus . In C. (N.) escomeli (unlike the other two species), the tubular spermatheca has two very abrupt curves which produce a pronounced loop, but not a bean-shaped enlargement ( Fig. 48a ). As in the other two species, the spermathecal duct extends into and then out of the subgenitale, but in C. (N.) escomeli the entire brushy portion appears unsclerotized and can only be seen with a compound microscope. In the other two species, at least part of the brushy section can usually be seen without a compound microscope.

Description. (All the available specimens were old and somewhat discolored.) Head ( Figs 40a , 41a): Width (frontal, including eyes) 1.53 - 1.72 mm; ratio, head: eye width = 2.03–2.14:1; distance (straight-line) between tentorial pits 0.41–0.51 mm. Distance between antennae ̴ 0.07–0.09 mm; length of frons (mid-antenna – midway between tentorial pits) ̴ 0.47–0.55 mm; clypeus ̴ 0.23–0.31 mm long. Antenna 0.8–0.9× length of forewing (12.2–13.1 mm). Vertex slightly raised, flat throughout, with slight upward fold posteriorly; surface of vertex slightly grainy, without setae; area surrounding vertex smooth, without setae. Frons flat, unsculptured; surface smooth, shiny throughout. Clypeus flat, unsculptured, with smooth surface. Labrum flat; surface smooth; distal margin with very small cleft.

Head coloration: Head cream to tan; vertex with brown markings around frontal, lateral edges of raised area; brown around entire edge of dorsal torulus; torulus with

Figure 4 ļ. Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) flavescens -group: Head, frontal. (a) C. (N.) escomeli (b) C. (N.) flavescens (c) C. (N.) nigricubitus (d) C. (N.) nigripilosus (e) C. (N.) pecki (f) C. (N.) porterinus .

elongate brown stripe mesally; brown mark extending distally through mid-dorsal surface of scape and pedicel. Frontal torulus cream-colored; frons cream, with pair of ovate, dark brown to black marks below frontolateral margin of torulus; clypeus cream, with dark brown lateral margins. Genae cream, with large, dark brown longitudinal stripe. Scapes cream frontally, cream with two pairs of longitudinal brown stripes basally; pedicel cream with dorsolateral brown stripe; flagellum cream to amber basally, with brown setae, becoming amber distally. Maxillary, labial palp amber to brown. Mentum, stipes, galea mostly cream.

Thorax ( Fig. 40a ): Pronotum wider than long: ̴ 0.68–0.98 mm long; ̴ 1.07–1.25 mm wide; cream to tan, with brown, crooked mesal stripe, pair of brown, wiggly sublateral stripes (̴ 0.10–0.15 mm wide), lateral margin brown anteriorly; numerous long, brown setae (longest ̴ 0.20–0.31 mm long). Meso-, metanota brown, sublateral markings; sparce brown setae on mesonotum, sparce amber setae on metanotum. Pleuron cream, with brown markings. Legs cream without markings, except brown band distally around hind femur; tarsi amber-tinged. Tarsal claws amber, broadly curved with base very slightly expanded.

Wings ( Fig. 42 ): Forewing 14.0– 16.6 mm long, 4.2–5.2 mm wide; L:W ratio, 3.2–3.4; ratio maintained through midpoint and distal 3/4th of wing; width at basal 1/4th slightly narrower; costal margin sloping gradually at base, relatively straight thereafter; apex ovate. Base of Cu1 (above icu1) crassate. Costal area not enlarged; height of tallest costal cell (#5, 6) = 3.9–4.6× length of first costal vein, 0.18–0.20× width of wing. Subcosta, radius very slightly sinuate; most subcostal veinlets, radial cells straight. Ten closed radial cells (between R and Rs), height of tallest radial cell 1.1–1.3× width; other than radial crossveins, only gradate veins in contact with PsM. Four b cells, four b’ cells. First intramedian cell ovate, 0.6× width of third medial cell; inner row of three to four gradate veins; six to seven outer gradate veins; both rows ̴regularly stepped, slightly convergent on each other distally. Second cell beneath Rs with i.g. at base = 1.7–2.1 mm tall, 2.2–2.7× width; third cell = 1.7–2.1 mm tall, 2.6–3.0× width. Second gradate cell 0.9–1.8 mm tall, 1.7–2.3× width; third gradate cell 0.8–1.1 mm tall, 1.5–2.0× width. Length of second cell beneath Rs with i.g. at base = 1.6–1.9× length of second gradate cell. Three intracubital cells, distal one open, icu1, icu2 each shorter than icu 3; icu1 shorter than icu2. Vein 1A forked. Hindwing narrow, with apex slightly acute; 12.5–15.2 mm long, 3.8–4.7 mm wide. Ten to eleven radial crossveins; four to five inner gradates; six to seven outer; three b cells, plus small t cell; four 4 b’ cells; two intracubital cells, distal one open.

