Nothocaecilius thomasi, Schmidt & New, 2008

Schmidt, Evan R. & New, Timothy R., 2008, The Psocoptera (Insecta) of Tasmania, Australia, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 65, pp. 71-152 : 102-104

Nothocaecilius thomasi sp. nov.

Figures 91–101

Caecilius sp. C . Coy et al., 1993: 77.

Material examined. Holotype: Mt Michael , 740 m, 41 o 10.9’S 148 ° 00.4’E, PKD, tree #2, 26 Nov 1989 (H. Mitchell) . Paratype: Frodshams Pass , Scotts Peak Road, 1.5 km west Gordon River Road, 42 ° 49’S 146 ° 23’E, fogging Nothofagus cunninghamii Sample B , 15 Feb 1990 ( R. Coy, P. Lillywhite, A. Yen) ( MV). Additional records: 3

, 1, under stones, Ferntree, 28 May 1957 ( V. V. Hickman) .

Description of female. Coloration (after ca 2 years in alcohol). Head very dark brown except for buff vertex. Scape, pedicel, f 1 and f 2 darkbrown,f 3 -f 11 slightly paler (from Hickman specimen). Maxillary palps brown, apical segment dark brown. Eyes black. Fore wing (fig. 91) and hind wing (fig. 92) with shades of brown. Thorax and legs dark brown, trochanter pale brown, tibiae merging brown apically. Abdomen pale mauve with darker annulations, terminal segments dark brown.

Morphology. IO:D = 3.4. Head and thorax glossy. Median epicranial suture distinct. Vertex rounded. Labrum: stylets large, spiculate; internal sclerotisation present; sensilla 5 in total. Lacinia (fig. 93, Hickman specimen) apically very broad, preapically expanded on one side, apical margin with broad denticles. Flagellar segments bearing long thick setae, f 1 slightlybent.Brachypterous.Forewing(fig. 91) apical venation variable; setae on basal veins in at least 2 ranks; vein cu 2 strongly setose; setae long and standing relatively upright; veins rs and m fused for a short length. In hind wing (fig. 92) vein r sometimes simple. Microtrichia obvious in both wings. Mesothoracic precoxal suture absent. Abdominal adhesive vesicles absent. Epiproct (fig. 94). Paraproct (fig. 94) with round field of 10 trichobothria; small bifid projection and associated seta between one short and one long macroseta on posterior margin. Subgenital plate (fig. 95) with transverse apical margin, pigment band extending into two broad arms diverging anteriorly. Ventral valve of gonapophyses (fig. 96, Hickman specimen) considerably shorter than broad dorsal valve, external valve remnant bearing 2-3 setae. Spermatheca with long glandular area (sac not present).

Dimensions. B 2.3, FW 1.07, HW 0.81, F 0.66, T 0.98, t

1

0.355, t 2 0.126, rt 2.8:1, ct 0,0, f 1 0.419, f 2 0.284.

Description of male. Coloration (after ca 2 years in alcohol). As female, except vertex with dark brown pigment each side of median epicranial suture separating both pale regions laterally on vertex. Fore wing (fig. 97) and hind wing (fig. 98) generally as female.

Morphology. IO:D = 3.2. Head glossy, vertex rounded. Labrum and lacinia as female. Brachypterous. Venation of fore wing (fig. 97) reduced. Epiproct (fig. 99) with longitudinal raised area bearing a few papillae. Paraproct (fig. 99) with round field of about 10 trichobothria; posterior margin with small bifid projection (side on for paraproct shown, appearing as a single cone) and associated seta between 2 small setae, an adjacent region of papillae. Hypandrium (fig. 100) with field of posterolateral setae on each side, median margin lacking setae. Phallosome (fig. 101) with transverse anterior margin.

Dimensions. B 2.0, FW 0.81, HW 0.46, F 0.56, T 0.84, t

1

0.308, t

2

0.111, rt 2.8:1, ct 0,0, f

1

0.466, f

2

0.308.

Remarks. This rare species, restricted to cool-temperate closed forest, was not collected during this study. It has also been found on Nothofagus by S. Thomas in Cape Otway National Park, Victoria. Males with micropterous wings have been collected.

Etymology. Named for Simon R. Thomas, in recognition of his contribution to the knowledge of Bass Strait Psocoptera .

Figures

Figures 91-101. Nothocaecilius thomasi. Female: 91, fore wing; 92, hind wing; 93, lacinia; 94, epiproct and paraproct; 95, subgenital plate; 96, gonapophyses. Figures 91, 95 and 93 and 94 to common scales. Male: 97, fore wing; 98, hind wing; 99, epiproct and paraproct; 100, hypandrium; 101, phallosome. Figures 99 and 101 to common scale.