Lepidocyrtinus voeltzkowi

Lepidocyrtinus voeltzkowi (Börner, 1907)

Figs 55–60, Tables 1 and 5

Pseudosira (Mesira) voeltzkowi B̂rner, 1907: 152, figs 8–10, Madagascar, Fianarantsoa, Ankarimbelo (as Ankarimbela mahe Ikongo, SO. Madagascar).

Sira voeltzkowi; Denis 1925: 284 (as voeltzkovi)

Lepidocyrtus voeltzkowi; Womersley 1934: 463.

Lepidocyrtinus voeltzkowi; Delamare-Deboutteville 1948: 39; Salmon 1964: 490.

Seira voeltzkowi; Yosii 1959: 9; Thibaud 2008: 503.

Lepidocyrtinus pallidus B̂rner, 1907 syn. nov.: 154

Typological note. The type material of L. voeltzkowi is probably lost. Thus, here the neotype is designated, according to ICZN (2000, chapter 16, article 72.4.5.), as the specimen fits all morphological characteristics presented in the original description and was collected quite near (less than 50km) the type locality (Fig. 55).

Examined type material. Neotype female designed on slide (54322/ CAS): Madagascar, Fianarantsoa province, Haute Matsiatra Region, Anja Community Reserve, 21°51’32”S, 046°50’40”E (Fig. 55), isleberg vegetation, 1097 m, 17-24.i.2013, M Irwin & R Harin’Hala coll.

Additional material: 1 male, 6 females and 1 juvenile on slides and 15 specimens in alcohol (54322/ CAS), same data as neotype. 1 female on slide (54322/ CAS donated to INPA), same data as neotype. 11 specimens in alcohol (54321/ CAS donated to INPA), same data as neotype, except 27.x-07.xi.2013. 31 specimens in alcohol (54342/ CAS), same data as neotype, except 30.iv-07.v.2012. 3 females on slides (54015, 54057, 54059/ CAS): Toliara, Forêt of Kirindy, 15.5 km 64° ENE Marofandilia, 20°04’09”S, 044°39’38”E (Fig. 64), Tropical dry forest, 60 m, 12-24.ix.2008, 24.ix-01.x.2008, 25.iii-01.iv.2009, Malaise trap, BL Fisher coll.

Diagnosis. Body with dark bluish to graish pigments internally on antennae, all head, trunk and femur, some specimens parcially pigmented or depigmented (Fig. 56); head mac A0, A2–3, A5, M1–2, S0–3, S5–6 and Pp5 present; prelabral chaetae ciliated; labial papilla E with l.p. apically pointed and reaching the base of a.a. (Figs 57 C–D); basolateral and basomedian labial fields with chaetae R (smaller than the others), E, L1–2 ciliated; Th II projected anteriorly and with 13–14 anterior, 8 median (m1ip, m4–4p present, m4i mac absent) and 10–11 posterior mac (p2ep as mac, p3 as mic); Th III–Abd II with 8–10, 4–5, 4 central mac, respectively; Abd IV with 16–17 central mac and 13 lateral mac (Figs 58, 59B); unguis a.t. present (Fig. 60E); unguiculus pe lamella serrated and with a small proximal tooth; collophore anteriorly with 16 spine-like chaetae and 3 ciliated chaetae apically acuminate, posteriorly with 2 spines, smooth chaeta absent (Fig. 60F); manubrium ventrally with 2/2 subapical chaetae; manubrial plate with 3 blunt mac apically bullet-like; dens with 6–10 blunt mac apically nipple-like (Figs 60 G–H).

Description. Total length (head + trunk) of specimens 2.31–3.61 (n=4), neotype 3.61 mm. Specimens ground pale white with variable colour patterns: with a dark bluish to grayish strip on Ant II that extends in an inner strip to Ant IV, or the entire Ant IV; pigments over all head and trunk, except for Th II–Abd II dorsally; or head and Th II–Abd III only partially pigmented; pigments on all femur I–III or only femur III distally; or head, trunk and legs depigmented; eyepatches black (Figs 56 A–D). Scales present on Ant I to proximal one-third of Ant IV, dorsal and ventral head, dorsal thorax and abdomen, legs (except empodia), anterior and posterior collophore, ventral and dorsal manubrium and dens ventrally.