Wing coloration: Hyaline (color faded on all specimens); stigma slightly opaque, with brownish tinge; costa pale; other longitudinal veins pale, heavily darkened at intersections; costal veinlets, most crossveins pale, darkened at tips; most distal crossveins, darkened mesally, at tips; gradates, base of im1, ma, cubital crossveins dark brown. Hindwing similar to forewing, except terminal veinlets mostly pale, darkened at base only, except terminal veinlets below PsCu also dark mesally.

Abdomen ( Figs 43 , 45): Tergites 1–4, distal part of 6–8 brown; tergites 5, basal 6 cream to brown; sternites 1–2 mostly brown, 3–6 mostly cream, sometimes with brown marks; pleural regions probably cream. Tergite 9+ectoproct cream, lower margin with brown mark along ventral apodeme; S7 (female, male), S8&9 (male) cream. Callus cerci cream-colored, trichobothria light amber, short, thin. Tergite 6: roughly quadrate, with rounded ventral margins, without noticeable ventral extension; length ̴2.1–3.0 times greater than height (lateral view); with medium length, slender setae. Tergite 7 similar to T6, but only 1.6–2.0 times longer than tall. Pleural region P6, P7 with very few setae. Sternite 6: quadrate, dorsal margin straight, length ̴0.9–1.1× height, with medium length, straight, slender setae. Spiracles oval, not enlarged; atria not enlarged.

Male ( Figs 43 , 44 ): T8 rounded anteriorly, posteriorly (lateral view), with no apparent ventral extension. Left, right T9+ectoproct fused dorsally; terminal edge straight vertically, bearing vertical field of dense, long, robust setae distally; apodeme heavy, Y-shaped, with base of Y extending anteriorly beyond T8 (Y leaning posteriorly, arms separating immediately behind, below callus cerci); dorsal arms of left and right apodemes approaching, but not coalescing dorsally; caudal arm rounded, enlarged distally, extending beyond tip of T9+ectoproct, with two thin, vertical projections at midregion, dorsal projection extending around callus cerci, ventral arm thin, extending to ventral margin of ectoproct. Callus cerci oblong (0.18–0.19 mm tall, 0.13 mm wide), with 29–35 trichobothria. S8+9 length ̴1.5× proximal height, with ventral margin slightly concave mesally, with rounded invagination on midline; posterior region with heavy, transverse, submarginal apodeme; dorsal margin slightly concave, with lightly sclerotized dorsal apodeme, bearing rounded, upward-projecting protuberances proximally, distally; dorsal margin of distal apodeme with field of setae with enlarged setal bases; terminus corniform, upturned, rounded, with distal margin bearing setae with enlarged setal bases, large internal membranous fold or pouch, lined with dense field of fine gonocristae. Sub- anal plate well sclerotized, with dense, robust setae Gonarcus robust, broadly arcuate, loosely attached to T9+ectoproct dorsally via long, folded subanal membrane; span of gonarcus at bridge ̴ 0.42 mm, span between gonarcal apodemes distally ̴ 0.45 mm. Gonarcal apodemes smooth, scalloped, enlarged, rounded distally (dorsal view), roughly quadrate (lateral view, with gonarcus), flared distally. Mediuncus broadly articulated with gonarcal bridge; dorsum rounded, bent perpendicularly, with ventral beak; internally with pair of curved dorsal rods that extend into the beak, without field of setae; dorsal surface with dense covering of microsetae; surface below beak without gonosetae or gonocristae. Gonosaccus large, delicate membrane, without gonosetae. Hypandrium internum very lightly sclerotized (found in only 1 of 3 well-sclerotized and stained specimens), with small arrow shaped head, tall, thin, sail-like comes.

