Dorsomitus tjederi Michel, 2018

Michel, Bruno & Mansell, Mervyn W., 2018, A new genus and species of owlfly from eastern and southern Africa (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 413, pp. 1-12 : 4-8

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2018.413
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5950225
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/7A616478-4C51-AB5A-AF34-F931FEEBFE04
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Dorsomitus tjederi Michel
status	gen. et sp. nov.

Treatment

Dorsomitus tjederi Michel View in CoL gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:666BFC9D-4117-426E-880C-B0 CAD 5E9E600

Fig. 2 View Fig.2

Diagnosis

Male

Prongs of the forked projection of first abdominal segment twice as long as wide ( Fig. 2D–E View Fig.2 ). Lateral surface of abdominal tergites 2 and 3 covered with short black spines ( Fig. 2C–D View Fig.2 ).

Etymology

The first author dedicates this species to the late Dr. Bo Tjeder in gratitude for his huge contribution to the knowledge of Neuroptera .

Material examined

Holotype

ZIMBABWE: ♂, Marondera (“Rhodesia, Marandellas ”), -18.19, 31.55, alt. 1640 m, Nov. 1961, “ Disparomitus neavei det. D.E Kimmins 1963” ( NHMUK 1963-439 ) ( Fig. 2A View Fig.2 ).

GoogleMaps

Other specimens

MALAWI: 1 ♂, Chisasira Forest Reserve , -11.85, 34.08, 25 Dec. 2001, R.J. Murphy leg. ( SANC NEUR05937 ).

SOUTH AFRICA: 1 ♂, Ben Lavin Nature Reserve , 9 km South of Louis Trichardt, -23.04, 29.91, alt. 950 m, 8–14 Dec. 2000, M. Krüger leg. ( SANC NEUR09310 ) ; 1 ♂, same but 8 Dec. 2000 (SANC NEUR09310); 1 ♂, Bluegums Poort Farm , -22.97, 29.88, alt. 1445 m, 15 Oct. 1999, J. Joannou leg. ( SANC NEUR05778 ) ; 1 ♂, D’Nyala Nature Reserve , -23.75, 27.83, alt. 893 m, 17 Dec. 1987, E. Van der Linde leg. ( SANC NEUR00775 ) ; 1 ♂, Manoutsa Resort , -24.4, 30.62, alt. 504 m, 24 Nov. 1981, R.G. Oberprieler leg. ( SANC NEUR00080 ) ; 1 ♂, same but 24 Nov. 1981, M.W. Mansell leg. (SANC NEUR00083); 1 ♂, Pafuri , -22.43, 31.21, alt. 216 m, 24 Dec. 1973, H. & A. Braack leg. ( SANC NEUR09295 ) ; 1 ♂, same but 6 Dec. 1986, L.E.O. Braack leg. (SANC NEUR08750).

ZIMBABWE: 1 ♂, Arcturus, -17.78, 31.32, 7 Nov. 1999, A.J. Gardiner leg. ( SANC NEUR09311 ); 1 ♂, Harare, Glenborne, -17.25, 31.03, 3 Dec. 1992, A.J. Gardiner leg. ( SANC NEUR09312 ); 1 ♂, Lawrenceville , -19.03, 32.73, alt. 1500 m, 6 Dec. 1994, N.J.S. Duke leg. ( SANC NEUR01985 ).

Description

Male

HEAD. Frons black with luteous margins to eyes. Labrum and clypeus yellowish. Tufts of hairs between bases of antennae brownish. Antennae brown with yellowish mark on external apical part of each antennomere. This mark (not clearly visible on all the specimens) is more visible on the last segments. Segments of the club yellowish, bordered with brown apically.

THORAX. Grey to yellowish-brown. Prescutum of mesothorax with dark oval marking divided medially by a narrow longitudinal clear line. Dorsal part of mesoscutum with an elongate dark marking ( Fig. 2A View Fig.2 ). Lateral and ventral part of thorax testaceous, lighter than the dorsal part, covered with silky white hairs ( Fig. 2B View Fig.2 ). Legs dark brown with apex of femora yellow and two yellow markings on the dorsal surface of tibiae ( Fig. 2B View Fig.2 ). Tarsi dark brown.

ABDOMEN. Prongs of the forked projection of abdominal segment 1 of male twice as long as wide ( Fig. 2D–E View Fig.2 ). Lateral surfaces of abdominal tergites 2 and 3 covered with short black erect spines ( Fig. 2C–D View Fig.2 ). Dorsal area of same tergites glabrous ( Fig. 2C View Fig.2 ). Second abdominal tergite with two basal black shiny areas and two longitudinal sinuate dark lines ( Fig. 2F View Fig.2 ). Ectoprocts extended laterally with one apical stout black seta ( Fig. 2G View Fig.2 ). Subgenital plate convex, yellowish laterally, bordered with brown, tapering to a sub-rounded apex. Gonarcus-parameres complex as in Fig. 2H–J View Fig.2 . Parameres not extended downwards by a carina ( Fig. 2H, J View Fig.2 ). Pulvini well developed, lacking setimere ( Fig. 2G View Fig.2 ).

Distribution

Known from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Malawi ( Fig. 4 View Fig. 4 ).

Remarks

Considering the shape of the prongs of the forked projection of segment 1 of male, and the spine-like setae on the lateral surface of abdominal tergites 2 and 3, and pending the observation of additional specimens, we consider that the species briefly described and illustrated by Tjeder (1992) is D. tjederi gen. et sp. nov.