Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) fumosus Tauber & Albuquerque, 2012

Silva, Patricia S., Tauber, Catherine A., Albuquerque, Gilberto S. & Tauber, Maurice J., 2013, Larvae of five horticulturally important species of Chrysopodes (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae): shared generic features, descriptions and keys, ZooKeys 262, pp. 39-92 : 51-57

Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) fumosus Tauber & Albuquerque, 2012 Figs 2-4, 10-13

Discussion.

Adults of this recently described species are readily distinguished from other Chrysopodes species. Specifically, the Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) fumosus forewings have venation that is extensively crassate and uniquely patterned; the membrane surrounding many of the crossveins is heavily fumose - thus, the species name. Both the male and female genitalia are distinctive and should be examined for accurate identification of the species (see description and figures in Tauber et al. 2012).

Known geographic distribution.

Brazil, Venezuela ( Tauber et al. 2012).

Larval diagnosis.

Like the larvae of Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) geayi and Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) spinellus , Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) fumosus larvae have largely white to cream-colored heads with brown, longitudinally elongate and divided epicranial markings; the intermandibular and clypeal regions are unmarked. Their frontal markings are distinguished from those of the other two spe cies in that their posterior ends are straight and do not curve or connect mesally. Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) fumosus Semaphoront A also differs from those of the other two species in that it has only two thorny cranial setae (S1, S11). And, Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) fumosus Semaphoront B is distinguished from Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) geayi and Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) spinellus in that all of its cranial setae (including S1) are without thorns.

First instar.

(Semaphoront A). Body (Fig. 10A) 2.3-2.8 mm long. Surface predominantly white to cream-colored, with some, small, light brown marks, light dusting of brown, especially on sides and venter.

Head (Figs 2B, 10B) 0.39-0.41 mm wide; mandibles 0.36-0.38 mm long (ratio, mandible length: head width = 0.86-0.96: 1). Cranium mostly white to cream colored, with elongate, narrow, light brown markings. Epicranial marking consisting of two, unconnected, narrow, longitudinally elongated stripes (arms); mesal arm contiguous with postfrontal marking, extending from base of cranium to anteromesal margin of antennal socket; lateral arm lighter brown, more diffuse than mesal arm, extending from posterolateral margin of cranial suture approximately to distal base of mandible. Postfrontal marking indistinguishable, fused with mesal arm of epicranial marking. Frontal marking narrow, extending from midregion of cranium anteriorly to level of antennal socket, then curving laterally toward lighter brown mark at mesal margin of mandibular base; posteromesal ends of marking curving inward, fusing narrowly at tip. Intermandibular, clypeal areas white. Cranial setae amber to light brown; S1, S11 long, thorny, robust; others shorter, smooth; Vx setae small.

Gena, ventral region of head capsule brown, with white spot in anterior region of genal mark. Labial palpus white, marked with light brown on basal segment, distal two annuli of middle segment, base of terminal segment. Mandibles amber to light brown. Antenna with light brown scape, pedicel white basally, light brown distally; flagellum light brown.

Thorax (Figs 2B, 10B) mostly white, with sclerotized structures light brown to brown, small patches of light brown; episternum light brown. Legs white; base of coxa brown; tibia, tarsus tinged with very light brown; tarsal claws, empodia, brown. LS light brown to brown; other setae amber to light brown.

T1: Row of three very small setae (R1) at anteromesal base of LTs not observed. Sc1 with edges brown, center white; S2Sc1 very small, immediately above S1Sc1. S1, S3 intermediate-length, robust. T2: Spiracle with lip of atrium protruding above integumental surface. Sc1, Sc2, Sc3 light brown; S2Sc3, S2 long, robust, thorny, of approximately equal size. T3: S1Sc1, S2Sc1, S1Sc2 very small; S2Sc2 absent. Raised posterior fold with row (R1) of four very long, robust, thorny setae on chalazae with ovate, light brown marks anteriorly.

Abdomen (Figs 10 C–D) white to cream-colored, with light dusting of brown, especially on A4-A6; sides and venter of these segments also with diffuse brown tinge. LTs, LDTs white with brown chalazae; chalazae of most dorsal setae brown.

A1-A5: Dorsum with 12 SMS in two rows, with four mesal pairs equally spaced, two lateral-most pairs juxtaposed; spiracle with SSp elongate, robust, mesal to spiracle; chalazae of all SMS and SSp large, robust. A6: Anterior region with two SMS. Spiracle with very small SSp mesally. A7: Anterior region without setae or microsetae. Spiracle without apparent SSp. A8: Venter with one pair of medium-length setae posteriorly.

Second and third instars.

(Semaphoront B). Body (Figs 11E, 12A) length 3.1-3.4 mm (L2), 6.7-7.2 mm (L3); surface cream-colored, with light to dark brown integumental spinules, brown to dark brown dorsal, lateral markings on thorax and abdomen.

Head (Figs 3B, 4B, 11A-B, 12C-D) cream-colored, with dark brown markings. Epicranial marking dark brown, consisting of two narrow, elongate arms, separate from each other, both in contact with posterior margin of head; lateral arm extending from distal ~one-fifth of posterior cranial suture to upper level of eye, not touching eye, becoming broader distally; mesal arm extending from base of head, becoming confluent with postfrontal marking, which extends to inner base of scape. Postfrontal marking very dark brown, narrow throughout. Frontal marking dark brown, with each arm narrow, separate, extending from midsection of head, beyond tentorial pits to inner base of mandibles; darkness extending onto mandibles. Intermandibular marking absent. Clypeolabral region cream-colored tinged with light brown. Gena cream-colored, with large, brown marking from base of eye almost to posterior margin of cranium, with cream-colored mesal spot. Mandible, maxilla amber basally, mesally, becoming dark brown distally. Labial palpus: basal segment cream-colored with very slight tinge of brown; mesal segment ringed with light brown laterally, cream-colored mesally, with terminal subsegment brown; terminal segment dark brown basally, light brown distally. Antenna: scape and pedicel (basal, mesal sections) cream-colored, distal section of pedicel light brown, flagellum brown. Venter cream-colored, except margin of cranium, cardo with longitudinal brown marks; mentum unmarked.

