Monopelopia mongpuense, Paul, Nilotpol, Hazra, Niladri & Mazumdar, Abhijit, 2014

Paul, Nilotpol, Hazra, Niladri & Mazumdar, Abhijit, 2014, Monopelopia mongpuense sp. n., a phytotelmata midge from sub – Himalayan region of India (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanypodinae), Zootaxa 3802 (1), pp. 122-130 : 123-128

Monopelopia mongpuense sp. n.

( Figs.1–22 )

Type material. Holotype adult male (Type no. B.U. Ent. 249), West Bengal: Darjeeling, Mongpu (26º94́N, 88º35 E), 08.VI.2012, Coll. N. Paul. Paratypes 3 male adults and 2 female adults with associated pupae and larvae (reared), same data as holotype.

Diagnostic Characters. Adult male of the new species may be separated from other members of the genus by scattered pigment granules on tergites and gonocoxite, Wing length 1.74–2.22 mm, short palpomere II with several roughly biserial pale long setae, hind tibial comb with 8 setae and hind tarsomere without pseudospur. Adult female of the new species may be separated from other female member of the genus by almost rounded seminal capsules, arch shaped notum and ratio SCa/No 0.54–0.57. Pupa is distinct in having a large plastron plate occupying 35–41 horn length, ThR 4.60–5.12, sub equal and simple Dc1 and Dc2, D4 setae on tergites IV–VI placed more mid–distally, 4 LS setae on segment VII, 5 LS setae on segment VII and equal length of Genital sac and Anal lobe. The larvae are distinctive by brick–red spots on lateral side of each segment, cephalic index 0.53–0.56, dark brown and rounded small claw on posterior parapod with 3 inner teeth and VP of ventral cephalic head capsule small.

Etymology. The species has been named after the small hamlet Mongpu, near Darjeeling town where it was collected. Literally, ‘Mongpu’ means transition to immortality (in Buddhism).

Description. Male adult (n = 4, except when otherwise stated) Figs. 1–8

Coloration. Pale yellow with scattered brownish pigment spots on tergites. Abdomen pale yellow and vittae pale brown.

Total length 1.95–2.2 mm; wing length 0.92–1.15 mm; total length/wing length 1.74–2.39; wing length/length of profemur 2.35–2.81.

Head ( Figs. 1–2 ). Eyes with 26–34 Μm long dorsomedial extension. Tentorium cylindrical 85–94 Μm long, cibarial pump 145–159 Μm long; AR 1.12–1.22; length of flagellomeres (I–XIV): 30–38, 23–26, 27–29, 23–28, 23–28, 22–28, 23–30, 24–31, 25–28, 25–28, 25–27, 27–31, 289–308, 68–87. Temporal setae roughly uniserial ( Fig. 1 ) 14–19 (6– 9 IV, 6–7 OV, 2–3 Po). Corona bare; Clypeus with 14–17 setae. Length of palpomeres ( Fig. 2 ) (I–V): 30–37, 38–41, 106–117, 106–118, 133–152. CA 0.53–0.59; CP 0.88–0.96. Second segment of palpomere short, tapering, roughly rounded with roughly biserial 12–14 longer pale setae.

Thorax ( Fig. 3 ). Vittae pale brown. Acrostichals 20–22, biserial between the vittae and 6–8 at scutellar end, dorsocentrals 19–21, uniserial in middle and multiserial distally; prealars 7–8; scutellars 10–11, postnotum bare. Scutellum large tubercle–like with rows of long setae. Lateral lobe of Antepronotum reduced with 3–4 minute setae present.

Wing ( Fig. 4 ). Covered with macrotrichia becoming more dense towards distal gradually and without any maculation. Wing width 330–360 Μm. R2 present but not forked apically and faint towards costa. C 1010–1025 Μm long, Sc 525–532 Μm long, R1 425–435 Μm long, R4+5 565–578 Μm long, M1+2 754–772 Μm long. VR 0.84–0.87; squama with 16–18 setae; brachiolum with 2 setae, two weak campaniform sensilla present.

