Dasyhelea pseudopollinosa Díaz & Ronderos, 2014

Diaz, Florentina, Torreias, Sharlene R. S., Spinelli, Gustavo R., Ronderos, María M. & Unlp, 2014, A new species of Dasyhelea from Brazilian Amazonas and the description of the male of D. paulistana (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54 (2), pp. 715-728 : 716-722

Dasyhelea pseudopollinosa Díaz & Ronderos sp. nov.

( Figs 1–32 , 62)

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J (with ‘ex pupa’) on microscope slide, labelled: “ HOLOTYPE ” Dasyhelea pseudopollinosa Díaz & Ronderos. BRAZIL: AMAZONAS: Iranduba, Ilha da Marchantaria, Lago Grande , 03°14މ43.9ފS 59°58މ54.2ފ W, 17.v.2011, Torreias-Ferreira-Keppler lgt., ( INPA) . ALLOTYPE: ♀ (with ‘ex pupa’), same data as holotype . PARATYPES: 5 JJ(with ‘ex pupa’) (4 in INPA, 1 in MLPA) and 1 ♀ (with ‘ex pupa’), same date as holotype ( MLPA) ; 1 J (with ‘ex pupa’), same data except: Lago Camaleão, 03°13މ14.9ފS ; 59°56މ52.6ފW, 20.v.2011 ( MLPA) .

Diagnosis. Only Neotropical species of the grisea species-group with the following combination of characters: male with posterolateral arms of aedeagus bearing a subapical, outer, pointed process; female with legs uniformly pale brown and subgenital plate represented by a slender transverse band. Pupa with respiratory organ thick at the base and distal half tapering to a sharp apex, with 18–20 apical pores, and terminal processes as long as length of body of segment 9.

Description. Male ( Figs 1–4 , 21–24 ). Similar to female with the usual sexual differences. Flagellum as in Fig. 1 . Palpus ( Fig. 2 ) with segment 3 bearing scattered sensilla on surface; PR 2.00–2.60 (2.45, n = 6). Scutellum with 6–7 strong, 2 thinner setae. Wing ( Fig. 3 ) length 0.93–0.99 (0.95, n = 4) mm, width 0.24–0.30 (0.27, n = 4) mm, CR 0.47–0.51 (0.48, n = 4). Genitalia ( Figs 4 , 21 ): tergite 9 tapering distally, distal margin rounded; apicolateral process short, stout, with apical seta; cercus small, with 1–2 setae; sternite 9 ( Figs 4 , 22 ) 0.3× longer than greatest width, distal margin slightly convex. Gonocoxite stout, 1.5× longer than greatest width, with blunt anteromedian process; gonostylus 0.8× longer than gonocoxite, narrow base, nearly straight, tip pointed, spur-like. Paramere and gonocoxal apodemes forming an asymmetrical structure ( Figs 4 , 23 ); gonocoxal apodeme stout, curved, not in contact with paramere, latter elongate, straight, tapering to slender blunt apex. Aedeagus ( Figs 4 , 24 ) nearly as long as greatest width, basal arch slightly concave, low, extending to 0.15 of total length; basal arms stout, directed anterolaterally; posterolateral arms stout, slightly convergent, each tapering to pointed tip with subapical, outer pointed process.

Female ( Figs 5–11 , 25–27 ). Head dark brown ( Fig. 5 ) Eyes contiguous by width of 2 ommatidia. Antenna with flagellum ( Fig. 5 ) brown; AR 0.94–0.97 (0.95, n = 2). Frontal sclerite semicircular ( Fig. 25 ), with long, slender, posteromesally directed projection. Clypeus ( Fig. 6 ) with three pairs of setae. Palpus ( Figs 5, 7 ) whitish, segment 5 slightly infuscated; segment 3 with 6–7 capitate sensillae, PR 1.86 (n = 2).

Thorax ( Fig. 8 ). Scutum brown, scutellum pale, with 6–7 strong, 1–2 thinner setae. Legs ( Fig. 9 ) uniformly pale brown, tarsomeres 5 infuscated; apex of hind tibia with 5 spines; foreleg TR 2.37–2.50 (2.43, n = 2), midleg TR 2.41–2.44 (2.42, n = 2), hind leg TR 2.31–2.36 (2.33, n = 2). Wing ( Fig. 10 ), length 0.96 (n = 2) mm, width 0.36–0.39 (0.37, n = 2) mm, CR 0.50–0.56 (0.53, n = 2); membrane hyaline, densely covered with macrotrichia; cubital fork at level of ¿rst radial cell. Halter knob whitish.

Abdomen. Pale brown. Subgenital plate ( Figs 11 , 26 ) represented by slender tranversal band, slightly arised anteromesally. Spermatheca ovoid ( Figs 11 , 27 ), heavily sclerotized, diameter 252 µm, neck short, sclerotized, measuring 12 µm.

