Zalepidota distincta, Maia, 2021

Maia, Valéria Cid, 2021, A new species of Zalepidota Rübsaamen, 1908 (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Piper vicosanum (Piperaceae), an endemic plant to Brazil, Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (e 20210034) 65 (3), pp. 1-10 : 2-8

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9665-RBENT-2021-0034
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15642879
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039B052C-AB3D-FFCF-E341-FEDAA3C2F87F
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Zalepidota distincta
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Zalepidota distincta , new species ( Figs. 1-10 View Figure 1 View Figure 2 View Figure 3 View Figure 4 View Figure 5 View Figure 6 View Figure 7 View Figure 8 View Figure 9 View Figure 10 )

Diagnosis. Palpus one-segmented with short apical projection, 1 st and 2 nd flagelomeres not connected, circumfila strongly anastomosing in both sexes, 12 th flagellomere with apical process only in male, vertex without eye facets, male 8 th tergites rectangular at basal ½ and triangular at distal ½, female 7 th tergite with basal margin serrated, with a central reentrance, pupa: lower facial horn bidentate, 2 nd to 6 th abdominal segment with long spiracles, segments 7 and 8 with stigma-like spiracles, 2 nd to 8 th abdominal segments with two rows of spines, terminal segment bilobed, larva without spatula and terminal segment bilobed.

Male. Body length: 4.60-5.07 mm (n= 9). Head ( Fig. 1a View Figure 1 ): 0.45mm- 0.54mm long and 0.59-0.62mm wide (n= 6); eye facets hexagonal closely appressed ( Fig. 1b View Figure 1 ), vertex without facets; antenna: scape obconical, 0.10-0.11 mm long, 0.10-0.11 mm wide (at midlength), 1.60-2.20 as long as pedicel (n= 6) with numerous setae; pedicel ovoid, 0.05-0.06mm long, 0.08mm wide (at midlength), 0.62-0.75 as long as wide, with several setae (n= 6); flagellomeres 1 and 2 not connate ( Fig. 1c View Figure 1 ), flagellomeres 1-12 cylindrical, with circumfila strongly anastomosing and dense complement of setae ( Fig. 1d View Figure 1 ); flagellomere 12 with terminal bud covered with microtrichia ( Fig. 2a View Figure 2 ); flagellomere necks bare, short, 0.02 mm long, node with microtrichia, 7.5-8.5 as long as neck; flagellomere 1 the longest, flagellomere 12 the shortest, all flagellomeres of same width (0.07mm), flagellomere 1: 0.21-026mm long,1.0-1.23 as long as flagellomere 2 (n= 6), flagellomere 2: 0.21-0.24mm long, 1.14-1.23 as long as flagellomere 3 (n= 5), flagellomeres 3-9 similar in length, 0.17-0.21mm long, 1.00-1.16 as long as flagellomere 10 (n= 5), flagellomeres 10-12 progressively somewhat shorter ( Fig.2b View Figure 2 ), flagellomere 10: 0.17-0.18mm long, 1.00-1.13 as long as flagellomere 11 (n= 3), flagellomere 11: 0.15-0.18mm long, 1.05-1.07 as long as flagellomere 12 (n= 4), flagellomere 12: 0.14-0.17mm long (n= 4); frons densely setose, with 114 to 128 setae ( Fig. 2c View Figure 2 ); mouth parts: labrum long-attenuate, 0.09-0.11mm long, 0.03-0.04mm wide (n= 7), without visible ventral sensory setae (n= 3); hypopharynx of the same shape of labrum, with long anteriorly directed lateral setulae; labella elongate-convex, 0.08-0.11mm long, 0.05-0.06mm wide (n= 6), each with lateral setae and several short mesal setae; palpus 0.07-0.11mm long, 0.03- 0.04mm wide (n=10), one-segmented, cylindrical, with a group of setae subapically, and a short apical projection ( Fig. 2d View Figure 2 ). Thorax: Scutum with 2 dorsocentral rows double, anteriorly with a group of dense setae on each side, and a group of lateral setae extending from base to distal ¾,; scutellum with several scattered setae; anepimeron densely setose; anespisternum densely setose at ½ basal; katepisternum with some scattered scales; other pleural sclerites asetose; wing ( Fig. 2e View Figure 2 ): 2.89-3.11 mm long (from arculus to apex), 1.50-1.60 mm wide (at midlength) (n= 4), R1 reaching C near wing midlength, R5 reaching C immediately before wing apex, M3+4 present, Cu forked near wing midlength; first tarsomere with apical projection 0.025mm long (n= 3) ( Fig. 3a View Figure 3 ); tarsal claws simple, robust and strongly pigmented, curved near midlength, empodia not reaching bend in claws ( Fig.3b View Figure 3 ). Abdomen ( Figs. 3c View Figure 3 , 4a View Figure 4 ): tergites 1-7 rectangular with complete row of posterior setae, several lateral setae, two basal trichoid sensilla and scattered scales; tergite 8 band-like, very narrow, with only two basal trichoid sensilla as vestiture; sternites 2-7 rectangular, narrower and shorter than tergites, with several setae at ½ distal and a complete row of posterior setae, lateral setae, and scattered scales, two basal trichoid sensilla in membranous area; sternite 8 triangular at ½ proximal and rectangular at ½ distal, setose and with scattered scales only at 1/2distal, without vestiture elsewhere. Terminalia ( Fig. 4b View Figure 4 ): gonocoxites globose and setose, 0.11-0.14 mm long, 0.10-0.12 mm wide and 1.00-1.16 as long as wide (n= 4), without apical lobe; gonostylus short, ovoid, and setose, 0.05-0.065 mm long, 0.04-0.05 mm wide, 1.25-1.30 as long as wide (n= 5), cercus reniform, completely separate, setose, 0.07-0.09 mm long, 0.02-0.03 mm wide (n= 2); hypoproct bilobed and setose; parameres cylindrical membranous; aedeagus conical, tapering gradually towards apex and pointed apically.

