Lachesilla andina, García, Alfonso N., 2009

García, Alfonso N., 2009, New species and records of Psocoptera (Insecta) from Argentina, Zootaxa 2219, pp. 1-17 : 3-5

Lachesilla andina n. sp.

( Figs. 7–12 )

Diagnosis. Belonging in species group patzunensis ( García Aldrete 1986). Posterior projection of the female subgenital plate with two well defined, parallel longitudinal lines, and a large, crescent-shaped pigmented area anterior to the projection. Distal piece of hypandrium with projections acuminate; bottom of the concavity projected posteriorly, strongly pigmented, pigmented area extending anteriorly.

Female. Color. Body pale brown. Compound eyes black, ocelli hyaline, without pigmented centripetal crescents. Maxillary palps dark brown. Wings hyaline, with a tenuous pale brown hue, veins brown. Abdomen whitish, with transverse, dark brown subcuticular rings, less pigmented ventrally.

Morphology. Forewing pterostigma long, wider distally; Rs-M diverging from a point, areola postica narrow, rounded apically ( Fig. 7 ). Hindwing Rs-M joined basally for a distance ( Fig. 7 ). Subgenital plate ( Fig.11 ) broad, setose, projected posteriorly; projection broad, slightly concave distally, with two longitudinal, mesal pigmented lines, a field of microspines on each side, distally, and a semi-elliptic pigmented area anterior to the projection. Gonapophyses ( Fig. 10 ) with a small conical projection distally, setose, with outer edge distinctly more pigmented. Ninth sternum surrounded by a slender pigmented band, broader and concave posteriorly; spermapore sclerite surrounded by a pigmented, irregular ring ( Fig. 10 ). Paraprocts almost elliptic, broad, setose; sensory fields circular, with 11 trichobothria issuing from basal rosettes, and a marginal one without basal rosette ( Fig. 9 ). Epiproct ( Fig. 9 ) trapeziform, with a field of setae on each postero-lateral corner and a group of four small setae mesally, next to anterior border.

Measurements. FW: 2225, F: 427, T: 841, t1: 258, t2: 107, ctt1: 18, Mx4: 106, f1: 231, f2: 215, f3: 167, f4: 131, f5: 82, f6: 77, f7: 63, f8: 67, f9: 55, f10: 61, f11: 64, IO: 351, D: 143, d: 90, IO/D: 2.45, PO: 0.62.

Male. Color. Same as the female.

Morphology. Wings same as the female; forewing Rs-M joined basally for a short distance, areola postica wider than the female’s. Hypandrium ( Fig. 12 ) of two pieces, distal one deeply concave posteriorly, straight anteriorly, each half with a projection. Phallosome apodemes joined basally, each arm slender, distally acuminate. Paraprocts ( Fig. 8 ) broad, setose, with a mesal, curved, truncate prong; sensory fields elliptic, with 17 trichobothria issuing from basal rosettes and a marginal one without basal rosette. Epiproct ( Fig. 8 ) broad, almost straight anteriorly, deeply bilobed posteriorly, each lobe rounded, with a field of setae along posterior border.

Measurements. FW: 3039, HW: 2279, F: 504, T: 1056, t1: 323, t2: 108, ctt1: 22, Mx4: 119, f1: 308, f2: 279, f3: 222, f4: 180, f5: 112, f6: 100, f7: 88, f8: 81, f9: 66, f10: 79, f11: 82, IO: 392, D: 159, d: 106, IO/D: 2.46, PO: 0.66.

Material studied. Holotype male, two paratype females, PERU, Cuzco, Pisaq (Sacred Valley), 15.IV.2004, 3081m., 13°25.093’S: 71°50.983’W, beating Senecio , shrubs and herbs with dead leaves, A. N. García Aldrete ( CNIN). Paratype female, Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley), 15.IV.2004, 2866m., 13°15.469’S: 72°15.910’W, beating shrubs with dead, hanging leaves, A. N. García Aldrete ( CNIN).

Records. From type locality, 1 male, 7.VIII.2005, beating shrubs with dead, hanging leaves, A. N. García Aldrete, ( CNIN). ARGENTINA, Salta Province, 45 km W Salta, 1950m., El Alisal, 13 female, 2– 30.XII.1987, Malaise Flight Interception Trap, moist ravine thicket, S. & J. Peck; 17 km N La Caldera, Alto de la Sierra, 1550m., 1 female, 2–30.XII.1987, Malaise Flight Interception Trap, subtropical humid forest, S. & J. Peck ( MHNG); Tucumán Province. Department of San Javier, ornamental trees, 1 male, 23.X.2006, G. Sziráki, ( HNHM).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the known distribution of this species, in two distant localities in the Andes Mountains (southern Peru and northwestern Argentina).

Remarks. L. andina , together with L. corbalanae García Aldrete from Argentina, L. graminicola Badonnel from Colombia, and L. sclera New & Thornton from Colombia and Ecuador, constitute an assemblage of closely related species within the group patzunensis ( García Aldrete 1986), the females of which differ in small genital details as follows: The former differs from L. corbalanae in having a much broader pigmented area basal to the projection of the subgenital plate, and in having a small, irregular pigmented rim around the spermapore. It differs from L. graminicola in having the projection of the subgenital plate shorter and distally concave, and differs from L. sclera in the shape and pigmentation of the ninth sternum (gonopore plate of New & Thornton 1975).

The females of the Mexican species of the group patzunensis ( L. bifurcata , L. leonilae , L. maya , and L. tapanatepeca ), have the projection of the subgenital plate and the ninth sternum distinctly different from the South American species, and only L. sulcata from Mexico and southeastern United States shows two longitudinal, parallel pigmented lines in the projection of the subgenital plate, as in the Southamerican species ( García Aldrete 1986).

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 12. Lachesilla andina n. sp. 7. Fore- and hindwing (female). 8. Epiproct and left paraproct (male). 9. Right paraproct and epiproct (female). 10. Gonapophyses and ninth sternum (female). 11. Subgenital plate (female). 12. Hypandrium and phallosome apodemes (male). Scales in mm. Figures 8 – 12 to common scale.