Litoblatta argentina Rocha e Silva & Aguiar, 1975

Valverde, Alejandra Del Carmen & Crespo, Francisco A., 2021, Four new species of Litoblatta from Argentina with a key to species based on males (Blattaria: Ectobiidae: Blattellinae), Zootaxa 4941 (4), pp. 553-568 : 561-563

Litoblatta argentina Rocha e Silva & Aguiar, 1975

( Figs. 34–54 , 60–67 , 73 )

Litoblatta argentina Rocha e Silva & Aguiar 1975: 236 , figs. 1–3. Litoblatta argentina Crespo & Valverde 2008: 173 , fig. 16, Litoblatta argentina Crespo et al. 2010: 7 , 24, fig. 3.

Material examined. ARGENTINA. 3♁, locality, date and coll. missing ( MLP) . Povince of Buenos Aires: 5♁, locality missing, 4/I/1908, 15/III/1909, 27/III/1909, 21/II/1914 and 10/X/1925, Leg. Brèthes J. ( MACN) ; 2♁, Alsina , date missing, Leg. Sánchez ( MACN) ; 2♁, Barker, Estancia La Carreta , 27-30/I/2012, Crespo F. coll. ( FCEN) ; ♁ Cañuelas , 2/IV/1919, coll. missing ( MLP) ; ♁, Carmen de Patagones , 11/IV/1991, Leg. Iván ( CFA) ; 2♁, Isla Martín García , IV/1938, Viana M.J. Coll. ( MACN) ; ♁, Miramar , 17/ III /1926, Leg. Parodi R. ( MACN) ; ♁, Saavedra , Estancia El Corjapie, 25/ III /1952, Olivier S. R. coll. ( MLP) ; ♁, San Blas , 10/ II /1941, Birabén M. coll. ( MLP) ; 4♁, San Blas , date and coll. missing ( MACN) ; ♁, San Clemente del Tuyú , II /1963, Rizzo E.A. coll. ( MLP) ; ♁, Tres Arroyos , 21/I/2005, Angrisano E., Sganga J. & Mussio G. colls. ( FCEN) ; ♁, Tres Arroyos , 20/I/1938, Birabén M. & Scott colls. ( MLP) ; 2♁, Zelaya , I/1934, Leg. Daguerre J ( MACN) . Province of Catamarca: ♁, locality missing, I/1910, Leg. Propile Spegacini ( MACN) ; ♁, Andalgalá , 3/ III /1939, Birabén M. & Scott colls. ( MLP) ; ♁, La Viña, 21/ III /1939, Birabén M. & Scott colls. ( MLP) . Province of Chubut: ♁, Balneario Radatilly , 18/I/1977, Leg. Stange L. ( IFML) ; ♁, 2♀ & N, Comodoro Rivadavia , 5-7/ II /1916, Leg. Duello Jurado M. & Agusti E. colls. ( MACN) ; 2♁, Puerto Madryn , 17-V-1915, Duello Jurado M. coll. ( MACN) ; 2♁, 5♀, N♁ & N ♀, Puerto Madryn , 22/I/2018 Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) . Province of Córdoba: ♁, Agua de Oro , I/1949, De Carlo J. coll. ( MACN) ; ♁, Bialet Massé , 11/I/1976 - 3/ II /1976, Willink A. coll. ( IFML) ; ♁, Cabana , II /1943, Birabén M. coll. ( MLP) ; ♁, General San Martín , I/1946, coll. missing ( IFML) ; ♁, La Falda , camino del cuadrado, 17/ II /2013, Rubio G., Iuri H., Ojanguren A. & Porta A. colls. ( FCEN) ; 2♁, Lucio V. Mansilla , 16/IV/1946, Birabén M. coll. ( MLP) ; ♁, San Marcos Sierra , 30-31/I/2018, Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) ; ♁, Sierra de Córdoba, 21/I/1938, Bridarolli S.J. coll. ( MACN) ; 3♁, Departamento Capitán Argüello , X-XII/1944, Leg. De Carlo J. ( MACN) ; 5♁, Departamento de Punilla , X/1946 - II /1947, Viana J.M. coll. ( MACN) . Province of Jujuy: ♁, La Mendieta, XII/1954, Birabén M. coll. ( MLP) . Province of La Pampa: 4♀ and N♁, Depto. Conelho, Conelho , 2/I/1943, Hepper H. coll. ( MACN) ; 2♁, Depto. Conelho, Conelho , II-III/1943, Hepper H. coll. ( MACN) ; ♁, Depto. Conelho, Conelho , 10/1934, Pereyra J. coll. ( MACN) ; ♁, Gaviotas , 2/ V /1938, Birabén M. & Scott colls. ( MLP) ; 2♁ & N ♀, Gobernador