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Five new species of the genus Sphaeromias Curtis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from India
Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 12 (2009) 285–292
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Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s e v i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / j a p e
Five new species of the genus Sphaeromias Curtis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from India Narayan Chandra Saha Abhijit Mazumdar ⁎, Prasanta Kumar Chaudhuri ⁎ Department of Zoology, University of Burdwan, Burdwan 713 104, India
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Article history: Received 16 April 2009 Revised 9 June 2009 Accepted 16 July 2009 Keywords: Diptera Ceratopogonidae Sphaeromias New species India
a b s t r a c t Five new Indian species, Sphaeromias lineus, S.ornatipes, S.prominens, S. similineus and S.verbosus are described. There are 7 recorded in India before this investigation. With these, the number of world species of the genus is raised from 27 to 32 including 12 from India. © Korean Society of Applied Entomology, Taiwan Entomological Society and Malaysian Plant Protection Society, 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Introduction Sphaeromias is a small genus of the tribe Sphaeromiini (subfamily Ceratopogoninae) comprising stout and large biting midges. The members of the genus have been reported mostly from Asia and African countries with a small number from Europe, Russia and United states. Females are known as predators on other small insects, mostly chironomid midges and the males do not take protein meal. They are prevalent near the swampy situations of stagnant water where sphagnum, skunk cabbage and fern are plentiful. They also occur in open bodies of water such as ponds, lakes and streams often with large quantities of algae and other aquatic vegetation. The eggs are said to lay in groups on the leaves of aquatic plants and remain covered with a gelatinous substance. The larvae are predatory, good swimmers and are common inhabitants of lakes and ponds and the pupa are with elongate respiratory horn, prominent sharp and conical abdominal tubercle and abdomen without ventral glandular discs (Wirth and Grogan, 1979; Szadziewski et al., 2007). The genus was established by Curtis (1829) after the type species, Sphaeromias albomarginatus Curtis. Later, Wirth et al. (1974) put Xyloceypta Kieffer in synonymy with the present genus (Wirth et al., 1974). The genus recognized by the large, grayish pollinose species, bare narrow to broad contiguous eyes, long slender antennal plume totally reduced, distal flagellomeres 2–3 times as long as the ultimate one, maxillary palpus with preapical sensillae, mandible with 6–7 large and several
⁎ Corresponding authors. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (N.C.S.A. Mazumdar), [email protected] (P.K. Chaudhuri).
small teeth. Scutum with a small setose anterior tubercle, scutellum with rows of bristles. Femora with numerous small, sharp ventral spines, tarsomere IV simple, V with numerous ventral batonnets, claws large bearing sharp inner basal teeth. Wing with fine or indistinct microtrichia, macrotrichia absent, anal lobe right angled or obtuse, first radial cell narrow and rectangular, costa extending nearly to the tip. Abdomen petiolate, segment VIII with tuft of hairs, spermathecae large, oval and unequal. The present paper describes five new Indian species in adults addition to 7 previous ones, brevispinus (Kieffer), cinereus (Kieffer), distinctus (Kieffer), photophilus (Kieffer), pictipes (Kieffer), stictonotus (Kieffer) and tetrastictus (Kieffer) raising total number of world species to 27 to 33 (Borkent, 2007) following recent consideration of Spaheromias sparaus Borkent (1997) as junior synonym of S. pictus (Meigen) (Szadziewski et al., 2007). Materials and methods The midges were light-trapped (New Jersey and Open tray types) from the several areas of the states of West Bengal and Jharkhand and mounted on micro slides following Bose et al. (2003). Descriptions of the species are made after the terminology and usages of Wirth and Grogan (1988) and Bose et al. (2003). Measurements of body parts are in millimeter (mm) with the mean value before the parentheses and the ranges suffixed by “n” within parentheses denoting the number specimens considered. Types presently retained in the Entomological collections of the Department of Zoology, University of Burdwan (lead institute of Indian Dipterans) will be deposited to the National Zoological Collections (NZC) at the Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta in due time.
