Australopericoma delta Curler

Curler, Gregory R. & Moulton, John K., 2010, Descriptions of three new species of Psychodidae (Diptera) from the southeastern United States, Zootaxa 2524, pp. 51-62 : 54-56

Australopericoma delta Curler sp. nov.

( Figs. 8–11 )

Diagnosis. Adult: Male eye bridge with 3 facet rows, separated by less than 1 facet diameter. Interocular suture inverted V-shaped. Frons and clypeus not distinctly divided; frontal scar patch without median dorsal projection. Mouthparts extending beyond basal palpomere. Scape about 1.5 times longer than wide; ascoids present on flagellomeres II–VIII. Male terminalia: Gonocoxites about as long as wide, with numerous setiform sensilla medially; gonostyli about as long as gonocoxites, curved, acuminate apically; aedeagus clearly asymmetrical. Female terminalia: hypovalvae bilobed, with lobes rounded, posterior margin concave; Description. Adult Male ( Figs. 8–9, 11 ): Measurements, (N = 5) head width 0.33 mm (0.32–0.34), head length 0.31 mm, wing length 1.31 mm (1.27–1.35), wing width 0.46 mm (0.43–0.49), palpomere proportion: 1–1.3–1.4–1.8. Eye bridge with 3 facet rows, separated by less than 1 facet diameter. Interocular suture inverted V-shaped. Frons and clypeus not distinctly divided; frontal scar patch with lower margin bilobed, without median dorsal projection. Antennae: scape about 1.5 times longer than wide; flagellomeres fusiform; ascoids present on flagellomeres II–VIII; flagellomere XIV with node fusiform, apical process digitiform, approximately as long as node. Mouthparts extending beyond basal palpomere; labellum about as wide as lower margin of clypeus. Wing: typical of the genus, radial fork arising basal to apex of CuA2, medial fork arising apical to apex of CuA2, R5 ending in apex. Terminalia: hypandrium widened, flat, articulated with gonocoxites laterally, with numerous setiform sensilla inserted ventrally; gonocoxites about as long as wide, not extending beyond aedeagus, with numerous setiform sensilla inserted medially; gonostyli about as long as gonocoxites, curved, acuminate apically; aedeagus clearly asymmetrical; epandrium rectangular, about 1.5 times longer than wide; tergite X triangular, microsetose apically; cercopods strongly tapered from base to apex, flattened medially, with one retinaculum inserted dorsoapically; retinacula strongly clavate.

Adult Female ( Fig. 10 ): Eyebridge with 3 facet rows, eyes separated by 4 facet diameters. Frontal scar patch as in male. Interocular suture as in male. Antenna nearly identical to male, except without spines on flagellomere I. Mouthparts and palpi as in male. Wing venation as in male. Terminalia: Subgenital plate with hypovalvae widened basally, with lateral margins convex, posterior margin concave; genital duct as figured, about 2/3 as wide as base of hypovalvae.

Type material. Holotype [adult male]: U.S.A. ALABAMA: Baldwin Co: Raft River, 30°46’N 87°57’W, 9.viii.2006, coll. J.W. McCreadie, Malaise trap; deposited LACM. Specimen dissected, mounted on microslide. Allotype [adult female]: same data as holotype; deposited LACM. Specimen dissected, mounted on micro-slide. Paratypes: same data as holotype [10 adult male, 10 adult female (slides)]. Paratypes deposited in LACM, USNM, CUAC and UTK.

Other material examined. U.S.A. ALABAMA: Baldwin Co: Byrnes Lake, 30°47’N 87°54’W, 9.viii.2006 [1 adult male], 20.iv.2007 [2 adult females], 25.vii.2007 [35 adult males, 18 adult females], coll. J.W. McCreadie, Malaise trap; Bon Secour, 30°18’N 88°44’W, 19.vi.2004 [6 adult males, 11 adult females], 15.vi.2007 [1 adult female], coll. E. Benton, Malaise trap; Gulf State Park, 30°16’N 88°39’W, 19.vi.2004 [3 adult females], coll. J.W. McCreadie, Malaise trap; Big Lizard Creek Malaise, 30°52’N 87°57’W, 23.x.2004 [1 adult males, 2 adult females], coll. J.W. McCreadie, Malaise trap; Big Lizard Creek, 30°46’N 87°57’W, 9.viii.2006 [1 adult female], 4.x.2006 [1 adult male], 11.x.2006 [1 adult female], 20.iv.2007 [1 adult male, 4 adult females], coll. J.W. McCreadie, Malaise trap; Raft River, Malaise #4, 30°31’N 87°34’W, 21.iii.2001 [10 adult males, 7 adult females], coll. J.W. McCreadie, Malaise trap; Raft River, site 17, 30°48’N 87°55’W, 23.x.2004 [10 adult males, 6 adult females], coll. J.W. McCreadie; Raft River, 30°46’N 87°57’W, 9.viii.2006 [176 adult males, 100 adult females], 4.x.2006 [72 adult males, 69 adult females], 20.iv.2007 [79 adult males, 102 adult females], 25.vii.2007 [242 adult males, 122 adult females]; Mobile Co: Bellefontaine, 30°27’N 88°6’W, 20.vi.2004 [3 adult males, 4 adult females], coll. J.W. McCreadie, Malaise trap; Grand Bay Sav., 30°23’N 88°18’W, 20.vi.2001 [3 adult males, 6 adult females], 18.viii.2006 [3 adult males, 6 adult females], 10.viii.2007 [2 adult males, 6 adult females], coll. E. Benton, Malaise trap.

Etymology. From the Greek delta , in reference to the type locality in the Mobile-Tensaw delta .

Phenology. Australopericoma delta was collected between late March and late August with a peak emergence in late July or early August.

Distribution. Collected from multiple locations in the Mobile-Tensaw delta of southern Alabama.

Remarks. Adults of A. delta are easily distinguished from other Australopericoma by the shape of the gonopods, particularly the widened hypandrium and gonocoxites without stout spines in the male, and the shape of the genital duct in the female. A. delta is also much smaller than its congeners. During some years, this species is locally abundant, and can be much more common than its congeners.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 11. Australopericoma delta Curler sp. nov. 8. Male head, frontal view. 9. Male wing. 10. Female terminalia, showing internal structure, ventral view. 11. Male terminalia, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm (10 – 11), 0.25 mm (8), 0.5 mm (9).