Isostenosmylus ammirabilis Ardila-Camacho, Martins & Noriega, 2020

Ardila-Camacho, Adrian, Martins, Caleb Califre & Noriega, Jorge Ari, 2020, Isostenosmylus ammirabilis sp. nov., a remarkable new species of lance lacewing (Neuroptera: Osmylidae) from the Colombian Andes, Zootaxa 4803 (3), pp. 561-575 : 562-573

Isostenosmylus ammirabilis Ardila-Camacho, Martins & Noriega sp. nov.

( Figs 1–10 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B5116E9F-7495-4649-8C13-95D2A14A7D27

Etymology. The specific epithet “ ammirabilis ” is an adjective, which means admirable, in reference to the morphology of the genital structures of this species.

Type material. Holotype: Male. Colombia: Boyacá: vía Arcabuco-Moniquirá , Serranía el Peligro, 5°49’08.5’’N‒ 73°30’00.6’’W, 2344 m, 28.XII.2018, A. Ardila & J. Noriega Leg. ( UNAB) . Allotype: Female. Colombia: Boyacá: vía Arcabuco-Moniquirá , Serranía el Peligro, 5°49’08.5’’N‒ 73°30’00.6’’W, 2344 m, 28.XII.2018, A. Ardila & J. Noriega Leg. ( UNAB) .

Diagnosis. This new species is closely related to a group of species within the bifurcatus clade that are characterized by an elaborated male ectoproct and internal genitalia ( I. fusciceps , I. julianae , I. angustipennis , I. contrerasi , I. nigrifrons , and I. bifurcatus ). In most of the species, the females have a process on the apex of the forecoxa anterior surface. Isostenosmylus ammirabilis is differentiated from I. fusciceps and I. nigrifrons because a strongly elongate mediuncus, with a long posteroventral process pushing the membrane between sternites 8 and 9. In I. fusciceps and I. nigrifrons the whole mediuncus as well as the posteroventral lobe are shorter. The new species is easily separated from I. julianae and I. bifurcatus because a spatulate posterodorsal process, which is hook-shaped in I. julianae and forked in I. bifurcatus . The new species can be separated from I. angustipennis by the wing shape, being broad in the new species and narrow in I. angustipennis . Additionally, I. ammirabilis has broad lateral lobes on the female gonapophyses 9, which are absent in I. angustipennis . Moreover, the new species is separated from I. contrerasi because a subparallel-sided posterior half of mediuncus in lateral view in I. ammirabilis . This part of the mediuncus is strongly expanded in I. contrerasi . Furthermore, the lateral and posterior lobes of the female gonapophyses 9 are enlarged in I. ammirabilis and short in I. contrerasi .

Description. Measurements (n=2). Interocular distance: 1.0 mm; head width including compound eyes: 2.3 mm; prothorax length: 1.6 mm; prothorax width at mid-length: 0.9 mm; forewing length: 29.62‒30.25 mm; fore- wing maximum width: 9.12‒9.32 mm; forewing pterostigma length: 4.0 mm; hindwing length: 25.83‒26.58 mm; hindwing maximum width: 7.92‒8.41 mm.

Head ( Figs 2a, b , 3a, b ). Pale yellow with brown marks. Vertex elevated above compound eyes, rugose, brown, slightly raised on ocellar region. Ocelli vestigial, each one brown with an adjacent pale yellow mark, peripheral surface of ocelli at internal region of ocellar triangle dark brown, with thin brown setae. Antennae filiform, scape and pedicel brown, with fine, brown setae; flagellum pale brown with 50 articles 1.5 times as long as wide, all cov- ered with long light brown setae and microtrichia. Compound eyes sub-spherical, as wide as 0.6 of the interocular distance at antenna insertion level, blackish. Frons mostly brown, with pale yellow on adjacent surface to compound eyes; clypeus pale brown on medial region, pale yellow on lateral regions, entire surface with scattered, fine, long, light brown setae; labrum narrow, with anterior margin concave, light brown with setae of the same color as cuticle. Gena pale, postgena pale to brown. Maxilla with cardo and stipes pale, galea and lacinia brown, maxillary palpus 5-articulate, brown, with basal palpomere and distal half of last palpomere darker. Labium with pale mentum, brown ligula, labial palpus 3-articulate, brown. Occiput brown, rugose.

