Saximormia gladiator, Curler & Priyadarsanan & Atree, 2015

Curler, Gregory R., Priyadarsanan, Dharma Rajan & Atree, 2015, Descriptions of Psychodidae (Diptera) from the Western Ghats of India, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 55 (2), pp. 473-483 : 480-482

Saximormia gladiator sp. nov.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J, INDIA: KERALA: Wayanad, Vythiri Resort , near small stream, 1.–19.ii.2007, coll. M.E. Irwin (Malaise trap); deposited ZSI-WGRC (No: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/IV/4473) . PARATYPES: 2 JJ, same data as holotype ; deposited ZSI-WGRC and USNM.

Diagnosis. Male. Ascoids appearing ribbed, with anterior and posterior margins scalloped ( Fig. 15 ); gonostyli dorsoventrally compressed along apical half, each with prominent paired, spathiform setae inserted dorsally.

Description. Male ( Figs 13–16 ). Measurements (n = 3): head width 0.28 mm, head height 0.33 mm (0.32–0.36), wing length 1.63 mm (1.56–1.70), wing width 0.63 mm (0.60–0.66), palpomere proportion: 1.00-2.50-2.50-3.50. Eye bridge as in other Saximormia , with four facet rows touching at median; frontal setae alveoli patch quadrate, without median dorsal projection.Antennae: scape about as long as wide; flagellomeres nodiform, most with several basiconic sensilla inserted apically on node; ascoids present on f 1–14, appearing ribbed, with anterior and posterior margins scalloped reminiscent of a pleated lamp shade; f 14 with apical process digitiform, approximately as long as node. Wing with Sc connected apically to R 1, radial and medial fork arising basal to apex of M 4, medial fork incomplete, R 5 apex posterior to wing apex. Terminalia: hypandrium inconspicuous, band-like, without modification; gonocoxites flat at base, globular at apex, with bases fused dorsomedially; gonocoxal apodemes dorsoventrally compressed, plate-like, similar to ball and socket type (of Maruinini ); gonostyli nearly three times as long as gonocoxites, dorsoventrally compressed along apical half, each with prominent paired, spathiform setae inserted dorsally; aedeagus clearly symmetrical, acuminate apically; parameres fused dorsally, encricling aedeagus, with a conical, moveable appendage dorsally; posterior appendage of paramere directed posterodorsally when at rest, directed anterodorsally when gonopods opened; epandrium hexagonal in dorsal view, about 1.5 times wider than long; hypoproct prominent, tongue-shaped, with dentation posteriorly; epandrial claspers tapered from base to apex, curved dorsally, each with seven tenacula inserted dorsoapically; tenacula frayed apically.

Etymology. From the Latin gladiator , meaning “swordsman” in reference to the conspicuous, spathiform (sword-like) setae on the male gonostyli. Noun in apposition.

Distribution. Recorded only from the type locality.

Comments. Saximormia gladiator represents the first record of this genus for India, and the westernmost record for the Oriental Region. Only three species of Saximormia Ježek, 1984 have previously been described ( JEŽEK 2010), and while their morphology is generally similar, S. gladiator is clearly unique due to the presence of prominent setae on the gonostyli. Few specimens of S. gladiator were available for study, and those that were did not slide mount in a way that was entirely conducive to studying genitalic morphology.

Figures

Figs 13–16. Saximormia gladiator sp. nov. 13 – wing; 14 – male genitalia: hypandrium, gonopods, and aedeagus, dorsal view; 15 – flagellomere 5, with ascoids; 16 – epandrium, proctiger and epandrial claspers, dorsal view. Abbreviations: aed – aedeagus; asc – ascoid; eja – ejaculatory apodem; epd – epandrium; gcx – gonocoxite; gst – gonostyle; prm – paramere. Scale bars: 13 = 0.50 mm; 14, 16 = 0.10 mm; 15 = 0.05 mm.