Cyptophania Banks 1931

Cyptophania Banks (1931)

Pteroxaniella Karny (1932). Synonymy Roesler (1944)

? Ptenocorium Enderlein (1931). Synonymy Thornton et al. (1972) (See discussion)

Diagnosis. Adults markedly neotenic, exhibited in following characters: brachyptery with fore wings not or barely reaching tip of abdomen (Fig. 1); hind wings reduced to small button-like swellings (Fig. 3) or slender strips (Fig. 4); ocelli absent; mesocoxal interlocking mechanism absent (see Menon 1938); rasp of hind coxal organ reduced (Figs 10, 18, 29, 39–41); trichobothrium-like setae of hind tibia sometimes present (Fig. 30; these are strictly nymphal structures in some macropterous Lepidopsocidae, see Discussion); paraproctal sensorium reduced to two trichobothria on basal florets (Fig. 7).

Note. Some of the neotenic characters listed above are shared by other taxa of Lepidopsocidae showing brachyptery. Thus, they are not diagnostic in the sense of being discriminatory, but they do apply to all adults of Cyptophania and are important for recognition of members of the genus.

Non-neotenic characters. Antennae longer than body, with 39–47 flagellomeres; maxillary P4 broad, hatchetshaped at tip (Fig. 5); fore wings rounded or obtusely pointed distally; fore wings bearing slender, upright scales at least in basal region, and shorter, slender seta-like scales over most of the outer surface; tibial color banding absent; preapical denticle of pretarsal claws reduced nearly to absence; pulvillus wide, blade-like (Figs 6, 42); collar of spermathecal duct with a non-terminal entry orifice, a short to medium length cap, and a distal appendage (Figs 13, 23, 24, 33, 44–46); spermathecal sac with a sword- or scythe-shaped sclerite, here called the spermathecal cutter (Figs 14, 25, 34, 47, 48); spermathecal gland stalked, either reticulate (Figs 14, 47, 48) or spongiform (Figs 25, 34); ovipositor valvulae with v1 relatively well-sclerotized (Figs 12, 26, 32, 43), but embedded among sclerotic strands in a membrane; telson lobes: epiproct semicircular with scattered setae; paraproct (Fig. 7) about 3X as long dorso-ventrally as its greatest width, slightly bowed inward on median surface, two trichobothria of sensorium near upper surface, scattered setae in middle, and large, acuminate spine on median surface.

Characters for species discrimination. In the present study, we find the characters discussed below as important for separation of species.

Presence or absence, and relative distinctness of whorls of microtriches on antennal flagellomeres beyond f1. Of the species studied, all showed at least a few microtriches, probably forming whorls on some median flagellomeres, but one species, C. pakaratii n.sp., shows very distinct whorls on all flagellomeres beyond f1 (Fig. 15).

Details of the lacinial tip (Figs 8, 17, 28, 36–38). This character is of very limited value, as its variation within species is not understood, and its orientation in slide preparations is variable. Further observations on it will be necessary.

Fore wing showing venation or not. In some species, venation is obvious in a slide preparation of the fore wing (see Banks, 1931, Pl. vii, Fig. 1), whereas in others, none can be seen. This may be an aspect of variation in neotenic development (see Discussion).

Fore wing with a mottled color pattern (Figs 9, 16, 35) or not (Fig. 27), and nature of the pattern when present.

Nature of the hind wing: either a button-like swelling (Fig. 3), a minute flap of cuticle (not figured), or a short strip (Fig. 4). This may be another aspect of variation in neotenic development (see Discussion).

Extent of development of the hind coxal rasp (Figs 10, 18, 29, 39–41). This may be yet another aspect of variation in neotenic development (see Discussion).

Presence or absence of two trichobothrium-like setae on the hind tibia (Fig. 30). These structures can become dislodged, but their button-like basal tubercles are readily identified, being very different from the basal structures of other setae and scales in their region.

Hind tibial spurs striated (Fig. 22) or not (Fig. 31). In all but one of the species examined, the two large hind tibial spurs, as well as the smaller ones, showed distinct longitudinal striations. One species, C. australica n.sp., showed smooth spurs.

Presence or absence of ctenidia on the hind t1. In C. hirsuta a longitudinal row of ctenidia is present on the hind t1, each ctenidium associated with a particular seta (Fig. 11). These structures are not seen in any of the other species studied. This is another aspect of variation in the extent of neotenic development.

Presence or absence of a row of pigment spots associated with the spiracles on the preclunial abdominal segments. These spots are present in one and absent in the others of the species studied.

Sclerotization and pigmentation of one or two abdominal tergites before the clunium. Differences are noted in the descriptions for the species studied.

Ovipositor valvulae. The major valvula seems to show no useful characters. The smaller, inner valvula, here designated v1, shows some variation in its extent of sclerotization.

Details of the spermathecal cutter (Figs 14, 25, 34, 47, 48). The knife-like blade in the spermathecal sac, here called the spermathecal cutter, shows variation in relative length, thickness, and curvature among species. Some variation probably involves differences in orientation in the slide preparation.

Nature of the spermathecal gland. The spermathecal gland in Cyptophania is always stalked. Branches from the stalk may serve to anchor a reticulate pattern (Figs 14, 47, 48) or produce a sponge-like mass (Figs 25, 34).

Nature of the collar of the spermathecal duct. The collar is always longer than wide, with a non-terminal entrance orifice and a subapical appendage. The relative length to width, position of the orifice, and nature of the appendage differ among species. One species has a sclerotized ‘pen’ running much of the length of the collar before the orifice (Fig. 33).

In addition to the above characters, the number of flagellomeres may be important, but the flagellum is delicate, often incomplete, and so, this character is frequently not observable. There may also be useful male characters, but since males are known for only one species, they cannot be evaluated here.