Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) moctezuma (Dyar & Knab)

Mendez-Andrade, Alejandro, Rivera-García, Karina D. & Ibáñez-Bernal, Sergio, 2019, Notes on the Toxorhynchites of Mexico: redescription of Tx. moctezuma (Dyar & Knab) and new record for Tx. grandiosus (Williston) in Veracruz (Diptera: Culicidae), Zootaxa 4576 (1), pp. 140-150 : 141-144

Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) moctezuma (Dyar & Knab)

( Figs. 1–3 )

Megarhina moctezuma Dyar & Knab, 1906: 251 (male, female). Type locality: Costa Rica, Río Aranjuez near Puntarenas .

Megarhinus trinidadensis Dyar & Knab, 1906: 252 (male, female). Type locality: Trinidad .

Megarhina moctezuma of Howard et al. 1913: pl. 37, fig. 246 (male genitalia), pl. 128, fig. 444 (larva); Howard et al. 1917: 950 (description of female, male and larva).

Megarhinus (Megarhinus) moctezuma of Dyar 1928: 411 (diagnosis of female, male and larva).

Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) theobaldi in part of Lane 1953: 129.

Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) moctezuma of Zavortink & Chaverri 2009: 894 (resurrection from synonymy with Tx. theobaldi ; external characteristics of female and male).

Fourth-instar larva ( Fig. 1a,b,c ). Chaetotaxy in Table 1. Antenna: Nude, without spinules ( Fig. 1b ). Thorax: Seta 8-P outside of setal support plate; 5,7,9-P spinulate. Setae 6,9,13-M spinulate. Setae 6,7,9,13-T spinulate. Abdomen: Setae 1,4-I–V, 3,6,7,11,13-I,VI, 2,10-I–V and 1,7,11,13-VII spinulate ( Fig. 1a ). Abdominal segment VIII: Seta 1-VIII outside of setal support plate; 4,5-VIII spinulate. Siphon: Seta 1-S fanlike with aciculate branches, inserted near base, approximately at basal 0.2 of siphon; length, 1.08–1.31 mm (n = 3); width, 0.47–0.52 mm (n = 3); siphon index, 2.2–2.5 (n = 3). Abdominal segment X: Seta 1-X spinulate, almost as long as saddle; 4-X plumose; saddle with very large and conspicuous marginal spicules of different sizes; length, 0.66–0.7 mm (n = 3); width, 0.65–0.66 mm (n = 3); saddle index,1.0 (n = 3). Anal papillae: Short, about 0.22 times length of saddle ( Fig. 1c ).

Pupa ( Fig. 2a,b ). Chaetotaxy in Table 2. Cephalothorax: Seta 1-CT spinulate. Lightly tanned. Trumpet: Cylindrical, moderately tanned. Length, ♀ 1.32 mm (n = 1), ♂ 1.15–1.40 mm (n = 2); width, ♀ 0.30 mm (n = 1), ♂ 0.25–0.30 mm (n = 2); trumpet index, ♀ 4.40 (n = 1), ♂ 4.66 (n = 2); pinna, ♀ 0.37 mm (n = 1), ♂ 0.30–0.50 mm (n = 2); meatus, ♀ 0.95 mm (n = 1), ♂ 0.85–0.90 mm (n = 2) ( Fig. 2a ). Abdomen: Seta 1-I fanlike with aciculate dendritic branches; setae 3-I,II, 5-II–VI, 6-VI spinulate; slightly tanned on first 3 abdominal segments and yellowish on others, with small and inconspicuous spicules on segments II–VIII. Length, ♀ 6.82 mm (n = 1), ♂ 6.00– 7.34 mm (n = 2). Paddle: Irregular in form, with inner margin shorter than outer margin, with small and inconspicuous spicules on inner margin to apex of paddle and on apical 0.20 of outer margin, more conspicuous on latter. Midrib conspicuous and distinct except at apex, not reaching margin; length, ♀ 2.1 mm (n = 1), ♂ 1.80–1.85 mm (n = 2), width, ♀ 1.55 mm (n = 1), ♂ 1.52–1.62 mm (n = 2); paddle index, ♀ 1.35 (n = 1), ♂ 1.21–1.14 (n = 2). Genital lobe: Slightly yellowish; length, ♀ 0.45 mm (n = 1), ♂ 0.72–0.75 mm (n = 2) ( Fig. 2b ).

+Number of basal branches (fanlike seta with dendritic branches). *Number of terminal branches (forked setae).

Adult female ( Fig. 3a ). Head: Occiput and vertex clothed with green-bluish scales, with purplish reflexions at certain angles; ocular line with silver scales and 3+3 convergent setae. Antenna dark-brown; first flagellomere paler and swollen at base, with a group of dark scales; pedicel with silvery-white pruinosity. Maxillary palpus 0.94 times length of forefemur, dorsally covered with blue and purple scales, but laterally with golden reflections, apex with silver scales with lilac reflections. Proboscis dark, with purple reflections at base, rest covered with blue scales with golden reflections. Clypeus dark-brown with silvery-white pruinosity. Thorax: Antepronotum clothed with blue-green scales, with 2 setae on lateral margin and 4 on anterior portion. Integument of scutum dark-brown with a medial line of bluish scales; dorsocentral area mostly with brown scales with coppery reflections and a wide band of pale bluish scales from anterior border of scutum to supraalar area. Postpronotum covered with pale bluish scales. Pleura, proepisternum and forecoxa covered with cream-colored scales with a slight golden tinge. Scutellum with pale bluish scales and 14 long marginal setae. Mesopostnotum with white pruinosity. Abdomen: Terga I–VI covered with metallic blue scales and VII,VIII with purple scales; terga IV–VII with yellow scales on posterior margins; tergum VIII with numerous terminal setae. Legs: All femora dark with blue reflections dorsally, ventral surface pale golden specially on basal half, all tibiae with dark purple scales; foreleg and midleg with tarsomeres 2 and part of 3 with white scales, hindleg with tarsomere 4 white and tarsomere 5 black, but sometimes with basal half white ( Fig. 3a ).

