Platyplastinx tango Quate et Brown, 2004

Ježek, Jan, Oboňa, Jozef, Le Pont, François, Manko, Peter & Maes, Jean-Michel, 2021, New And Little Known Species Of Moth Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae) From Nicaragua, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 67 (4), pp. 349-366 : 359-363

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.17109/AZH.67.4.349.2021
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A1F34F-FFFB-FF9B-FE94-FF15FEA8FB82
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Platyplastinx tango Quate et Brown, 2004
status

Treatment

Platyplastinx tango Quate et Brown, 2004 View in CoL

( Figs 38 View Figs 38–48 –54)

Redescription. Male. Head ( Fig. 38 View Figs 38–48 ) almost rounded from frontal view (1.1 times broader in horizontal axis – measured without mouthparts), with raised concave bare tubercle dorsally and swollen kidney or C-shaped compound eyes laterally, contiguous in frontal area. Hair patch above close sparse and well separated in a central stripe. Ventral apices of eyes are broader than dorsal one. Eye bridge formed by 4 facet rows ( Fig. 39 View Figs 38–48 ). Supraocular bristles above dorsal margins of eyes on both extreme sides of head are not developed. Frontoclypeus with a dense triangular scar patch between and below the basis of antennae, cut terminally. Antennae ( Figs 40 View Figs 38–48 , 49) of 16 articles. Scape (Fig. 49) cylindrical, 1.4 times as long as pedicel which is 1.3 times broader in horizontal axis (compare vertical one) and a little asymmetrical. Basal flagellomeres (Fig. 49) are spindle-shaped, 1.8 times as long as pedicel, however, 1.3 times narrower. Neck of postpedicel is not conspicuous, however, gradualy prolonged to the last flagellomere, which is symmetrical ( Fig. 40 View Figs 38–48 ) in contrast to the foregoing articles. Digital apiculus has a bulbose basis. Ascoids on flagel- lomeres 1–14 lanceolate ( Figs 40 View Figs 38–48 , 49), narrow, sinuous, almost twice as long as segments bearing them. Mouthparts extending slightly beyond basal palp segment ( Fig. 38 View Figs 38–48 ). At the labellum, as shown in Fig. 42 View Figs 38–48 , parallel lines of miniature spines between both lobes are not visible. Labellum bulbose, with digital protuberances in between ( Fig. 42 View Figs 38–48 ). Length ratio of maxillary palps 1.0:1.4:1.8:2.5, segment 4 not annulate ( Fig. 41 View Figs 38–48 ). Ratio of maximum length of cibarium to length of epipharynx 2.6:1 (Fig. 50), labrum pointed.

Thorax. Anepisternum setae patch approximately elliptic, however, with irregular distal margins, anepimeron with almost triangular patch ( Fig. 43 View Figs 38–48 ), katepisternum with ir- regular almost circular setae patch more widely spaced. Spiracles set low on mesotho- rax. No thoracic allurement organs. Wings broadly lanceolate (Fig. 52), 2.3–2.8 mm long, pointed distally in the ending of R 5, perceivable expanded at the posterior wing margin, irregularly and uniformly patterned mainly in a distal half of wing, with two black spots in basal clear area. Cross-vein r 2 – r 4 conspicuous (in contrast to less visible cross-vein m 1 – m 3), transformed considerable black spot. The second black spot connecting R 2+4, M 1 and basis of R 5 forms distal margin of basal cell. Infuscation free parts of wing: large wing basis near neala and basal cell (Fig. 52), 9 semicircular or oval white spots between vein end- ings. Following veins or their parts strengthened: Sc conspicuously, R 1 (not proximally), R 2 distally, R 5, CuA 1 and CuA 2. Wing index 2.4. Halteres (Fig. 51) almost cudgel-shaped with a prolonged stem. Ratio of maximum length of halteres to their maximum width approximately 3.1:1. Ratios of lengths of femora, tibiae and first tarsal segments P 1 1.5:1.6:1.0, P 2 1.6:1.8:1.0, P 3 1.7:2.2:1.6. Paired tarsal claws of P 1 bent distally, hooked, with one medial tooth subapically and two medial rounded tubercles basally ( Fig. 44 View Figs 38–48 ).

Male genitalia. Basiphallus (ejaculatory apodeme) fan-shaped ( Fig. 47 View Figs 38–48 ), a little concave proximally as well as on both sides, distiphallus longly dibble shaped, inconspicuously sinuous, tapering distally and terminally pointed ( Figs 48 View Figs 38–48 , 54). Paramere as a single shaft very narrow, much longer than distiphallus, strictured distally ( Figs 47, 48 View Figs 38–48 , 54). Both parts of aedeagal complex closely adhering, enclosing and penetrating (see small aperture of paramere on Fig. 54), bent from lateral view. Gonocoxites, almost 1.2 times as long as cone-shaped gonostyli, which are bent, with a globular knob terminally ( Figs 46, 47 View Figs 38–48 ). Epandrium ( Figs 45 View Figs 38–48 , 53) broader than long, with paired oval foramens inconspicuously marked on outer sides, below with two large elliptical areas haired, narrowed medially but not touched. Hypandrium inconspicuous, narrow, as a slender band ( Fig. 47 View Figs 38–48 ). Hypo- proct largely tongue-shaped, covered with miniature microsetae in distal half, epiproct developed only as a bare fold ( Figs 45 View Figs 38–48 , 53). Epandrial clasping lobes ( Figs 45 View Figs 38–48 , 53) very short, almost pear-shaped, strengthened basally, haired, with one long pole-shaped tenaculum (approximately twice as long as clasping lobe) decorated by oval lacy ending. Moreover, 2-8 short apical peg-shaped accessory tenacula near are developed.

