Simulium (Gomphostilbia) lurauense Takaoka, Sofian-Azirun & Hashim

Takaoka, H., Sofian-Azirun, M., Hashim, R. & Ya'cob, Z., 2011, Two new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera, Simuliidae) from Peninsular Malaysia, with keys to Peninsular Malaysian members of the Simulium ceylonicum species-group, ZooKeys 118, pp. 53-74 : 60-66

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) lurauense Takaoka, Sofian-Azirun & Hashim sp. n.

Description.

Female. Body length 1.9 mm. Head. Slightly narrower than width of thorax. Frons black, very densely covered with whitish-yellow scale-like recumbent short hairs interspersed with 1 dark simple longer hair on upper part near left lateral margin; frontal ratio 1.89:1.00:2.51; frons-head ratio 1.00:4.21. Fronto-ocular area well developed, narrow, directed dorsolaterally. Clypeus black, densely covered with yellow hairs interspersed with several dark longer hairs on each side. Labrum 0.57 times as long as clypeus. Antenna composed of scape, pedicel and 9 flagellomeres, brownish-black except scape, pedicel, and base of 1st flagellomere yellow. Maxillary palp composed of 5 segments, light to medium brown, proportional lengths of 3rd, 4th, and 5th segments 1.00:1.00:2.33; 3rd segment (Fig. 4A) somewhat swollen; sensory vesicle (Fig. 4A) elongate (0.50-0.54 times as long as 3rd segment), with medium-sized opening. Maxillary lacinia with 10 or 12 inner and 14 or 15 outer teeth. Mandible with 28 inner teeth and 6 outer teeth at some distance from apex. Cibarium similar to that of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) roslihashimi sp. n. (Fig. 1B). Thorax. Scutum dark brown to brownish-black except anterolateral calli ochreous, shiny when illuminated at certain angle of light, with faintly discernible black longitudinal vittae (1 median and 2 submedian), densely covered with whitish-yellow scale-like recumbent hairs. Scutellum dark brown, shiny when illuminated at certain angle of light, covered with whitish-yellow short hairs and dark brown long upright hairs along posterior margin. Postnotum brownish-black, shiny when illuminated at certain angle of light, and bare. Pleural membrane bare. Katepisternum dark brown, longer than deep, shiny when illuminated at certain angle of light, moderately covered with fine short hairs. Legs. Foreleg: coxa and trochanter whitish-yellow; femur light brown, somewhat darkened toward apex, and with apical cap medium brown, and inner surface of basal portion whitish-yellow; tibia white except apical 1/4 brownish-black, with whitish sheen on outer surface of basal 3/4; tarsus brownish-black to black, with moderate dorsal hair crest; basitarsus moderately dilated, 5.66 times as long as its greatest width. Midleg: coxa dark brown; trochanter yellow; femur light to medium brown except basal 1/4 yellowish; tibia medium to dark brown with basal 2/5 whitish, covered with whitish fine hairs on basal 3/4 and white sheen on posterior surface of basal 3/4 when illuminated at certain angle of light; tarsus dark brown to brownish-black except basal 1/3 of basitarsus yellow. Hind leg: coxa medium brown; trochanter yellow; femur medium brown with base yellow and apical cap dark brown (though extreme tip yellowish); tibia (Fig. 4B) light to dark brown with basal 1/2 white to yellowish-white, covered with whitish fine hairs on basal 3/4 and white sheen on posterior surface of basal 3/4 when illuminated at certain angle of light; tarsus dark brown except basal 2/3 of basitarsus (though base medium brown) and basal 1/2 of 2nd tarsomere yellowish-white; basitarsus (Fig. 4C) narrow, nearly parallel-sided, 6.33 times as long as wide, and 0.64 and 0.53 times as wide as greatest width of tibia and femur, respectively; calcipala (Fig. 4C) slightly shorter than width at base, and 0.56 times as wide as greatest width of basitarsus. Pedisulcus (Fig. 4C) well defined. Claw (Fig. 4D) with large basal tooth 0.56 times as long as claw. Wing. Length 1.9 mm. Costa with dark spinules and hairs except patch of hairs on basal portion yellowish-white. Subcosta with dark hairs except near apex bare. Hair tuft on stem vein yellowish-white. Basal portion of radius fully haired; R1 with dark spinules and hairs; R2 with hairs only. Basal cell absent. Haltere. White with basal portion dark brown. Abdomen. Basal scale yellowish though somewhat darkened along posterior margin, with fringe of yellowish-white hairs. Dorsal surface of abdomen dark brown to brownish-black except segment 2 yellow though tergal plate and narrow area along posterior margin somewhat darkened, moderately covered with dark short to long hairs; tergites of segments 6-9 shiny when illuminated at certain angle of light. Ventral surfaces of segments 2-4 yellow, and those of other segments medium brown to brownish-black; sternal plate on segment 7 undeveloped. Genitalia. Sternite 8 (Fig. 4E) bare medially, with 17-19 medium-long to very long hairs together with few slender short hairs on each side. Ovipositor valves (Fig. 4E) triangular, though rounded medioposteriorly, thin, membranous, moderately covered with microsetae interspersed with 4 short hairs; inner margins straight or very slightly concave, somewhat sclerotized, and moderately separated from each other. Genital fork (Fig. 4F) of usual inverted-Y form, with slender stem; arms wide basally, about twice as wide as apical narrow portion, and moderately folded medially. Paraproct in ventral view (Fig. 4G) shallowly concave anterolaterally, with 5 or 6 sensilla on anteromedial surface; paraproct in lateral view (Fig. 4H) somewhat produced ventrally, 0.63 times as long as wide, with about 20 medium-long to long hairs on ventral and lateral surfaces. Cercus in lateral view (Fig. 4H) short, rounded posteriorly, 0.41 times as long as wide. Spermatheca (Fig. 4I) ellipsoidal, 1.62 times as long as its greatest width, well sclerotized except duct and small area near juncture with duct unsclerotized, and with many fissures on surface; internal setae absent; both accessory ducts slender, subequal in diameter to major one.

