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María Cristina sand fly (Trichophoromyia macrisae) from Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru, based on male specimens

Dlium María Cristina sand fly (Trichophoromyia macrisae) from Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru, based on male specimens

NEWS - María Cristina sand fly (Trichophoromyia macrisae sp. nov.) collected using light traps in the forest area of the Manu Biological Station within the Manu Biosphere Reserve, southern Peru based on the morphology of 10 male specimens, increasing the number of species in the Americas to 47 and in Peru to 15.

Phlebotominae include more than 1,060 species worldwide and in Peru at least 150 species have been reported. This sand fly is a vector of the Leishmania parasite, the causative agent of leishmaniasis. Among the Neotropical sand flies, Trichophoromyia is predominantly found in the Amazon basin and most taxonomic identifications are possible only based on male characters.

Trichophoromyia macrisae is a predominantly brown insect with the pleura pale. Head length 333.33 (328.98 ± 9.94; n=9), width 323.53 (319.85 ± 8.98; n=8). Clypeus length 97.5 (87.78 ± 6.67; n=9), width 67.5 (70.28 ± 3.63; n=9). Eye length 202.5 (196.95 ± 8.64; n=9), width 115 (95.28 ± 6.9; n=9).

Interocular distance 112.5 (126.94 ± 4.29; n=9). Interocular and interantennal sutures unconnected. Flagellomere lengths: FI 222.5 (213.61 ± 11.46; n=9), FII 122.5 (108.75 ± 7.4; n=9), FIII 117.5 (106.94 ± 5.42; n=9), FIV 115 (105.56 ± 6.59; n=9), FV 110 (106.39 ± 5.88; n=9), FVI 105 (101.11 ± 4.17; n=9), FVII 102.5 (98.61 ± 4.86; n=9), FVIII 102.5 (96.11 ± 4.35; n=9), FIX 102.5 (94.17 ± 3.54; n=9), FX 90 (88.89 ± 4.70; n=9), FXI 87.5 (84.58 ± 7.13; n=9), FXII 67.5 (71.39 ± 5.46; n=9), FXIII 65 (60.28 ± 4.91; n=9), FXIV 62.5 (62.22 ± 2.64; ). Preapical papilla present on FI and FII but absent on FIII. Presence of basal, median and apical papillae on FXII-FIV.

Ascoids long with a rudimentary proximal spur and with the distal projection reaching or extending slightly beyond the base of the subsequent flagellomere. Ascoidal formula FI-FXI 2, FXII-FXIV 0; internal and external ascoids arise before the middle of the segment, except for FI.

Ascoids implanted at or almost at the same level; for FI the external ascoid is implanted slightly more proximal than the internal. Palpal formula: 1.4.2.3.5. Length of the palpal segments: PI 30 (29.72 ± 3.41; n=9), PII 85 (81.39 ± 6.97; n=9), PIII 125 (121.67 ± 7.4; n=9), PIV 60 (56.11 ± 3.97; n=9), PV 142.5 (136.11 ± 6.26; n=9).

Newstead ́s sensilla present in the inner margin of the second palpal segment, and scattered on the inner margin of the third palpal segment. Simple setae present on PIII: 1 (1; n=9), and PIV: 4 (4; n=9). Labial suture united in furca. Pharynx unarmed, widest part of pharynx with some grooves.

Cervix: Cervical sclerite with two sensilla. Ventro-cervical sensilla absent. Thorax: length 549.02 (534.86 ± 17.75; n=9). Pleura with three proepimeral setae (3–5; n=9) and 15 (12–17; n=9) upper anapisternal setae.

Post alar, paratergital, lower anepisternal, anepimeral, metaepisternal, metaepimeral setae absent. Setae absent from the anterior catepisternum margin. Suture between meepimerum and metaepisternum absent. Metafurca with united vertical arms and long horizontal arms.

Wing length 1825 (1858.33 ± 61.24; n=9), width 558.82 (532.68 ± 33.96; n=9). Length of vein sections: R5 1175 (1163.89 ± 56.06; n=9), alpha 519.61 (523.97 ± 41.91; n=9), beta 245.1 (266.88 ± 16.64; n=9), gamma 215.69 (214.6 ± 15.84; n=9), delta 352.94 (3 31.15 ± 39.45; n=9), pi 117.65 (120.92 ± 16.26; n=9).