All cephalic setae smooth, pointed; S1-10, S12 of medium length, S11 long; Vx setae fairly long, robust.

Head width across eyes, 0.57-0.58 mm (L2), 0.77-0.85 mm (L3); mandible length 0.51-0.57 mm (L2), 0.82-0.85 mm (L3); ratio mandible length to head width = 1.0-1.1: 1 (L2), 0.97-1.1:1 (L3). Tip of mandible with four teeth mesally.

Cervix cream-colored, tinged with light brown dorsally; sides with pair of broad brown patches; venter cream-colored mesally, light brown laterally.

Thorax (Figs 3B, 4B, 11C, 12A-B, 13A) cream-colored, tinged with light brown, with sclerites, markings brown; LTs white to cream-colored, with LS brown to dark brown. Venter white to cream-colored, unmarked. Legs: coxa white, with dark brown marking on basodorsal surface; trochanter, base of femur cream-colored; tip of femur with light brown band; tibia, tarsus, tinged with light brown; empodium, claws, base of claws dark brown.

T1: LT with 14-18 (L2), 16-20 (L3) LS. Sc1 large, rhomboid, extending around posterior base of LT, darker brown laterally than mesally. Sc2 triangular, mostly brown, with small secondary sclerite above. Notum with four brown spots in longitudinal row along midline. S2, S3 thorny. T2: Anterior sclerite (Sc1) light brown; spiracles on small protuberances. Posterior subsegment with Sc2 light brown; Sc3 pronounced, brown. LT with 13-17 (L2), 16-20 (L3) LS. T3: LT with 11-15 (L2), 14-18 (L3) LS. Posterior fold with row (R1) of twelve robust, thorny setae.

Abdomen (Figs 11 D–F, 12 A–B, 13 B–C) largely cream-colored, tinged with light brown, with light brown to brown markings surrounding bases of LTs; markings becoming darker posteriorly; white fat-body visible beneath midline section (especially posteriorly); robust, thorny setae dark brown; other setae light brown to amber-colored. A5 with pair of light brown spots mesal to LTs. A6, A7 each with pair of large, diffuse, dark brown marks surrounding LDTs. A8 with pair of dark brown marks mesal to spiracles. A9 with U-shaped dorsal mark containing darker longitudinal mark along midline, with pair of lighter brown marks extending onto top of LTs. A10 dark brown distally. Venter white along midsection, cream-colored to light brown laterally; areas mesal to LTs with extensive, diffuse brown marks. Midsection of A10 with pair of small, abutting, triangular dark brown marks.

A1: Dorsum with ~54-59 (L2), ~90-94 (L3) SMS in two double-triple transverse bands between spiracles. A2-A5: Dorsum with 42-86 (L2), 100-166 (L3) SMS in two broad transverse bands. LTs each with 9-13 (L2), 13-20 (L3) LS; apical four to eight LS long, robust, thorny, pointed to blunt; remaining LS less robust, smooth, hooked, in patch on dorsal surface. A6: Dorsum with transverse band of ~26 (L2), ~45 (L3) SMS across anterior of segment; midsection with two pairs of smooth setae, mesal pair hooked, lateral pair pointed. LTs with ~9 (L2), ~15 (L3) LS of various sizes. A7: Dorsum with two pairs of very short setae (S1, S2) anteriorly, between spiracles. LDTs each with one medium-length, robust, thorny, blunt to spatulate LDS, one to two shorter, thorny, robust LDS, one to three small, smooth, pointed LDS. LTs with ~8 (L2), ~11 (L3) LS of various sizes. A8: Dorsum with two to three pairs of very small setae anteriorly; two to three pairs of small setae posteromesal to spiracles; four pairs of small, posterior setae in transverse row mesal to LTs. Venter with three transverse rows of setae, each with three to four smooth, pointed setae of increasing size posteriorly. A9: Dorsum with one pair of very small setae anteriorly. Middle and posterior regions with two transverse rings of setae extending around segment; each ring with ~16-18 short to medium-length setae, several in each ring robust. A10: Dorsum with two pairs of small setae: one posterior to V-shaped anterior sclerites, one slightly anterior to terminus. Two pairs of lateral setae, robust. Venter with ~five pairs of small setae, posterior row of microsetae anterior to terminus.

Egg.

At oviposition, light green, with white micropyle; ovoid, 0.99 to 1.08 mm long, 0.40 to 0.41 mm wide. Stalk smooth, hyaline, 4.39 to 5.42 mm long.

Larval specimens examined.

Several lots, each originating from a single gravid female collected in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro: Conceição de Macabu, Santo Agostinho, V-21-2002, V-2-2003 (Albuquerque Lot 2002:012, Tauber Lots 2002:021, 2003:016); two field-collected L3, Conceição de Macabu, Santo Agostinho, V-2-2003.

Biology.

Adults and larvae of Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) fumosus were collected on citrus and other fruit trees in mixed agricultural situations. The adults are very agile; they make short, fast, evasive flights, usually downward and toward the interior of the tree. In the lab, eggs were deposited separately (with isolated stalks), in small groups with no particular pattern; the stalks were sticky, but without droplets. The larvae carry pieces of woody plant material and other debris; they are agile, but not particularly fast moving.