Male. Body length 2.5 mm. Head. Somewhat wider than thorax. Upper eye medium brown, consisting of 14 or 15 vertical columns and 14 or 15 horizontal rows of large facets. Face dark brown, grayish-white pruinose. Clypeus brownish-black, whitish pruinose, densely covered with golden yellow scale-like medium-long hairs (mostly directed upward) interspersed with several dark brown simple longer hairs. Antenna composed of scape, pedicel and 9 flagellomeres, dark brown except scape, pedicel and little less than basal 1/2 of 1st flagellomere yellow; 1st flagellomere elongate, 1.73 times as long as 2nd one. Maxillary palp light to medium brown, with 5 segments, proportional lengths of 3rd, 4th, and 5th segments 1.00:1.17:2.43; 3rd segment (Fig. 5A) somewhat widened apically; sensory vesicle (Fig. 5A) ellipsoidal, medium-sized, 0.25-0.29 times as long as 3rd segment, and with small opening. Thorax. Scutum dark brown to black, shiny and thinly grayish-white pruinose on each shoulder, on broad area along each lateral margin and on prescutellar area when illuminated at certain angle of light; scutum densely covered with golden-yellow recumbent short hairs. Scutellum dark brown, with golden-yellow short hairs and dark brown long upright hairs along posterior margin. Postnotum dark brown and bare. Pleural membrane bare. Katepisternum dark brown, moderately covered with fine hairs. Legs. Foreleg: coxa yellow; trochanter light brown except base yellow; femur light brown with apical cap medium brown; tibia light brown except median large portion on outer surface whitish and apical 1/4 dark brown, and with white sheen on outer surface of basal 3/4; tarsus brownish-black; basitarsus moderately dilated, 6.55 times as long as its greatest width. Midleg: coxa medium brown except posterior surface brownish-black; trochanter light brown except basal 1/2 yellow; femur light brown except base yellow and apical cap medium brown (though extreme tip yellow); tibia dark brown except little more than basal 1/3 yellow; tarsus dark brown except base of basitarsus dark yellow. Hind leg: coxa medium brown; trochanter yellow; femur medium brown with base yellow and apical cap dark brown (though extreme tip yellow); tibia (Fig. 5B) dark brown to brownish-black except basal 1/2 yellow; tarsus (Fig. 5C) medium to dark brown except basal 1/2 of basitarsus grayish-white and little less than basal 1/2 of 2nd tarsomere yellowish; basitarsus (Fig. 5C) somewhat enlarged, spindle-shaped, 4.36-4.57 times as long as wide, and 0.81 and 0.71-0.78 times as wide as greatest width of tibia and femur, respectively; calcipala (Fig. 5C) nearly as long as basal width, and 0.36 times as wide as greatest width of basitarsus. Pedisulcus (Fig. 5C) well defined. Wing. Length 1.5 mm. Costa with dark brown spinules as well as dark brown hairs except basal portion with patch of yellowish hairs. Subcosta bare (though 1 hair present on left subcosta of 1 male). Hair tuft on stem vein yellow. Basal portion of radius fully haired; R1 with dark spinules and hairs; R2 with hairs only. Basal cell absent. Haltere. Grayish-white except basal stem darkened. Abdomen. Basal scale dark brown, with fringe of light to medium brown hairs. Dorsal surface of abdomen medium brown to brownish-black except anterior and dorsolateral areas of segment 2 light brown, and moderately covered with dark brown short to long hairs; segments 2 and 5-8 with pair of shiny dorsolateral or lateral patches, of which those on segment 5 confined on posterior 1/2 and less dis tinct than those on segments 6 and 7. Genitalia. Coxite in ventral view (Fig. 5D) nearly rectangular, 1.81 times as long as its greatest width. Style in ventral view (Fig. 5D) bent inward, slightly tapered from base toward middle, then nearly parallel-sided, rounded apically and with apical spine; style in medial view (Fig. 5E) shorter than coxite (0.80 times as long as coxite), gently bent inward, nearly parallel-sided, with apical spine; style in ventrolateral view (Fig. 5F) moderately tapered from base toward basal 2/5, then nearly parallel-sided and with round apex. Ventral plate in ventral view (Fig. 5D) with body transverse, 0.42 times as long as wide, widened posteriorly, with anterior margin produced anteromedially, and posterior margin slightly concave medially, densely covered with microsetae on ventral surface; basal arms of moderate length, directed forward, then slightly convergent apically; ventral plate in lateral view (Fig. 5G) slightly produced ventrally; ventral plate in end view (Fig. 5H) trapezoidal, though dorsal margin widely concave. Median sclerite (Fig. 5D,G) thin, plate-like, wide. Paramere of moderate size, with 3 distinct long and stout hooks and several smaller ones. Aedeagal membrane moderately setose, slightly sclerotized at base but dorsal plate not well defined. Ventral surface of abdominal segment 10 without distinct hairs near posterior margin. Cercus with 13-17 hairs.

