Bittacus leigongshanicus, Hua, 2022

Le-Le, HE & Bao-Zhen, HUA, 2022, A review of Bittacidae (Mecoptera) in Guizhou, China with descriptions of three new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 839, pp. 103-119 : 110-114

Bittacus leigongshanicus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:13B5A6A6-5632-4C1E-B15C-67FD5EA1D110

Figs 5–7

Diagnosis

The new species can be readily recognized from its congeners by the following characters: 1) wings with numerous dark brown markings, Av one; 2) terga II–V dark brown in the basal three-fourths, light brown in the distal fourth; terga VI–VIII black; and 3) male epandrial appendage greatly elongated into a sinuous lobe in the distal half.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the type locality, Leigongshan.

Type material

Holotype CHINA • ♂; Guizhou Province, Leishan County, Leigongshan ; 26°22′12″ N, 108°7′48″ E; 1440–1500 m a.s.l.; 15 Jul. 2021; Le-Le He leg.; NWAU.

Paratypes CHINA • 2 ♀♀, same collection data as for the holotype; NWAU .

Description

MEASUREMENTS. AL 7.3–7.9 mm, BL 17.5–18.5 mm, FL 22.8–24.1 mm, FW 4.8–5.5 mm, HL 21.4– 22.4 mm, HW 4.5–5.0 mm.

HEAD ( Fig. 5B ). Vertex and frons yellowish brown; ocellar triangle black, dark ocellar stripe extending to compound eyes; lateral ocelli twice as large as median ocellus; compound eyes spherical; clypeus and labrum unevenly brown, lateral sides darker; maxillary palps dull yellowish brown except terminal segments brown, 3 rd segment approximately twice as long as 4 th and 5 th segments combined; labial palps yellowish brown. Antennae ciliated with long hairs ( Fig. 5D ), with basal 15 flagellomeres distinct, but distal segments obscure.

THORAX ( Fig. 5C ). Pronotum dark brown, without setae along anterior or posterior margins. Meso- and metanotum dark brown laterally, with a pale brown median stripe. Pleura unevenly blackish brown. Legs yellowish brown, femora and tibiae with black apices ( Fig. 5A ); length ratio of two apical tibial spurs as 2:1 ( Fig. 5E ). Hind basitarsus as long as tarsomeres II and III together, tarsomere IV with three subbasal setae on lateral side ( Fig. 5F ).

WINGS ( Fig. 6 ). Forewing membrane hyaline with grayish brown tinge, dark brown markings distinct; pterostigma prominent; large marking running from R 1 to or before CuA, through FRs and FM, turned outward and ending at R 4+5; conspicuous small flecks at OM, ORs, and ends of Cu; longitudinal strip along R 5, broader apically; outer margin deeply darker from R 1a to or slightly before M 1; dark brown clouding along cross-veins; small hyaline spot at FM 3+4; Pcv two. Sc ending beyond level of FRs; Scv and Cuv near level of FM; CuP ending near FM 3+4; Cuv two; 1A ending before FM; 2A ending before OM; Av one. Hindwing similar to forewing, but Scv distinctly proximal to level of FM.

ABDOMEN OF MALE ( Fig. 7A, C ). Terga II–V dark brown in basal three-fourths, light brown in distal fourth; terga VI–VIII black; each tergum with black narrow antecosta ( Fig. 5A ); tergum VIII slightly emarginate on posterior margin. Epandrial appendages dull yellowish brown, approximately twice as long as gonocoxites, pentagon-shaped in basal half and elongated into a sinuous lobe in distal half; a patch of long yellow hairs on outer surface and diffuse black spines along inner surface of elongated lobes. Tergum X saddle-like, with two lateral plates extending around base of cerci. Upper branch of proctiger yellowish to blackish brown, finger-like, protruding dorsally between epandrial appendages, apically bearing a bundle of yellow hairs; lower branch of proctiger yellowish brown and thin, shorter than upper branch. Cerci subacute distally, half as long as gonocoxites. Gonocoxites slightly curved dorsally. Gonostylus shortened, subquadrangular in lateral aspect, slightly constricted subapically, bearing long hairs on outer surface. Aedeagus stout, with two elongated aedeagal lobes and a greatly coiled penisfilum.

ABDOMEN OF FEMALE ( Fig. 7B, D ). Terga II–IX blackish to light brown, each with a narrow, black antecosta. Subgenital plate blackish brown, bearing a bunch of black setae distally, consisting of two strongly sclerotized halves, divided mesially by acute triangular membrane; each half with a pale triangular membranous emargination subdistally along lateral edge. Tergum X narrow, extending ventrad. Supraanal and subanal plates broad, truncated anteriorly. Cerci yellowish brown, tapering toward apex, longer than anal plates.

Distribution

Guizhou Province, China.

Remarks

The new species is similar to B. monastyrskiyi Bicha, 2007 from Guangxi Province in appearance, but can be distinguished from the latter by the following features: epandrial appendage elongated into a sinuous lobe (cf. epandrial appendage split medially into two lobes, a short dorsal one and a long ventral one); upper branch of proctiger stout and finger-like with yellow apical hairs (cf. upper branch of proctiger slender, bearing a stout apical spine); aedeagal lobes elongated, broad distally (cf. aedeagal lobes semicircular).

Figures

Fig. 5. Bittacus leigongshanicus sp. nov., ♂, holotype (NWAU). A. Habitus in lateral view. B. Head in frontal view. C. Thorax in dorsal view. D. Flagellum of antenna. E. Tibia with two apical tibial spurs of left foreleg.F. Tarsomeres IV, V and claw of left foreleg.Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: A = 5.0 mm; B–D = 0.5 mm; E–F = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 6. Right wings of Bittacus leigongshanicus sp. nov., ♀, paratype (NWAU). Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bar = 2.0 mm.

Fig. 7. Bittacus leigongshanicus sp. nov. A, C. ♂, holotype (NWAU). B, D. ♀, paratype (NWAU). A–B. Terminalia in lateral view. C–D. Terminalia in ventral view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B–D = 0.2 mm.