Ungla bolivari (Banks, 1913) Banks, 1913

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 : 18-20

Ungla bolivari (Banks, 1913) comb. n. Fig. 17

Chrysopa bolivari Banks, 1913. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 15: 140; "San Antonio, Colombia, January, 2000 m. (Fassl.)". Penny 1977: 16 (list); Brooks and Barnard 1990: 279 [list, as " ' Chrysopa ' incertae sedis"]; Oswald 2015 (catalog). Holotype. (Fig. 17) MCZ (examined). Although the abdomen is missing, the frontal horn and crassate wing venation are typical of a male. The head and body are flattened; thus many structures could not be observed and/or measured accurately. It seems unlikely that Banks had specimens other than this one when he described the species; it is labeled as the type in his hand. Thus, we consider it to be the holotype by original designation. San Antonio, the type locality, is a small city in Tolima Department, Colombia (altitude, ~1500 m). Support for generic placement. Currently, this species is known only from the holotype, which is lacking its abdomen. Here, we base our generic identification on several external features that characterize Ungla species: vertex with pair of large, dark marks, distal segments of the maxillary and labial palpi dark brown, and a basal inner gradate that does not meet the Psm. Diagnosis. Based on the type specimen, it appears that U. bolivari can be distinguished from other Ungla species by the following suite of external features: small, rounded wings, with tan to light brown longitudinal veins, darker brown transverse veins; several basal veins crassate; large, shiny, dark brown marks on the vertex; frons with single, brown mesal spot and with a small mesal lobe protruding below the scapes (probably males only); clypeal region enlarged (boxy) frontally; antenna with flagellum and pedicel dark brown, scape dark brown dorsally.

Redescription

(based on holotype). Head: vertex cream-colored, with large, shiny, dark brown marks; posterolateral region of head probably with brown stripe near margin of eye; frons cream-colored with single brown spot mesally, below scapes, with distinctly protruding, mesal lobe; clypeus cream-colored, anterior margin thickened, raised above labrum; labrum cream-colored, with anterior margin indented mesally; distal edge of gena, lateral margins of clypeus with dark brown stripe. Antenna with dorsal surface of scape dark brown, frontal surface probably cream-colored; pedicel, flagellum dark brown throughout.

Prothorax probably light brown, with narrow, brown, longitudinal stripe laterally, with transverse furrow in central region, ending at two small pale spots interior to lateral margins, with short, dark setae throughout. Mesothorax, metathorax light to dark brown, probably with darker brown markings [as described by Banks, but faded now]. Measurements: head width: 1.2 mm; ratio head width: eye width: 2.7: 1; prothorax width, length: not measured.

Forewing, hindwing broad, rounded apically, with robust venation, with following veins crassate: R-Cux1, base of Rs, Rs-mx1, base of M near im1; alar membrane clear, without suffusion; stigma clear to very slight suffusion, with three to four light brown crossveins below with very slight tinge of brown suffusion; longitudinal veins tan to light brown, slightly darker at intersections; transverse veins, gradate veins, crossveins brown. Forewing 10.1 mm long, 3.8 mm wide, ratio, L: W = 2.7: 1; height of tallest costal cell 0.8 mm (cell number 4); length of first intramedian cell 0.8 mm; 8 radial cells (closed cells between R and Rs); 4 Banksian cells (b cells), 4 b’ cells; 3 inner gradates, 3-4 outer gradates. Hindwing 9.4 mm long, 3.1 mm wide (ratio, L: W = 3.0: 1), 8 radial cells, 3 b (Banksian) cells, 4 b’ cells, 3 inner gradates, 4 outer gradates.

Male and female. Abdominal characteristics unknown.

Known distribution.

COLOMBIA: Department of Tolima.

Specimens studied.

Holotype only. Also see below.

Possible sibling species from Venezuela.

The characteristics of U. bolivari are known with certainty only for the type specimen from Colombia. However, one female and two male specimens from Venezuela that resemble the U. bolivari holotype were studied. These specimens express many features that characterize U. bolivari (e.g., dark basal flagellomeres and dark brown to black markings on the vertex, gena, and lateral margins of clypeus). However, several features of the wings (size, number of gradate veins) lead us to believe that they are not conspecific with U. bolivari . Thus, we are not naming it here. However, to facilitate comparison with future specimens, here we include a description and images of the Venezuelan specimens.

Description of Venezuelan specimens (Figs 18-20). [For comparison: measurements from the U. bolivari holotype are provided in square brackets.]

Head, thorax as in U. bolivari , except male with frons lacking mesal marking and clypeus not enlarged or boxy; female with dark mesal spot on frons. Measurements: head width: 1.3 [1.2] mm; ratio head width: eye width: 3.5: 1 [2.7: 1]; prothorax length: 0.7 mm, width: 1.0 mm. Forewing, hindwing rounded, with robust venation; alar membrane clear, without suffusion; stigma clear to very slightly opaque, with three [four] light brown crossveins below with very slight tinge of brown suffusion; longitudinal veins cream-colored to tan, slightly darker at intersections; transverse veins, gradate veins, crossveins brown; male with following forewing veins crassate: R-Cux1, base of Rs, Rs-mx1, base of M near im1. Forewing 11.8 mm [10.1 mm] long, 4.6 [3.8] mm wide, ratio, L: W = 2.6 [2.7]: 1; height of tallest costal cell 0.9-1.0 mm (cell number 4) [0.8 mm (cell number 4)]; length of first intramedian cell 0.8 mm [0.8 mm]; 9-10 [8] radial cells (closed cells between R and Rs); 3 [4] Banksian cells (b cells), 4 [4] b’ cells; 6 [3] inner gradates, 6 [3-4] outer gradates; 5 [3] gradate cells. Hindwing 9.9 [9.4] mm long, 3.6 [3.1] mm wide (ratio, L: W = 2.7 [3.0]: 1), 10 [8] radial cells, 3 [3] Banksian cells (b cells), 4 [4] b’ cells, 5 [3] inner gradates, 5 [4] outer gradates.

Male: Abdomen yellowish green. Tergites (T) and sternites (S) densely covered with both elongate, thin and short, thickened setae. Spiracles small. T9+ect cone-shaped, with posteroventral corner acute; dorsal apodeme lightly sclerotized, located on the lower margin of T9+ect; callus cerci ovate with ca. 38 trichobotria. S8+9 fused, in lateral view: tall anteriorly, mesal section tapering abruptly, with distal one third ca. 2.8 times longer than tall, slightly projected beyond apex of T9+ect; ventral apodeme sclerotized, extending along dorsal margin of basal section of S8+9, not reaching apex. Gonarcal bridge narrow, arched; lateral apodemes broad with digitiform projection; mediuncus densely covered with microtrichiae from medial area to apex; gonosaccus with elongate gonosetae on robust chalazae in two lateral fields.

Specimens studied.

Venezuela. Lara: Parque Nacional Yacambú, El Blanquito, 1463m, 9.70649°N, 69.57608°W, 14-20/IX/2001, R. Briceño, J. Clavijo, A. Chacón, R. Paz. & E. Arcaya Proyecto S1-2000000479 (1F, MIZA). Trujillo: Boconó [9°14'N / 70°15'W, 1270 m], 20.vii.1974, F. Fernández. H. & M. Gaiani Legs. (2M, MIZA).