Heizmannia (Heizmannia) rajagopalani, Natarajan & Eapen & Jambulingam, 2020

Natarajan, R., Eapen, Alex & Jambulingam, P., 2020, Heizmannia rajagopalani n. sp. (Diptera: Culicidae) in Kerala, India, a species previously misidentified as Hz. metallica (Leicester), Zootaxa 4722 (5), pp. 472-478 : 473-476

Heizmannia (Heizmannia) rajagopalani n. sp.

( Figs 1 , 2 )

Heizmannia metallica (Leicester) of Edwards 1922: 448–449, 462; of Barraud 1929: 267–268; of Barraud 1934: 299, 301, 307–308.

Diagnosis. Heizmannia rajagopalani is a distinctive species, readily recognizable by the deep bluish metallic reflection on the scutum; males have antennal flagellomeres 1–11 very short, scarcely longer than broad, flagellomere 13 is twice the length of the other flagellomeres; the filament of the distal claspette of the male genitalia is a transparent leaf-like blade and the proximal claspette has 2–5 flattened moderately long setae along with short setae.

Male ( Fig. 1 A–J). Medium sized dark brown with metallic iridescent and snow-white markings on head and thorax. Head: Vertex covered with broad dark scales with metallic luster, median apical silvery-white spot of broad scales also covering interocular space; similar pale scales on lateral side of eye margin and underside of head; 2 setae on each side of interocular space; clypeus dark brown. Antenna ( Fig. 1J ): Lightly verticillate, pedicel dark, flagellomere 1 with a few dark broad scales, flagellomeres 1–11 very short, scarcely longer than broad, each with long setae, flagellomeres 12 and 13 with short dense setae; flagellomere 13 twice length of combined length of flagellomeres 1–11 and twice length of flagellomere 12; maxillary palpus about one-sixth (0.17) length of proboscis; proboscis slightly longer than forefemur. Thorax: Scutal scales with deep bluish metallic reflections; acrostichal, dorsocentral and prescutellar setae absent; 10–15 setae on anterior promontory and supraalar margin; paratergite covered with broad silvery-white scales; scutellum covered with broad dark scales with metallic reflections, each lobe bearing 3 or 4 stout setae; antepronotum large, nearly touching antepronotum of other side behind head, with silvery-white scales on upper surface of anterior side, posterior area covered with dark scales, 10–12 stout setae present on anterior margin; dark scales on postpronotum with 2,3 pale brown setae in upper posterior corner; pleural integument brown, patches of broad silvery-white scales on upper proepisternum, postspiracular area, subspiracular area, mesokatepisternum and mesepimeron; pleural setae dark brown, 3,4 upper proepisternal, 6–8 prealar, 4,5 median mesokatepisternal and 1 stout lower mesepimeral; mesopostnotum with a group of setae. Legs: Hindfemur with pale scales on basal 0.5–0.7 of ventroanterior and -posterior surfaces, a dark dorsal stripe from base to apex. Wing: Alula fringed with broad dark scales; all plume scales narrow; cell R 2 2.0–3.0 length of vein R 2+3. Abdomen: Terga dark-scaled with metallic purple reflections; tergum I medially dark and laterally with white scales; terga II–VII dark-scaled with fairly large basolateral patches of white scales that progressively diminish in size towards posterior segments; sternum II apparently all pale; sterna III–VI with basal pale and apical dark bands. Genitalia ( Fig. 1 A–I): Tergum IX with 1–5 fine setae on each side ( Fig. 1H ); sternum IX trilobed, 1–4 stout setae at apex of median lobe ( Fig. 1I ); gonocoxite almost ovoid in shape, with 2 groups of specialized apical setae ( Fig. 1C ), dorsal group of 3,4 broad dark curved flattened setae, ventral group of 3–7 normal setae longer than dorsal group; subapical lobe ( Fig. 1D ) with 1 strong pigmented spine-like seta, a group of short setae along edge between lobe and apex of gonocoxite; stem of distal claspette ( Fig.1E ) covered with fine aculeae and needle-like setae along tergal margin, filament a transparent leaf-like blade; proximal claspette ( Fig. 1F ) with 3–5 long flattened setae and short setae; gonostylus ( Fig. 1B ) transparent, about 0.5 length of gonocoxite, mesolaterally curved and sternolaterally expanded at about 0.33 from base, with finger-like process at about 0.33 from base accompanying deep cleft between 2 parts of expanded process, distal 0.33 of sternolateral area striated, tergolateral apex with pigmented gonostylar claw; paraproct ( Fig. 1H ) with long narrow apex; aedeagus ( Fig. 1G ) toothed, teeth at apex larger than others.

