Triplocania brancoi, Neto & García Aldrete & Rafael & Ferreira, 2021

Neto, Alberto Moreira Da Silva, García Aldrete, Alfonso N., Rafael, José Albertino & Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes, 2021, Checklist and identification key to Brazilian species of Triplocania Roesler (Psocodea: ‘ Psocoptera’: Psocomorpha: Ptiloneuridae), with four new cavedwelling species, Zootaxa 4938 (5), pp. 537-558 : 541-543

Triplocania brancoi n. sp. Male

( Figs 1–7 )

Diagnosis. Forewing almost hyaline, pterostigma with a proximal and a distal brown band and a small brown spot on confluence of CuP-1A; hypandrium of three sclerites, a large central sclerite, anteriorly convex and almost triangular, with the anterior region transversely wide, with antero-lateral corners projected, semi-elipitical, with rounded apex, sides converging to slender posterior process cleft in the middle, each lobe five times as long as wide ( Fig. 5 ); mesal pair of endophallic sclerites Y-shaped, with inner arms projected in the middle narrowing distally, with triangular apices, almost together in the middle of the endophallus, outer arms, stout, elongate, slightly curved inward, distally rounded and bearing a subterminal tooth on outer margin; posterior endophallic sclerites anteriorly wide, narrowing distally, curved inward, ending in two small teeth ( Fig. 6 ).

Color (parts mounted on slide). Compound eyes black, ocelli hyaline, with ochre centripetal crescents, head pattern ( Fig. 1 ). Scape brown, pedicel pale brown, f1–f3 pale brown, with apices white. Mx4 brown. Legs with coxae brown, trochanters brown in the middle and pale brown at the ends, femora proximally brown and distally pale brown, tibiae pale brown, with apices brown; tarsomeres 1–3 dark brown. Forewing mostly hyaline, veins brown ( Fig. 2 ). Hindwings hyaline, veins brown ( Fig. 3 ).

Morphology. Head with vertex concave in the middle, slightly above the level of the upper border of the compound eyes, these without interommatidial setae ( Fig. 1 ). Outer cusp of lacinial tips broad, with four denticles ( Fig. 4 ). Forewing pterostigma wider in the middle, narrow basally; areola postica tall, wide basally, broadly triangular; M stem slightly concave proximally, then almost straight, M 1 slightly convex proximally, then almost straight, M 2 sinuous, M 3 straight, Rs almost straight, R 2+3 straight, R 4+5 slightly concave proximally, then almost straight ( Fig 2 ). Hindwing Rs straight, R 2+3 straight, R 4+5 slightly concave proximally, then almost straight, M stem sinuous ( Fig. 3 ). Hypandrium ( Fig. 5 ), central sclerite, with antero-lateral corners projected, semi-elipitical, with rounded apices, flanked by large, almost triangular sclerites; setae as illustrated. Phallosome ( Fig. 6 ) with side struts independent, V shaped, narrow anteriorly, wider in the middle, narrowing posteriorly, not fused to external parameres, these stout, basally almost triangular, narrowing in the middle, widening posteriorly, directed inward, with a field of pores posteriorly; three pairs of endophallic sclerites, an anterior pair of endophallic sclerites slender, elbowed in the middle, anteriorly straight and transverse, posteriorly sinuous, slightly curved outwards distally; mesal pair, stout, Y-shaped, basal part with four slender lamellar projections, acuminate distally, almost together in the middle of endophallus, inner arms projected in the middle, these elongated, curved outward, narrowing at the end, with triangular apex, almost together in the middle of endophallus, outer arms bearing mesally a small pointed projection on outer borders, blunt distally, a posterior pair, wide anteriorly, narrowing posteriorly, curved inward, ending in two dactyloid processes. Epiproct wide basally, with sides converging to triangular posterior border, three setae mesally, other setae as illustrated ( Fig. 7 ). Paraprocts broad, wide basally, posteriorly narrowing at the end, with apex rounded, sensory fields with 31 trichobothria on basal rosettes, setae as illustrated ( Fig. 7 ).

Measurements (in microns). FW: 4391, HW: 2944, F: 1102, T: 1827, t1: 791, t2: 68, t3: 145, f1: 760, f2: 638, f3: 545, Mx4: 265, IO: 426, D: 358, d: 227, PO: 0.63.

Material examined. Holotype male (UFLA). BRAZIL. Minas Gerais. Conceiç „o do Mato Dentro. Gruta SERP 206 (ISLA 10481). 19°9´58.30” S: 43°16´20.92” W. 11.VII.2014. Equipe Spelayon . Paratype: 1 male (INPA). Same data as holotype, except ( ISLA 10285). 13.V.2014 .

Etymology. The species honors Branco Ferreira, father of Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira for his support in all his life and carreer. This species, and T. zairae n. sp., described below are morphologically related. The latter is dedicated to RLF’ mother; the two species celebrating the long marriage (62 years) of Branco Ferreira and Zaira Lopes Ferreira.

Taxonomic Comments. According to the structure of the central sclerite of the hypandrium and phallosome (particularly the mesal pair of Y-shaped endophallic sclerites) relates this species is related to the following six Triplocania species: T. amacayacuensis González, Carrejo & García Aldrete, 2017 ; T. asisensis González, Carrejo & García Aldrete, 2017 ; T. ecuatoriana Silva-Neto, García Aldrete & Rafael, 2016b ; T. ecuatorianaoides Silva-Neto, García Aldrete & Rafael, 2016b ; T. lucida Roesler, 1940 and Triplocania umbrataoides Silva-Neto, García Aldrete & Rafael, 2018 . Triplocania brancoi n. sp. differs from T. lucida in having the hypandrium of three sclerites and in details of the hypandrium and phallosome as described above. It differs from the five other species mentioned above in having the forewings without setae on the veins arising from brown areolae, and in details of the hypandrium and phallosome, as described above.

Habitat. Specimens of this new species were found in an iron ore cave (Serp 206 cave) located in the municipality of Conceiç„o do Mato Dentro, southeastern Brazil. This cave is quite small, with around 15 meters of horizontal projection. The cave has a single conduit and the entrance is located near a small drain outside, where there is well-preserved. riparian forest along a small stream. Samples were taken during preparation of an inventory for environmental licensing, and as classified information details are not available on the specific microhabitat.

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Triplocania brancoi n. sp. (Holotype male). 1. Front view of head. 2. Forewing. 3. Hindwing. 4. Lacinial tip. 5. Hypandrium. 6. Phallosome. 7. Clunium, right paraproct and epiproct. Scales in mm.