Ungla pennyi Tauber

Tauber, Catherine A., Sosa, Francisco, Albuquerque, Gilberto S. & Tauber, Maurice J., 2017, Revision of the Neotropical green lacewing genus Ungla (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae), ZooKeys 674, pp. 1-188 : 59-65

Ungla pennyi Tauber sp. n. Figs 73, 74, 75, 76, 144d

Holotype

(Figs 74-76, 144d). FSCA, male. Costa Rica, Cartago Province, Tuis, 16-29.vii.1987, H. L. Dozier.

Etymology.

The species is named for Norman D. Penny of the California Academy of Sciences, who died during the preparation of this revision. Norm was a world-renown Neuropterist and valued colleague. We (CAT) had some disagreements with Norm, but our shared attachment to the Neuroptera stimulated us to overcome our differences. His work, especially on the Costa Rican and Amazonian chrysopids, has been very useful in this and our other studies.

Diagnosis.

Ungla pennyi is one of three Ungla species reported from an area north of South America; the other two species are U. pallescens from Puntarenas, Costa Rica, and U. mexicana , sp. n., described above, from Chiapas, Mexico. Ungla pennyi differs from these two species in its smaller size (forewing length = 10.9 mm, vs 13.1-14.1 mm for U. mexicana and U. pallescens ), and cream-colored, unmarked palpi. Also, in contrast to U. pallescens , the male U. pennyi has enlarged abdominal spiracles. [The male of U. mexicana is unknown.].

The U. pennyi holotype closely resembles specimens of the Venezuelan species U. curimaguensis and U. martinsi , in size and especially in the male abdominal and genital characteristics. Thus, it is possible that our specimen represents a differentiated population of one of these two species. However, it lacks the dark genal marks and marked maxillary and labial palpi of both species, and the largely green forewing venation of U. curimaguensis . In U. curimaguensis , the C-Sc crossveins, R-Rs crossveins and the transverse branches from the Rs are entirely green, whereas in U. pennyi and in U. martinsi they are dark brown with surrounding membrane suffused with brown coloration. At this time, we consider that the set of features expressed by the U. pennyi specimen indicate species-level differentiation; we await confirmation or correction of our opinion when additional specimens from Central America become available.

Description.

Head badly discolored, probably cream-colored with red markings; vertex smooth anteriorly, shiny, with a pair of red spots in place of U-shaped marking, pair of larger red marks around posterolateral margin of raised vertex; dorsal fossae either pale or reddish; no apparent markings between antennae; frons with hint of mesal red spot below each antenna; reddish marking(s) near front of frons; gena without visible coloration; clypeus, labrum without marks. Antenna: dorsal surface of scape with broad red longitudinal stripe laterally, frontal surface with indistinct dark markings mesally; pedicel, flagellum pale, with pale setae basally, darker setae distally; maxillary, labial palpi pale, without discernible marks.

Thorax without distinct coloration or marks; prothorax short, with pale setae; mesothorax perhaps with pair of dark spots on frontal surface of scutum. Legs pale, unmarked, with pale setae. Measurements: head width: 1.3 mm; ratio head width: eye width: 2.4: 1; prothorax width: 0.9 mm, length: 0.5 mm.

Forewing rounded apically; hindwing slightly acute, both with venation robust; membrane mostly clear, dull; stigma opaque, brownish, with three faint subcostal crossveins, basal one with brown suffusion. Forewing: 10.9 mm long, 3.7 mm wide (ratio, L: W = 3.0: 1); Rs fairly straight; first intramedian cell ovate; basal inner gradate meeting Psm; height of tallest costal cell 0.6 mm (cell number 5); width of first intramedian cell 0.7 mm; 10 radial cells (closed cells between R and Rs); third gradate cell 1.1 mm long, 0.4 mm wide (ratio, L: W = 2.9: 1); fourth gradate cell absent; 4 Banksian cells (b cells), 4 b’ cells; 3 inner gradates, 5 outer gradates. Forewing veins discolored with age, but probably green (pale) and brown; dark brown veins usually with surrounding membrane suffused with brown; longitudinal veins pale; distal, basal C-Sc crossveins pale, mesal C-Sc crossveins either dark brown or brown near Sc; R-Rs crossveins dark brown to brown; transverse branches from Rs surrounding b cells entirely brown or brown only near Psm; distal transverse branches light brown near Rs, paler distally; veins between Psm-Psc brown or marked with brown; base of Rs, gradate veins, basal intracubital crossvein dark. Hindwing 9.7 mm long, 2.9 mm wide (ratio, L: W = 3.3: 1), 10 radial cells, 3 Banksian (b) cells, 4 b’ cells, 3 inner gradates, 5 outer gradates; venation entirely pale (probably light green).

Male. Abdomen with very large spiracles (e.g., A7: spiracle diameter ~0.25 × length of sternite); subanal plate small, with ~4 setae; T9+ectoproct long (~0.7 length of T7), with dorsal invagination deep (~0.6x dorsal length of T9+ect), margins of invagination almost straight, base acute; dorsal margin of T9+ect rounded, convex, curving downward, melding into rounded distal margin; posterior margin of ectoproct rounded, protruding, basal knob blunt, curving inward; ventral margin of T9+ect straight, with narrow apodeme extending along entire length, apodeme forming triangular process distally, extending posteriorly as short rod; posterior margin of T9+ect straight; callus cerci large, ovate, margin sclerotized throughout, but not darkened; sclerotization appearing contiguous with that on ventral margin of ectoproct. S8+9 fused, with line of fusion not perceptible; dorsum tapering slightly anteriorly, forming concave depression at about 3/4th distance to tip; distal one forth rounded, forming concave platform; terminus blunt (lateral view), extending distally well beyond T9+ect; most terminal setae long, simple, a few along upper lateral edge of S8+9 with small flanges. Gonarcus arcuate, U-shaped, with bridge robust, curved throughout, arms elongate, extending ventrobasally from gonarcal bridge, rounded distally, mesal section with short digitiform process extending posteromesally; mediuncus partially rounded, long, curving downward from top of bridge, ending in blunt knob, internally with pair of adjacent sclerotized rods, broad basally, tapering mesally, then fusing distally; gonosaccus bilobed, each lobe with large maleable patch of large gonosetae arising from enlarged setal bases, facing outward (everted), more flexible inner membrane with large, dense patch of spines, facing inward; hypandrium internum V-shaped, with rounded apex, small comes.

Known distribution.

COSTA RICA: Provinces of Cartago, Puntarenas.

Specimens examined

(in addition to holotype above). Puntarenas, Costa Rica: Finca Las Cruses near San Vito, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica 1800m elev. 13.III.69 at black light, J. Sheldon #1969-140 (paratype, F, CAS).