Duval , 19/I/2018 Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) . Province of La Rioja: ♁, locality missing, II /1931, Gómez M. coll. ( MACN) ; ♁, locality missing, 19/IX/1932, Gómez M. coll. ( MACN) ; ♁, Ambil , 15/ III /1940, Birabén M. coll. ( MLP) ; ♁, C. Miranda , 1928, Gómez M. coll. ( MACN) ; ♁, Chilecito , 21/ II /1939, Birabén M. & Scott colls. ( MLP) ; ♁, Chilecito , 20/I/1960, Willink A. coll. ( IFML) ; ♁, Illiar , II /1933, Gómez M. coll. ( MACN) ; ♁, Illiar , II /1934, Gómez M. coll. ( MACN) ; ♁, Samay Huasi , 25/ II /1959, Torres & Gardellia colls. ( MLP) ; ♁, Depto. Belgrano , 6/X/1929, Gómez M. coll. ( MACN) . Province of Mendoza: 2♁ locality missing, 1928 & 1929, Reboredo C.L. coll. ( MACN) ; ♁, Cacheuta, Papagallos , III /1940, Birabén M. coll. ( MLP) ; 2♁, Cacheuta, Papagallos , XI/1974, Roig A. coll. ( MACN) ; 6♀, Cacheuta, Papagallos , III /1975, Roig A. coll. ( MACN) ; ♁, Depto. Cacheuta , date and coll. missing ( MACN) ; ♁, Cordón de las Lajas , date and coll. missing ( MACN) ; ♁, Ñacuñan , 20/ II /2003, Pirk G. coll. ( FCEN) ; ♁, Ñacuñan , 24/ V /2004, Pirk G. coll. ( FCEN) . Province of Neuquén: ♁, Barrancas , 12/I/1980, Willink A. coll. ( IFML) ; ♁ & ♀, Cuchillo Curá, Área natural protegida, 21/ I/2012, Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) ; 2♁, Trapial , 4/I/1995, Carpintero D. coll. ( CFA) . Province of Río Negro: ♁, Choele Choel , 20/XII/1943, Maldonado R. coll. ( MLP) ; 2♁, Los Menucos , 13-14/I/2015, Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) ; 2♀ & N ♀, Paso Córdoba, 11-13/I/2016 Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) ; ♀, Sierra Grande, 23/I/2018, Iuri H. coll.; ♁, 6♀ & N♁, Sierra Grande, Playas Doradas, Paseo del Cuis , 9/I/2015, Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) ; ♁ & ♀, Sierra Vieja ( Sierra grande), 8/ I/2015, Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) , 5♁, 2♀, 3N♁ & 3N ♀, Sierra Grande , 3-4/I/2019, Iuri H. & Risso C. colls. ( FCEN) ; ♁, Valcheta , 2/X/1938, Birabén M. & Scott colls. ( MLP) ; 7♁ & 2♀, Valcheta , estación de trenes, II /2013, Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) ; ♀ & N♁, Valcheta , 1/I/2016, Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) ; first instar N? Viedma , II /2012, Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) ; ♀ & 2 oothecae, Viedma, I-II/2011, Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) ; 2♁ & ♀, Viedma , I/2013, Iuri H. coll. ( FCEN) . Province of Salta: ♁, Cafayate , 20/ Xll /1970, Stange L. coll. ( IFML) ; ♁, Juramento , 14/ III /1939, Birabén M. & Scott colls. ( MLP) ; ♁, Mogote , 15/ III /1939, Birabén M. & Scott colls. ( MLP) ; ♁, Rosario de la Frontera, 15/ III /1939, Birabén M. & Scott colls. ( MLP) ; ♁, Taquíl , 2400 m.a.s.l., 1-15/ Xll /1968, Willink A., Terán & Stange L. colls. ( IFML) . Province of Tucumán: ♁, Amaichá , 2000 m.a.s.l., II /1929, coll. missing ( IFML) ; ♁, Aragón , 650 m. a.s.l., 6/ III /1913, Joërgensen P. coll. ( MLP) ; ♁, Rumi Punco , 20/ III /1939, Birabén M. & Scott colls. ( MLP) ; 2♁, Tapia , 16/ III /1959, Birabén M. & Scott colls. ( MLP) ; ♁, Trancas Tacanas , 3–17/XII/1968, Stange L. coll. ( IFML) .

