Trichoscelia iridella

Trichoscelia iridella (Westwood, 1867)

Fig. 3b

Mantispa (Trichoscelia) iridella Westwood, 1867: 503. Lectotype, male, “Amazonia”, no specific locality (BMNH). Mantispa (Trichoscelia) basella Westwood, 1867: 504. Holotype, male, “Amazonia”, no specific locality (OUM). Images studied.

Specimen examined. New record. Panama: Canal Zone: Albrook Forest Site, 30.4 m, black light trap, 28‒29.XI.1968, Hutton (1 ♂ — UAAM).

Diagnosis. Antenna piceous, wings completely hyaline, without marks; male genitalia with ectoproct ovoid in lateral view; sternite 9 spoon-shaped in lateral view, posterior margin produced into a short lobe, narrow and rounded in ventral view; gonocoxites 9 short, dorsally curved in lateral view, sinuous in ventral view, apically bifid; pseudopenis coiled, forming a single loop; gonarcus U-shaped.

Distribution. Brazil, Ecuador, Panama (Canal Zone), Trinidad (Penny 1982).

Comments. This species had been reported for Brazil, Ecuador and Trinidad (Penny 1982), here we register its presence in Panama. This small species of Trichoscelia is the most common one in the central Amazon region (Penny 1982). Adults are present all year round, but in highest numbers in May. Individuals have generally been collected in or near primary forest, using light traps (Penny 1982). Immature stages and other aspects of their biology remain unknown.