Thorax ( Figs 2b , 3b ). Prothorax elongate, narrow, sub-rectangular, cervical sclerite pale with blackish suffusions and long light amber setae; pronotum 1.5 times as long as wide, mostly brown with irregular pale areas, covered with abundant long and thin setae, setal bases raised, dark brown. Ventral region of prothorax pale. Mesonotum as long as wide, scutum brown with irregular pale areas and dark brown marks on anterior region, with long, thick setae of the same color as cuticle, setal bases raised; scutellum brown with pale areas and a few light brown setae on posterior region, setal bases short. Metanotum slightly wider than long, with scattered, fine, long, light yellow setae; scutum light brown with extensive lateral dark brown spots on medial region surrounded with pale areas; scutellum brown with paler median stripe, the posterior margin pale to brown; entire surface covered with microtrichia. Pteropleura mostly pale with dark brown suffusions below wing bases, entire surface with long, hair-like, light yellow setae.

Legs. Foreleg: coxa elongate, subcylindrical, females with a short and blunt process anteroventrally located ( Fig. 2d ), entire surface with long and thin setae; trochanter and femur with long, hair-like, pale setae; femur with setal bases raised and with a blackish spot; tibia narrow with abundant long and fine setae, outer surface with setal bases raised and with a blackish spot, apical region on inner surface with abundant short setae; setae mostly light brown; tibial spurs short; first tarsomere as long as the following three together, last tarsomere slightly shorter than basitarsus; all the surface with thick, long, light brown setae; tarsal claws amber, arolium present. Mid leg with coxa, trochanter and femur pale, covered with long, hair-like, pale setae; apex of femur with setal bases blackish; tibia narrow, with abundant long and fine setae, outer surface with setal bases raised and with a blackish spot, tibial spurs short; tarsi brown with blackish apex, first tarsomere as long as the following three together, last tarsomere slightly shorter than basitarsus, entire surface with fine, long, light brown setae; tarsal claws amber. Hind leg with coxa, trochanter and femur pale with abundant, long, hair-like, pale yellow setae; tibia with shorter setae, setal bases slightly protuberant with blackish spot; ventral surface of the distal region with strong spine-like setae; first tarsomere nearly as long as the last four together, last tarsomere as long as second and third together; entire surface with fine and short setae, except ventrally strong and thickened; tarsal claws amber.

Wings ( Figs 1 , 2c ). Forewing: elongate, ovoid, broadened, posterodistal margin convex. Wing venation alternating pale- and dark greyish brown, with abundant long and fine setae of the same color as cuticle; trichosors present along wing margin except on wing base. Membrane mostly hyaline with few diffuse fuscous spots on costal field, marked spots irregularly arranged on crossveins of radial area, RP, apical branches of M vein, and distal branches of CuA. Two irregular fuscous marks located between M and A1 at the level of second and third RP branches origin. Costal space broadened, wider basally than distally, with 72 crossveins, sometimes a few forked, one or two interlinking veinlets present. Pterostigma weakly marked, greyish brown with pale areas, and 22 crossveins, all of them sinuous. Subcostal space with a single basal crossvein. Radial space with 30‒32 crossveins; RP with 12 branches, nygmata weakly marked, basal one located between RP1 and M, slightly beyond RP stem; distal nygma located between RP1 and RP2 near the level of RP4 stem, sometimes located between branches of RP1. Outer gradate series distinct, inner gradate series not distinct. M vein forked at distal 1/3 of wing length; CuA bent posteriad on distal portion, slightly beyond of M vein fork level, CuP running parallel to CuA, with distal half pectinately branched, with 12 or 13 branches. A1 long, pectinate, terminating on posterior wing margin at RP3 origin level; A2 and A3 reticulate. Hindwing: elongate, shorter and narrower than forewing, with pointed apex; posterodistal margin slightly concave. Wing venation alternating pale and pale greyish brown, except most of Sc, M, and Cu, pale, with abundant fine, long setae of the same color as cuticle; trichosors present along wing margin except on wing base. Membrane hyaline. Costal space slightly broadened on proximal 1/3 of wing length, narrow proximal- and distally, with 52 or 53 crossveins; pterostigma weakly marked with pale and greyish brown areas, composed of 15 crossveins. Subcostal space with a single basal crossvein, light amber. Radial space with 24 or 25 crossveins; RP diverging from RA near wing base, with 12 or 13 branches. Nygmata weakly marked, the basal one located between RP and M, just before the RP1 origin, distal nygma between RP1 and RP2 at RP3 origin level; outer gradates distinct. M vein forked near wing base, before separation of RP from RA, MP forked at distal 1/3 of wing length. Cu vein forked near wing base, before M fork; distal ¼ of CuA and distal ½ of CuP pectinately branched. A1 ending at posterior wing margin opposite to RP1 origin level, A2 and A3 short.