Figs 49–54. Platyplastinx tango Quate et Brown, 2004 , male. 49 = scape, pedicel, basal flagel-

lomeres and dissected ascoid; 50 = cibarium, labrum and epipharynx; 51 = halter, lateral view; 52 = wing; 53 = epandrium and epandrial clasping lobes, dorsal view; 54 = aedeagal complex, lateral view. Scale bars: 52 = 1 mm; 49-51, 53, 54 = 0.2 mm

42, 45-48= 0.1 mm; 44 = 0.03 mm

Differential diagnosis. Platyplastinx tango Quate et Brown, 2004 (male) is morphologically similar to P. moragai Quate, 1996 , however, eye bridges are not separated ( Fig. 39 View Figs 38–48 ), terminal flagellomere has a digital apiculus with a bulbose basis and ascoids are lanceolate ( Figs 40 View Figs 38–48 , 49). Frontoclypeus with a dense triangular scar patch between and below the basis of antennae, cut terminally ( Fig. 38 View Figs 38–48 ). Wing (Fig. 52) patterned mainly in a distal half of wing, with two black spots in basal clear area (cross-vein r 2 – r 4 and distal margin of basal cell). Distiphallus longly dibble shaped, intense tapering apically and terminally pointed. Paramere as a single shaft very narrow, much longer than distiphallus, strictured distally ( Fig. 47, 48 View Figs 38–48 , 54). Gonocoxites with a globular knob terminally ( Figs 46, 47 View Figs 38–48 ). Epandrium ( Figs 45 View Figs 38–48 , 53) with two large haired elliptical areas and paired oval foramens. Epandrial clasping lobes ( Figs 45 View Figs 38–48 , 53) almost pear-shaped, with one long pole-shaped tenaculum decorated by oval lacy ending and 2-8 short apical peg-shaped accessory tenacula.

In contrast to the mentioned species, P. moragai has eye bridges separated by less than one half facet diameter ( QUATE & BROWN 2004, p. 69, Fig. 176) and terminal flagellomere without a bulbose basis of digital apiculus, ascoids are unidigitate (see QUATE 1996, p. 35, Fig. 13i View Figs 12–18 ). Hair patch on frontoclypeus quadrate. Wing ( QUATE 1996, p. 35, Fig. 13h View Figs 12–18 ; QUATE & BROWN 2004, p. 69, Fig. 174) almost completely infuscated, with black spots limited only on basis of R 5 and endings of all veins. Distiphallus longly tongue-shaped, tapering to shoe-like apex a little beyond apex of paramere (see QUATE & BROWN 2004, p. 69, Fig. 173). Gonocoxites without a conspicuous globular knob terminally. Epandrium bare, with single oval aperture proximally (see QUATE 1996, p. 35, Fig. 13f View Figs 12–18 ). Epandrial clasping lobes almost cylindrical, with one conspicuous brush-shaped tenaculum and 3-6 inexpressive apical rods or peg-shaped accessory tenacula near ( QUATE 1996, p. 36; QUATE & BROWN 2004, p. 70).

Material examined. Nicaragua: Waslala, in the Atlantico Norte Department , station in an ecotonal forest/coffee plantation, 13°19’52”N 85°22’29”W, altitude 370 m a.s.l., 5 males. One additional male comes from “Penas Blancas Natural Reserve”, station La Laguna village , 13°14’01”N 85°44’55”W, 870 m a.s.l. All material collected by CDC minia- ture light-traps, v.-vi.2009, Le Pont leg. and slided, several specimens dissected, Cat. No. 34943–34948, Inv. No. 26000–26005 ( NMPC) GoogleMaps .

Bionomics. Unknown. The adults (males) collection station was located at a primary forest / coffee plantation ecotone, in a hilly landscape, very hu-

mid, in Waslala; in Penas Blancas slightly degraded subtropical forest. Distribution. Costa Rica, new for Nicaragua.

The subfamily Psychodinae was represented in Nicaragua by 54 spe- cies so far ( DUCKHOUSE 1973, MAES & KILLICK-KENDRICK 1990, COLLANTES & MARTINEZ-ORTEGA 1999, QUATE & BROWN 2004, TKOč et al. 2017, JEŽEK et al. 2020). A list of Psychodine moth flies increases by Arisemus venustus sp. n. and Platyplastinx tango Quate et Brown, 2004 collected in Nicaragua to 56 species, the last-mentioned genus represents the first record for this country. Arisemus venustus sp. n., described here, increases the number of known species of Arisemus to 34. The genus Platyplastinx Enderlein, 1937 was not known so far from Nicaragua.