Female pupa ( Figs 13–19 , 28–32 ). Total length 2.88 mm. General coloration of exuviae pale brown. Dorsal apotome ( Fig. 13 ) 2.11× broader than long, surface smooth with wrinkles on margins, anterior margin slightly concave, posterior margin rounded; dorsal apotome sensilla with one short, thin seta, one campaniform sensillum ( Fig. 13 ); DAL 0.10–0.12 (0.11, n = 2) mm; DAW 0.240 (n = 2) mm; DAW/DAL 2.00–2.22 (2.11, n = 2). Cephalothorax surface with very small rounded tubercles, length 0.99–1.02 (1.00, n = 2) mm, width 0.69–0.75 (0.72, n = 2) mm. Cephalothoracic sensilla as follows: three dorsolateral cephalic sensilla ( Figs 14 , 28 ), two minute setae, one campaniform sensilla; three anterolateral sensilla ( Figs 14 , 28 ), one long, thin seta, one medium-sized seta, one coeloconica sensillum; two anteromedial sensilla, one medium-sized seta, one short seta ( Figs 14 , 28 ); dorsals ( Figs 15 , 29 ): D-1-T, D-2-T, D-4-T absent, D-3-T campaniform sensillum, D-5-T short, thin seta, supraalar (SA- 2-T) campaniform sensillum. Respiratory organ ( Fig. 16 ) thick at base, distal half tapering to a sharp apex, 4.75× longer than broad, surface smooth, with 18–20 apical pores; RO length 0.23–0.25 (0.24, n = 2) mm, RO width 0.05 (n = 2) mm; pedicel (P) pale brown, smooth, short, pedicel length 0.024 (n = 2) mm, P/RO 0.100 –0.105 (0.1025, n = 2) mm. Two clypeal/ labral sensilla ( Figs 17 , 30 ), CL-1-H long, thin seta, CL-2-H short seta; two ocular sensilla, one long, thin seta, one campaniform sensillum ( Figs 17 , 30 ). Abdominal segments covered with small spinules. Abdominal segment 1 ( Figs 18 , 31 ) with sensilla as follows: D-2-I peg; D-4-I, D-7-I pores, D-8-I short seta; 3 lateral sensilla, L-1-I, L-3-I short setae, L-2-I minute seta. Second abdominal segment similar to ¿rst. Segment 4 with sensillar pattern ( Fig. 32 ) as follows: D-2-IV peg; D-4-IV, D-7-IV, D-8-IV without setae, all located on flattened tubercles; L-1-IV medium-sized, thin seta on triangular tubercle, L-2-IV campaniform sensillum, L-3-IV, L-4-IV minute setae, all located on triangular tubercles; two ventral sensilla, V-5-IV without seta, V-6-IV short, stout seta, both located on bi¿d tubercles. Segment 9 ( Fig. 19 ) 1.45× longer than width, ventral surface with many spinules; length 0.348 –0.360 (0.354, n = 2) mm, width 0.204 –0.240 (0.222, n = 2) mm. Terminal process ( Fig. 19 ) straight, as long as length of body of segment 9, tip pointed, base broad with two setae, one long, thin, hyaline seta on small rounded base, other medium-sized, stout seta on rounded tubercle; length 0.180 (n = 2) mm.

Male pupa ( Figs 12, 20 ). Similar to female with usual sexual differences: Total length 2.52–2.64 (2.61, n = 6) mm. Exuviae pale brown. Dorsal apotome with DAL 0.12–0.14 (0.130, n = 6) mm; DAW 0.24–0.26 (0.25, n = 6) mm, DAW/DAL 1.85–2.10 (1.98, n = 6). Respiratory organ ( Fig. 12 ), RO length 0.22–0.24 (0.23, n = 7) mm, RO width 0.05 (n = 7); pedicel length 0.024 –0.030 (0.025, n = 7) mm, P/RO 0.10–0.13 (0.107, n = 7). Cephalothorax ( Fig. 12 ) length 0.99–1.07 (1.03, n = 6) mm, width 0.66–0.74 (0.70, n = 6) mm. Segment 9 ( Fig. 20 ) length 0.34–0.39 (0.35, n = 7) mm, width 0.19–0.24 (0.22, n = 7) mm; terminal process ( Fig. 20 ) length 0.17–0.24 (0.19, n = 7) mm.

Etymology. The species name Dasyhelea pseudopollinosa refers to the similarity with its congener, Nearctic Dasyhelea pollinosa Wirth, 1952 .

Distribution. Brazil (Amazonas).

Discussion. WAUGH & WIRTH (1976) proposed the cincta , grisea, leptobranchia and mutabilis species-groups for the Nearctic Dasyhelea species , working in an exclusively phenetic framework. Most of the Neotropical species ¿t within these groups or are in the brevicosta species-group proposed by GROGAN & WIENERS (2006) and the patagonica species-group proposed by DÍAZ et al. (2010).