Diagnosis. Right paraproct with a conspicuous digital process ( Fig. 36 ). Via wide and strongly curved ( Fig. 41 ). R1P ends distally as an expanded quadrangular area that includes the inner convex scale zone sz placed as in figures 40, 43 and 73.

Male. Measurements in mm. N= 117. PL: 3.00‾4.93; TeL: 10.30‾21.27; TL: 16.00‾24.89; IO: 0.60‾1.10; IOc: 0.40‾1.00; IA: 0.60‾1.10. Eyes shape: Males eyes are bigger and less separated than the eyes of females and with their ventral shape rounded ( Fig. 44 ). Supra anal plate posterior border slightly concave ( Fig. 34 ). Male right paraproct with a digital process, presents short conical spines on the internal basal margin ( Figs. 35–36 ). Right stylus with conical short spines and the left stylus without spines ( Figs. 37–38 ). Genitalia as described for the genus ( Figs. 39–42 ). R1 P ends distally as an expanded quadrangular area that includes the inner convex scale zone sz placed as in figures 40 and 43. The Holotype genital sclerites is shown in figure 43.

Female. Measurements in mm. N= 35. PL: 3.605‾.44; TeL: 2.06‾3.40; TL: 9.90‾18.71; IO: 1.50‾1.80; IOc: 0.90‾1.40; IA: 0.90‾1.40. Compound eyes with an acute ventral shape and a bigger interocular distance. Ocelli smaller than males widely separated. Brachypterous, tegminae present as lateral lobes, do not reach the metanotum. Wings absent. Genitalia as described for the genus ( Figs. 52–54 ): the cerci bases are surrounded by TX laterally and followed by TIX ( Figs 52–53 ). Tergal extensions of tergites VIII and IX are in contact with gonocoxa VIII (first valvifer + basivalvula) ( Fig. 53 ). Gonangulum articulates with the tergal projections and the lateral part of the posterior lobe of second valvifer ring ( Klass, 1998) ( Fig.53 ). The three pair of valves are observed internally ( Fig. 52 ). The ventral chamber wall is covered by a membranous cuticle with folds ( Fig. 52 ). To see the spermathecal plate, the laterosternal shelf and the vestibular sclerite it was necessary to perform a dissection ( Fig. 54 ).

Nymph. ( Figs. 48–51 ). Measurements in mm. N= 7 ♁ y 6 ♀. N♁: PL: 3.33–3.70; TeL: 3.30–4.20; TL: 13.24– 14.49; IO: 1.30–1.40; IOc: 0.8–0.90; IA: 1.00–1.10. N ♀: PL: 4.00–4.68; TeL: 3.00–3.40; TL: 13.89–15.18; IO: 1.50–1.70; IOc: 1.00–1.40; IA: 1.10–1.20 .

Remarks. Litoblatta argentina is the only species found in the province of Río Negro. One female found mating in the locality of Sierra Grande ( Fig. 44 ). The couple was collected in an arid habitat as it can be observed in figure 45. There are other females that were collected carrying an ootheca ( Figs. 46–47 ) in the locality of Viedma. Darker and stouter than males ( Fig. 44 ).

In the catalogues Crespo & Valverde 2008 and Crespo et al. 2010 all the specimens of the institutions were misidentified following the currently used characters as L. brasiliensis , now identified as L. argentina , except for the new species herein described.

Distribution. Argentina-Provinces of Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chubut, Córdoba, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Neuquén, Río Negro, Salta y Tucumán

Figures

FIGURES 34‒43. Litoblatta argentina. 34. Supra anal plate apical margin slightly concave, dorsal view. 35–36. Right paraproct with a digital process and short conical spines on the internal basal margin, dorsal and ventral view. 37. Subgenital plate with styli, ventral view. 38. Detail of the right stylus with spines and left stylus pilous, ventral view. 39. Subgenital plate and genital sclerites, dorsal view. 40. Right complex R, dorsal view. 41. L2+via, dorsal view. 42. L3, dorsal view. 43. Photograph of the type specimen, genital sclerites (MNRJ).

FIGURES 44‒51. Litoblatta argentina. 44. Opposed position of a copulating pair, female brachypterous and male macropterous. 45. Habitat, Sierra Grande, province of Río Negro. 46–47. Oothecae. 48. Male mature nymph, dorsal view. 49. Female mature nymph, dorsal view. 50. Male nymph subgenital plate with styli, ventral view. 51. Female nymph subgenital plate and cerci, ventral view.

FIGURES 52‒54. Litoblatta argentina, female genitalia. 52–53. Female genitalia, chamber dorsal and ventral walls, posterior view. 53. Genital chamber, dorsal wall. 54. a Spermathecal plate; b Laterosternal shelf and vestibular sclerite; a and b are placed in the ventral chamber wall indicated by doted lines. Abbreviations. bv basivalvula; ca central apodeme; gg gonangulum; pl posterior lobe of valvifer II; pm median part of posterior lobe of second valvifer ring; pp paraproct; te tergal extension of tergite IX; tg tergal extension of tergite VIII; T IX tergum IX; T X tergum X; v I first valv; v II second valv; v III third valv; vf VIII valvifer first arm.

FIGURES 60‒67. Male genitalia. 60. R1P, dorsal view. 61–62. R complex, dorsal view. 62. Sclerites are placed from dorsal to ventral, R3, R4, R1S, R2 and R1P with sz, dorsal view. 63. Sclerites R1S, R2, R4 and R3, dorsal view. 64–65. Sclerite L2+via, dorsal view. 66–67. L3 protruded from the genital chamber; with its hook-like apex curved to the left, dorsal view.

FIGURES 68‒74. Schemes of the sclerite R1P with the convex scale zone sz, dorsal view. 68. Litoblatta lutea sp.nov. 69. L. elisae sp. nov. 70. L. misionerae sp. nov. 71. L. tucumanae sp. nov. 72. L. brasiliensis. 73. L. argentina. 74. L. clara.