Polypedilum quasinubifer Cranston, 2016

Cranston, Peter S., Martin, Jon & Spies, Martin, 2016, Cryptic species in the nuisance midge Polypedilum nubifer (Skuse) (Diptera: Chironomidae) and the status of Tripedilum Kieffer, Zootaxa 4079 (4), pp. 429-447 : 440-441

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4079.4.3
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4F1CC4B7-2A6F-4BB6-8F05-00650BDB001A
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6075641
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/70DEF8F7-C4A2-445B-8550-B8417B29393F
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:70DEF8F7-C4A2-445B-8550-B8417B29393F
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Polypedilum quasinubifer Cranston
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Polypedilum quasinubifer Cranston View in CoL sp. n.

( Figs 1A, C, F View FIGURE 1 ; 2C, F; 3C; 4B, D, F; 5B)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:70DEF8F7-C4A2-445B-8550-B8417 B29393 View Materials F

Type material. Holotype, Le / Pe / ♂, AUSTRALIA: Queensland, Lawn Hill National Park , Musselbrook , Amphitheatre , 18°21’S 138°09'E, 13.v.1995 ( Cranston ) ( ANIC). GoogleMaps

Paratypes, Le/Pe/ ♂, Le/Pe/ ♀, as Holotype; Pe, Queensland, Lawn Hill N.P., Musselbrook, Border Pool, 18°36’53”S 137°59’25”'E, 14.v.1995 (Cranston) ( ANIC).

Other material examined. SINGAPORE: Upper Seletar Reservoir, 1°24’10"N 103°48'27"E, 29.vii.2012, 16.vii.2013, 8.x.2013 (NUS team) (all life stages); Bedok Reservoir, 1°20’47”N 103°55’31”E, 11.ix.2013, (NUS team) (all life stages) (some of each stage to ANIC, remainder to RMBR—MV) GoogleMaps .

THAILAND: single L from each of: Chiang Mai, Amphur Doi Saket, Nam Kuang, 19°00’N 99°17’E, 15.v. 2004, 554 m. GoogleMaps , L-689 (Vitheepradit & Prommi); Mae Kuang, 19°00’N 99°17’E, 15.v.2004 (DuCharme) Kalasin, Amphur Khao Wong, Tad Tong Waterfall, 16°45’N 104°07’E, 204 m. GoogleMaps , TH62 (Vitheepradit); Petchabun, Khao Khor N.P., stream from Tamtip Waterfall, 16°39.594’N 101°07.901’E, 182 m., 11.v.2004, L-678, TH5 (Vitheepradit & Prommi); Chaiyaphum, Phu Kiew WS, Lam Num Prom, 16°27’N 101°39’E, 589 m., 2.v.2004 (DuCharme) GoogleMaps ; Prachin Buri, Khao Yai N.P., Kaeng Wang Thong, 14°10.077’N 101°43.420’E (Sites & Vitheepradit) (all ANIC) GoogleMaps .

Description. Adults ( Figs 1A, C, F View FIGURE 1 , 2C View FIGURE 2 , 3B View FIGURE 3 ). For mensural features see Table 1. Frontal tubercles very small, 8–10 µm long. Foretibial apex triangularly tapering without apical spine ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ). Pulvillus ( Fig. 5B View FIGURE 5 ) divided in 2 parts; outer plumose but not forming ‘pad’, extending to mid-claw; inner part simple, unbranched, subequal in length to outer; empodium sparsely plumose, extending beyond pulvillus apex. Wing pattern very faint on (teneral) type specimens, variably to strongly developed on those from Singapore ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Male T VIII waisted (tapering anteriorly); TIX with cluster of setae not lying within delimited paler area; anal point narrow. Male genitalia ( Fig. 1F View FIGURE 1 ) with conventional gonocoxite and slender gonostylus tapering to blunt apex. Superior volsella curved, shorter and stouter than in P. nubifer , bearing dorsolateral seta inserted at about 2/3 length of volsella. Inferior volsella slender, with apical seta arising from weakly bilobed apex, scarcely longer than any other in sparse cluster of setae. Female genitalia: gonocoxite IX with 7–11 setae. Lobes of gonapophysis VIII ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ): ventrolateral lobe squat (15–20 µm) bearing short setae; dorsomedial lobe no more than a rounded microtrichiose contour without setae, c. 90 x 125 µm, rounded rectangular.

Pupa ( Figs 2F View FIGURE 2 , 3C View FIGURE 3 ). Exuviae 5.0– 5.5 mm long, pale with yellow highlights and yellow-brown comb on abdominal segment VIII. Cephalic tubercles triangular, 25–35 µm long and about equally wide at base, bearing 40– 55 µm long frontal seta inserted basally on tubercle. Thoracic horn plumose, arising from oval, golden basal ring. Thorax mid-dorsally with dense cluster of small tubercles. Abdominal tergite spine/spinule pattern and setation as in Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 . Hook row on segment II c. 45–50% of tergite width, with c. 30–42 hooklets. Caudolateral spur on VIII ( Figs 2F View FIGURE 2 , 3E View FIGURE 3 ) well-developed, with dominant (apical-most) spine and few significantly smaller subsidiary spines not extending to L4 setal base. Anal lobe fringe evenly uniserial, with 23–30 taeniae, without dorsal seta.

Larva ( Fig. 4B, D, F View FIGURE 4 ). For mensural features see Table 2. Head yellow, with pale postmentum and narrow dark occipital margin; head total length, postmentum, mentum ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ) and mandible c. 30–40% shorter than in P. nubifer . Antennal segment lengths shorter but ratios similar: Antennal blade relatively longer, reaching antennal apex ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ). Microsculpture of ventromental plate ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ): with sparser striae, terminating anteriorly on outer (lateralmost) corner of plate in 3–4 shallow lobes.

Notes. Polypedilum quasinubifer is smaller in all measurements (e.g. wing length c. 40% of P. nubifer / paranubifer , has fewer setae, and differs significantly in ratios, notably the fore leg ratio of 1.9–2.2 (in both sexes). The pupa is smaller and paler than those of P. nubifer / paranubifer ), with smaller cephalic tubercles but longer frontal setae arising nearer the tubercle base. The thorax has a dorsal cluster of small tubercles (rather than aligned rows of larger tubercles). The hook row is narrower (no more than 50% of tergite width) and with fewer hooklets. The 'comb' on segment VIII is paler, smaller, with a more dominant major spine and fewer subsidiary spines. The anal lobe has fewer taeniae (<30) in a uniform uniserial row.