1226-8615/$ – see front matter © Korean Society of Applied Entomology, Taiwan Entomological Society and Malaysian Plant Protection Society, 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.aspen.2009.07.002
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Descriptions Sphaeromias lineus sp.nov. (Figs. 1a–j) Diagnosis Female. Large species with brown thorax, legs and yellow abdomen. Head. Dark brown. Eyes broadly contiguous. Antenna (Fig. 1a) indistinctly annulated, basal flagelloemeres pale yellow, vase like, 2–2.5 times as long as broad with faint brown apices, distal flagelloemeres yellow; length ratio of flagelloemeres I–XIII 20:11:11:11:11:11:14:24:
26:24:26:35, AR (Antennal ratio) 1.35 (1.35–1.36, n = 3). Maxillary palpus (Fig. 1b) light brown, short, palpomere III somewhat swollen at the middle, palpomere V bearing 4 spines; length ratio of palpomeres I–V 6:9:11:8:11, PR (Palpal ratio) 1.83(1.82–1.83, n = 3). Mandible (Fig. 1c) with 7 large and 2–3 smaller teeth. Thorax. Brown with dense short pubescence and a large seta arising from the microtubercle. Legs (Figs. 1d–f). Coxa brown, trochantere pale, fore and mid femora with apical dark brown bands, base of mid femora dark, hind femora with a mid sub basal and an apical dark brown bands, fore tibia with basal middle and apical dark brown bands, mid and hind tibiae with long middle and small apical dark
Fig. 1. a–j. Sphaeromias linaeus sp.nov.: adult female: a. antenna; b. maxillary palpus; c. mandible; d. wing; e. hind tibial comb; f–h. fore, mid and hind legs; i. claw; j. spermathecae.
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brown bands, fore femora with a row of 18 short, mid, 7–8 and hind femora 6–7 ventral spines, tarsomeres creamy white with 8–11, mid, 10 and hind with 9 batonnets, claws (Fig. 1g) elongated, equal bearing inner basal teeth; length ratio of legs 22:19:7:4:5:3:2:4 in fore, 27:20:10:4:2:1:4 in mid and 28:22:12:5:6:2:1:4 in hind legs; TR (Tarsal ratio) of hind leg 2.08. Hind tibial comb (Fig. 1h) with 9 (N = 3) spines. Wing (Fig. 1i).Membrane white with brown anterior veins; r–m without any spot, An2 distally bifurcated, costal length 1.95, r1 over 0.43 length of r2(0:21), microtrichia fine and indistinct, a small dark streak at the end of C, anal lobe right angled; halter white with light yellow knob. Wing length 2.05 (2.05–2.06, n = 3), wing breadth 0.8 (0.6–0.08. n = 7); CR (Costal ratio) 0.94. Abdomen. Yellowish with dark brown lateral margin, pleural membrane brown, cerci light brown; spermathecae (Fig. 1j) unequal, well sclerotized 0.16 × 0.12 and 0.11 × 0.1(N = 3), third one not visible. Male. Unknown. Type. Holotype ♀, India: West Bengal: Pallaroad, (23.16 N, 87.4 E.), 15.x.1979 (Coll. S. Ghosh). Paratypes 2♀♀, data same as holotype. Etymology. The name, “lineus” derives from the linear streak of the wing. Remarks. The species bears affinities with S. distinctus (Kieffer, 1911) in body color and wing venation but the head, vase like basal flagellomeres, mandible with 7 large and small 2–3 small teeth, short pubescence of thorax, whitish wing with a small linear streak at the end of costa, color pattern of femora and tibiae, batonnets of tarsomere V, yellowish abdomen with dark lateral margin, structure of spermathecae and absence of third spermatheca favour its consideration as a new member of Sphaeromias from India. Sphaeromias ornatipes sp.nov. (Figs. 2a–j) Diagnosis Female. Brown to dark brown in color. Head. Brown in color. Antenna (Fig. 2a) light brown, basal flagellomeres yellow with brown apices, distal ones elongated; length ratio of flagellomeres I–XIII 20:11:11:11:12:12:13.5 :1 5:26:28:28: 27.5:33, AR 