Coxa 303.92 (288.67 ± 28.21; n=9), 313.73 (294.12 ± 16.26; n=9), 303.92 (294.12 ± 21.92; n=9); femur 794.12 (734.2 ± 40.85; n=9), 745.10 (703.7 ± 37.58; n=9), 803.92 (789.76 ± 29.05; n=9); tibia 1025 (941.67 ± 45.07; n=9), 1250 (1152.78 ± 55.12; n=9), 1375 (1341.67 ± 70.71; n=9); tarsomere I 637.25 (592.59 ± 29.05; n=9), 745.1 (687.36 ± 27.49; n=9), 803.92 (761.44 ± 44.66; n=9); tarsomeres II+III+IV+V 666.67 (647.06 ± 34.66; n=9), 696.08 (679.74 ± 36.68; n=9), 774.51 (727.67 ± 35.95; n=9). Metafemur without spines. Metatarsomere III with two verticils with spines, one median and one apical.

Abdomen: length 1625 (1508.33 ± 58.63; n=9). Setae on tergites not forming two bands. Tergal papillae absent from the second to seventh tergite.

Terminalia: gonocoxite length 362.75 (367.1 ± 17.06; n=9), width 127.45 (133.99 ± 12.01; n=9), ornamented with a median cluster of long and thick setae, with 24 setae (24–28; n=9) inserted in dorsal position and 9 setae (8–11; n=9) inserted in ventral position. Shorter sets extend towards the base without a clear transition.

Dispersed thinner long setae are observed in the median-apical region. Gonostyle length 205.88 (203.16 ± 6.54; n=9) with four spines: terminal spine 125 (127.22 ± 4.75; n=9), external superior spine 97.5 (96.94 ± 5.7; n=9), external inferior spine 87.5 (84.86 ± 4.26; n=9), internal spine 105 (108.89 ± 5.61; n=9). Subterminal setae absent.

Paramere with an apical-dorsal lobe, arranged just posterior to its middle, which is endowed with a concavity between its base and the apical third. Its base is slightly wider than the concave area and has elongated setae, with tips curved towards the apex of the parameter. The area of the apical third is clearly wider than the concave area and densely covered with shorter setae.

Dorsal margin length 150 (145 ± 5.86; n=9); ventral margin length 232.5 (234.44 ± 7.48; n=9). Parameral sheath subtriangular with rounded apex, dorsal margin length 67.5 (60.28 ± 6.05; n=9), ventral margin length 80 (71.11 ± 9.77; n=9). Epandrial lobe length 401.96 (418.3 ± 15.5; n=9), width 29.41 (35.95 ± 4.9; n=9).

Cercus length 212.5 (211.11 ± 11.33; n=9). Sperm pump length 167.5 (159.17 ± 7.18; n=9); ejaculatory apodeme length 135 (126.67 ± 7.4; n=9); aedeagal ducts length 774.51 (831.88 ± 71.90; n=9); ratio of aedeagal duct/sperm pump 4.62 (5.23 ± 0.4; n = 9); apex of aedeagal ducts slightly expanded.

The name Th. macrisae is given in honor of María Cristina Carrasquilla Ferro for her contributions to the field of medical entomology in Colombia and her role as a mentor in the professional development of the first author.

Th. macrisae and Th. auraensis have setae inserted in ventral and dorsal positions of the median cluster having the same width and length and extending towards the base. While Th. rufreitasi Oliveira, Teles, Medeiros , Camargo & Pessoa and Th. Velezbernali Posada-López, Galvis-Ovallos & Galati have ventral setae that are shorter and narrower than dorsal setae. Th. macrisae has long setae that are restricted to basal extensions, whereas Th. auraensis has long setae along the dorsal lobe of the paramer

Th. macrisae has a narrower apical extension than the basal extension. In contrast, Th. velascoi has a wider basal portion of the dorsal lobe than the apical portion. In Th. sinuosa, the dorsal lobe extends towards the middle of the paramere with a concave shape between symmetrical extensions that give the apex of the dorsal lobe a digitiform aspect.

In relation to the gonococcyx, Th. macrisae has a median cluster with dorsal and ventral setae extending towards the base, while Th. velascoi which has a clear inner and outer setae confined to the median area.

This study captured a large number of Trichophoromyia males together with females near guava (Psidium guajaba), cassava (Manihot esculenta), papaya (Carica papaya), corn (Zea corn) and banana (Musa paradisiaca).

Original research

Sergio Méndez-Cardona & Olga L. Cabrera-Quintero (2024). Description of Trichophoromyia macrisae, a new phlebotomine sand fly species (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru. Zootaxa 5537 (3): 431–438, DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5537.3.9

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