Polletomyia, Curler, 2020

Curler, Gregory, 2020, Descriptions of two new genera of Maruinini (Diptera, Psychodidae, Psychodinae) from the Mitaraka range of French Guiana, Zoosystema 42 (10), pp. 139-149 : 141

Genus Polletomyia n. gen.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3869FC8A-73CD-4F9D-BBA1-F00A5BA77F4C

TYPE SPECIES. — Polletomyia subulata n. gen., n. sp.

ILLUSTRATIONS. — Head: Fig. 1A ; Wing: Fig. 1B ; Male genitalia: Fig. 1 E-G.

ETYMOLOGY. — This genus is named in honor of Dr Marc Pollet, who collected the type specimens, forwarded them to the author and provided supporting information during the course of this study.

DIAGNOSIS. — The following combination of characters is diagnostic for the genus: male head: antennal flagellomeres fusiform, with paired, unbranched ascoids on f4 f7 ( Fig. 1C ), single ascoids on f8 f11; male terminalia: bilaterally symmetrical; aedeagus comprised of four movable, blade-like sclerites surrounded by membranous sheath; outer aedeagal sclerites sinuous, spreading laterally when extended posteriorly ( Fig. 1F ); gonostyli with stout, conical setae inserted apically ( Fig. 1 E-G); epandrial claspers each with single, setiform tenaculum inserted dorsoapically ( Fig. 2B ).

DISTRIBUTION. — Polletomyia n. gen. is currently known only from the Mitaraka range of French Guiana.

HABITAT. — Little information regarding specific habitat is available; however, all specimens were collected in lowland rainforest.

REMARKS

The relatively small size of Polletomyia n. gen., as well as their lanceolate wings and dark coloration make it possible to differentiate them in a sample comprised of many psychodid genera and species. These superficial characters also make it possible to associate males and females, as the latter are otherwise lacking in characters that readily differentiate them from other psychodine females. Indeed, if further species of Polletomyia n. gen. are discovered, it may become difficult or impossible to differentiate females within the genus. Despite the relative ease of differentiating them in a bulk sample, accurate diagnosis of this genus is dependent on examination of slide-mounted male terminalia.

Currently, the following character states are sufficient for distinguishing this genus from all other Maruinini : male terminalia bilaterally symmetrical; gonostyli each with a conical, spiniform seta inserted apically; tenacula setiform. Nonetheless, additional characters are included above in the diagnosis because they are also unique to the genus, thereby making the diagnosis more robust. Some other genera of Maruinini also have bilaterally symmetrical male terminalia in some or all constituent species (e.g. Alepia , Caenobrunettia , Maruina Müller, 1895 , and Myiomystax n. gen.). Yet, each of these groups has a unique build to their aedeagus that is distinct from Polletomyia n. gen. and none of them have conspicuous, spiniform setae inserted at the apices of their gonostyli.

Aside from the male terminalia, some character states present in Polletomyia n. gen. are found as well in other genera of Maruinini , such as a contiguous eye bridge comprised of three rows of ommatidia. These states are also present in Maruina (so far only in subgenus Aculcina Hogue, 1973 ) and Arisemus Satchell, 1955 and have been indicated by some authors as diagnostic for those genera (e.g. Camico et al. 2019: 298 in their diagnosis of M. ( Aculcina )). Despite this, the presence of these character states in multiple genera indicates that they are not diagnostic in and of themselves. Rather, it is necessary to determine whether there are other nuances that distinguish the eye bridge of each genus from others that have the same general appearance. In the case of Polletomyia n. gen., the eye bridge is not particularly distinct, so it is omitted as a diagnostic character.

DESCRIPTION

See below, Polletomyia subulata n. gen., n. sp.

Figures

FIG. 1. — Polletomyia subulata n. gen., n. sp.: A, male head, frontal view; B, wing; C, male antennal flagellomeres 3-4, dorsal view; D, male antennal flagellomeres 12-14, dorsal view; E, male terminalia,epandrium removed, dorsal view; F, male terminalia,epandrium removed, aedeagal structure expanded,dorsal view; G, male terminalia, epandrium removed, aedeagal structure partly expanded, ventral view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: A, 0.25 mm; B, 0.5 mm; C-G, 0.1 mm.

FIG. 2. — Polletomyia subulata n. gen., n. sp.: A, male terminalia, lateral view; B, male epandrium, proctiger and epandrial claspers, dorsal view; C, female terminalia, external structure, ventral view; D, female terminalia, internal structure, ventral view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.