1.35 (1.31–1.40, n = 5). Maxillary palpus (Fig. 2b) dark brown, short palpomere III swollen at the middle, palpomere V bearing 4 spines; length ratio of palpomeres I–V 5:11:12.5:8:9.5, PR 2.23. Mandible (Fig. 2c) with 7 strong and 4–5 smaller teeth. Thorax. Intense dark, dorsum with dense, short pubescences bearing 2 long setae from microtubercle. Legs (Figs. 2d–f).Coxa dark, trochanter pale, fore and mid femora brown with broad dark brown, apical band, hind femora brown with broad middle and apical dark brown band, tibiae brown with basal, middle and apical dark brown bands, the middle band of hind tibia connected to the basal one with a streak, tarsomere V brown, fore with 11,mid,10 and hind with 9 batonnets, claws (Fig. 2g) elongate, equal with inner basal teeth; length ratio of legs 24:21:7.5:5:3:2:5 in fore, 28.5:22:11:5:3:2:5 in mid and 30.5:25:14:6:3:2:5 in hind leg; TR of hind leg 2.33. Hind tibial comb (Fig. 2h) with 11 spines. Wing (Fig. 2i). Membrane whitish with dark brown anterior veins, r–m moderately infuscated, r2 0.48 × length of r1 (10:21), microtrichia not so distinct, anal lobe more or less right angled; halter white with yellow knob. Wing length 2.31 (2.38–2.43, n = 10), wing breadth 0.84 (0.81–0.86. n = 10), CR 0.94. Abdomen. Dark brown with darker lateral margin, pleural membrane brown, cerci yellow; spermathecae (Fig. 2j) large, sub equal balloon-like and highly sclerotized 0.15 (0.13–0.16, n = 8)× 0.12 (0.10– 0.12, n = 8) and 0.11 (0.10–0.12, n = 8) × 0.1 (0.09–0.1, n = 8), third one very small and indistinct. Male. Unknown. Type. Holotype♀, India: Jharkhand: Dehri-on-sone (83°36′47″ E,24° 49′51″N) 8..x.1967 (Coll..P.K.Chaudhuri). Paratypes 12♀♀, data same as holotype; 3♀♀, India:West Bengal: Chinsura (88°24′9E, 22° 53′44 N), 18.ix.2003 (Coll. U.Majumdar). Etymology. The name, “ornatipes” derives from the very bright color pattern of legs.
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Remarks. The species comes closer to S. discolor (De Meijere, 1907) in color pattern of legs and tibiae in particular, radial cells of wing and spermathecae. It also shows little affinities with S.bifidus Wirth and Grogan (1979) in division of second anal vein, color of halter and darker lateral margin of abdominal segments but indistinct annulation of flagellomeres, maxillary palpus, thoracic chaetotaxy and color pattern of mid tibiae, number of batonnets, spines of hind tibial comb and absence of third spermatheca justify its proposal for a new species of the genus. Sphaeromias prominens sp.nov. (Figs. 3a–j) Diagnosis Female. Head. Brown in color. Eyes bare and broadly contiguous. Antenna (Fig. 3a) with golden colored scape and pedicel, flagellomeres I–VIII brown and pale at the base, distal five slender, vase or sub cylindrical, last one narrowed down to rounded tip; length ratio of flagellomeres I–XIII 30:15:15:16:16:17:17:21:35:41:42:41:47, AR 1.39 (1.38–1.39, n = 5). Maxillary palpus (Fig. 3b) light brown to brown, palpomere III swollen at the middle with a sensory pit, palpomere V bearing 3 spines; length ratio of palpomeres I–V 5:10:17:11:13, PR 1.89. Mandible (Fig. 3c) with 6 teeth and a minute basal projection. Thorax. Dark brown; scutum with irregular dark patches bearing setae and lateral spines, scutellum dark brown with 8 long bristles. Legs (Figs. 3d–f).Brown to dark brown, fore and mid femora with dark brown apical color band, fore femur little infuscated at the basal margin, hind femur with dark brown broad mid and apical color bands, fore and hind tibiae with dark brown basal and apical bands, mid tibia with narrow basal band, basal bands of hind tibia broader, fore femora armed with 