Palpomyia sohraensis, Paul, Nilotpol, Harsha, Rupa & Mazumdar, Abhijit, 2014

Paul, Nilotpol, Harsha, Rupa & Mazumdar, Abhijit, 2014, A new species of Palpomyia Meigen (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) described in all life stages from Shillong plateau, India, Zootaxa 3755 (4), pp. 368-378 : 369-375

Palpomyia sohraensis sp. n.

( Figs. 1 –24)

Type material. Holotype ♀ adult, larva and pupae (reared), Meghalaya: Shillong, Cherapunjee (Lat. 25º32’ N, Long. 91º71’E), 08.IV.2011, leg. N. Paul. Paratypes 5♀ and 7♂ with larvae and pupae (reared), data same as holotype.

Etymology. The species has been named after the historic name of small town Cherapunjee, Sohra from where it was collected. Literally Sohra means orange (Sho-niarntra; in local khasi language).

Diagnosis. Female imago may be separated by last 5 flagellomeres elongated and dark brown, rest of the flagellomeres apically brown; Interocular space with uniserial, short and apically bent setae; fifth palp segment blackish brown with dense microtrichia; clypeus with 12–14 setae;thorax with a blunt anterior tubercle; scutellum brown black with 7–9 large and 6–8 small setae; mid trochanter with 2 long tubercle like projection; 19–21 stout spine only on fore femur; fore tibial apex laterally forms a flap like process with a long spur and numerous multi serial comb; hind tibial comb with 11 spines and several small setae; r-m crossvein 1.65–1.70× longer than the distance between bases of r-m crossvein and M2; halter yellow with blackish central spot and sternite 10 pale yellowish with 10 pair long strong setae. Male adult is recognized by Gonostylus 0.58–0.64 times the length of Gonocoxite and distally strongly bent with pointed tip; Parameres separated, highly sclerotized, not recurved; aedeagus triangular heavily sclerotized as long as wide. Pupa separated from other species by L– 1–IV long seta on large tubercles, V– 6–IV pore on large tubercle; absence of L– 2–IV and V – 5–IV. Larva recognized by massive epipharynx with a row of 8 lanceolate, stout, pointed teeth with 6 shorter teeth.

Description. Female (n = 6) Figs. 1–11

Head ( Figs. 1–3 ). Eyes separated completely. Interocular space with uniserial, short and apically bent 14– 17setae. Antennae ( Fig. 1 ) with first to eighth flagellomeres basally pale yellow and ninth to thirteenth flagellomeres completely brown; each segment of 9–13 approximately 3 × longer than 8th segment; Length of flagellomeres first to thirteenth: 114 (110–120), 78 (76–82.5), 72 (70–75), 72 (70–75), 72 (70–75), 72 (70–75), 72 (70–75), 74 (72–75), 215 (209–225), 210 (197–228), 221 (209–235),230 (222–235), 237 (230–245); AR 1.77 (1.76–1.79). Palp 1–2 yellowish, 5th segment blackish brown with dense microtrichia and 4–6 very long setae, segment 1–5 without any sensory pit. Length of palpal ( Fig. 2 ) segments first to fifth: 39(36–41), 55 (48–60), 121(108–136), 71 (64–77), 69 (60–78); PR 4.15 (3.80–4.61); Mandible ( Fig. 3 ) with 8 strong teeth. Clypeus brown with 12–14 setae.

Thorax ( Fig. 4 ). Deep brown to black in colour with few anterior hairs and a blunt anterior tubercle, prealars with 9–11 large spiniform setae, each arising from small tubercle. Scattered simple seta on scutum; scutellum ( Fig. 4 ) brown black with 7–9 large seta with 6–8 small setae; post scutellum bare, deep black in margin.

Leg ( Figs. 5–9 ). Coxae, trochanter and femur reddish yellow, mid trochanter with 2 long tubercle like projection. Fore femur ( Fig. 5 ) swollen with 19–21 stout spine unequal in size, largest one 75–85 long. Fore tibial apex ( Fig. 6 ) laterally forms a flap like process with a long spur and numerous multi serial combs. Mid ( Fig. 7) and hind ( Fig. 8) femur dark apically; mid tibia ( Fig. 7) with 1 and tarsomeres 1–3 with 2 strong apical spine. Hind tibial comb ( Fig. 9) with 9 spines and several small setae. Ventral palisade setae in two rows on tarsomere 1 of midleg and tarsomeres 1–2 of hindleg. Claws moderately small, equal in size with a small basal tooth on inner surface of both side.

Lengths and proportions of leg segments as in Table 1.

TABLE 1. PI, Fore leg; PII, Mid leg; PIII, Hind leg; Fe, Femora; Ti, Tibia; Ta1 – Ta5, Tarsomeres 1–5 respectively; TR, Tarsal Ratio.

