Tanystigma edwardsi (New, 1974)

Schmidt, Evan R. & New, Timothy R., 2008, The Psocoptera (Insecta) of Tasmania, Australia, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 65, pp. 71-152 : 147

Tanystigma edwardsi (New)

Figures 249–53

Clematostigma edwardsi New, 1974b: 292.

Tanystigma edwardsi . --- Smithers, 1983: 77.

New (1974b) described this species from material consisting of males only. Both sexes were collected from Tasmania, and a description of the female is provided.

Material examined. Specimen on which description based: Tasmania, 1, Cape Tourville , Leptospermum grandiflorum , 5 Dec 1986. Additional records: site 77, 1, 2 nymphs 4 Feb 87; 6, 22 Mar 87; 1

, 21 Feb 88; site 86, 1, 21 Mar 87; 2, 1, 22 Apr 87; 1, 20 Feb 88; site 88B, 1, 11 May 87; site 95A, 1, 20 Feb 88.

Distribution. Tasmania and Victoria.

Description of female. Coloration (after ca 5 years in alcohol). Head paler than that of male. Usual markings on back of vertex, dorsal to eyes and along epicranial suture dark brown. Ocelli internally bordered black. Black lines extending from lateral ocelli to antennal bases not present. Brown mark extending from back of eye along its ventral margin to brown ring of antenna base. Brown stirrup mark on frons. Striae on postclypeus very pale. Labrum and anteclypeus colorless. Eyes black. Maxillary palp pale except dark brown apical segment. Fore wing (fig. 249) with complete brown fascia. Hind wing (fig. 250) hyaline. Thorax, legs and abdomen as male.

Morphology. IO:D = 3.7. Fore wing (fig. 249): fine sparse setae on margin and veins; both sections of vein cu 1a at a distinct angle, basal section longer than apical section; spur-vein from pterostigma present. Hind wing (fig. 250) with few fine setae on margin between r 2+3 and r 4+5. Epiproct (fig. 251) with pair of lateral longitudinal sclerotised bars. Paraproct (fig. 251) with round field of 27 trichobothria, apical margin setose. Subgenital plate (fig. 252) with setose median lobe, pigmentation arms converging posteriorly fusing at basal section of lobe. Gonapophyses (fig. 253): ventral and dorsal valves with narrow spiculate apical spine; external valve with large posterior lobe and small apical dorsal lobe. Spermathecal plate (fig. 253).

Dimensions. B 3.0, FW 2.74, HW 2.06, F 0.58, T 1.08, t

1

0.284, t

2

0.178, rt 1.6:1, ct 16,0, f

1

0.600, f

2

0.506.

Remarks. In fore wing pigmentation the females of T. edwardsi most resemble the larger T. inglewoodense . The pigmentation of the pterostigma is more extensive in the latter species, however the pigmentation surrounding the rs + m vein junction is more extensive in T. edwardsi . The two species differ markedly in the shape and extent of the lateral sclerotised bars of the female epiproct (not figured for T. inglewoodense by New, 1974b), in the pattern of pigmentation of the subgenital plate and in the structure of the spermathecal plate (not figured or mentioned for T. inglewoodense by New, 1974b). The males from Tasmania are smaller (fore wing length about 4.0 mm) than those described from Victoria (fore wing length about 4.5 mm), and have a stirrup mark on the frons, a feature not mentioned in the original description by New (1974b). However, on the balance of other characters, specimens of this species are provisionally referred to edwardsi . This species has a limited distribution and a dry coastal scrub habitat preference similar to P. freycineti , but is also found in dry forest. It was taken from December to May.

Figures

Figures 249-253. Tanystigma edwardsi. Female: 249, fore wing; 250, hind wing; 251, epiproct and paraproct; 252, subgenital plate; 253, gonapophyses and spermathecal plate. Figures 249, 250 and 251-253 to common scales.