Howickia tangata Marshall

Marshall, S. A., Luk, S. P. L. & Dong, H., 2014, A revision of the New Zealand species of Howickia Richards, Zootaxa 3887 (1), pp. 1-36 : 28

Howickia tangata Marshall sp. nov.

( Figs. 15, 16 , 66–69)

Description. Head: Eye 3.0X genal height. Thorax: Scutellum 3.0X as wide as long; basal and apical marginal bristles subequal in length.

Male abdomen: Sternite 5 twice as long as sternite 4, with a pale, strongly spinulose medial patch and a straight posteromedial comb of 13 basally contiguous but distally widely spaced flat bristles. Subanal plate broad and complete with a straight ventral margin, not strongly differentiated from lower/outer part of cercus; lower parts of cerci widely separated and projecting below subanal plate. Surstylus with 3 lobes: a broad anterior lobe without large bristles; a small, pedunculate ventral lobe with a stout posteromedially curved bristle; and a large posterior lobe with several stout bristles including a very large ventral one. Distiphallus very narrow, tubular. Postgonites broad on basal part, abruptly constricted to a narrow and weakly clubbed distal part. Basiphallus frame-like, projecting posteriorly at right angle to distiphallus base for a distance equal to distiphallus base.

Female abdomen (described from undissected abdomen with everted ovipositor): Tergite 8 divided into narrow bare dorsal sclerite and larger posteriorly setulose and setose lateral sclerites. Epiproct longitudinally divided into two sclerites, each with 1 small bristle and several small setulae; epiproct separate from the strongly sclerotized, elongate, narrow, setose cerci. Sternite 8 small and bare. Hypoproct large, mostly bare, setulose and setose only along posterior margin.

Type material. Holotype (male, NZAC, debu00134615): New Zealand, North Island, Putara Valley, 10 km W Eketahuna, 400 m, pan traps, 14–16.Jan.1999, S.A. Marshall. Paratypes: same as holotype (1 male, DEBU, debu00134616); same as holotype but 15.Jan.1999 (1 male, DEBU); North Island, Tongariro National Park, southeast corner, Nothofagus fusca bush, baited pit traps, 4–26.Jan.1971, H.A. Oliver (4 males, 3 females, NZAC); Kaimanewa Road end, NW Kaimanawa Ranges meat-baited pit traps, 23–31.Jan. 1971, H.A. Oliver (1 male, 1 female, NZAC).

Etymology. The specific epithet is from the name for the ceremonial Maori war club called the Toki Pou Tangata . It is applied to this species because of its elaborate and well-armed surstylus.

Comments. The male genitalia of this species are unmistakable, but Howickia tangata resembles H. myersi in external features.

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 18. Howickia myersi group. Howickia tangata Marshall, sp. n.: 15, habitus; 16, head. Howickia myersi (Richards): 17, live individual in situ; 18, habitus.