Lutzomyia fonsecai ( Costa Lima, 1932 )

Chaves Júnior, Salvador P., Lima, Guilherme C., Mendonça, Rafael P. & Andrade, Andrey J., 2023, Description of a new species of the genus Lutzomyia França, 1924 (Diptera: Phlebotominae) and of the male of Lutzomyia fonsecai (Costa Lima, 1932), Zootaxa 5277 (3), pp. 521-537 : 530-535

Lutzomyia fonsecai ( Costa Lima, 1932)

( Figs 6–7 )

Phlebotomus fonsecai Costa Lima, 1932: 49 (♀, Gruta de Inscripciones, Carmen , Santa Cruz, Bolivia); Martins et al. 1978: 168 (listet, distribution).

Flebotomus fonsecai: Rapp, 1945: 23 (listed).

Lutzomyia fonsecai: Theodor, 1965: 196 (♀, listed); Forattini 1973: 348 (♀, figure, listed, distribution, identification key); Young & Duncan 1994: 686 (♀, figure., listed, distribution, identification key); Galati et al. 2011 (♁, figure); Sábio et al. 2015: 597 (taxonomic discussion); Shimabukuro et al. 2017: 79 (listed, distribution); Galati 2018: 35 (♁, ♀, listed, distribution, identification key).

Micropygomyia (Sauromyia) fonsecai: Galati 2003: 32 (♀, listed, distribution); Galati 2007: 448 (♀, listed, distribution).

Male. Head ( Fig. 6A ): 330 (340–391, n = 7) in length, 287 (270–328, n = 7) in width; the arrangement of deciduous bristles in the occiput region forming an “X” shape; clypeus: 122 (122–151, n = 7) in length, 84 (72–96, n = 7) in width; eyes: 157 (142–186, n = 7) in length, 93 (81–107, n = 7) in width; interocular distance: 104 (107–119, n = 7). Pharynx with striations and small teeth ( Fig. 6B ). Cibarium: absence of teeth ( Fig. 6B ) (some specimens present between 6 and 9 anterior teeth distributed in a transverse row). Sclerotized arch complete ( Fig. 6B ). Labrum-epipharynx (LE): 209 (203–246, n = 7) ( Fig. 6F ). Antenna ( Figs 6C–E , 7A–J ): flagellomeres (F) length: FI: 246 (252–284, n = 6), FII: 116 (116–130, n = 6), FIII: 128 (116–128, n = 6), FXIII: 64 (52–61, n = 6) and FXIV: lost (52–64, n = 5). Ascoids: short posterior spur, atrophied peduncle; long anterior spur on FI, but it does not reach the level of the preapical papilla ( Fig. 6C ); external ascoids implanted at a more apical level than the internal on FI; presence of one preapical papilla on FI–FIII ( Figs 6C–E ), papilla absent on FIV–FXI ( Figs 7A–H ); presence of two papillae on FXII and three on FXIII ( Figs 7I and J ), FXIV lost (presence of four papillae on FXIV in the other specimens); preapical spiniform papilla in FIX, FXI and FXIII ( Figs 7F, H and J ); presence of simple setae on FIV–FXIII ( Figs 7A–J ). Palpi (P) ( Figs 6G–K ) length: palpomere I: 38 (29–43, n = 7), palpomere II: 119 (122–142, n = 7), palpomere III: 133 (136–168, n = 7), palpomere IV: 107 (110–130, n = 7) and palpomere V: 273 (235–343, n = 7); palpal formula: 1.4.2.3.5; PIII with Newstead’s sensillae concentrated in the median region in the article ( Fig. 6I ). Parallel labial sutures not forked ( Fig. 6a ).

Cervix: ventro-cervical sensilla present. Cervical sclerites bearing a pair of spinifom sensillae.

Thorax. Mesonotum: 416 (394–496, n = 7) in length. Pronotum, metanotum and post-notum light brown; paratergites and pleura off-white. Presence of three proepimeral setae; eight upper anepisternal setae. Absence of setae in the anterior region of the katepisternum. Costal vein broken in the specimen used for description. Wing ( Fig. 7K ): 1,609 (1,609 –1,831, n = 7) in length, 418 (418–465, n = 7) in width; Veins: R 5 : 1,017 (1,036 –1,110, n = 7), alfa: 367 (367–414, n = 7), beta: 226 (223–255, n = 7), gamma: 215 (226–273, n = 7), delta: 113 (125–159, n = 7), pi: 131 (116–182, n = 7). Legs: anterior, median and posterior. Coxae: 251 (260–316, n = 7), 260 (260–316, n = 7), 260 (265–316, n = 7); only the femur (678, n = 1) and tibia (657, n = 1) of the anterior leg of one of the specimens were not lost.

