Saetherocladius hirtus Andersen et Mendes

Andersen, Trond, Mendes, Humberto F. & Pinho, Luiz C., 2010, Four new species of Saetherocladius Andersen et Mendes from Mata Atlântica, Brazil (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae), Zootaxa 2608, pp. 45-56 : 46-47

Saetherocladius hirtus Andersen et Mendes

( Figs 1–2 )

Saetherocladius hirtus Andersen et Mendes, 2007: 48

Saetherocladius hirtus Andersen et Mendes ; Mendes et al. (2007: 1175).

Material examined. Holotype male as in Andersen and Mendes (2007). Brazil: São Paulo State, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, Ubatuba, 23o21'43''S, 44o59'22''W, 21.i.2002, 3 males, Malaise trap (Bosque 7), N.W. Peixoto et al.; 1 male as previous except 24.i.2002, (Bosque 6); Rio de Janeiro State, Reserva Biológica Tinguá, Nova Iguaçu, 22o34'32''S, 43o26'07.6''W, 8–11.iii.2002, 1 male, Malaise trap (Bosque 3), S.T.P. Amarante et al.

Diagnostic characters. The species can be separated from the other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: AR 0.29–0.36; virga 8–11 µm long; inferior and superior volsella well separated; inferior volsella rounded, without dorsal microtrichia and anal point parallel-sided.

Male (n = 5–6, except when otherwise stated). Total length 1.11–1.32 (3) mm. Wing length 663–700, 690 µm. Total length / wing length 1.59–1.88 (3). Wing length / length of profemur 2.29–2.37, 2.34.

Coloration. Dark brown.

Head. AR 0.29–0.36, 0.33. Ultimate flagellomere 94–112, 109 µm long. Temporal setae 4–9, 7 including 0–5, 3 inner verticals; 2–4, 3 outer verticals and 1–2, 1 postorbital. Clypeus with 4–7, 5 setae. Tentorium 75– 88, 82 µm long; 14–18, 16 µm wide at sieve pore. Stipes 66–77, 73 µm long; 29 (1) µm wide. Palp segment lengths / widths (in µm): 14–18, 16 / 11–14, 13; 21–27, 24 / 13–16, 15; 43–60, 54 / 15–19, 17; 48–57, 52 / 12– 16, 15; 82–100 (3) / 10–13 (3). Third palpomere with 4–7, 5 sensilla clavata subapically; longest 8–11, 10 µm long.

Thorax. Antepronotum with 2–5, 4 setae. Dorsocentrals 12–16, 14; acrostichals 11–24, 16, starting close to antepronotum; prealars divided into 2–4, 3 posterior and 2–4, 3 anterior setae; supraalar 1. Scutellum with 4 setae.

Wing. VR 1.39–1.46, 1.43. Costal extension 8–20, 14 µm long. Brachiolum with 1 seta; R with 1–3, 2 seta; other veins bare. Squama with 0–1, 0 seta.

Legs. Spur of fore tibia 29–39, 34 µm long; spurs of mid tibia 13–18, 16 µm and 9–12, 11 µm long; spurs of hind tibia 31–34, 33 µm and 9–12, 11 µm long. Width at apex of fore tibia 18–23, 21 µm; of mid tibia 18– 23, 20 µm; of hind tibia 27–29, 28 µm. Comb with 12–16, 14 setae; longest 20–28, 26 µm long; shortest 11– 18, 16 µm long. Lengths and proportions of legs as in Table 1.

Hypopygium ( Figs 1–2 ). Anal point 20–41, 32 µm long; 7–12, 10 µm wide at base; 4–7, 5 µm wide at apex; with 2–4, 3 setae basally. Laterosternite IX with 3–4, 3 setae. Phallapodeme 45–50, 47 µm long; transverse sternapodeme 34–50, 40 µm long. Virga 8–11, 9 µm long (in the original description the length of virga was given as 20 µm; this length, however, refers to the length of the penis cavity and not the virga itself). Gonocoxite 90–98, 93 µm long. Gonostylus 56–60, 59 µm long, with large, triangular crista dorsalis; megaseta 7–9, 8 µm long. HR 1.54–1.68, 1.59. HV 1.92–2.23 (3).

Female and immatures. Unknown.

Distribution and ecology. The species has been collected in Malaise traps close to low-order forest streams in areas with mainly primary Atlantic forest in Parque Estadual de Picinguaba and in Parque Estadual Serra do Mar in the coastal areas of São Paulo State. One specimen from Reserva Biológica Tinguá in Rio de Janeiro State extends its known range further north.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Saetherocladius hirtus Andersen et Mendes, 2007, male. 1 - anal point and tergite IX and dorsal aspect of left gonocoxite and gonostylus; 2 — hypopygium with tergite IX and anal point removed, dorsal aspect to the left, ventral aspect to the right.