Zorotypus (Zorotypus) amazonensis, Rafael & Engel, 2006

RAFAEL, JOSÉ ALBERTINO & ENGEL, MICHAEL S, 2006, A New Species of Zorotypus from Central Amazonia, Brazil (Zoraptera: Zorotypidae), American Museum Novitates 3528 (1), pp. 1-12 : 3-6

Zorotypus (Zorotypus) amazonensis , new species

Figures 1–14

DIAGNOSIS: The new species is unique for the combination of specialized, longitudinal, paramedian rows of setae on the male vertex; the clasperlike cerci of the male; the large female S8 with an apical cleft; the metafemur with 10 stiff, ventral spines and metatibia with three ventral spines in both sexes; and hind wing with a distinct and true Cu vein (vide Discussion, infra).

DESCRIPTION: Apterous male (holotype). Body length (exclusive of antennae) 2.5 mm; antennal length 1.8 mm. Integument light brown. Head subtriangular, posterior border slightly broader than pronotum; compound eyes absent, with a small black spot in position otherwise occupied by eyes; ocelli absent; head setae as depicted in figure 1; vertex with median area bordered by longitudinal, paramedian rows of pronounced, dense, slender, and divergent setae (fig. 1); antenna (fig. 2) with first antennomere cup-shaped; combined length of second and third antennomeres slightly shorter than that of first and fourth antennomeres; length of second antennomere subequal to that of third antennomere; antennomeres IV–IX longer than wide, becoming slightly shorter and paler distally. Labrum with setae in distal half (fig. 1). Mandible with three short, pointed teeth and well-defined molar region (fig. 1). Lacinia with apical comb (fig. 3). Maxillary palpus (fig. 4) five-segmented, first palpomere (P 1) short, P 2 slightly longer than P 3, P 4 short and nearly one-half length P 3, P 5 longest, laterally compressed, and twice as wide as P 4, P 5 nearly as long as combined lengths of P 3 and P 4. Labial palpus three-segmented, P 2 shortest, one-third length of P 1 and P 3 individually, P 3 laterally compressed, twice as wide as P 1.

Pronotum subrectangular, slightly broader than long, not constricted posteriorly; longest setae on lateral and anterior margins, smaller setae scattered on disc. Mesonotum slightly smaller than pronotum, with longest setae on lateral margins. Metanotum smaller then preceding thoracic terga, distinctly wider than long, with longest setae on lateral margins. Legs with scattered setae of moderate length, intermixed with several small setae. Pro- and mesotibiae with one and two rather stout, subapical setae ventrally, respectively. Hind leg (fig. 6) with metafemur about three times longer than broad (as measured at its point of maximal breadth), slightly more swollen toward base than apex; posterior ventral surface with 10 short, stiff spines, second spine about twice length of others, distal spines smaller and more closely spaced; metatibia with three ventral, stiff spines evenly spaced in distal half.

Abdominal T1 with single transverse row of eight setae and two small, inconspicuous lateral setae on each side of midline; T2–9 with two transverse rows of 7–10 setae each side of midline; T9 (figs. 7, 8) with small median setae dorsolaterally followed by four thickened, rather oblique setae either side of midline and 4–5 typical setae more distally; T10 (figs. 7, 8) largely membranous, with small, median sclerite with pair of small setae, and lateral sclerites with 4–5 flanking, posterior setae; epiproct nearly divided medially, lateral portions somewhat triangular and extending around cercal base, medially strongly narrowed and fused to upcurved anal sclerite (mating hook) bearing anal tube; paraprocts broadly attached to apicolateral corners of epiproct (fig. 8). Cerci (fig. 7) unsegmented, elongate, clasperlike, with three stout, pronounced setae on inner margin, first just apical of midpoint, second subapical, third apical, all three setae directed inward; other setae rather stout, long, and along outer, lateral surface; basal half covered with short, dense spicules, such spicules absent at apex and internally at base. Abdominal sterna as in figure 9; first sternum not sclerotized and apparently absent; S2 divided into small, lateral sclerites, with two pairs of small setae on each side; S3–6 with two rows of short setae, those apically and centrally slightly longer; S8 (hypandrium or subgenital plate) larger than preceding sterna (figs. 9, 10), rather oval, more sclerotized in apical portion, distal margin produced medially, protuberance with two small, subapical setae (fig. 10), setae scattered over disc and transverse row of longer setae at distal margin.

Terminalia (from paratype) as depicted in figure 10; terminalia principally membranous, highly asymmetrical, and difficult to interpret except by two pieces: central, rather clubshaped, more sclerotized portion and basal portion that is less sclerotized and bearing an apically directed, elongate, tubular projection (the tubular portion may be the same structure that forms a dorsal, somewhat sclerotized and coiled tube in four neotropical species; i.e., Z. snyderi Caudell , Z. hamiltoni New, Z. mexicanus Bolívar y Pieltain, and Z. cramptoni Gurney ).

