Psychopsis zebra, (Brauer, 1889)

Bakkes, Deon K., Sole, Catherine L. & Mansell, Mervyn W., 2017, Revision of Afrotropical Silky Lacewings (Neuroptera: Psychopsidae), Zootaxa 4362 (2), pp. 151-212 : 181-185

Zygophlebius zebra ( Brauer, 1889) (1708)

( Figs. 63 –74)

Psychopsis zebra Brauer, 1889:102 (1708)

Zygophlebius zebra zebra Navás, 1917:203 (667); Oswald 1993:58 (7341) Notopsychops zebra (Brauer) : Tillyard 1919a:759 (324) Nothopsychops zebra (Brauer) [sic]: Tjeder 1960:193 (6044) Psychomorphe zebra (Brauer) : Krüger 1922:28 (3477) Type depository: NHMW. Holotype: female.

Type locality: Taveta, Kenya (03°23’S 37°40’E).

Etymology. Not originally stated, however probably from ‘zebra’, the common name (of Italian origin) of some African equids, in reference to the striping of the fore-wings of holotype. Noun in apposition.

Material examined: 8 specimens from Tanzania, Kenya ( NHMW, NMKE, SAMC). See table 1.

PLATE XI: FIGURES 59–62 . Zygophlebius pseudosilveira, female, Hoogenoeg, South Africa, Database no. : NEUR52509. 59. Apex of abdomen, lateral. 60. Spermatheca, lateral. 61. Apex of abdomen, ventral. 62. 9th gonocoxite, Terminalia, lateral. Abbreviations: 6 – 9 = tergites 6 – 9, VI – IX = sternites 6 – 9, 9gcx = 9th gonocoxite, bur = bursa, cc = cercal callus, cd = corniform diverticula, cf = copulatory fovea, ect = ectoprocts, spe = spermatheca, st = stylus.

Type material unable to be examined (taxon easily recognisable without reference to type)

Holotype: Database no.: NHMW00027; ♀ (NHMW). Label data (Following Oswald 1994): ‘Holnel / Ost- / Afrika / 1889 / Taveta’ (White rectangle). ‘ Psychopsis / zebra’ (White rectangle). ‘ zebra / det. Brauer’ (White rectangle). ‘Typus’ (Red rectangle). ‘♀’ (White rectangle with wing). ‘Coll. Nat. Mus. Wien.’ (Yellow rectangle). ‘Zygophlebius zebra / ( Brauer, 1889) / HOLOTYPE / Det JD Oswald 1992’ (White rectangle).

Diagnosis. Adults of this species may be distinguished by (1) male mediuncus weakly recurved, with bracketlike distal portion (Fig. 66), and (2) female sternite VII copulatory fovea with short, but prominent protuberance at posterior end (sagittal carina) (Fig. 74).

Redescription. ♂ Length body 11–13mm, forewing 17–21mm, hind wing 15–19mm.

♀ Length body 13–15mm, forewing 18–22mm, hind wing 16–19mm.

Head shiny brown. Thorax with pronotum shape generally longer than wide; yellowish brown cuticle without distinct patterning ( Fig. 64 ). Wings translucent yellowish. Forewing with transverse yellowish-brown bars proximally strong becoming weaker distally ( Fig. 63 ), bars indistinct in some specimens; discal gradate series unmarked ( Fig. 63 ). Hind wing generally unmarked; apical margins solid yellowish ( Fig. 63 ).

PLATE XII: FIGURES 65–68. Zygophlebius zebra , male, Sokoke Forest, Kenya, Database no.: NMKE00002. 65. Apex of abdomen, lateral. 66. Genitalia, lateral. 67. Apex of abdomen, ventral. 68. Genitalia, dorsal. Abbreviations: 7 – 9 = tergites 7 – 9, VII – IX = sternites 7 – 9, 9gcx = 9th gonocoxite, cc = cercal callus, ect = ectoprocts, ehgp = extra-hemigonarcal process, gs = gonarcus, med = mediuncus.

Abdomen yellowish brown ( Fig. 63 ); setae yellowish. Male terminalia. Sternite VIII indistinctly prolonged at apex (Fig. 67); gonarcus hosting extra-hemigonarcal process with large, projecting, brownish apex (Figs 66, 68); mediuncus large but narrow, less than half its length distal to basal portion (Fig. 66); apex weakly recurved forming bracket-like shape, tip claw-like, hooked, lacking setal brushes sub-apically (Fig. 66); dorsal surface of mediuncus concave (Figs 67, 68); basal portion of mediuncus with angular, knob-like lobes placed dorsally, small (Fig. 68). Female terminalia. Sternite VII with posteriorly emarginated copulatory fovea presenting central projecting protuberance short, but prominent, arising from sagittal carina of sternite VII (Figs 72, 74); copulatory fovea as small, non-spheroidal pit, bearing minute appendix compressed anteriorly (Figs 72, 74); posterior margins of sternite VII not recurved lateral to parasagittal prominences (Fig. 72); bursa with corniform diverticula present, supporting two ducts each (Figs 70, 71).

Distribution. East Africa: Tanzania and Kenya ( Fig. 37 ). Moist forest habitats, often associated with coastal forests.

PLATE XIII: FIGURES 69–74. Zygophlebius zebra , female, Sokoke Forest, Kenya, Database no.: NMKE00004. 69. Apex of abdomen, lateral. 70. Spermatheca, lateral. 71. Spermatheca, anterior. 72. Apex of abdomen, ventral. 73. 9th gonocoxite, lateral. –74. Terminalia, ventrolateral. Abbreviations: 6 – 9 = tergites 6 – 9, VI – IX = sternites 6 – 9, 9gcx = 9th gonocoxite, bur = bursa, cc = cercal callus, cd = corniform diverticula, cf = copulatory fovea, ect = ectoprocts, spe = spermatheca, st = stylus.

Figures

FIGURE 37. Point map distribution of Zygophlebius against a backdrop of annual precipitation data.

FIGURE 63. Zygophlebius zebra, habitus, female, Sokoke Forest, Kenya, Database no.: NMKE00003.

FIGURE 64. Zygophlebius zebra, anterior body, dorsal, male, Sokoke Forest, Kenya, Database no.: NMKE00002.