Chidaea algida Löcker & Holzinger 2019, sp. nov.

Chidaea algida sp. nov.

(Figs 2, 17, 31A)

Zoobank Registration:

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9A29BCBD-2C3D-47EC-B8E7-7F3DEAE8A5C1

Types. Holotype, ♂, AUSTRALIA, NSW: Newry SF nr Urunga, 30[°]32[’]S, 152[°]59[’]E, 29.ix.1987 (M.M. Stevens) (ASCU ASCTHE 031070). Paratypes, NSW: 2 ♂, same data as holotype (ASCU); 2 ♂, same data as holotype except for 2.x.1987 (ASCU); 2 ♂, Lorien Ref., 3km N Lansdowne nr Taree; rainforest margin; malaise trap, 23.viii.–6.ix.1987 (G. Williams) (AMS); 10 ♂, same data except for 6.–13.ix.1987 (AMS); 23 ♂, same data except for 14–27.ix.1987 (AMS); 2 ♂, same data except for 27.ix–4.x.1987 (AMS); 5 ♂, same data except for 1–11.x.1987 (AMS); 7 ♂, same data except for 11–18.x.1987 (AMS); 1 ♂, same data except for 19–25.x.1987 (AMS); 2 ♂, Mt Gibraltar NP, 72 mi W of Grafton, 13.xi.1964 (D.D. McAlpine) (AMS). Qld: 1 ♂, Enoggera, 15.ix.1941 (H. Hacker) (QDPI); 1 ♂, Caloundra, 20.viii. 1939 (W. Bryan) (QM, formerly UQIC); 5 ♂, Cougal Creek, Upper Tallebudgera, 28º 12’S, 153º 21’E, 80m, rainforest, 12–14.x.1990 (G. Daniels) (QM, formerly UQIC); 1 ♂, Willowburn, 14.ix.1920 (J.A. Beck) (QM, formerly UQIC); 1 ♂, Brisbane, (8.), 8.x.1922 (H. Hacker) (BPBM); 1 ♂, Brisbane, 13.ix.1923 (H. Hacker) (QM); 1 ♂, same data except for 30.ix.1923 (QM); 1 ♂, same data except for 2.ix.1925 (QM); 1 ♂, Beerwah, 22.ix.1956 (Kirkpatrick) (QM, formerly UQIC); 1 ♂, Glen Aplin, 4.xii.1964 (P. Kerridge) (QM, formerly UQIC); 1 ♂, Mt Glorious, 25.x.1966 (B. Cantrell) (QM, formerly UQIC); 1 ♂, Sunnybank, 18.ix.1926 (H. Hacker) (QM).

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA, NSW: 1 ♀, Newry SF nr Urunga, 30[°]32[’]S, 152[°]59[’]E, 29.ix.1987 (M.M. Stevens) (ASCU); 1 ♀, same data except for 2.x.1987); 3 ♀, Lorien Ref., 3km N Lansdowne nr Taree; rainforest margin; malaise trap, 23.viii.–6.ix.1987 (G. Williams) (AMS); 8 ♀ #, same data except for 6.–13.ix.1987 (AMS); 6 ♀, same data except for 14–27.ix.1987 (AMS); 1 ♀, same data except for 27.ix–4.x.1987 (AMS); 3 ♀, same data except for 1–11.x.1987 (AMS); 7 ♀, same data except for 11–18.x.1987 (AMS); 1 ♀, same data except for 19–25.x.1987 (AMS); 1 ♀, Mt Gibraltar NP, 72 mi W of Grafton, 13.xi.1964 (D.D. McAlpine) (AMS). Qld: 1 ♀, Brisbane, 5.ix.1922 (QM); 1 ♀, Brisbane, 8.x.1922 (H. Hacker) (QM); 5 ♀, same data except for 13.xi.1923 (QM); 1 ♀, same data except for 26.xiii.1925 (QM); 1 ♀, same data except for 2.ix.1925 (QM); 1 ♀, Sunnybank, 8.ix.1928 (QM, formerly UQIC); 2 ♀, Willowburn, 14.ix.1920 (J.A. Beck) (QM, formerly UQIC); 3 ♀, Alderley, Brisbane, 30.ix.1923 (H. Hacker) (QM); 1 ♀, Brisbane, 3.ix.1915 (H. Hacker) (QM); 1 ♀, Brisbane, ix.1925 (G.H. Hardy) (QM, formerly UQIC); 1 ♀, Brisbane, 1.x.1962 (E.A. Bernays) (QM, formerly UQIC).

Notes. The females listed under ‘Other material examined’ have been associated with this species because they have been collected in the same collecting event as males of that species. However, because there are no diagnostic external features to differentiate between Ch. algida and Ch. orangensis, and these two species have an overlapping distribution range, there remains the possibility that some of these females may be Ch. orangensis.

Etymology. The Latin term ‘algidus’ means ‘cold’. Named after the ventral view of the aedeagus resembling a person with her arms held as if she was feeling cold.

Colour. Entire specimen including carinae light brown, rarely with darker patches. Pronotum often slightly darker than head and pronotum. Forewings light brown, tubercles and veins light brown, concolorous with cells. Pterostigma, crossveins and apical parts of veins often slightly darker.

Morphology. Body length: ♂ 5.6–6.8 mm; ♀ 6.6–7.3 mm.

Head: Vertex 2.2–2.8 x wider than long; median carina of vertex covering 1/5–3/4 of basal compartment of vertex; absent in apical compartment. Frons 1.0–1.2 x as long as wide; position of maximum width distinctly dorsad of centre of frontoclypeal suture; lateral carinae of frons in facial view convex, rectilinear apically or convex, evenly rounded. Frontoclypeal suture strongly semicircular, bent upwards, median part reaching at least lower margin of antennal scape. Postclypeus with median carina well developed or evanescent. Anteclypeus with median carina evanescent or absent. Rostrum reaching or surpassing hind coxae.

Thorax: Hind margin of pronotum acutely angled. Mesonotum with weak to evanescent median and lateral carinae. Forewing 3.1–3.4 x longer than wide; concavity at costal border absent; costal margin with 8–13 tubercles; fork of ScP+RA and RP basad, slightly distad or at same level as fork CuA1 and CuA2; tubercles of forewing dark or pale, concolorous with veins; ScP+RA apically bifid; RP trifid; additional subapical cell between branches of MP1 and MP2 absent; MP1+2 trifid (rarely 4 branches), MP3+4 bifid or trifid; 10–12 apical cells; 6 subapical cells. Hind leg: tibia with 6 apical spines; 1 st tarsomere with 11–12 (rarely 10) apical teeth and 5–7 platellae; 2 nd tarsomere with 10–12 (rarely 9) apical teeth and 7–9 (rarely 10) platellae.

Male genitalia: Anal tube as in Figs 17 D–E. Pygofer and genital styles as in Figs 17 F–G. Aedeagus as in Figs 17 A–C. Phallotheca with two very long, strongly curved (in lateral and ventral view) spines (a) and (b). Both spines cross the phallotheca ventrally and their tips point in opposite directions. Phallotheca with a bifurcate ventral process on a large stalk near base of phallotheca. Aedeagal spines not reaching bifurcate ventral process. Sclerotised sections of phallotheca very wide at base, very narrow in apical two thirds of phallotheca. Phallotheca with wide unsclerotised sections in apical two thirds of phallotheca.

Diagnosis. This species can be easily distinguished from other species of Chidaea in having two very long spines that cross over ventrally.

Associated plant records:

Distribution: NSW, Qld.