Female. Body length: 4.90-5.50 mm (from vertex to tergite 8) (n= 4). Head: 0.51-0.55mm long, 0.55-0.71mm width (n= 3); antennae: scape: 0.12-0.13mm long, 0.12-0.13mm wide (at midlength) (n= 4), with numerous setae; pedicel: 0.06-0.07mm long, 0.09 mm wide (at midlength), 0.66-0.77 as long as wide (n= 4), with several setae; flagellomeres 1-11 cylindrical; flagellomere 12 ovoid without projection ( Fig. 5a View Figure 5 ); flagellomere necks bare, short, 0.015 mm (N= 3), node 10.5-13.5 as long as neck with microtrichia; flagellomere 1: 0.27-0.30 mm long, 1.15-1.23 as long as flagellomere 2 (n= 4), flagellomere 2: 0.22-0.26mm long, 1.04-1.13 as long as flagellomere 3 (n= 4), flagellomeres 3-9 similar in length, 0.21-0.23mm long, 1.05-1.09 as long as flagellomere 10 (n= 4), flagellomeres 10-12 progressively shorter, shortening more evident than in males, flagellomere 10: 0.20-0,21mm long, 1.16-1.25 as long as flagellomere 11 (n= 4), flagellomere 11: 0.16-0.18mm long, 1.06-1.38 as long as flagellomere 12 (n= 4), flagellomere 12: 0.13-0.15mm long (n= 4); circumfila strongly anastomosing and dense complement of setae ( Fig.5b View Figure 5 ). Mouth parts: labrum long-attenuate, 0.12-0.14mm long, 0.05-0.06mm wide (n= 3); labella elongate-convex, 0.07-0.11mm long, 0.05-0.06mm wide (n= 3); palpus 0.08-0.10mm long, 0.04mm wide (n= 3) with apical projection shorter than male ( Fig. 5c View Figure 5 ). Thorax:wing: 3.70-3.84 mm long (from arculus to apex) (n= 4); first tarsomere with apical projection 0.03mm long (n= 3), tarsal claw simple ( Fig. 5 c View Figure 5 ). Abdomen ( Figs. 6a, b View Figure 6 ): sternites more strongly sclerotized than tergites, tergites 1-7 as in male, tergite 8 with basal margin sparsely serrated with central reentrance, and distal margin with a large lobe 0.18-0.21mm long, 0.20mm- 0.21mm wide, almost straight apically, sternites 2-6 as in male, sternite 7: 0.8mm long, 2.42 as long as sternite 6 (n= 4), sternite 8 not sclerotized. Ovipositor ( Fig. 6c View Figure 6 ): striated part 0.9-1.10 mm long, 0.4-0.5 mm wide (n= 5), needle part 1.40-1.60 mm long (n= 5), 1.75-2.00 as long as sternite 7 (n= 4). Otherwise as in male.