Pupa. Body length 2.6 mm. Nearly as in Simulium (Gomphostilbia) roslihashimi sp. n. except following characteristics. Thorax. Gill (Fig. 5I) composed of 8 slender thread-like filaments, arranged as [(1+2) (or 2+1)+(1+2)]+2 filaments from dorsal to ventral; common basal stalk medium-long (0.74-0.92 times as long as interspiracular trunk); dorsal and middle triplets share short stalk; dorsal triplet composed of 1 individual and 2 paired filaments with short to medium-long primary stalk and short secondary stalk, and middle triplet composed of 1 individual and 2 paired filaments and bearing medium-long primary stalk and short secondary stalk; ventral paired filaments with medium-long to long stalk which is 1.02-1.36 times as long as common basal stalk and 0.89-1.04 times as long as interspiracular trunk; stalk of ventral pair 1.00-1.08 and 1.27-1.43 times as thick as primary stalks of middle and dorsal triplets, respectively, but 0.88-0.96 times as thick as common stalk of middle and dorsal triplets; primary stalk of dorsal triplet lying against stalk of lower pair at angle of 60-80 degrees when viewed laterally; 3 filaments of dorsal triplet subequal in length (about 2.0 mm long including their own stalks and common basal stalk) and thickness to one another; 3 filaments of middle triplet subequal in length (2.1-2.3 mm long including their own stalks and common basal stalk) and thickness to one another; 2 filaments of ventral pair subequal in length (2.5-2.6 mm long including their own stalk and common basal stalk) and thickness to each other, and 1.38-1.43 and 1.39-1.43 times as thick as those of middle and dorsal triplets, respectively, when compared basally. Abdomen. Dorsally, segments 6-9 each with spine-combs (though those on segment 9 somewhat smaller than those on segment 8) in transverse row and comb-like groups of minute spines on each side; segment 9 with pair of small triangular flat terminal hooks of which outer margin is 1.15 times as long as inner margin and weakly undulated (Fig. 5J). Cocoon. Wall pocket-shaped, thinly and rather roughly woven, somewhat extended ventrolaterally; anterior margin no t thickly woven, with dorsal portion not or slightly produced anteriorly when viewed dorsally; 2.5-2.9 mm long by 1.7-1.8 mm wide.