Head. Antennae smaller to larger than trunk length (Fig. 56); ratio antennae: trunk = 1: 0.78–1.13 (n=4), neotype 1: 0.78; antennal segments ratio as I: II: III: IV = 1: 1.36–1.49: 2.75: 3.68–4.12, neotype 1: 1.38: 2.75: 3.68. Ant IV annulated on distal three-fourths, with apical bulb apically unilobed or bilobed. Ant III annulated on distal five-sixth, apical organ with 2 elongated rods, 3 spiny guard sens, s-blunt sens of different sizes and ciliated chaetae. Ant I dorsally with 4 median mac surrounded by ciliated guard mic, 2 outer spines and 4 smooth mic at the base (Fig. 57A). Eye B larger, G and H smaller, others subequal, and with 5 ‘IO’ chaetae; head dorsal macrochaetotaxy with 10–12 An, 4 A, 3 M, 7 S and 1 Pp mac (Fig. 57D). Clypeal formula with 4 (l1–2), 2 (ft), 3 (pf1) ciliated chaetae, l1–2 larger than the others, l1 apically acuminate, 2 ft smaller, others subequal (Fig. 57B). Prelabral chaetae ciliated and not bifurcated. Labral p0 chaeta without median filament. Labral papillae with two inner conical projections, outer papillae absent. Maxillary palp with smooth t.a. and b.c. weakly ciliated, thicker and 1.46 longer than the t.a. Labial papilla E with l.p. apically pointed and reaching the base of a.a. (Fig. 57C). Basolateral and basomedian labial fields with chaetae M1–2, R (smaller than the others), E, L1–2 ciliated. Ventral head with about 31–33 ciliated chaetae, postlabial formula with 4 (G1–4), 3 (H2–4), 4 (J1–4) chaetae, H3–4, J1–4 larger than the others, 11–12 thin posterior chaetae with different lengths, and 4–5 larger chaetae, 1 b.c. surrounding the cephalic groove (Fig. 57E).

Thorax chaetotaxy (Fig. 58 A–B). Th II projected anteriorly, a, m and p series with 13–14, 8 and 10–11 mac, respectively, and about 6 secondary psp. Th III a, m and p series with 3–4, 0 and 7–8 mac, respectively, and about 6 secondary psp. Ratio Th II: III = 2.06–1.64: 1 (n=4), neotype 1.73: 1.

Abdomen chaetotaxy (Figs 58 C–D, 59A–C). Abd I a, m and p series with 0–1, 4 and 0 mac, respectively, and about 3 secondary psp. Abd II a, m and p series with 1, 4 and 0 mac, respectively. Abd III a, m and p series with 0, 3 and 1 mac, respectively, and 1 lateral secondary psp. Abd IV with 16–17 central mac on A–T series and 13 lateral mac on E–Fe series; at least 2 posterior secondary psp, at least 4 posterior sens (ps type I, others type II) and 8 posterior mes. Abd V a, m and p series with 1, 4 and 2/6 mac, respectively. Ratio Abd III: IV = 1: 5.54–6.90 (n= 4), neotype 1: 5.54.

Legs. Subcoxa I with 7 chaetae on a row, 16 anterior chaetae and 2 psp; subcoxa II with an anterior row of 11 chaetae, posterior row of 6 chaetae and 4 psp; subcoxa III with one row of 13 chaetae, 2 anterior chaetae and 2 posterior psp (Figs 60 A–C). Trochanteral organ with about 54 spine-like chaetae (Fig. 60D). Tibiotarsus normal or subdivided on distal two thirds, outer side with 5 large chaetae apically acuminate, inner side with 8 mac weakly ciliated. Unguis with 4 inner teeth, b.t. subequal to m.t. in length, m.t. near to a.t., a.t. smaller (Fig. 60E). Unguiculus with all lamellae smooth and acuminate, except pe serrated and with a small proximal tooth; ratio unguis: unguiculus = 1: 0.69. Tibiotarsal smooth chaeta 1.07 larger than unguiculus and tenent hair 0.95 smaller than unguis outer edge.

Collophore. Anterior side with 24 chaetae, 16 spine-like chaetae, 1 thin and 1 normal ciliated chaeta, 3 ciliated chaetae apically acuminate and 3 mac distally; posterior side with 13 chaetae (1 unpaired), 2 spines and 11 thin ciliated chaetae widely distributed, smooth chaetae absent; lateral flap with about 35–36 chaetae, 10 smooth and 25–26 ciliated (Fig. 60F).

Furcula. Manubrium ventral formula with 0, 0, 0, 2/2 (subapical), 16 (apical) ciliated chaetae plus about 19 elongated apical scales and 1 ciliated chaeta per side (Fig. 60G); manubrial plate with 3 blunt mac ciliated apically bullet-like, 10 ciliated chaetae of different sizes and 3 psp. Dens dorsally with one proximal row of 6–10 blunt mac finely ciliated and apically nipple-like, neotype with 6+8 (Fig. 60H).

Remarks. After more than 100 years, L. voeltzkowi is herein redescribed for the first time. B̂rner (1907) in his original description of L. voeltzkowi reported different colour patterns to the species, with dark pigments on body, unguis with large outer teeth and presence of inner a.t. Such characteristics combined are diagnostic of L. voeltzkowi among the Madagascar species, and the chaetotaxy analysis allowed us to confirm its variable colour pattern, including a depigmented morphotype (Fig. 56C). These yellowish specimens with an internal strip of pigment on Ant IV and with unguis a.t. also fit B̂rner’s description of L. pallidus, and such combination of features are not seen in any other Madagascar taxon (see B̂rner 1907 and Table 5). So, we herein suggest L. pallidus syn. nov. as a junior synonym of L. voeltzkowi. Further comparisons of this species with similar taxa, see the remarks of L. iegoi sp. nov. and Table 5.