Trichopetalum stannardi (Causey)

Shear, William A., 2010, 2385, Zootaxa 2385, pp. 1-62 : 22-24

Trichopetalum stannardi (Causey)

Figs. 19–22

Flagellopetalum stannardi Causey 1951:120 , figs. 9–12.

Trichopetalum stannardi, Shear, 1972: 277 .

Flagellopetalum quadratum Loomis 1966:229 , figs. 17–19. NEW SYNONYMY.

Flagellopetalum appropinquo Causey 1969:44 , figs. 1–4. NEW SYNONYMY.

Types: Male holotype of F. stannardi from Rocky Branch, Clark Co., Illinois, deposited in INHS, examined. Male holotype of F. quadratum from Glendale, Prince Georges Co. Maryland, to have been deposited in USNM, but was not to be found there. Male holotype of F. appropinquo from Rohresville Caves, Washington Co., Maryland, deposited in MCZ, examined (in 1970).

Notes on synonymy: In 1972, I synonymized Flagellopetalum with Trichopetalum , bringing the three included species into the genus. That synonymy was not based on specimens, only the illustrations that had been provided by Loomis (1966) and Causey (1951, 1969). After that paper had been written, the type of F. appropinquo arrived at the MCZ, and examination of it confirmed my conclusions, which were further strengthened by the more recent collection of the species from Nansemond Co., Virginia. For this study I found the holotype (INHS) of stannardi , which Hoffman (1999) had reported as “location unknown.” Unfortunately, the specimen, a fragment, provides little information. The label says “gonopods on slide” but no slide was located. Causey’s illustrations of this specimen, however, are exemplary and inspire confidence in the generic and specific synonymies.

Diagnosis: The angiocoxite is deeply divided into two thin, acutely tapering, sinuous branches unlike that of any other species of Trichopetalum , the colpocoxite is very large and lobular, and the fimbriate branch is suppressed. The femora of the sixth legpair of the males have a distinct distal, inner process ( Fig. 22), this is absent in all other Trichopetalum .

Etymology: The species name honors the collector, L. J. Stannard, an entomologist and prolific collector at INHS, who supplied Nell Causey with a steady stream of interesting specimens from the midwest. The synonymous name “ appropinquo ” is a nomenclatural anomaly, the only species epithet I know that is a verb (Latin) meaning “to approach closely.”

Male from Nansemond Co., Virginia: Length, 4.6 mm, width, 0.47 mm. Color medium brown, anterior segments mottled darker in reticulate pattern (specimens may have been stained in preservation). Ocelli 8, upper row of 6 gently curved, lower row of 2 at midpoint of upper row. Legpairs 3–7 encrassate, pairs 4–6 largest, pair 7 slightly smaller than pair 2; femora of legs 5 with mesal triangular projection ( Fig. 21); femora of legs 6 with distal hooked process ( Fig. 22). Gonopods in anterior view ( Fig. 14) with reduced trichomes, single seta posteriobasal on coxa. Angiocoxite deeply divided, possibly with 2 branches, both thin, sinuously curved; group of 5 setae on each angiocoxite. Fimbriate branch strongly reduced but present, not seen unless gonopod is broken into components. Colpocoxite very large, well sclerotized, angular, with appressed mesal knobs, acute posterior process ( Fig. 20). Legpair 9 reduced to 2 segments as usual. Legpairs 10, 11 with coxal glands; pair 10 with slightly reduced telopodites.

Female from Nansemond Co., Virginia: Length, 6.1 mm, width, 0.52 mm. Nonsexual characters as in male.

Distribution: Material examined: VIRGINIA: Nansemond Co.: near Suffolk, 20 March 1983, D. Waller, males, females (WAS).

Literature records: Only the type localities listed above.

The scattered localities for this species suggest that it is far less frequent in occurrence than any other in the genus, save Trichopetalum montis . The species should occur in WEST VIRGINIA in the “panhandle” adjacent to Maryland, and should be looked for in localities in OHIO, INDIANA and KENTUCKY between the stations in Maryland and Illinois. It is possible it might be found in southern PENNSYLVANIA. Trichopetalum stannardi is narrowly sympatric (even syntopic) with T. uncum at the only known Illinois locality for either species; sympatry with lunatum might be expected in northern West Virginia, and stannardi and lunatum again occur close together in the Hampton Roads region of coastal Virginia, but there lunatum may be introduced.

Notes: Curiously, Causey (1969) described appropinquo as new even though it was very similar to both Loomis’(1966) description and illustrations of quadratum , which went unmentioned in her paper, and to her own species, stannardi . The type localities of quadratum and appropinquo are about 200 miles apart and in different physiographic regions; Washington Co. is in the Ridge and Valley Province of the Appalachian Mountains, and Prince Georges Co. is on the Coastal Plain. This presaged the collection of stannardi on the Coastal Plain in Virginia. The Illinois record (the type locality) is the same place as the outlying northern record of uncum from Illinois, but the type of stannardi was collected two years earlier. Trichopetalum stannardi has gonopods with a deeply divided angiocoxite, and so superficially resembles species of Zygonopus ; a further similarity is seen in the strongly modified femora of the sixth legs. However, Zygonopus species have 30 segments as adults, and stannardi has the 28 segments typical of Trichopetalum . See further discussion under the description of T. jerryblatti , new species, and the generic description of Zygonopus .