Labrundinia nicaraguensis Silva sp. n.

(Fig. 45)

Material examined. Type material: Holotype male, Nicaragua: Masaya, Las Flores, iv.1993, C. Lecog & I. Cantamessa (ZSM). 3 Paratypes: 3 males same data as holotype (ZSM).

Etymology. The name refers to the country where the holotype has been collected, Nicaragua.

Diagnostic characters. Labrundinia nicaraguensis sp. n. differs from other Labrundinia species by the combination of the following characters. Adult male: fore leg with tibial comb present; abdominal tergites II, V with divided transverse band near proximal margin, T III–IV, with continuous transverse band near proximal margin, T VI–VIII almost completely brown; hypopygium pale brown, sternapodeme with moderate anterior process.

Description. Adult male (n = 4 unless otherwise stated)

Size. Total length 2.4–2.8 mm. Wing length 1.3 mm. Total length/wing length 1.88–2.01. Wing length/ profemur length 2.50–2.63.

Coloration. Head pale brown with dark brown occipital margin; pedicel and antenna brown; maxillary palp pale brown. Thorax brown with scutum dorsally light brown; antepronotum pale brown. Wing membrane transparent without any marking. Legs pale brown. Tibia I pale brown, Ti II–III apically brown. Abdominal tergites II, V with divided transverse band near proximal margin, T III–IV, with continuous transverse band near proximal margin, VI–VIII almost completely brown; hypopygium pale brown (Fig. 45L).

Head (Figs 45A–E). Temporal setae 12–13, uniserial (Fig. 45B). Eye ratio 1.09–1.29 (3). Tentorium (Fig. 45C) 152–169 Μm long. Clypeus 81–101 Μm long, 60–78 Μm wide at largest part, bearing 23–28 setae. Cibarial pump 189–205 Μm long (Fig. 45D), with anterior margin concave. Lengths of palpomeres 1–5 (in Μm): 30–45 (3); 52–59 (3); 119–124 (3); 134–164 (3); 113–164 (3). Antennal flagellum 693–797 Μm long, diameter of pedicel 124–147 Μm, apical setae single (Fig. 45E), AR 1.15–1.19 (3).

Thorax. Antepronotum with 3–7 lateral setae. Acrostichals 64–66, biserial, diverging evenly posteriorly, starting close to antepronotum and almost reaching scutellum; dorsocentrals 36–44, irregularly biserial; prealars 9– 12; supraalars 3. Anapleural suture ratio 0.37–0.50. Scutellum with transverse row of 14 setae and group of numerous fine anterior setae.

Wing (Fig. 45F). Width 0.4 mm. Costa 1.0– 1.1 mm long. R2+3 present. VR 0.74–0.82. WW 0.30–0.33. Brachiolum with 2 setae. Squama setiferous.

Legs (Figs 45G–K). Fore leg: width at apex of tibia 38–42 Μm (Fig. 45G), tibia with single, apical and pectinate spur 18–24 Μm long (Fig. 45H), with three lateral teeth and two preapical setae; comb with 6 bristles; ta1- 4 without any preapical pseudospurs. Mid leg: width at apex of tibia 34–45 Μm long (Fig. 45I), tibia with single, apical and pectinate spur 22–28 Μm long with three lateral teeth (Fig. 45J) and two preapical setae; ta1-4 each with two preapical pseudospurs. Hind leg: width at apex of tibia 37–44 Μm long (Fig. 45K), tibia without spur; comb with 8 bristles; ta1-4 each with two preapical pseudospurs. Claws slender, hooked; pulvilli absent. Lengths and proportion of leg segments as in Table 29.

fe ti ta1 ta2 ta3

p1 482–524 462–508 334 243 150

p2 636–684 444–532 589–678 270–283 146 –163

p3 566–603 643–745 572–671 282–292 186–220

ta4 ta5 LR BV SV

p1 89 78 0.66 2.42 3.06

p2 102–115 78–84 1.19–1.37 2.75–2.97 1.76–1.96

p3 123–131 83–103 0.87–0.96 2.60–2.76 1.89–2.14 Hypopygium (Fig. 45M). Tergite IX arched, with 11–13 posterior setae. Membranous anal point rounded, apical edge convex. Phallapodeme 72–79 Μm long. Sternapodeme with moderate anterior process. Gonocoxite cylindrical, 141–142 (2) Μm long, 64–73 Μm wide, with slightly concave inner margin. GcR 2.22–2.26 (2). Gonostylus simple and slender, 94–98 Μm long; megaseta 16 Μm long. HR 1.43–1.51. HV 2.54–2.79. Adult female, pupa and larva. Unknown.

Remarks. Adult males of Labrundinia nicaraguensis appear most similar to those of L. panamensis, but can be separated by having a fore tibial comb and 8 bristles in the hind tibial comb. In L. panamensis adult males have no fore tibial comb and only 4 bristles in the hind tibial comb. Labrundinia nicaraguensis has been recorded only from its type locality in Nicaragua. The immature stages and their habitat remain unknown.