Ceraeochrysa torresi Sosa & Freitas, 2010

Sosa, Francisco & Freitas, Sergio De, 2010, New Neotropical species of Ceraeochrysa Adams (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Zootaxa 2562 (1), pp. 57-65 : 62-64

Ceraeochrysa torresi Sosa & Freitas , sp. nov.

(Figs. 7, 8, 27–35).

Description. Holotype. Male. Measurements. Head: width 1.6 mm. Pronotum: length 0.8 mm, width 1.1 mm. Forewing: length 13.5 mm, width 4.4 mm, length/width ratio = 3.1. Hindwing: length 11.8 mm, width 3.6 mm, length/width ratio = 3.3. Forewing with 2 inner and 5 outer gradates, hindwing with 1 inner and 6 outer gradates.

Head: Front, gena, clypeus, maxillary and labial palpi pale; vertex pale green; scape and flagellum with a diffuse dorsolateral patch and flagellum with pale amber coloration (Fig. 7).

Thorax: Pronotum green with a lateral red stripe on each side (Fig. 7); Meso- and metanota pale green or greenish yellow; pleura pale green; legs pale with yellow tarsi. Forewing: Longitudinal veins: green; Crossveins: costal crossveins 3–11, Rs + Ma, radial crossveins 1–8, and series of gradates black. Hindwing: longitudinal veins and crossveins green (Fig. 8).

Abdomen: Green, some specimens with rounded red marks on the first five tergites. Apodeme of tergite 9 + ectoproct sclerotized and with ventral digitiform projection below the callus cerci; lateral to the genital atria a field of tiny scales arranged in several lines ( Figs. 27–28 ). Male genitalia: Gonarcus markedly curved, with an oval dorsal hood; lateral arms wide, rounded at base and narrow at apex; two inflated dorsolateral gonocornua with irregular margin projected posteriorly from gonarcus; arcessus membranous basally with two dorsal inflated, horn-shaped lobes or processes; apex ventrally directed and laterally lobulated; gonococcus with long gonosetae; gonocristae present ( Figs. 29–32 ). Gonapsis long and flattened, apex with short lateral projections and rounded point of laminar-shape ( Fig. 33 ).

Allotype. Similar to holotype. Measurements. Head: width 1.6 mm. Pronotum: length 0.8 mm, width 1.1 mm. Forewing: length 11.4 mm, width 3.8 mm, length/width ratio = 3.0. Hindwing: length 10.0 mm, width 3.1 mm, length/width ratio = 3.2. Forewing with 1 inner and 5 outer gradates, hindwing with 1 inner and 5 outer gradates.

Female genitalia: Subgenitalia of triangular-shape ( Fig. 34 ); spermatheca with J-shape and superficial ventral impression, spermathecal tube with four curves before reaching the spermathecal gland ( Fig. 35 ).

Male mean measurements. Head: width 1.5 mm (range 1.4–1.6 mm). Pronotum: length 0.8 mm (range 0.7–0.8 mm), width 1.1 mm (range 1.0– 1.2 mm). Forewing: length 13.4 mm (range 12.1–15.9 mm), width 4.3 mm (range 4.0–5.0 mm), length/width ratio = 3.1 (range 3.0–3.2); 1–2 inner and 5–6 outer gradates. Hindwing: length 11.8 mm (range 10.8–14.1 mm), width 3.4 mm (range 3.3–3.6 mm), length/width ratio = 3.3 (range 3.2–3.4); 1–2 inner and 5–6 outer gradates.

Female mean measurements. See Allotype.

Etymology. The name pays homage to the student José Pastor Torres García for his great dedication and collaboration in carrying out this work.

Discussion. Ceraeochrysa torresi sp. nov., is related to the “ everes ” group of species. Ceraeochrysa torresi sp. nov., may be distinguished from other species in the group for being the only one with a paleamber flagellum. Most of the specimens studied were collected in Citrus spp. , Annona muricata L orchards, and with white light traps.

Material examinated (12m, 2f). Holotype, male: VENEZUELA, Lara: El Pampero (10º 12’ N – 69º 17’ W, 648 m) , 04 II 2009, F. Sosa & J. Torres ( UCOB) . Allotype, female: VENEZUELA, Lara: El Pampero (10º 12’ N – 69º 17’ W, 648 m) , 07 II 2009, F. Sosa & J. Torres ( UCOB) . Paratypes (11m, 1f): VENEZUELA, Lara: El Pampero (10º 12’ N - 69º 17’ W, 648 m) , 18 II 2008, 1m, J. Torres ( UCOB) ; 01 II 2009, 1m, J. Torres ( UCOB) ; 04 II 2009, 2m, F. Sosa & J. Torres ( MZSP) ; 07 II 2009, 1m, F. Sosa & J. Torres ( UCOB) ; 11 VII 2007, 1m, F. Sosa, J. Torres & F. Díaz ( UCOB) ; XI 2008, 1m, J. Torres ( UCOB) ; Tarabana (10º 01’ N – 69º 16’ W, 500 m) , 26 X 1993, 1m, E. Arcaya ( UCOB) ; Yaracuy: Chivacoa (10º 08’ N – 68º 52’ W, 217 m) , 16 II 2008, 1m, F. Sosa & A. López ( UCOB) ; San Felipe (10º 17’ N – 68º 39’ W, 110 m) , 19-20 II 2010, 1m, 1f, F. Sosa, F. Díaz & J. Torres ( UCOB) ; Aragua: El Limón 450 m , 22 VII 1998, 1m, C. Barrios ( MIZA) .

Geographical distribution. VENEZUELA.

Figures

FIGURES 27–35. Male and female genitalia of Ceraeochrysa torresi sp. nov. 27–33, male genitalia. 27, 28—Sternite 9 + ectoproct. 29, 30—Gonarcus in dorsal view. 31, 32—Gonarcus in lateral view. 33—Gonapsis in dorsal and lateral view. 34–35, female genitalia. 34—Sub-genitalia in frontal view. 35—Spermatheca in lateral view. ar = arcessus; dh = dorsal hood; dl = dorsal lobe; go = gonarcus; gco = gonocornua; la = lateral arm.