Abdomen. Tergites being either, brown with pale areas or dark brown with a pale region on posteromedial region, entire surface with abundant long, fine, yellowish setae. Pleural membrane dark brown with fine, long, yellowish setae. Sternites pale with brown areas, with abundant fine, long setae of the same color as cuticle.

Male genitalia ( Figs 4–6 ). Tergites 8 and 9 fused, with fusion line distinct, tergite 8 dorsally extended between the paired tergite 9, and reaching anterior margin of ectoproct; tergite 9 as two lateral well sclerotized, ovoid plates. Mediuncus pushing membrane between sternites 8 and 9, thus forming a conspicuous protuberance; sternite 9 setose, scoop-like. Ectoproct fused as a single caudal plate, median fusion line distinct, dorsomedial margin with an U-shaped indentation, laterally to the indentation two flattened processes, slightly curved medially and blunt in dorsal view; callus cercus arranged in a rosette, ventral region composed of a mammilliform and setose lobe on posterior part and a sclerotized process on anterior part. Gonarcus strongly sclerotized, arms straight in lateral view, anterior apex expanded and curved, medial lobe with dorsomedial V-shaped indentation and lateral triangular projections. Entoprocessus expanded, C-shaped in lateral view. Mediuncus elongate, curved, with anterior apex narrow and curved, with a long and straight process present on anterior 1/3; posterior half thickened, subparallel-sided with dorsal, paired, lateral processes on distal 1/3; posteroventral lobe elongate, rounded, with paired, dorsal, pointed processes, ventrally with lateral triangular lobes, which are bent laterally.

Female genitalia ( Figs 7 , 8 ). Tergite 8 quadrangular encircling spiracle of eight abdominal segment in lateral view, anteroventral corner ventrally projected, pointed. Sternite 7 unmodified. Sternite 8 nearly rectangular, anterior half with longitudinal median ridge; posterior region with a broad concavity, separated from anterior region by a transverse ridge, posterolateral corners with rounded, setose lobes, posterior margin with three processes and two concavities, forming a W-shaped pattern in ventral view. Tergite 9 narrow, ventrally projected, straight, only slightly wider laterally than dorsally, anteroventral corner rounded and setose; gonocoxite 9 elongate, leaf-like, anterior apex pointed, gonostylus 9 mammilliform, setose; ninth gonapophysis enlarged, dorsally concave on proximal half, ventral side with rounded, transversal, curved lobe medially located; lateral margins with broad, rounded lobe; distal half forked in ventral view with two lateral straight, blunt lobes, and a deep median concavity. Ectoprocts subtrapezoidal in lateral view, setose, dorsally fused; callus cercus arranged in a rosette. Spermatheca ovoid.

Distribution. Colombia (Boyacá) ( Fig. 9 ).