Adult male ( Fig. 3b,c,d,e,f ). Head: Ocular line with white scales. Occiput and vertex as described for female. Proboscis dark with reflections like female. Maxillary palpus 0.56 times longer than forefemur, dark with purple reflections dorsally and golden reflections laterally, apex of palpomeres covered with white scales with lilac reflections, palpomere 2 wider than others, palpomere 5 as long as 3 and 4 together. Clypeus dark-brown with silvery-white pruinosity. Antenna dark brown, first flagellomere swollen, covered with scales with blue and golden reflections; pedicel with silvery-white pruinosity ( Fig. 3d ). Thorax: Antepronotum and scutum similar to female. Postpronotum covered with pale bluish scales. Pleura, proepisternum and coxae covered with cream-colored scales. Scutellum covered with pale bluish scales. Mesopostnotum with white pruinosity ( Fig. 3f ). Abdomen: Terga I–V covered with blue scales, and terga VI,VII with violet scales; lateral areas of terga III–V with yellow scales. Legs: Femora as in female ( Fig. 3e ). Tibiae dark with purple reflections. Foretarsus entirely dark, midleg with white scales on tarsomere 2, tarsomere 4 of hindleg with white scales, tarsomere 5 dark with few white scales basally ( Fig. 3b,c ). Wing: Proximal half of costa and radius with blue and purple scales.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 2c,d ). Tergum IX subquadrate, wider than long, with proximal margin deeply emarginate, arcuate, apical margin with 2 small lobes (ninth tergal lobes) separated by a shallow concavity, each lobe bearing 6 setae; basal apodemes long, about same width as length (Fig. 5d). Gonocoxite long and slender, external length about 3.9 times its width at middle, with a poorly developed basal mesal lobe bearing 3 strong setae that are considerably larger than those nearby. Gonostylus 0.88 length of gonocoxite, apical 0.67 narrow, with about 6 small setae, ending in an apical straight and acute claw 0.2 gonostylus length. Proctiger triangular in tergal view, externally sclerotized and with a group of 5 small cercal setae near apex. Lateral plate of aedeagus simple, heavily sclerotized; phallosome short, parameres thumb-like with sclerotization at apex ( Fig. 2c ).

Material examined. The redescription is based primarily on larval, pupal and adult characteristics of reared specimens, complemented with observations of other specimens obtained from different localities in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.

Veracruz, municipality of Actopan, locality El Viejón Viejo, 0 9 June 2018, 1 ♀, 1 pupal exuviae (of same specimen), tree hole (19° 41′ 46.01″ N, 96° 24′ 50.91″ W) ; locality La Mancha, 15 August 2018, 1 ♂, 1 pupal exuviae, 1 larval exuviae (of same specimen), artificial container (19° 36′ 26.91″ N, 96° 23′ 38.64″ W); 19 November 2018, 1 ♂, 1 pupal exuviae, 1 larval exuviae (of same specimen), tree hole (19° 35′ 49.54″ N, 96° 22′ 42.47″ W); 20 November 2018, 1 larval exuviae, 1 pupa (of same specimen), tree hole (19° 35′ 37.87″ N, 96° 22′ 51.46″ W).

Other specimens. Mexico, Veracruz, municipality of Xalapa, El Castillo, 21 September 2004, 2 ♀ (19° 32′ 48.98″ N, 96° 51′ 57.33″ W) ; Fuente de las Ánimas, September 2005, 2 ♂, 1 ♀ (19° 31′ 47.55″ N, 96° 53′ 17.55″ W); municipality of Emiliano Zapata, Cerro Gordo, 0 7 September 2004, 3 ♀, 1 ♂ (19° 26′ 1.33″ N, 96° 41′ 56.61″ W); Rinconada, 10 October 2007, 2 ♀, 1 ♂, (19° 21′ 9.80″ N, 96° 33′ 46.69″ W); municipality of Coatepec, Plan de la Cruz, 0 2 August 2009, 1 ♂ (19° 30′ 12.46″ N, 96° 56′ 35.49″ W); municipality of Martínez de la Torre, Maloapan, 10 August 2016, 2 ♂ (20° 03′ 12.9″ N, 97° 04′ 46.1″ W).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Larva of Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) moctezuma: a, Thorax and abdomen (segments I–VI); b, head; c, terminal part of abdomen (segments VII, VIII, X and siphon). A, antenna; C, head; M, mesothorax; P, prothorax; S, siphon; T, metathorax; I–VIII,X, abdominal segments I–VIII,X; 1–14, setal numbers for specified areas. Scales in millimeters.

FIGURE 2. Pupa and male genitalia of Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) moctezuma. Pupa: a, Cephalothorax; b, abdomen. Male genitalia: c, Gonocoxite, gonostylus (lateral view), phallosome and proctiger (dorsal aspect); d, tergum IX. Ae, aedeagus; BML, basal mesal lobe; CSe, cercal setae; CT, cephalothorax; Gc, gonocoxite; GL, genital lobe; Gs, gonostylus; LP, lateral plate; Pa, paddle; Par, parameres; Ppr, paraproct; I–VIII, abdominal segments I–VIII; 1–14, setal numbers for specified areas. Scales in millimeters.

FIGURE 3. Adults of Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) moctezuma. Female: a, Body, lateral view. Male: b, Body lateral view; c, hindtarsomeres 3–5; d, head (dorsal view); e, abdomen (dorsal view); f, head, thorax and abdomen (lateral view).