Philopterus sinensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B2FE927B-B909-4E22-B95C-4A510355A188

Figs 19–24; Tables 2–5

Diagnosis

Philopterus sinensis sp. nov. does not appear to be morphologically close to any other known species of the genus, but is somewhat similar to P. trepostephanus sp. nov., with which it shares the following characters: mts1 relatively short in male (Figs 19, 25), but longer in female (Figs 20, 26); gonopore with postero-lateral bulges, each of which is associated with 2 microsetae (Figs 23, 29); female genital setae displaced anteriorly from vulval margin (Figs 24, 30), particularly the more median setae; abdominal segment III without ps in both sexes (Figs 19–20, 25–26).

These two species can be separated by the following characters: head sensillus s4 present in P. trepostephanus sp. nov. (Fig. 27), but absent in P. sinensis sp. nov. (Fig. 21); female subgenital plate with flattened posterior margin in P. sinensis sp. nov. (Fig. 24), but with bulging posterior margin in P. trepostephanus sp. nov. (Fig. 30); male mesosome with extensive ventral plate in P. trepostephanus sp. nov. (Fig. 29), but without such a plate in P. sinensis sp. nov. (Fig. 23); central sternal plates present on abdominal segments II–VI in P. sinensis sp. nov. (Fig. 19), but only on segment VI in P. trepostephanus sp. nov. (Fig. 25); male subgenital plate with deep indentation posterior to setae, and with small accessory plate inside this indentation, in P. trepostephanus sp. nov. (Fig. 25), but without such an indentation or plate in P. sinensis sp. nov. (Fig. 19).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the type locality.

Material examined

Holotype CHINA • ♂; Guanxi Province, Jingxin County; 5 Oct. 2004; S.E. Bush leg.; ex Hemipus picatus capitalis; “ ATP-2004-161, P-559 ”; NHMUK.

Paratype CHINA • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; NHMUK .

Type host

Hemipus picatus capitalis (Horsfield, 1840) – bar-winged flycatcher-shrike (Vangidae).

Description

Head shape and chaetotaxy as in Fig. 21, preantennal area wide. Hyaline margin broad, not extending laterally beyond marginal carina, shallowly indented medianly. Dorsal anterior plate almost square, with broad, blunt posterior extension. Ventral anterior plate near-rectangular, wide and short, with slightly concave anterior margin. Coni small, curved slightly anteriorly. Gular plate small, irregular. Thoracic and abdominal segments as in Figs 19–20. Measurements as in Table 5.

Male

Thoracic and abdominal chaetotaxy as in Fig. 19 and Tables 2–4. Abdominal segment II without central sternal plate but with lateral accessory plates; segments III–V with small to wide central sternal plates and lateral accessory plate on each side; segment VI with wide central sternal plate fused to lateral accessory plates. Subgenital plate broad, lateral notches small, lateral sternal plate of segment IX+X fused to subgenital plate. Basal apodeme broad (Figs 22–23), constricted in distal half. Mesosomal thickening oblong, irregular; 3 microsetae on each side of mesosome. Gonopore with convergent anterior margin and bulbous distal extensions (Fig. 23), 2 sensilla on each side of gonopore. Parameres fused to basal apodeme, long, slender; pst1–2 as in Figs 22–23.

Female

Thoracic and abdominal chaetotaxy as in Fig. 20 and Tables 2–4. Central sternal plates absent, lateral accessory plates present on segments II–VI. Subgenital plate and vulval margin as in Fig. 24, chaetotaxy as in Fig. 24 and Table 3. Subvulval plates partially obscured by gut content, but appear to be broad, blunt distally.