Disparomitus caviceps, Michel, 2019

Michel, Bruno, 2019, Revision of the genus Disparomitus van der Weele, 1909 with descriptions of four new species (Neuroptera, Ascalaphidae), Zootaxa 4551 (1), pp. 1-39 : 12

Disparomitus caviceps n. sp.

( Figs 24–26 , 95 , 106–108 , 133, 134 )

Diagnosis. Wing length (mm): ♂ forewing 28–31, hind wing 25–27; ♀ forewing 32–34, hind wing 26–28. Body coloration dark brown to black. Species close to D. transvaliensis . Can be distinguished by the anterior edge of the yellow markings on the mesoscutellum horizontal, not oblique like in D. transvaliensis ( Figs 94–95 ), lateral spines at base of abdomen smaller than in D. transvaliensis and dorsal expansions of first abdominal segment conical, less gobulous than in D. transvaliensis ( Fig. 26 ). Recorded only from West Africa.

Description of male ( Fig. 134 ). Head. Labrum, clypeus and genae light yellow. Face brownish with white setae. Vertex brown with mixed grey and black setae. Thorax ( Fig. 95 ). Pronotum light brown with discal surface black. Mesonotum: prescutum brown with two brownish orange round markings. Mesoscutum brown bordered with yellowish. Mesoscutellum dark brown to black with two posterior conspicuous yellow markings. These markings are rectangular, their anterior margin perpendicular to the axis of the body. Metanotum: metascutellum brown with two postero-lateral yellowish markings. Lateral surface brown and yellow. Legs. Yellow, femora and tibiae with black longitudinal lines. Wings. Veins brown to dark brown with the costal and subcostal veins of forewings paler in some specimens. Abdomen ( Figs 25, 26 ). Brown. Posterior surface and dorsal surface of the dorsal expansion of first abdominal tergite yellowish ( Fig. 26 ). Lateral elevations of the dorsal expansion conical with stout black erect setae. Lateral surface of second and third abdominal tergites covered with small spine-like setae. Third abdominal tergite with a dorso-longitudinal darker line. Tergites of segment IV and V with anterior paler brown markings. Edge of segments II-V finely bordered with white (coloration visible mainly on live specimens ( Fig. 134 )). Abdominal sternites yellow with a medio-longitudinal black line. Ectoprocts yellowish with an anterior round dark marking and the posterior margin largelly bordered with dark brown. Male genitalia. Gonarcus-parameres complex as in figures 106–108. Gonarcus black, light in colour dorsally. Bulb surface wrinkled and whitish with a darker V-shaped marking. Carena well developed. Description of female ( Fig. 24 ). Same colour as male. Abdominal tergites with dorso-longitudinal brown line and bordered with the same colour. Slits of the abdominal tergites marked with dark brown.

Material examined (5 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀). Holotype ♀ NIGERIA, S.E. Kano, Azare , 11.672639/10.203948, alt. 416 m, 1925, L. Lloyd leg. , labelled as holotype of Disparomitus caviceps by Tjeder (invalid name) ( NHMUK 1925– 303 ) ( Fig. 24 ) . Paratypes. BURKINA FASO: 1 ♂ Basora , 11.7166/-4.0833, alt. 284 m, 21.v.2003, J. Bouyer leg. 1 ♂ Bobo Dioulasso , 11.1833/-4.2833, alt. 445 m, 21.v.2010, 19h05, M. Akoudjin leg. 1 ♂ Koumbia , 11.17/-3.6861, alt. 301 m, Forêt du Mou, 06.vi.2009, B. Michel leg. 1 ♂ same locality, 13.vi.2010, M. Akoudjin leg. 1 ♂ Parc W, 23.vi.2003, J. Bouyer leg. 1 ♀ same locality 25.vi.2003, J. Bouyer leg. 1 ♀ same locality, 04.vi.2004, J. Bouyer leg. ( All specimens Cirad-CBGP) .

Comment. I tentatively classify a male specimen collected on 27.vi. 2003 in BURKINA FASO in the park W by J. Bouyer as D. caviceps . This specimen is entirely dark brown. This colour is probably the consequence of discoloration. The first abdominal tergite is developed dorsally but not notched. This uncommon shape could represent an abnormal form. The dorsal part of the parameres is folded inside the gonarcus, as in the male of D. citernii ( Figs 109, 110 ). This malformation certainly occurred during the drying process. The lateral abdominal spines are stout. This specimen is in Cirad-CBGP.

Distribution. In Burkina Faso, D. caviceps was found in forest galleries and wooded savannahs ( Fig. 133 ). Recorded from Burkina Faso to Nigeria ( Fig. 139 ).

Etymology. Name proposed by Tjeder, from Latin cavus, -a, -um (concave, excavated) and suffix –ceps, - cipitis (headed): having a concave head.

Figures

FIGURE 139. Known distibution of Disparomitus spp. (? = species recorded from the country without collection locality).

FIGURES 24–26. Disparomitus caviceps n. sp. 24. Holotype ♀, habitus, labels and microvial with terminalia. 25. Male, habitus and label. 26. Id., metascutellum and base of abdomen, dv.

FIGURES 84–95. Thorax and base of abdomen, dv. 84. D. abyssinicus. 85. D. bacillus. 86. D. brevistigma. 87. D. haullevillei (photo MRAC). 88. D. kimminsi (white arrow shows the black dot in the yellow marking). 89. D. lineatus. 90. D. schoutedeni (photo MRAC). 91. D. sellatus (photo MRAC). 92. D. simplex. 93. D. spatula. 94. D. transvaliensis. 95. D. caviceps.

FIGURES 96–113. Gonarcus-parameres complexes of Disparomitus spp. 96. D. abyssinicus type, dv. 97. Id., lv. 98. Id., cv. 99. Suphalasca bacillus type, dv. 100. Id., lv. 101. Id., cv. 102. D. bacillus from Ivory Coast, dv. 103. D. brevistigma from Democratic Republic of Congo, dv, 104. Id., lv. 105. Id., cv. 106. D. caviceps, dv. 107. Id., lv. 108. Id., cv. 109. D. citernii, dv. 110. Id., lv. 111. D. haullevillei, dv. 112. Id., lv. 113. Id., cv. (c = carina of paramere; g = gonarcus; p = paramere).

FIGURES 133–138. 133. Habitat of D. caviceps, Burkina Faso, Forêt du Mou, vii.2009, forest gallery. 134. D. caviceps ♂, 06.vi.2009, Burkina Faso, Forêt du Mou. 135. Habitat of D. lineatus, Mali, Farako Falls on 28.iii.1997, tree savana. 136. Id., grass savana. 137. Habitat of D. spatula, Mali, Natiékoura, iii.1998. 138. D. spatula ♀ resting on a lateritic stone. White arrows show the supports on which ascalaphids were collected.