Pupa. Color:brownish. Length: 6.10-6.80 mm (n= 6). Head ( Fig.7a View Figure 7 ): dorsal plate with integument grainy and a pair of cervical papilla asetose; antennal horns conical, with smooth margin, 0.34- 0.3 mm long, 0.15-0.21mm wide (basal width) (n= 7) ( Fig. 7b View Figure 7 ); antennal ventral lobe conical, 0.10-0.13mm long, 0.06-0.11mm wide (basal width) (n= 5); one pair of upper frontal horns conical, 0.08-0.14mm long, 0.07-0.12mm wide (basal width) (n= 5) ( Fig. 7c View Figure 7 ); lower frontal horn bidentate, 0.05- 0.06mm long, 0.03-0.04mm wide (basal width) ( Fig.7d View Figure 7 ); a single pair of lower facial papilla asetose; two pairs of lateral facial papillae asetose; upper cephalic margin thickened laterally; face with integument grainy near lower frontal spines and along ecdisial suture. Thorax: Integument grainy laterally; prothoracic spiracle little sclerotized, relatively short, 0.24-0.27mm long (n= 7), rounded apically, trachea reaching end of spiracle ( Fig. 8a View Figure 8 ). Abdomen: segments 2-6 with elongated spiracles ( Fig. 8b View Figure 8 ), 0.20-0.32mm long (n= 8); segments 7 and 8 with stigma-like spiracles; segments 2-8 with rows of dorsal spines only at basal ½, not reaching dorsal papillae ( Figs.8c View Figure 8 , 9a View Figure 9 ); last row with 17-26 spines. Terminal segment 9 with two apical conical projection in both sexes ( Figs. 9b, c View Figure 9 ).

Larva. Body elongate and cylindrical, 4.35-4.55 mm long, 1.70-1.90 mm wide (n= 3). Integument rough.Cephalic capsule 0.04-0.05mm long and 0.07-0.08 mm wide 9 (at base) (n= 3) ( Fig. 10a View Figure 10 ); antenna 0.02 mm long (n= 3); tentorial arms 0.06-0.07 mm long. Spatula prothoracic absent; sternal papillae setose; two pairs of setose lateral papillae on each side; four dorsal papillae setose from 1 st to 7 th abdominal segments. Terminal segment with integument spinny dorsally, bilobed apically, each lobe conical, slightly sclerotized, 0.10mm long (n= 3); terminal papillae not visible ( Fig. 10b View Figure 10 ).

Gall. On bud, brown, glabrous, multichambered. Host plant: Piper vicosanum Yunck. ( Piperaceae ) ( Fig. 5T View Figure 5 in Maia & Siqueira, 2020).

Material examined. Holotype: male, BRAZIL, Rio de Janeiro, Reserva Biológica União , 25.VI.2013, Maia & Fernandes col., MNRJ . Paratypes: same data as holotype, 4 larvae; same locality and collectors, 25.IV.2013 , 8 males, 3 larvae, 26.IV. 2013, 1 male, 5 females, and 7 pupal exuviae, MNRJ .

Etymology. The name distincta refers to the distinct morphology of the new species.

Remarks. The new species was placed to Zalepidota by the dense network of circumfila, one-segmented palpus, wide wing, males with gonostyli with some separate denticles, females with a single lobe at the base of the ovipositor, pupa with antennal horns with a ventral lobe, widely separated upper frontal horns, two rows of dorsal spines that do not attain the dorsal row of papillae. Nevertheless, the tarsal claws are not swollen basally, the pupa has no elongate spiracles on the 7 th abdominal segment, and the larva has no prothoracic spatula, differing from the single previously known larva of the genus, which exhibits a short spatula. Among Asphondyliina , the loss of spatula was found in Heterasphondylia Möhn, 1960 and Sciasphondylia Möhn, 1960 . Other morphological similarities between Heterasphondylia and Zalepidota are shared by the pupae – the presence of a ventral lobe on each antennal horn, widely separate upper frontal horns, and elongated abdominal spiracles. Nevertheless, Zalepidota is unique genus whose males have gonostyli with some separate denticles.

Heterasphondylia and Sciasphondylia are known from a single described species each, while Zalepidota from five, including the new one. As new species are discovered, the morphological knowledge of these genera will be improved and the limits of each can be properly established. At the moment, the best option is to broaden the concept of Zalepidota than to propose a new monobasic genus, adding the following variation: adults with tarsal claws swollen basally or not, pupa with elongated spiracles on the 1 st through 6 th or 7 th abdominal segments and larva with reduced or absent prothoracic spatula.