Habitat. Isostenosmylus ammirabilis is found in the municipalities of Arcabuco and Moniquira (Boyacá), in the Western slope of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia. The type locality, “Serranía el Peligro” ( Fig. 10 ), is a natural reserve under the care of Corporación Autónoma Regional de Boyacá (CORPOBOYACÁ), one of the 34 entities of the Colombian government who manages natural resources in the country. This area is a fragment of cold and moist high Andean forest encompassing 26.47 km 2, situated between 2050‒2800 m a.s.l., and it is important in the hydric production and regulation due to its extensive forest cover. The forest consists of abundant tall trees covered with mosses, orchids, and bromeliads with the undergrowth heavily shaded by. In general, the topography is strongly steep, and often with rocky surfaces. Frequent arborescent plant genera include: Alnus , Cecropia, Cyathea , Tibouchina , and Quercus , among others. There are several high gradient, clean-flowing streams, and waterfalls in the area. Adults of I. ammirabilis rest on tree trunks, generally on mosses or beneath bromeliads during the day, whilst they can be found flying at 1.5‒3.0 m from the soil during the night. However, when the osmylids were disturbed they flew towards the canopy. The specimens were not attracted to our light traps (composed of black and incandescent lights), but instead they were collected using an aerial net inside the forest. This natural reserve is highly endangered by the expansion of grazing land and deforestation. Water pollution and illegal collecting (orchids and bromeliads especially) are also other threats to this area.

GenBank accession number of DNA barcoding. MT193073 .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Isostenosmylus ammirabilis sp. nov.: (a) holotype male, habitus dorsal; (b) allotype female, habitus dorsal.

FIGURE 2. Isostenosmylus ammirabilis sp. nov.: (a) male head, frontal; (b) male head and thorax, dorsal; (c) wings; (d) female forecoxa, arrow showing the procoxal process.

FIGURE 3. Isostenosmylus ammirabilis sp. nov.:(a) female head, frontal; (b) female head and thorax, dorsal.

FIGURE 4. Isostenosmylus ammirabilis sp. nov.: (a) male genitalia, ventral; (b) morphological interpretation of genital sclerites in (a); (c) male genitalia, dorsal; (d) morphological interpretation of terminal tergites in (c). Abbreviations: ect, ectoproct; Ent, entoprocessus; Gc, gonarcus; Hi, hypandrium internum; Md, mediuncus; T7, tergite 7; T8+9, fused tergites 8 and 9.

FIGURE 5. Isostenosmylus ammirabilis sp. nov.: (a) male genitalia, lateral; (b) morphological interpretation of genital sclerites in (a). Abbreviations: ect, ectoproct; Ent, entoprocessus; Gc, gonarcus; Md, mediuncus; S7, S8, S9, sternites 7 to 9; T7, tergite 7; T8+9, fused tergites 8 and 9.

FIGURE 6. Isostenosmylus ammirabilis sp. nov.: (a) male genitalia, caudal; (b) morphological interpretation of genital sclerites in (a). Abbreviations: ect, ectoproct; Ent, entoprocessus; Gc, gonarcus; Md, mediuncus; S9, sternite 9; T8+9, fused tergites 8 and 9.

FIGURE 7. Isostenosmylus ammirabilis sp. nov.: (a) female genitalia, ventral; (b) morphological interpretation of genital sclerites in (a); (c) close-up of the sternite 8 and gonapophyses 9. Abbreviations: Gcx9, gonocoxites 9; Gph9, gonapophyses 9; S7, S8, sternites 7 and 8; spm, spermatheca; T9, tergite 9.

FIGURE 8. Isostenosmylus ammirabilis sp. nov.: (a) female genitalia, lateral; (b) morphological interpretation of genital sclerites in (a). Abbreviations: ect, ectoproct; Gcx9, gonocoxites 9; Gph9, gonapophyses 9; S7, S8, sternites 7 and 8; spm, spermatheca; T7, T8, T9, tergites 7 to 9.

FIGURE 9. Map showing the location where Isostenosmylus ammirabilis sp. nov. was collected: (a) South America, overview; (b) Colombia..

FIGURE 10. Type locality of Isostenosmylus ammirabilis sp. nov.: (a) Beltranes stream crossing through Natural reserve of Serranía el Peligro; (b) habitat of I. ammirabilis inside the forest in Serranía el Peligro.