Mature larva. Body length 3.9 mm. Body creamy with color markings as follows: thoracic segment 1 encircled with ochreous broad transverse band (though disconnected ventrally), proleg grayish, thoracic segments 2 and 3 light ochreous dorsally and each with distinct ochreous wide areas ventrally, abdominal segments 1-4 each encircled with grayish broad band, abdominal segment 3 also faintly encircled with reddish-purplish band, abdominal segments 5-8 almost entirely covered by sheet of reddish-purplish pigment on dorsal and dorsolateral surfaces (though anterior portion of abdominal segment 5 narrowly unpigmented), from which colored narrow band extends to various extent either laterally or ventrolaterally or even ventrally on each of segments 5-8 (color of band on segments 5, 6 and 8 reddish-purplish and that on segment 7 grayish), and abdominal segment 7 with reddish-purplish transverse broad band ventrally. Cephalic apotome dark yellow, moderately covered with minute setae; head spots very faintly positive. Lateral surface of head capsule yellow except eye-spot region whitish, sparsely covered with minute setae; spots indistinct. Ventral surface of head capsule yellow except darkened area near posterior margin on each side of postgenal cleft, and sparsely covered with minute setae. Antenna composed of 3 segments and apical sensillum, somewhat longer than stem of labral fan; proportional lengths of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd segments 1.00:0.72:0.92. Labral fan with 30 main rays. Mandible with 3 comb-teeth decreasing in length from 1st to 3rd; mandibular serration composed of 2 teeth (1 medium-sized and 1 small); major tooth at acute angle against mandible on apical side; supernumerary serrations absent. Hypostoma (Fig. 5K) with row of 9 apical teeth; median tooth prominent, right corner tooth nearly as long as inner one of intermediate teeth and slightly longer than remaining outer and median teeth, but left corner tooth shorter than outer and median ones of intermediate teeth (this unexpected short corner tooth as well as lack of 2 lateral teeth on left side suggesting anterolateral portion of hypostoma on left side abnormally formed); lateral margin smooth; 4 or 5 hypostomal bristles per side lying slightly divergent posteriorly from lateral margin. Postgenal cleft (Fig. 5L) lanceolate, (its length ratio against postgenal bridge is not accurately attainable due to posterior part of hypostoma which is widely detached from head capsule and folded inward, making it difficult to measure length of postgenal bridge). Cervical sclerite composed of 2 yellow small pieces, not fused to occiput, widely separated medially from each other. Thoracic cuticle bare. Abdominal cuticle almost bare except few posterior segments sparsely to moderately covered with simple minute setae dorsally and dorsolaterally and last segment densely covered with colorless simple setae on each side of anal sclerite. Rectal scales absent. Rectal papilla compound (number of secondary lobules not countable because rectal papilla is withdrawn). Anal sclerite of usual X-form, with anterior arms little longer than posterior ones, broadly sclerotized at base; accessory sclerite absent. Last abdominal segment expanded ventrolaterally forming double bulges on each side, visible as large conical ventral papilla when viewed from side. Posterior circlet with 76 rows of up to 13 hooklets per row.

