Aleuromarginatus asymmetricis Dubey sp. nov.

(Figure 1)– Figure 2 (h))

Puparium (n = 2)

In life, white; asymmetrically elongate (Figure 1)); anterior end broader than posterior end; 1110–1300 µm long, 495 µm wide; cephalothorax 450–510 µm long, abdomen 660– 790 µm long.

Margin

Crenulate, 18–21 crenulations in 0.1 mm. Anterior and posterior marginal setae absent. Thoracic tracheal combs absent (Figure 2)), but caudal tracheal comb present.

Dorsum

Tuberculate. Submargin not differentiated from the dorsal disc. Submarginal lines small. Submargin with 5 pairs of long tuberculate setae, length varies, apically pointed, number varies on left vs right side of the puparium (Figure 2)), usually smaller on left side than right side of puparium, 3 placed on cephalothorax (one located on each cephalic region, near promesothoracic suture and metathorax) and 2 on abdomen (one located each lateral of abdominal segment II/III and medio-lateral of segment IV); the long submarginal seta is absent from the left side of abdominal segment II/III in paratype (233/81), cephalic pair the longest, sometimes only the anterior tuberculate setae present on left side of the puparium (232/81). A pair of longitudinal rows of tubercles present on submedian area of cephalothorax and abdomen (Figure 1), Figure 2 (e)), 160–187 µm apart. Longitudinal moulting suture reaching margin and transverse moulting suture reaching submargin. Median length of pro-, meso- and metathorax: 45, 80 and 67 µm, respectively. Median length of abdominal segments I–VIII: I 57–75, II 57–75, III 60–70, IV 47–80, V 45–70, VI 45–72, VII 15–35, VIII 35– 52 µm. Median length of abdominal segment VII half the length of segment VI (Figure 2)). Thirteen pairs of small setae, 1 pair each on cephalus, pro-, meso-, and metathorax (Figure 2)), and 12 pairs (7 submedian + 5 subdorsal/submarginal) on abdomen (one pair each on segments I–VI and VIII, 2 pairs on subdorsum on segment III and IV and 3 pairs on caudal area, absent on segment VII; right-side setae on segment II are dislocated on submargin. The dorsal eighth abdominal setae located anterior to the ventral eighth abdominal setae (Figure 1)), Figure 2 (f)). Thoracic tracheal furrows absent. Caudal furrow present (Figure 2,g)), 125 µm long and 12 µm wide, near posterior end of vasiform orifice, 27 µm wide near caudal tracheal comb opening. A pair of geminate pores present on submedian area of each abdominal segment. Pockets continuous.

Vasiform orifice

Subcordate (Figure 2,f,g)), slightly longer than wide, 62–67 µm long, 52–60 µm wide, inner posterior margin with a small notch; operculum subrectangular (Figure 2 (f)) or somewhat transversely hexagonal (Figure 2 (g), broadest at middle, 32 µm long, 32– 42 µm wide; operculum covering half the length of the orifice; apical end of lingula visible, setose, ‘D’-shaped, 10–12 µm long, not reaching beyond posterior margin of vasiform orifice; pair of small subapical setae present.

Venter

A pair of ventral abdominal setae present, 15 µm long, 50 µm apart. Antennae situated outside of the prothoracic legs (Figure 1), Figure 2 (h)), reaching to the base of mesothoracic legs. A narrow submarginal crease variably present at some parts.

Chaetotaxy

Cephalic and the first abdominal setae present, eighth abdominal setae cephalolaterad of vasiform orifice. Caudal setae longer than vasiform orifice, pointed, 80–83 µm long. Submedian, subdorsal and submarginal setae 12–15 µm long. Five pairs of submarginal tuberculate setae: I 415 µm (base 30–40 µm + apical setae 345–375 µm) long, II 295 µm (base 40 µm + apical seta 255 µm) long, III 180 µm (base 10 µm + apical seta 170 µm) long, IV 130 µm (base 10 µm + apical seta 120 µm) long, V 130 µm (base 10 µm + apical seta 120 µm) long. Only the caudal pair is much longer, reaching beyond margin.

Host plant

A plant of the family Annonaceae .

Material examined

Holotype ‘puparium’; Malaysia: Sarawak, Gunung Mulu National Park, Long Pala, one puparium on a slide, on Annonaceae host, 28 May 1978, J.H. Martin 232/81 (VFE 16, 148) (NHM).

Paratype

Malaysia: Sarawak, Gunung Mulu National Park, one puparium on slide, 30 June 1978, J.H. Martin 233/81 (VFE 16, 333 B) (NHM).

Distribution

Malaysia.

Etymology

The species’ Latin name, ‘ asymmetricis ’, reflects the asymmetrical ‘left vs right’ variation in setae number and length.

Remarks

The puparia of the new species differ from all other Aleuromarginatus species in having a narrow elongate pupal case, 5 pairs of long tuberculate submarginal setae and long caudal setae. The new species also differs from characteristic Aleuromarginatus in not possessing the typical 21 pairs of dorsal setae, but the shape of some of the dorsal setae and the vasiform orifice justifies its placement in Aleuromarginatus .