Cycloperipsocus stictus, Cao & Liu, 2025

Cao, Leran & Liu, Xingyue, 2025, A review of the bark louse genus Cycloperipsocus Li, 1993 (Psocodea: Peripsocidae) with description of five new species, Zootaxa 5620 (2), pp. 201-229 : 222-225

Cycloperipsocus stictus sp. nov.

( Figs 26–29 )

Diagnosis. Forewing with markings in cell R and cell CuA fragmented. Postclypeus without stripes. Phallosome gently pointed at apex; Paramere with its tip slightly expanded, inner process present. Lateral lobe of penis bulb expanded into lamellar rather than hemispheric.

Description. Male ( Figs 26–27 ). Coloration (preserved in 95% ethanol). Head: vertex pale brown with dark-colored markings; frons pale brown; gena cream white, bottom 1/3 light brown; postclypeus pale brown, with only a few irregular brown markings along top margin; anteclypeus and labrum brown; maxillary palpus slightly reddish-brown; ocelli cream white with reddish-brown spots, ocellar region cream white; compound eyes black, sometimes with white envelope.Antennae: scape brown; pedicel and flagellum pale taupe. Thorax brown; scutellum, postnotum of mesothorax and scutellum of metathorax pale cream. Legs: coxae brown; fore femora pale cream, mid and hind femora brown but pale cream at both ends; tibiae pale brown, shallowing toward both ends in hind tibiae; fore and mid tarsi light brown, hind tarsi pale cream; pretarsi brown. Wings cream white with taupe markings as in Figs 26C–D ; distal half of pterostigma sometimes dark brown; forewing Mb dark gray, markings in cells R and CuA fragmented, a pale spot present at distal margin of cell M2. Pregenital abdominal segments cream, with dark reddish-purple markings on ventral and lateral sides. Terminalia grayish brown.

Morphology. Clunium slightly extended, without any process or serrations. Epiproct semicircular. Paraproct ovoid, inner margin with a small process; posterior lobe ovate; a small piece of sclerite present between paraproct and clunium. Hypandrium simple. Phallosome ( Figs 27C–H ) basally closed, slightly constricted in the middle; aedeagal arch with apex gently pointed, distal 1/3 hood-like; Paramere slightly expanded at apex, inner process present. Penis bulb consists of a middle thorn and a pair of lateral lobes; lateral lobe expanded into lamellar rather than hemispheric shape, outer margin smooth, inner margin with a spine pointed forward.

Measurements (in μm) (6 males). B: 976–1224, BW: 1578–1726, IO: 114–124, d: 136–150, IO/d: 0.78–0.91, f1: 133–146, FWL: 1304–1492, FWW: 589–635, HWL: 1031–1068, HWW: 393–430, t1: 100–123, t2: 45–60. Number of ctenidia on hind first tarsomere: 9–11.

Female ( Figs 28–29 ). Coloration (preserved in 95% ethanol). Head: vertex milk-white with pale gray markings; frons cream white, with a pale brown area around ocellar region, a pair of indistinct pale brown spots present between postclypeus and compound eyes; gena cream white, bottom 1/3 brown, a reddish-brown spot present rear to compound eye. Antennae: scape brown, pedicel cream white, flagellum pale taupe. Other parts generally same as male.

Morphology. Epiproct and paraproct semicircular. Subgenital plate ( Figs 29D–E ) with pigmented area V-shaped; pigmented arm strong, apex slightly bifurcate; egg guide short, slightly constricted at base, outer and distal margin folded inward. Gonapophyses ( Fig. 29F ): ventral valve broadened with membrane in basal half, narrowing toward apex; dorsal valve broad, oblong, about 1.5 times as long as its width, with a row of setae along distal margin; external valve rectangular, about half the length of dorsal valve, slightly setose.

Measurements (in μm) (5 females). B: 1123–1327, BW: 1732–1785, IO: 207–231, d: 71–87, IO/d: 2.63–2.91, f1: 109–115, FWL: 1341–1484, FWW: 564–629, HWL: 1017–1152, HWW: 382–433, t1: 95–114, t2: 47–64. Number of ctenidia on hind first tarsomere: 8–10.

Materials examined. Holotype male, China: Guangxi, Guilin, Longsheng, Sanmen Town, Huaping NNR, Tianpingshan [25°37′53″N, 109°54′50″E], 743 m, 2–5.VIII.2023, Leran Cao ( CAU) . Paratypes: 6 males, 5 females, same as holotype ( CAU) . Other specimens: 21 males, 17 females, same as holotype ( CAU) .

Known distribution. China (Guangxi).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek word stiktos, referring to the fragmented markings in forewing cell R and CuA.

Remarks. This new species is characterized by the fragmented markings in forewing cells R and CuA. This characteristic somewhat resembles C. plurimaculatus but C. stictus can be distinguished by the lack of markings at the end of forewing R4+5 and M1. In addition, C. stictus also differs from all other cycloperipsocids in the male penis bulb with lateral lobe expanded into lamellar rather than hemispheric shape.

Figures

FIGURE 26. Cycloperipsocus stictus sp. nov., holotype male. (A) habitus, lateral view; (B) habitus, dorsal view; (C) forewing; (D) hindwing; (E) head, frontal view; (F) head, dorsal view.

FIGURE 27. Cycloperipsocus stictus sp. nov., holotype male, genitalia. (A) clunium, epiproct and paraproct, dorsal view; (B) hypandrium, ventral view; (C–D) phallosome, lateral view; (E–F) phallosome dorsal view; (G) phallosome, caudal view; (H) penis bulb, dorsal view.

FIGURE 28. Cycloperipsocus stictus sp. nov., paratype female. (A) habitus, lateral view; (B) habitus, dorsal view; (C) forewing; (D) hindwing; (E) head, frontal view; (F) head, dorsal view.

FIGURE 29. Cycloperipsocus stictus sp. nov., paratype female, genitalia. (A) dorsal view; (B) lateral view, subgenital plate removed; (C) caudal view, subgenital plate removed; (D) subgenital plate, ventral view; (E) subgenital plate, lateral view; (F) gonapophyses, lateral view.