Bittacus yunlongensis, Xie & Wang, 2025

Xie, Jiao & Wang, Ji-Shen, 2025, Three new species of Mecoptera (Insecta, Antliophora) from Yunnan, China, European Journal of Taxonomy 997, pp. 275-288 : 278-280

Bittacus yunlongensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:14A27284-EE50-4B95-BDBC-96AE6F7354BB

Figs 1–2

Diagnosis

This new species is most similar to Bittacus vexilliferus Byers, 1970 among its congeners, but differs from the latter by the following features: in males, 1) T8 with triangular protrusion laterally ( Fig. 2D , vs lacking) and a black biconical marking at middle ( Fig. 2D , vs lacking); 2) epandrial lobe with basal portion subtrapezoidal and distal half elongated, finger-shaped, and greatly curved dorsad ( Fig. 2D, F , vs epandrial lobes long and rectangular); and 3) aedeagus with base stout and with rounded flanks ( Fig. 2D, F , vs with a broad, thin, apically indented lobe at each side of the base).

Etymology

The new species is named after the type locality, Yunlong County. Adjective.

Type material

Holotype CHINA – Yunnan Province • ♂; Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture , Yunlong County; 25°51′08″ N, 99°15′09″ E; 2560 m a.s.l.; 20 Jul. 2023; L.-J. Jia, J.-L. Li and J.-S. Wang leg.; BMDU, CNYL23Bi001 .

Paratype CHINA – Yunnan Province • 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; BMDU, CNYL23Bi002 .

Description

MEASUREMENTS (mm). Male (holotype). AtL 9.1, AbL 12.2, BL 17.3, FL 22.7, FW 5.5, HL 20.3, HW 4.7. Female (paratype). AtL 9.0, AbL 13.0, BL 18.0, FL 23.0, FW 5.6, HL 21.0, HW 4.8.

Male

HEAD ( Fig. 2B ). Vertex uniformly orange-yellow. Ocellar triangle black. Compound eyes blackish brown. Rostrum three times as long as wide. Fifth segment of maxillary palp orange-yellow. Labial palps light brown, with second segment twice as long as first.

THORAX ( Fig. 2A, C ). Pronotum dark brown, with light brown crescent-shaped area on anterior margin. Mesonotum and mesoscutellum blackish brown marginally and light brown at middle. Legs light brown. Tibia orange with two apical spurs. Tarsomeres I–III lined with long black setae and also with several shorter setae. Tarsomeres I–IV with one to two black setae apically, and tarsomeres III–V with more short setae on ventral part.

WINGS ( Fig. 2A ). Wing membrane hyaline, tinged with yellowish brown. Pterostigma yellowish brown and prominent; thyridium conspicuous with pale border at FM; 1A terminating beyond FM; Sc ending beyond level of FRs. With one Scv and Av absent. Its left wings with one Pcv, while right with two Pcv.

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 2A, D ). T2–T5 unevenly dark brown, each with narrow black antecosta, forming distinct light and dark patterns. T8 with triangular protrusion caudo-laterally and black biconical marking at dorsal portion.

GENITALIA ( Fig. 2D–G ). Epandrial lobes approximately twice as long as gonocoxites, with basal portion subtrapezoidal and distal half elongated, finger-shaped, and greatly curved dorsad. Gonocoxites enlarged with cluster of slender bristles terminally. Gonostyli short and blunt distally. Aedeagus with stout base and rounded flanks. Penisfilum greatly elongated and coiled into loop wider than epandrial lobes. Upper branch of proctiger slightly longer than epandrial lobes, and enlarged apically in goose head-shape with tuft of long setae. Lower branch of proctiger slender and rather straight, slightly longer than upper branch of proctiger. Cerci slender and rod-shaped.

Female

Habitus similar to males.

GENITALIA ( Fig. 2G–H ). Subgenital plate greatly inflated with thick long setae apically. Cerci slender and acute terminally.

Distribution

China: Yunnan (Yunlong).

Figures

Fig. 1. Bittacus yunlongensis sp. nov. Living male from Yunlong.

Fig. 2. Bittacus yunlongensis sp. nov. A–F. Holotype, ♂ (BMDU, CNYL23Bi001). G–H. Paratype, ♀ (BMDU, CNYL23Bi002). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Head, dorsal view. C. Articulation of basitarsus and tibia, and tarsomeres I–V. D. Male terminalia, right-lateral view. E–F. Male terminalia, dorsal view. G. Female terminalia, lateral view. H. Female terminalia, ventral view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.