Type specimens. Holotype male (with associated pupal exuviae and cocoon) (preserved in 80% ethanol) reared from pupa, collected from a river (Sungai Lurau) (width 10-12 m, water temperature 22.0°C, partially shaded, altitude 530 m, 03°18'22.9"N, 101°52'50.0"E) moderately to rapidly flowing, Janda Baik, Pahang, Malaysia, 22. II. 2011, by M. Sofian-Azirun and H. Takaoka. Paratype: 1 female (with associated pupal exuviae and cocoon) (preserved in 80% ethanol), collected from a small stream (width 0.3-0.5 cm, water temperature 23.0°C, exposed to sun, altitude 582 m, 05°33'95.8"N, 101°36'65.2"E), very slowly flowing in a flat bushy area before joining to Selaur River, Temengor, Perak, 26. IV. 2011, by Z. Ya’cob; 1 male (with associated pupal exuviae and cocoon) (preserved in 80% ethanol) and 1 mature larva (preserved in acetic alcohol), collected from a small stream (width 1-3 m, water temperature 22.0°C, shaded, altitude 380 m, 03°43'36.4"N, 101°47'33.9"E), moderately flowing in a natural forest, along the road from Raub to Fraser’s Hill, Pahang, 12. IV. 2011, by M. Sofian-Azirun, Z. Ya’cob and H. Takaoka.

Biological notes. In Janda Baik, the pupa of this new species was collected from a tree leaf trailing in the water. Associated species were Simulium (Simulium) hirtinervis Edwards, 1928, Simulium (Simulium) nobile de Meijere, 1906 and Simulium (Simulium) tani Takaoka & Davies, 1995. In the stream between Raub and Fraser’s Hill, the other pupa was collected from a trailing grass, and associated species were Simulium (Simulium) bishopi Takaoka & Davies, 1995, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) decuplum Takaoka & Davies, 1995 and Simulium (Simulium) tani . In Perak, the pupa was collected from a trailing grass and associated species were Simulium (Gomphostilbia) whartoni and Simulium (Simulium) tani .

Etymology.

The species name lurauense refers to the name of the river where this new species was collected for the first time.

Remarks.

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) lurauense sp. n. is most similar to Simulium (Gomphostilbia) sofiani recently described from Cameron Highland ( Takaoka et al. 2011) in sharing the elongate female sensory vesicle (Fig. 4A), the yellowish-white hairs on the base of the costal vein and on the stem vein, the greater number of enlarged male upper-eye facets, the narrow, spindle-shaped male hind basitarsus (Fig. 5C), the trapezoidal male ventral plate when viewed posteriorly (Fig. 5H) and the pupal terminal hook of narrow triangular shape (Fig. 5J). However, this new species is distinguished from Simulium (Gomphostilbia) sofiani in the female by the arms of the genital fork which are wide basally and narrowed apically (Fig. 4F), in the male by the medium-sized sensory vesicle (Fig. 5A), in the pupa by the medium-long common basal stalk of the gill (Fig. 5I) and in the larva by the abdominal segments 5-8 with reddish-purplish markings dorsally (cf., the arms of the female genital fork are narrow throughout its length, the male sensory vesicle is globular and small, 0.15 times as long as the maxillary palpal segment 3, the common basal stalk of the pupal gill is long, 1.0-1.2 times as long as the interspiracular trunk, and the dorsal surfaces of larval abdominal segments 5-8 are faintly greenish in Simulium (Gomphostilbia) sofiani ).

This new species is distinguished from the other species of the ceylonicum species-group reported from Peninsular Malaysia as shown in the keys.

Among the known species of the ceylonicum species-group reported from other Asian countries, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) dudgeoni Takaoka & Davies, 1995, from Hong Kong is similar to Simulium (Gomphostilbia) lurauense sp. n. in having the nearly similar number of enlarged male upper-eye facets, the spindle-shaped male hind basitarsus, and the ventral plate which is widened posteriorly when viewed ventrally, but is distinguished by the almost dark male hind tibia (Takaokaet al. 1995). In addition, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) namense Takaoka, 1989, from Myanmar shows a similar number of enlarged male upper-eye facets but differs by having the dark brown male scutum with three longitudinal vittae, the wedge-shaped male hind basitarsus and the ventral plate slightly narrowed posteriorly when viewed ventrally ( Takaoka 1989).