Fe Ti Ta1 Ta2 Ta3 Ta4 Ta 5 TR anterolateral sensilla (AL–1–T); anteromedial sensilla (AM–1–T, AM–2–T); clypeal/labral sensilla (CL–1–H); dorsal apotomal sensilla (DA–1–H, DA–2–H); dorsal apotome (DA); dorsal sensilla (D–1–T, D–2–T, D–3–T, D–4–T); dorsal sensilla of first abdominal segment (D– 3–I, D– 4–I, D– 8–I, D– 9–I); dorsal sensilla of segment four (D– 2–IV, D– 3–IV, D– 4–IV, D– 5–IV, D– 8– IV, D– 9–IV); dorsolateral cephalic sclerite sensilla (DL–1–H); lateral sensilla of first abdominal segment (L– 1–I, L– 2–I, L– 3– I); lateral sensilla of segment four (L– 1–IV, L– 3–IV, L– 4–IV); ocular sensilla (O–1–H, O–3–H); supralar (SA–2–T); ventral sensilla (V– 2–IV, V– 6–IV, V– 7–IV).

Wing ( Fig. 10). Wing length 3.12mm (3.00–3.29) and breadth 0.77mm (0.75–0.79), Costal ratio 0.80 (0.78– 0.84). Wing membrane hyaline with anterior light brown and posterior pale veins, upper marginal end of 2nd radial cell little excavated and 1.74–1.79× longer than 1st radial cell. r-m crossvein 1.65–1.70× longer than the distance between bases of r-m crossvein and M2. Anal vein slightly curved. Halter yellow with blackish central spot.

Abdomen ( Fig. 11). Tergites brown, cerci pale brown and strong. Gland rod absent, sternite 8 with anterior portion triangular, posterior portion hyaline, anterolateral margin pointed, somewhat lobe like and weakly sclerotized; sternite 10 pale yellowish with 10–12 pairs long strong setae. Two well-developed rounded spermathecae ( Fig. 11) 57–63 Μm and 52.5–55 Μm in diameter with one small atrophied rudimentary.

Male (n = 6) Fig. 12

Similar to female with usual sexual differences.

Wing length 1.83mm (1.80–1.85), Costal ratio 77 (76–79).

Genitalia ( Fig. 12 ). Sternite 9, 0.20–0.24 times longer than broad with moderate posteromedial excavation. Cerci little sclerotized and bluntly rounded each one with 6–8 long setae; sternite 10 rounded, somewhat ‘u’ shaped and pilose. Gonocoxite well sclerotized 1.7–2.1 as long as broad with 7–9 strong setae. Gonostylus 0.58–0.64 times the length of Gonocoxite and distally strongly bent with slightly pointed tip. Parameres separated, highly sclerotized and not recurved. Aedeagus triangular heavily sclerotized as long as wide and basal arm more heavily sclerotized. Apicolateral process with 5–7 seta, little sclerotized and off-white in colour.

Pupa (n = 7) Figs. 13 –18

Total length 4.58 (4.05–5.07). General coloration deep brown with blackish marginal shaded, exuviae pale brown and body surface smooth. Cephalothorax ( Fig. 13 ) length 1840 (1640–1900), cephalothorax tubercles as follows: 1 dorsolateral cephalic sclerite sensilla (DL–1–H) 37 (35–40) long, stout arising from small tubercle on each side; 2 anteromedials sensilla unequal, one thin seta (AM–1–T) 39 (30–45) long and other (AM–2–T) 90 (85– 97) long on each side; 1 anterolateral sensilla (AL–1–T) minute, short on the base of Respiratory organ each side; 5 dorsal sensilla ( Fig. 14 ), as follows: D–1–T 63 (60–65) long, D–2–T 46 (45–51) long, D–3–T bent and small 12 (10–13) long, D–4–T 156 (148–165) long, and supralar (SA–2–T) without seta more antero-mesaly placed. Respiratory organ ( Fig. 15 ) pale brown, 365 (330–419) long and 68 (60–79) wide; respiratory horn 5.35 (5.10– 5.59) times longer than broad, surface bare, apex with 13–17 spiracles; Pedicel stout. Dorsal apotome ( Fig. 16 ) with disc 2 times wider than long, ventral margin triangular, pointed end and middle portion covered with apical rows of wrinkles, lateral-marginal area bare; each side of mesal portion with raised area. DAL 111 (105–120) long, DAW 265 (250–280) wide and DAW/DAL 2.38 (2.33–2.40). Dorsal apotomal sensilla, as follows: DA–1–H single, 102 (89–120) long seta, located on small rounder tubercle, DA–2–H small pore. Ventrally 2 ocular sensilla (O–1– 3–H) minute and another (O–2–H) reduced on each side; one 11 (9–14) long thin clypeal/labral sensilla (CL–1–H) on each side. Mid-dorsally a dark brown scar like spot on first abdominal segment. First abdominal segment ( Fig. 13 ) with setae as follows: One 100 (98–109) long and thin on blunt tubercle (D– 3–I) antero-marginally placed and other pore (D– 4–I) more mesally placed. Posterior (D–8– 9 –I) reduced on a small tubercle. Lateral 3 setae on two separate tubercle; two of them 90 (85–94) long and stout seta (L– 1–I), and 65 (60–85) long and thin seta (L– 2–I) on a postero-laterally placed tubercle, third seta (L– 3–I) minute mesally placed. Fourth abdominal segment ( Fig. 17 ) with setae as follows: D– 2–IV long, tiniated and stout seta on simple small tubercle; D– 3–IV medium, thin seta on small tubercle; D– 4–IV pore, D– 5–IV short on small tubercle; D– 8–IV medium and D– 9–IV very long, thin seta, both on bifid tubercle; L– 1–IV stout, very long on a large single tubercle; L– 2–IV absent; L–3– 4 –IV setae long, thin, hyaline on separate large tubercle closely placed. V– 2–IV anteriorly placed and short, V– 7–IV medium sized on large tubercle and V– 6–IV pore on a large tubercle, V– 5–IV absent. All abdominal segments ( Fig. 17 a, Plate I) with scattered small spicules. Segment 9 (Fig. 18, Plate I) 1.2–1.3 times longer than wide; dorsal and ventral surface with posteriorly directed spicules, postero-laterally reduce, terminal processes straight and somewhat horizontally placed with dark brown in colour.