Leg ( Figs. 5–7 ). Fore leg ( Fig. 5 ): tibial spur 38–42 Μm long bearing 3 lateral teeth, tibia bearing 103–125 Μm long, 3–4 subapical setae. Mid leg ( Fig. 6 ): tibial spur 49–53 Μm long bearing 3 lateral teeth and tarsomeres I–III with 2 pseudospurs on each. Hind leg ( Fig. 7 ): tibial spur 49–58 Μm long with 2–4 large spinules, hind tibial comb with 8 setae and without pseudospurs on tarsomeres. Mid and hind tarsomeres with backwardly directed brownish scattered setae.

Length and proportion of leg segments (n = 3) as in table 1A & 1B.

Abdomen. Sternite pale yellow in color. Tergite pale yellow in color with few brown pigmented spot.

Hypopygium ( Fig. 8 ). Tergite IX with 3 setae dorsolaterally on each side. Anal point short and triangular. Gonocoxite 121–127 Μm long, cylindrical, outer side convex and inner side concave with scattered pigment granules, distally placed 150–180 Μm long 5–7 setae. Gonostylus 83–87 Μm long, swollen basally, slightly curved and tapering apically with 13–16 Μm megaseta. Sternapodeme 76–82 Μm long, phallapodeme 50–56 long, coxasternapodeme 17–20 Μm long. HR 1.43–1.45; HV 1.56–1.68.

Female adult (n = 2, expect when otherwise stated) Fig. 9

Coloration. Usual like male with more brown appearance.

Similar to male with usual sex difference except following:

Total length 1.18–1.24 mm, wing length 0.98–1.04 mm, AR 4.54–4.61, antenna with 11 flagellomeres.

Genitalia ( Fig. 9 ). Gonapophysis VIII with large oval extension and rounded apex, as long as gonocoxite VIII, gonocoxite VIII with 8–10 setae, cercus 58 Μm long, basally constricted; Tergite X large with many conspicuous small setae. Labia with fine scanty microtrichia. Seminal capsules roughly rounded, length 40–42 Μm; width 35.5–38.5 Μm. Notum 69–74 Μm long; ramus 59–67 Μm long, arch shaped. Ratio SCa/No 0.54–0.57.

Pupa (n = 5, except when otherwise stated) Figs. 10–14

Length of exuviae 2.63–2.77 mm, living pupa pale yellow in colour, exuviae transparent with distal light brown shed on each segment. Female pupal exuviae more brown.

Cephalothorax. Thoracic horn (Fig. 10) tubular, 285–323 Μm long connected to large, more or less cordiform plastron plate, surface of the horn sac with scattered moderately broad–based spinules, corona absent, ThR 4.02–5.12, plastron plate occupying 0.35–0.41 horn length; respiratory atrium brown, narrow, long and occupying 0.73–0.80 of horn sac; basal lobe reduced. Dc1 110–112 Μm long, Dc2 106–108 Μm long, Sa 88–92 Μm long. Frontal setae 190–197 Μm long. Abdomen (Figs. 11–14): Scar on tergite I 126–137 Μm long, elongated and without pigmented. Segment I without spinules, dense shagreen on tergite II (Fig. 12) with well–defined 6–11 groups of transverse rows of spinules. Tergite IV with few spinules (Fig. 13) and tergites V–VII with scattered progressively simple spinules. Setae of Segment IV (Fig. 14): D1 short, simple; D2 bifurcate; D3 bifurcate; D4 curved; D5 trifurcate; V1 simple; V2 bifurcate, and DL 72–75 Μm long, VL 68–71 Μm long. 120–124 Μm long 4 LS setae on segment VII located at 0.29–0.34, 0.42–0.47, 0.57–0.62 and 0.84–0.91 respectively from anterior margin; segment VIII with 277–282 Μm long 5 LS setae placed 0.27–0.29, 0.49–0.50, 0.69–0.73, 0.85–0.88 and 0.96–0.98 of segment length. Anal lobe 270–310 Μm long, 180–225 Μm wide with inner smooth and 9–11 outer spines; anal macrosetae placed 0.33–0.41 and 0.52–0.55 of lobe length. Male genital sac ending 9–12 Μm short of apex of anal lobe, Female genital sac ending 189–210 Μm short of apex of anal lobe; ALR 2.70–3.10.

