Psyllipsocus didymus Lienhard, 2014

Lienhard, Charles & Ferreira, Rodrigo L., 2014, New species of Psyllipsocus from Brazilian caves (Psocodea: ‘ Psocoptera’: Psyllipsocidae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 121 (2), pp. 211-246 : 229

Psyllipsocus didymus Lienhard n. spec. Fig. 10

HOLOTYPE: ISLA; 3 (slide-mounted); BRAZIL ( MT), Paranaíta , Gruta da Pedra Preta cave, 19.ix.2011, leg. R. L. Ferreira.

PARATYPE: MHNG, terminalia slide-mounted, rest in alcohol; 13 , same data as for holotype .

DESCRIPTION OF MALE: General colouration light to medium brown. P4 brown, compound eyes dark brown. Forewing with characteristic colour pattern (Fig. 10A). Tibiae without transversal bands. Abdominal tergites with red-brown transversal bands of hypodermal pigment. Terminalia light brown.

Macropterous (Fig. 10A). General morphology as in P. clunioventralis (see description above). Male terminalia (Fig. 10D) as in P. clunioventralis , except for the following diagnostic details. Paraproct with a sclerotized ventro-basal strap (in P. clunioventralis at most a membranous fold at this place); tip of clunial rods not simply truncate but slightly expanded and lobed; phallic cradle anteriorly truncate; anteromedian lobe of phallosome sclerite narrowly rounded; sclerotized posterior extensions of phallosome sclerite reaching posterior margin of hypandrium.

MEASUREMENTS: Male holotype: BL = 1.0 mm; FW = 1340 µm; FWw = 472 µm; FW/FWw = 2.84; HW = 1100 µm; F = 230 µm; T = 490 µm; t1= 170 µm; t2 = 43 µm; t3 = 47 µm; IO/D = 1.7.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet refers to the close relationship to P. clunioventralis (Greek didymos, latinized: didymus , - a, - um; twin).

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT: P. didymus is only known from the type locality, the Gruta da Pedra Preta cave, Paranaíta municipality, Mato Grosso state. This granite cave comprises a huge crevice, enlarged due to erosion by water. The external vegetation was Amazonian forest, but this has been severely impacted by clearing for pasture. The main organic resources in the cave are plant debris, brought in by water or wind. Specimens of P. didymus were found on cave walls (in twilight zones) and may feed on algae. The species was not found in the only other cave visited nearby (Abrigo da Pedra Preta).

DISCUSSION: This species is very closely related to P. clunioventralis (see discussion on that species, above) from which it can be distinguished by the forewing pattern, the anteriorly truncate phallic cradle and the other details of male terminalia mentioned in the above description.