Larva (n = 5) Figs. 19 –24

Pale yellow in colour, head capsule pink yellow.Total length 10mm (8.25–10.64)

Chaetotaxy as figured Fig 19 and Fig. 19 a. Plate I.

Head capsule 2.00–2.45 times longer than broad, apex moderately bent ventrally. HL 418 (330–465) long, HW 187 (165–210) long, HR 2.23 (2.00–2.44) and SGW 78(70–85) long; SGR 2.39 (2.35–2.48). Labrum ( Fig. 20 ) 37.5 (34–41) long, not extending beyond hypostoma and as long as wide, one small sensilla styloconica on labrum. Palatum ( Fig. 20 , Plate I) 14.5 (13–16) wide with large sensilla styloconica, minute campaniformia and trichoidea 8 (6.5–10) long; palatal bar triangular, posterior to messors; messors thin and minute. Maxilla ( Fig. 20 ) wide and 10.5 (9–13) long with three unequal papillae; galeolacinia ( Fig. 20 ) with two branch, upper papilla long, apically flat with 9.5 (8–10) long apical stout seta. Hypostoma ( Fig. 20 ) 37 (36–41) long, with 5 small finely Head capsule chaetotaxy: j, collar setae; m, posterolateral pits; n, anterolateral pits; o, parahypostomal setae; p, posterior perifrontal; q, postfrontal setae; s, anterior perifrontal setae; t, prefrontal setae; u, mesolateral setae; v, posterolateral setae; w, anterolateral setae; x, parantennal setae; y, ventral setae; z, frontal pits.

B & W PLATE I. Figs. 17 a, Figs. 18, Figs. 19 a, Figs. 20 , Figs. 24. SEM of Palpomyia sohraensis sp. n., larva and pupa. 17a: abdominal segments of pupa, 18: caudal segment of pupa, 19a: head capsule with cephalic setae and sensory pore, 20: mouth parts of larva, 24: caudal end of larva. AN, antennae; GL, genital lobe; HY, hypostoma; LB, labrum; LC1, lacinial sclerite 1; LC2, lacinial sclerite 2; MD, mandible; MF, mandibular fossa; MX, maxilla; MS, messors; PL, palatum; SCa, sensilla campaniformia; SS, sensilla styloconica; ST, sensilla trichoidea; TP, terminal process; Larval caudal segment chaetotaxy: ‘o’ outer setae; ‘i’ inner setae. Figs. 17 a & 19a abbreviate as previous.

toothed. Mandible ( Fig. 21 ) hooked with strong tooth and deep fossa mandibularis on each side; MDL 47.5 (41– 53) long, MDW 12 (10–13.5) wide. Epipharynx (Fig. 22) gently massive, single comb with a row of 8 lanceolate, stout, pointed teeth with 6 shorter teeth; larger lanceolate 6–8 long, curved auxiliary sclerites near each lateral arms; LAW 86 (72–97) long, DCW 27 (24–30) long; Hypopharynx (Fig. 23) long, thin, elongated with slender arm. Thoracic coloration uniformly pale yellowish. Caudal segment (Fig. 24, Plate I) with 2 pairs of ‘o’ setae strong, 305–320 long, pale brown and 4 pairs of ‘i’ setae thin pale and short. CSR 3.46–3.78.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Palpomyia sohraensis sp. n., adult male. 12: male genitalia.

FIGURES 1 – 6. Palpomyia sohraensis sp. n., adult female. 1: antenna, 2: palpomere, 3: mandible, 4: scutellum, 5: fore femur and tibia, 6: apex of fore tibia.

FIGURES 13 – 17. Palpomyia sohraensis sp. n., pupa. 13: cephalothorax ventrally (left side) and dorsally (right side), 14: dorsal sensilla, 15: respiratory organ, 16: dorsal apotome, 17: forth abdominal segment (lateral view).

FIGURES 19, 21 – 23. Palpomyia sohraensis sp. n., larva. 19: head-capsule chaetotaxy ventrally (left side) and dorsally (right side), 21: mandible, 22: epipharynx, 23: hypopharynx.