Abdomen: 1,313 (1,184 –1,498, n = 7) in length; tergal papillae absent. Genitalia ( Fig. 7L ): gonocoxite: 235 (229–249, n = 7) in length, 87 (87–113, n = 7) in width, with basal tuft containing 4 setae, with the apical being smaller and thinner than the others; two long slender setae and one semifoliaceous seta longer than the others with sickle-shaped apex.; gonostyle: 145 (145–162, n = 7) in length, without preapical seta, and with 4 spines well developed: one apical, one upper external, one lower external and one internal. Upper external spine implanted in the apical third of the gonostyle and the lower external spine is situated at a more basal level than the internal spine. Paramere ( Fig. 7M ): dorsal margin: 157 (142–151, n = 7) in length, ventral margin: 139 (139–168, n = 7) in length; convex dorsal margin, with seven straight setae; apical extremity of the dorsal margin curved upwards; tubercule of the dorsal margin: upper edge 29 (26–35, n = 7) in length, lower edge 14 (17–23, n = 7) in length, 9 (9–12, n = 7) in width, with three setae with hook–shaped apex; digitiform apex of the paramere: 17 (17–23, n = 7) in length and 9 (6–12, n = 7) in width; ventral margin with preapical spur covered by a row of long setae. Parameral sheath sclerotized and coniform. Epandrial lobe: 281 (290–325, n = 7) in length, 23 (20–26, n = 7) in width. Sperm pump ( Fig. 7N ): 162 (148–168, n = 7); ejaculatory apodeme: 125 (121–142, n =7); aedegal ducts, 357 (377–418, n = 7) in length, and 3 (3, n = 7) in width; with bevel–shaped apex ( Fig. 7N ) and approximately 2.4 times longer than the sperm pump. Cerci damaged in the specimen used in the description, the measurements refer to other specimens; damaged (99–162, n = 6) in length, damaged (23–49, n = 6) in width.

Material examined: BOLIVIA, 4♁♁, Calvario cave, municipality of Robore, Chiquitos Province (17º50′22″ S, 60º53′13″ W), Santa Cruz Department, without collection data, col. Le Pont, R., (FSP-USP-LESP-Phlebotominae); 4♁♁, Águas Calientes cave , German Busch Province (19º04′06″ S, 58º21′08″ W), Santa Cruz Department, vi.2007, col. Le Pont, R (FSP-USP-LESP-Phlebotominae) .

Etymology. Costa Lima named the species in honour of Doctor Olympio da Fonseca, the first person to capture female specimens of L. fonsecai on 26.i.1925, in the Gruta de Las Inscriciones , municipality of Carmen, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia.

Distribution: Bolivia. Santa Cruz Department: Robore, Chiquitos Province; Carmen, German Busch Province.

Medical importance: no study proves vectorial competence or capacity, or natural infection by parasites.

Taxonomic discussion

Based on the classification of Galati (1995; 2003; 2018), the new species presents characters consistent with the genus and subgenus Lutzomyia s. str., such as, palpomere V much longer than palpomere III and absence of setae in the anterior region of the katepisternum in both sexes. In the males, the gonostylus has 4 well-developed spines, with the lower external more basal than the internal and the dorsal margin of the paramere having two or more setae with hook-shaped apex. The females present spermathecae segmented and cibarium with complete sclerotized arch.

The males of Lutzomyia itambe sp. n. have some morphological characters close to males of L. dispar and L. fonsecai , and these separate them from the other 19 species of the subgenus Lutzomyia , such as: parallel labial sutures not forked ( Figs 2a , 4a and 6a ) and paramere with digitiform apex preceded by a spur on the ventral margin ( Galati 2018). The male of Lutzomyia itambe sp. n. is bigger than the other two species. The distinction between them is made based on the parameres: (i) in the males of L. dispar ( Figs 8A and B ), the tubercule where the hook-shaped setae are implanted presents a height equivalent to 2.6 of its width, the area of the preapical spur is covered with a few short setae and the dorsal margin of the paramere immediately after the tubercule is concave, with 2–3 straight setae and turned towards the gonocoxite; (ii) in the males of L. fonsecai ( Figs 8C and D ), the height of the tubercule does not extend beyond double its width, the area of the preapical spur is covered with a row of long setae and the dorsal margin of the paramere immediately after the tubercule is convex, with 6–7 straight setae and turned towards the gonocoxite; (iii) the parameres of the males of Lutzomyia itambe sp. n. ( Figs 8E and F ) are more similar to those of the males of L. fonsecai , since they have the dorsal margin of the paramere immediately after the tubercule straight or slightly convex, with 5–6 straight setae, but they differ in relation to the covering of the setae in the area of the preapical spur. In Lutzomyia itambe sp. n. there are rows of short and long setae, whereas in L. fonsecai , there are only long setae. The dorsal margin of the paramere tapers off brusquely in its median region in L. fonsecai when compared to Lutzomyia itambe sp. n., giving the former a more pointed aspect and the latter a more robust aspect. In addition, the delta wing differs in these two species, being bigger than 100 µm in L. fonsecai and smaller than 90 µm in the new species.