Female (Figs 45–48a): Tergite 8: length ̴1.3–1.6× height (fully sclerotized section); ventral extension with medium length, slender setae. Tergite 9+ectoproct (lateral view) with proximal margin straight throughout or with slight bulge mesally, not extending anteriorly much beneath T8; ventral margin extending posteriorly well below ventral margin of gonapophyses laterales. Callus cerci slightly taller than broad (0.15–0.18 mm tall, 0.13–0.15 mm wide), with approximately 31–33 trichobothria. Gonapophyses laterales <1/2 height of T9+ectoproct, approximately 2.7–2.8 times taller than wide, with robust setae, blunt dorsally, ventrally, orientated posteroventrally (̴20° angle from midline). Sternite 7: with mediumlength, slender setae; lateral view: length ̴1.8–1.9× height of proximal margin,

S7

Figure 45. Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) escomeli : Female terminus, exterior, lateral. c.c. callus cerci g.l. gonapophysis lateralis sg subgenitale S7 seventh sternite T8 eighth tergite T9+ect fused ninth tergite and ectoproct. Setose subrectal plate not shown.

distal 3/4th gradually sloping to rounded terminus. Subgenitale broad, with base rounded, clear, transversely folded, attached to S7 via short, textured, shallowly invaginated membrane; distal process knob-like, rounded, bilobed distally, extending perpendicularly from neck; without digitiform process. Pair of large, bulbous bursal glands, each with elongate, narrow duct opening on anterolateral margin of bursa, with long, narrow accessory duct distally. Bursa large, extending laterally full width of segment, posteriorly well beyond spermatheca. Bursal duct transversely fluted anteriorly (near bursa), with most folds sharp-edged, small longitudinal folds distally (towards anterior of body). Spermatheca elongate, tubular, with two sharp mesal bends on the right, tight loop on the left, open to bursa via elongate dorsal slit throughout; spermatheca ̴ 1.4 mm long, 0.13 mm in diameter; invagination elongate, narrow (not measured); velum not identified. Spermathecal duct arising from tip of spermatheca on dorsal, left side, extending into subgenitale, with one U-shaped curve, with short (0.5 mm long) sclerotized region, followed by short (0.25 mm) unsclerotized, brushy region (visible only with compound microscope). Colleterial gland smooth-textured, extending beyond middle of seventh segment; reservoir small, bulbous, smooth-textured; no accessory glands found. Transverse sclerotization well-formed, flat, ellipsoid plate, with elongate hair-like teeth, extending from deep, spiny membranous invagination, located mesally on gonapophyses laterales.

Larvae. Unknown.

Eggs. Weakly stalked, laid in clusters ( Navás 1932a: 57).

Figures

Figure 4. Forewing measurements. cvļ height of first costal veinlet (red) cv6 height of tallest costal veinlet (in this case, the sixth costal veinlet, red), g.c.#2, g.c.#3 height (red) and width (blue) of first and second gradate cells (cells bounded above and below by gradate veins) icuļ, icu2, icu3 length of first (blue), second (red) and third (blue) intracubital cells imļ length of first intramedian cell (blue) m3 length of third median cell (blue) r4 height (red) and width (blue) of tallest radial cell (in this case, the fourth radial cell) #2, #3 height (red) and width (blue) of second and third cells with radial sector at base and inner gradate at tip.

Figure 40. Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) flavescens-group: Head, prothorax, dorsum. (a) C. (N.) escomeli (b) C. (N.) flavescens (c) C. (N.) nigricubitus (d) C. (N.) nigripilosus (e) C. (N.) pecki (f) C. (N.) porterinus.

Figure 42. Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) escomeli: Forewing, hindwing (La Libertad, Peru).

Figure 43. Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) escomeli: Male terminus, lateral. c.a. caudal arm of apodeme on T9+ectoproct c.c. callus cerci d.a. dorsal arm of apodeme on T9+ectoproct g.c. gonarcal complex inv sclerotized invagination along midline of S8+9 s.a. submarginal apodeme of S8+9 s.p. setose subrectal plate S8+9 fused eighth and ninth sternites T8 eighth tergite T9+ect fused ninth tergite and ectoproct v.a. ventral arm of apodeme on T9+ectoproct.

Figure 44. Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) escomeli: Male genitalia (a) gonarcus (dorsal) with hypandrium internum below (dorsal) (b) expanded gonarcus (lateral), with hypandrium internum below, lateral (left), frontolateral (right) (c) unexpanded gonarcus (lateral) c combes g.b. gonarcal bridge mu mediuncus rod internal rod of mediuncus.

Figure 48. Female genitalia, lateral (bursal glands not shown): (a) Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) escomeli (b) Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) flavescens (c) Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) porterinus. In all species, the spermatheca is nestled below the bursal copulatrix. b.c. bursa copulatrix b.d. bursal duct sg. subgenitale sg.m. membranous base of subgenitale sp spermatheca sp.d. spermathecal duct.