Apterous female. As described for the male except as follows: body length (exclusive of antennae) 2.7 mm; antennal length 2.0 mm. Head without central, paramedian row of pronounced cluster of divergent, slender setae on vertex. Metafemur ornamentation slightly weaker than that of male. Abdominal T9–10 normal, without modifications; S8 larger than preceding sterna, slightly asymmetrical, more sclerotized in distal third, with large distal, median cleft (fig. 11). Cerci normal, small, slightly curved proximally, with rather stout setae but no spiniform setae as in male. Genital fork small, slightly sclerotized (fig. 12).

Alate female. As described for the male except as follows: body dark brown to black; compound eyes present and black; three ocelli present on vertex; venation generally reduced and weak, most veins nebulous (i.e., mostly represented by distinctly fuscous lines on otherwise hyaline or lightly infuscate membrane) although veins R, Rs, and M in forewing and R+M in hind wing at least weakly tubular for portions of their length; forewing length 2.7 mm, pterostigma present as faint infuscation along anterior, apical wing margin between R and Rs; R disappearing in pterostigmal base (fig. 13); Rs nearly reaching to forewing apex, becoming faint and diffuse right near apex; rs-m present (fig. 13), very short, slightly shorter than first free abscissa of Rs; M extending to posterior wing margin; CuA 1 present and extending to just beyond wing midpoint before terminating on posterior wing margin; CuA 2 present as a short stub in basal third of wing; wing setae numerous on membrane and margins, not clustered in any region of wing; additional forewing details in figure 13. Hind wing length 2.2 mm; venation typical, with stems of R and M starting separate near base and fusing for much of wing length, separating in distal third of wing, each vein terminating as evanescent vein on wing margin (fig. 14); short branch of Cu present proximally and terminating as evanescent vein on wing margin (fig. 14); exceedingly short and faint M+Cu stem present; additional hind wing details in figure 14.

HOLOTYPE: Male (slide mounted), ‘‘ BRASIL, AM [Amazonas], Itacoatiara, Madeireira Mil , 17.viii.2002, J.A. Rafael & J. Vidal, sob casca de tronco caído’’ ( INPA).

PARATYPES: One male, three females (two slide mounted, one in alcohol), same data as holotype ( INPA). One alate female (slide mounted), ‘‘ Manaus, Reserva Ducke , 21.ii.1992, Igarapé Barro Branco , arm. adesiva, J. Vidal’ ’ ( INPA). One alate female (in alcohol), ‘‘ Manaus, ZF-3, km-23, Fazenda Esteio , 18.iii.1987, B.C. Klein, armadilha malaise’’ ( INPA) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet refers to the region in which specimens were collected, i.e., Amazonia.

COMMENTS: Among Brazilian species, Z. amazonensis is among the most completely characterized ( table 2 ), with both sexes and morphs documented. Within this fauna, Z. amazonensis is apparently most similar to Z. shannoni Gurney , also described from Brazil, in that both have modified and slender setae on the vertex. The organization of these setae differs prominently (vide Description, supra, and Discussion, infra), serving to separate the two species readily in the male sex. Both species also have similar metafemoral ornamentation, although with 10 stiff, ventral spines in Z. amazonensis and six such spines in Z. shannoni . Likewise, both species have a membranous endophallus.

Figures

Figs. 1–6. Male of Zorotypus amazonensis Rafael and Engel, new species. 1. Male head, dorsal view, with antennae removed. 2. Antenna. 3. Lacinia. 4. Maxillary palpus. 5. Labial palpus. 6. Hind leg from metafemur to metapretarsus. Scale bars 5 0.1 mm except that those for figures 2 and 6 5 0.5 mm.

Figs. 7–12. Zorotypus amazonensis Rafael and Engel, new species, abdominal structures. 7. Male abdominal apex, dorsal view. 8. Male abdominal apex, apical view. 9. Male abdominal sterna. 10. Male sternum VIII and terminalia. 11. Female sternum VIII. 12. Female genital sclerite. Scale bars 5 0.1 mm except that for figure 9 5 0.5 mm. The terms paraproct and epiproct are used here to indicate the correct sclerite homologies with other insects (based on unpublished comparative data of M.S. Engel) and in place of the less formal terms employed by Bolívar y Pieltain and Coronado (1963). The anal sclerite is fused to what we consider the epiproct in Zoraptera.

Figs. 13–14. Female alate of Zorotypus amazonensis Rafael and Engel, new species. 13. Forewing (2.7 mm in length). 14. Hind wing (2.2. mm in length).