Female. Resembling male in general features, except antennal flagellum slender with flagellomeres of typical length. Genitalia ( Fig.2 A–E): Cercus short and broad with 6–8 long stout setae at apex; postgenital lobe with apex slightly rounded to very slightly emarginate with moderately long setae; upper vaginal lip strongly pigmented; lower vaginal lip with numerous short spicules scattered over entire surface; insula ( Fig. 2A ) with 5,6 small setae ( Fig. 2A ); 1 large and 2 medium-sized spermathecal capsules ( Fig. 2D ); tergum IX ( Fig. 2E ) divided into 2 separate plates, each plate with 2–4 apical setae; tergum VIII ( Fig. 2B ) with scales, apex with numerous fine short setae; sternum VIII ( Fig. 2C ) with scales, apex with a moderately deep median indentation, numerous short setae at apex and medially.

Immature stages. Unfortunately, the larval and pupal exuviae of the reared adults were damaged during transport to the laboratory and were not retained for description.

Specimen data. Two males ( A33072 , A33097 ) on pins, with dissected genitalia (G33702, G33097) on microscope slides and 2 females ( A33073 , A33098 ) on pins, with dissected genitalia (G33073, G33098) on microscope slides, bearing collection data: INDIA, Kerala, Idukki District, Pathinaramkandam (9° 53′ 41.0″ N; 77° 0′ 38.3″ E; 685.2 m a.m.s.l.), collected 17.03.2017 as larvae from discarded tires, deposited in the Zoological Survey of India , Chennai , India .

Additional material examined. Two males (A23549, A23582) on pins, with dissected genitalia on microscope slides (G23549, G23582), with collection data: Kottayam District, Erattupeta (9° 42′ 4.1″ N; 76° 45′ 12.0″ E; 167.2 m a.m.s.l.), collected on 08.07.2008 as larvae from fallen cocoa shell; 5 males ( A33070 , A33071 , A33099 , A33102 , A33104 ), with dissected genitalia on microscope slides (G33070, G33071, G33099, G33102, G33104) and 5 females ( A33074 , A33100 , A33101 , A33103 , A33105 ), G33105 with dissected genitalia on a microscope slide, collection data: Idukki District , Pathinaramkandam (9° 53′ 41.0″ N; 77° 0′ 38.3″ E; 685.2 m a.m.s.l.), collected on 17.03.2017 as larvae from discarded tires, deposited in the Mosquito Museum at the Vector Control Research Centre, Pondicherry, India .

Distribution. Erattupeta, Kottayam District, Pathinaramkandam, Iddukki District, Kerala, both localities come under the Western Ghats in the southwestern part of India. Distribution in literature: Pudupadi, Malabar coast; Kurseong, Darjeeling District, India.

Etymology. Heizmannia rajagopalani is named in honor of Padmashee Prof. P. K. Rajagopalan, former Director of ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India in recognition of his contributions to medical entomology and the donation of large collections of books in the field of mosquito taxonomy that provided a foundation for our knowledge on mosquitoes in the Oriental Region.

Biology. Adults of Hz. rajagopalani emerged from larvae collected from a cocoa shell, and discarded tires (larvae were reported to have been found in tree holes by Barraud 1934) in a natural forest and high rainfall area at low elevation of 197.2 m a.m.s.l. Species associated with larvae of Hz. rajagopalani included Hz. (Hez.) chandi Edwards and Culex (Lophoceraomyia) uniformis (Theobald) . Nothing is known of the bionomics of the adults.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Heizmannia (Heizmannia) rajagopalani, male. A–J, Genitalia: A, Portion of male genitalia; B, gonostylus; C, apical setae; D, subapical lobe with spine; E, distal claspette; F, proximal claspette; G, phallosome; H, proctiger; I, sternum IX lobe; J, antenna. Abbreviations: ADs, apical setae; Ae, aedeagus; Ant, antenna; DCl, distal claspette; Flm 1–11, flagellomeres 1–11; Flm 12, flagellomere 12; Flm 13, flagellomere 13; Gc, gonocoxite; Gs, gonostylus; PCl, proximal claspette; Ppr, paraproct; IX- S-, sternum IX; SL, subapical lobe with spine; IX-Te, tergum IX. Scale lines = mm.

FIGURE 2. Heizmannia (Heizmannia) rajagopalani, female genitalia. A, Portion of female genitalia; B, tergum VIII; C, sternum VIII; D, spermathecal capsules; E, tergum IX. Abbreviations: Ce, cercus; I, insula; IsS, insular setae; LVL, lower vaginal lip; PGL, postgenital lobe; SCa, seminal capsules; UVL, upper vaginal lip; UVS, upper vaginal sclerite; VIII-S, sternum VIII; VIII-Te, tergum VIII; IX-Te, tergum IX. Scale lines = mm.