Edmockfordia chiquibulensis, García, Alfonso N., 2009

García, Alfonso N., 2009, New monotypic genera of Epipsocidae (Psocoptera: Epipsocidae) from Belize and Thailand, Zootaxa 1978, pp. 63-68 : 64

Edmockfordia chiquibulensis sp. n.

( Figs. 1–5 )

Color. Body pale brown, with ochre areas as indicated below. Compound eyes black, ocelli hyaline, with strong, ochre centripetal crescents, particularly the two upper ones. A broadly triangular ochre band from third ocellus to each compound eye and postclypeus, not reaching the antennal fossae. Antennal flagella missing, scape and pedicel dark brown. Maxillary palps pale brown. Tergal lobes of meso- and metathorax dark brown; pleura with an ochre band near the tergum. Only one front leg present, all others missing, the remaining one pale brown. Coxae and trochanters dark and pale brown, almost white, respectively. Wings hyaline, veins orange, membrane with a tenuous orange hue. Abdomen pale brown, with ochre, transverse subcuticular bands, less visible ventrally.

Morphology. As in generic diagnosis, plus the following. Forewing pterostigma narrow anteriorly, widest a little posterior to the middle. Areola postica wide, rounded posteriorly ( Fig.1 ). Hindwing with Rs-M joined basally for a length ( Fig.1 ). Five distal labral sensilla: one central placoid, flanked by a pair trichoid-placoid. Pretarsal claw with a small preapical denticle ( Fig.3 ). Lacinial tip with outer cusp broad, bearing six denticles ( Fig. 4 ). Hypandrium broad, setose, approximately rectangular, with a field of setae on each postero-lateral corner. Paraprocts robust, setose; sensory fields elliptic, bearing 23–24 trichobothria, issuing from basal rosettes ( Fig.5 ).

Measurements. FW: 3020, HW: 2180, Mx 4: 145, IO: 302, D: 230, d: 155, IO/D: 1.31, PO: 0.67.

Material studied. Holotype male, BELIZE, Cayo District, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, in malaise trap 13 (week 66), 7–10.ii.1996 (Howe & King). Paratypes, 1 male, same data except, in malaise trap 13 (week 24), 1–4.iv.1996; 1 male, in malaise trap 11 (week 74), 1–4.iv.1996; deposited in the National Collection of Insects, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (coden CNIN), México City, México.

Etymology. The generic name is derived from the name of Dr. Edward L. Mockford; it is a tribute to his leadership in the field of psocidology, and a recognition to his many ground breaking contributions on the taxonomy of the Psocoptera. The specific name refers to the locality in Belize where the specimens were found.

Remarks. Among the genera of the family Epipsocidae , wing venation with supernumerary veins has been observed in species of Cubitiglabra Li Fasheng , Goja Navás , Ianthorntonia García Aldrete , Incapsocus García Aldrete , Mesepipsocus Badonnel (in which some species also present caeciliusid venation), Mesepipsocoides García Aldrete & Casasola González , and Dicropsocus Smithers & Thornton , but only in species of Mesepipsocus the character state of forewing M dichotomously branched has been observed, pointing to possible closeness with Edmockfordia .

In species of Mesepipsocus , as defined by Mockford (1998), the male phallosome has a simple structural plan, consisting of two side struts, aedeagal arch, and endophallus without sclerites; this type of phallosome, with small variations is seen in species of Epipsocus , Incapsocus , Mesepipsocus , and Neurostigma (see Fig. 7 in Mockford 1998, Fig. 74 in Casasola González 2006, Fig. 3 in García Aldrete 2005, Fig. 118 in Mockford 1991, and Fig. 134 in Mockford 1991); it is open anteriorly, with rudimentary or no external parameres. The phallosome of Edmockfordia presents the same plan, but it is rather stout, with distinct, well developed external parameres.

As for the male epiproct and paraprocts, the field of warts in the former, and the sclerotized bands in the later, shown by E. chiquibulensis , are unique in the whole family.

The above characters justify the creation of a genus distinct from Mesepipsocus , sharing with it the forewing venation with 4 M veins.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Edmockfordia chiquibulensis sp. n. Male. 1. Fore- and hindwing. 2. Phallosome. 3. Pretarsal claw. 4. Lacinial tip. 5. Clunium, right paraproct and epiproct. Scales in mm. Figures 2 and 5 to common scale.

FIGURES 6 – 12. Phallofractus thailandensis sp. n. Male. 6. Fore- and hindwings. 7. Front view of head. 8. Pretarsal claw. 9. Lacinial tip. 10. Phallosome. 11. Hypandrium. 12. Clunium, right paraproct and epiproct. Scales in mm. Figures 8 – 9 to common scale. Figures 11 – 12 to common scale.