We provisionally place this new species within the grisea group by virtue of the well developed frontal sclerite and sinuate paramere. On the other hand, the uniformly pale brown legs, the female subgenital plate represented by a transversal sclerotized band without anterior triangular projection and the posterolateral arms of aedeagus bearing an outer subapical pointed process, are not characters otherwise present in species of the grisea group.

The pupa of Dasyhelea paulistana is very similar to this new species by virtue of the respiratory organ thick at base with its distal half tapering to a sharp apex, and by the slender and elongate terminal processes of the segment 9 but in D. paulistana the terminal processes are very much longer, twice the body length of segment 9. The adult of D. paulistana is readily distinguished from the new species by the ovoid female subgenital plate, the elongate and sinuate paramere hooked at tip, and by the aedeagus with V-shaped basal arch.

The pupae of the Nearctic species D. pollinosa and D. traverae Thomsen, 1935 are similar to this new species. However, both species can be distinguished from D. pseudopollinosa by several characters offered by the adults, as follows: in D. pollinosa the legs are somewhat banded, the gonocoxal apodemes are fused with the paramere, and the female subgenital plate exhibits a conspicuous anterior, triangular projection. Dasyhelea traverae is a larger species (female wing length 1.21–1.27 mm) with a dark brown scutellum, male tergite 9 rounded, posterior margin of male sternite 9 nearly straight, paramere J-shaped and not in contact with the gonocoxal apodemes, aedeagus with the basal arch narrowed mesally and with straight lateral arms, each one bearing a slender, inner, posteriorly directed process with mesal tooth, and the female subgenital plate exhibits an elongate, slender, anteriorly directed projection.

Figures

Figs 1–11. Dasyhelea pseudopollinosa Díaz & Ronderos sp. nov., adult. 1–4 – holotype, male; 5–11 – allotype, female. 1, 5 – flagellum, anterior view; 2, 7 – palpus; 3, 10 – wing; 4 – genitalia, ventral view; 6 – clypeus; 8 – thorax; 9 – legs; 11 – abdominal segments 8–10, ventral view.

Figs 12–20.Dasyhelea pseudopollinosa Díaz & Ronderos sp. nov., pupa.12, 20 – male pupa; 13–19 – female pupa.12 – entire pupa; 13 – dorsal apotome; 14 – cephalothoracic chaetotaxy (dorsal view); 15 – dorsal sensilla and supraalar; 16 – respiratory organ; 17 – clypeal/labral sensilla and ocular sensilla; 18 – abdominal segment 1 chaetotaxy; 19–20 – segment 9. Abbreviations: AL-1-T, AL-2-T, AL-3-T íanterolateral sensilla; AM-1-T, AM-2-T – anteromedial sensilla; CL-1-H, CL-2-H – clypeal/labral sensilla; DA – dorsal apotome; DA-1-H, DA-2-H – dorsal apotomal sensilla; DL-1-H, DL-2-H, DL-3-H – dorsolateral cephalic sclerite sensilla; D-3-T, D-5-T – dorsal sensilla; D-2-I, D-4-I, D-7-I, D-8-I, L-1-I, L-2-I, L-3-I – abdominal segment 1 chaetotaxy; GL – genital lobe; O-1-H, O-2-H – ocular sensilla; P – pedicel; RO – respiratory organ; SA-2-T – supraalar; TP – terminal process.

Figs 21–32. Dasyhelea pseudopollinosa Díaz & Ronderos sp. nov. 21–24 – holotype, male; 25–27 – allotype, female; 28–32 – female pupa. 21 – genitalia; 22 – sternite 9; 23 – paramere and gonocoxal apodemes; 24 – aedeagus; 25 – frontal sclerite; 26 – subgenital plate; 27 – spermatheca; 28 – cephalothoracic chaetotaxy (dorsal view); 29 – dorsal sensilla and supraalar; 30 – clypeal/labral sensilla and ocular sensilla; 31 – abdominal segment 1 chaetotaxy; 32 – segment 4 chaetotaxy. Scale bars = 0.05 mm. Abbreviations: AL-1-T, AL-2-T, AL-3-T íanterolateral sensilla; AM-1-T, AM-2-T – anteromedial sensilla; CL-1-H, CL-2-H – clypeal/labral sensilla; D-3-T, D-5-T – dorsal sensilla; DL-1-H, DL-2-H, DL-3-H – dorsolateral cephalic sclerite sensilla; D-2-I, D-4-I, D-7-I, D-8-I, L-1-I, L-2-I, L-3-I – abdominal segment 1 chaetotaxy; D-2-IV, D-4-IV, D-7-IV, D-8-IV, L-1-IV, L-2-IV, L-3-IV, L-4-IV, V-5-IV, V-6-IV – segment 4 chaetotaxy; O-1-H, O-2-H – ocular sensilla; SA-2-T – supraalar.