Rhagovelia thysanotos Lansbury

(Fig. 17)

Rhagovelia thysanotos Lansbury, 1993: 48. Type-locality: Torricelli Mtns., 1700 ft., Eastern Sepik Prov., Papua New Guinea.

Diagnosis. Size: Wingless male length = 3.84–3.92 mm; width = 1.40 mm. Wingless female, length = 3.96; width = 1.52 mm. Winged male, length = 4.08; width = 1.48 mm (measurements taken from Lansbury, 1993).

Color: Coloration predominantly black, anterior pronotum with transeversely rectangular, dark-yellow patch on anterior pronotum, bounded laterally by areas of dark coloration; yellow coloration also present on connexival margins and basal portions of legs. Shining patches present centrally on male abdominal tergite VII and on female abdominal tergites V–VII.

Structure: Length of pronotum along midline subequal to length of head, leaving mesonotum and metanotum exposed. Dorsum bearing scattered long, black setae. Female connexival margins sinuate, bowed broadly and gently inward adjacent to abdominal tergites III–V, then bowed gently outward adjacent to tergites VI–VII; posterolateral angles of connexiva with tufts of semi-erect, posteriorly-directed setae. Male fore femur expanded and concave on distal half, posterior margin of this concavity bearing a band of dense, erect, dark setae; male hind trochanter bearing ≈10 tiny dark spinules; male hind femur incrassate, with a single row of pegs basally and two parallel rows of teeth on distal two-thirds, including two teeth much larger than the others. Female hind leg with two large teeth in addition to several much smaller teeth. Male paramere broadly sinuate, slightly expanded distally, ventral margin forming a deep subapical concavity, posterior margin very gently rounded.

For a more detailed description of this species with accompanying figures see Lansbury (1993).

Distribution. The exact site of collection for the type series, which came from the Torricelli Mountains at 1800 ft. elevation, cannot be determined based on the limited label data. As a compromise, the point on the map in Fig. 17 has been plotted along a river 10 km. northwest of the major town of Maprik, where a road allows access at 1400 ft. elevation. This would seem to be a plausible route for reaching the higher parts of the range, the summit ridge of which lies mostly at elevations below 1000 m. (3200 ft.). The species range as presently known occupies the Bewani, Torricelli and Prince Alexander Mountains area of freshwater endemism (Area 13) as delineated by D. Polhemus & Allen (2007).

Discussion. The author has not directly examined any material of this species, and the character comparisons and diagnosis are taken from the description and figures provided by Lansbury (1993). As noted in his paper: “The condition of the type series of thysanotos is very poor, with only one male having complete antennae. All specimens covered with detritus/dust with signs of mite damage at some stage.” Although the author made collections at low to intermediate elevations in the Torricelli and adjacent Prince Alexander mountains behind Wewak in 1983, R. thysanotos was not encountered, and based on the limited label data likely occurs on small streams near the highest elevations in these ranges.