As in males, in females of Lutzomyia itambe sp. n., the labial sutures do not form a fork, a character which makes this species close to the females of L. dispar and L. fonsecai and distinguishes them from the other 19 species of the subgenus Lutzomyia s. str. ( Galati 2018). The difference between the females of Lutzomyia itambe sp. n., L. fonsecai and L. dispar are the distribution of Newstead’s sensillae in the palpus, present in palpomeres II, III and IV in L. dispar ( Fig. 9A ), and only in palpomere III in L. fonsecai and Lutzomyia itambe sp. n. ( Figs 9B, C ). In L. dispar the Newstead ‘s sensillae are found dispersed in palpomere III, while in the other two these sensory structures are concentrated in the median region of the article. None difference was observed between the spermathecae of L. dispar ( Fig. 9D ) and L. fonsecai ( Fig. 9F ). The difference in the females of Lutzomyia itambe sp. n. and L. fonsecai is based on the length of the common and individual ducts: L. fonsecai ( Fig. 9E ) common duct 6–12 µm (n = 2), individual ducts 119–128 µm (n = 2); Lutzomyia itambe sp. n. ( Fig. 9F ) common duct 18–23 µm (n = 3), individual ducts 136–165 µm (n = 8), respectively. Furthermore, these two females can be distinguished by the delta wing, being less than or equal to 151 µm in L. itambe sp. n. (49–151, n = 8) and greater than 198 µm in females of L. fonsecai (198–201, n = 2).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Male holotype of Lutzomyia itambe sp. n. A. Head; a. Labium. B. Pharynx and cibarium. C. Flagellomere I. D. Flagellomere II. E. Flagellomere III. F. Labrum-epipharynx. G. Palpomere I. H. Palpomere II. I. Palpomere III. J. Palpomere IV. K. Palpomere V. (Bars: 100 µm).

FIGURE 4. Female paratype of Lutzomyia itambe sp. n. A. Head. a. Labium. B. Pharynx and cibarium. C. Flagellomere I. D. Flagellomere II. E. FlagellomereIII.F. Labrum-epipharynx.G. Hypopharynx.H.Mandible.I. Laciniaof maxilla.(Bars:100 µm).

FIGURE 6. Male of Lutzomyia fonsecai. A. Head. a. Labium. B. Pharynx and cibarium. C. Flagellomere I. D. Flagellomere II. E. Flagellomere III. F. Labrum-epipharynx. G. Palpomere I. H. Palpomere II. I. Palpomere III. J. Palpomere IV. K. Palpomere V. (Bars: 100 µm).

FIGURE 7. Male of Lutzomyia fonsecai. A. Flagellomere IV. B. Flagellomere V. C. Flagellomere VI. D. Flagellomere VII. E. Flagellomere VIII. F. Flagellomere IX. G. Flagellomere X. H. Flagellomere XI. I. Flagellomere XII. J. Flagellomere XIII. K. Wing. L. Terminalia M. Paramere. N. Sperm pump and aedeagal ducts. (Bars: 100 µm).

FIGURE 8. Lutzomyia dispar: A. Terminalia and B., paramere. Lutzomyia fonsecai: C. Terminalia and D. paramere (in the drawing of the genitalia of the male of Lutzomyia fonsecai, a single structure is represented, since in the specimen used for description, the structure was dissected). Lutzomyia itambe sp. n. E. Terminalia and F. paramere. (da: digitiform apex; svm: spur on the ventral margin; *setae turned towards the gonocoxite; rows setae of paramere) (Bars: 100 µm).

FIGURE 9. Palpomeres (P) PII, PIII and PIV and Newstead’s sensilla (sN): A. Lutzomyia dispar. B. Lutzomyia fonsecai. C. Lutzomyia itambe sp. n. Spermatechae: D. Lutzomyia dispar. E. Lutzomyia fonsecai. F. Lutzomyia itambe sp. n. (Bars: 100 µm).