Larva (n = 3, except otherwise stated) Figs. 15–22

Total length 2.81–3.15 mm. Cephalic index 0.53–0.58,

Living larvae pale yellow in colour, two brick–red coloured spots on each side of tergite.

Antenna ( Fig. 15 ). AR 3.26–3.43; length of the antennal segments (I–IV): 270–285, 74–76, 4–5, 6–8; ring organ situated 0.49–0.53 from base of basal segment; style 5–6 Μm long; blade 60 Μm long, accessory blade 51 Μm long, Lauterborn organ 4–5 Μm.

Mandible ( Fig. 16 ). 95–102 Μm long; apical tooth 20–27 Μm long, one distinct accessory tooth present, basal tooth 7–9 Μm long; seta subdentalis 12–15 Μm long. A1/MD 2.79–2.95.

Maxilla ( Fig. 17 ). Basal segment of palp 39–45 Μm long; ring organ situated 0.52–0.56 from base of basal segment. a seta 20–23 Μm, b seta 8–9 Μm, basal sclerite seta 13–14 Μm.

Mentum and M appendages ( Fig. 18 ). Deeply sclerotized on each side of base. Faint ventromentum (VM) without longitudinal fold. Pseudoradula 54–57 Μm long with distally strong granulation. Labial vesicles (LV) absent, Dorsomental teeth (DmT) reduced. medioventral appendages of prementum (MApp) slightly produce and formed convex uplift on each side.

Ligula ( Fig. 19 ). 57–80 Μm long, inner and middle tooth 10–12 Μm long, apical half of tooth deeply brown; paraligula ( Fig. 19 ). 27–36 Μm long, inner point 9–10 Μm and outer point 13–15 Μm long. It/ O 0.70 –0.78; Mt/ O 0.82 –0.90.

Pecten hypopharyngis ( Fig. 20 ). 7–8 teeth, middle teeth larger and terminal longer.

Cephalic chaetotaxy as in figure 21. Dorsal seta: S7 and S8 closely placed each other and along with S5 formed a roughly 90º angle. Ventral seta: S9, S10, VP and SSm producing a roughly a rhombus shape; VP small, not large like other species.

Body. Anal tubules 145–152 Μm long, 20–24 Μm wide; supra anal setae 209–215 Μm long. Procercus 98–109 Μm long and 22–30 Μm wide with 7 anal setae 360–390 Μm long. Apex of posterior parapod covered with scattered spinules along with 16–17 claws ( Fig. 22 ); smallest claw deep brown, rounded and strongly curved with 3 teeth in inner margin. Other small claws light brown and larger claws pale yellow with serration only on the inner side.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Monopelopia mongpuense sp. n., adult male. 1: temporal setae, 2: palpomere II, 3: thorax, 4: wing, 5: apex of fore tibia, 6: apex of mid tibia, 7: apex of hind tibia,

FIGURES 8 – 9. Monopelopia mongpuense sp. n., adult male. 8: male hypopygium dorsal (left side) & ventral (right side). 9: female genitalia ventrally. FIGURES 10 – 14. Monopelopia mongpuense sp. n., pupa. 10: thoracic horn, 11: abdominal segments ventral (left side) & dorsal (right side), 12: shagreen on segment II, 13: shagreen on segment IV, 14: closer view of segment IV ventral (left side) & dorsal (right side).

FIGURES 15 – 22. Monopelopia mongpuense sp. n., larva. 15: apex of antenna, 16: mandible, 17: maxillary palp, 18: mentum & M appendages, 19: ligula & paraligula, 20: pecten hypopharyngis, 21: head capsule with position of cephalic setae & sensory pore – left ventral aspect & right dorsal aspect, 22: claws of posterior parapods.