13–17, mid, 7–9 and hind tibia with 6–7 ventral setae, tibia unarmed, tarsomeres yellowish brown, tarsomere V brown, mid tarsomere I with single row of palisade setae, hind tarsomere I with double rows of palisade setae, fore tarsomere V with 11, mid, 10 and hind with 11 batonnets, claws (Fig. 3g) elongate, equal bearing inner basal teeth. TR of hind leg 2.18. Hind tibial comb with 9 spines. Wing (Fig. 3i). Whitish in color with dark brown anterior veins and r–m, base of r1 and M brown, r1 about 0.45 length of r2, An2 feebly bifurcated, microtrichia indistinct. Wing length 2.41 (2.39–2.41, n = 6), wing breadth 0.84 (0.83–0.85. n = 6), CR 0.92. Abdomen. Brown with darker margin.; spermathecae (Fig. 3j), well sclerotized, unequal, oval 0.17 × 0.11 and 0.12 × 0.11(n = 5)and the third one small but prominent 0.55 × 0.52 with distinct duct. Male. Unknown. Type. Holotype ♀, India:West Bengal:Asansol (86°40′60′E,59E, 23°40′59N) 2.v.1980 (Coll..P.K.Chaudhuri). Paratypes 4♀♀, India; West Bengal: Neamatpur (86°40′62E, 50′N, 23°40′42N) 2. vi. 2003 (Coll. S. Nandi); 1♀, India:West Bengal: Chittaranjan (57°00′E, 23°60′N), 16.iv.2004 (Coll. S.Nandi). Etymology. The name, “prominens” is given to the species for its prominent third spermatheca. Remarks. The new species shows resemblances with S. cinereus (Kieffer, 1910) in flagellomeres, anal veins and color pattern of legs. The species, S.brevispinus (Kieffer, 1911) also approximates to the present species in flagellomeres scutal strpes, anterior wing veins, color pattern of legs and batonnets. But its size, mandibular teeth, scutal patches, color bands of femora and tibiae, broader dark brown hind femoral band in particular, spines of hind tibial comb and the prominent third spermatheca do favour to consider the species as new member of the genus from India. Sphaeromias simililineus sp.nov. (Figs. 4a–j) Diagnosis Female. Head. Brown in color. Eyes bare and broadly contiguous. Antenna (Fig. 4a) with brown scape and dark pedicel, basal flagellomeres vase like, distal ones brown, cylindrical with pale base; length ratio of flagellomeres I–XIII 6:4:3:3:4:5:8:9:9:9:9:10:13,
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Fig. 2. a–j. Sphaeromias ornatipes sp.nov.: adult female: a. antenna; b. maxillary palpus; c. mandible; d–f. fore, mid and hind legs; g. claw; h. hind tibial comb; i. wing; j. spermathecae.
AR 1.19. Maxillary palpus (Fig. 4b) brown, palpomere III stout and longer, little swollen near the apex, palpomere V with 5 apical spines; length ratio of palpomeres I–V 5:13:18:13:12, PR 2.57. Mandible (Fig. 4c) with 6 teeth with middle two large and stronger. Thorax. Very dark brown. Scutum densely pubescent with fine lateral setae, scutellum dark with a few bristles. Legs (Figs. 4d–f). Brown to dark brown fore and mid femora with dark brown apical bands, mid femur with a narrow sub basal lateral infuscation, hind femur with dark brown broad middle and apical bands, fore tibia with dark brown basal middle and apical bands, mid and hind tibiae with basal and apical bands, basal bands extending to the middle, fore femora with 7, mid, 6 and hind with 6 pairs of ventral setae, femora and tibiae with numerous long sharp spines, tarsomeres
yellow, mid tarsomere I with a single row and hind tarsomere I with double rows of palisade setae, tarsomeres II with a sparse row of setae, tarsomeres V brown, fore tarsomere V with 10–12, mid and hind with 11 batonnets, claws (Fig. 4g) elongate, equal with inner basal teeth. TR of hind leg 2.0.Hind tibial comb (Fig. 4h) with 9 sub equal spines. Wing (Fig. 4i). Hyaline with dark brown anterior veins, Sc lightly infuscated, r2 3 × length of r1, An2 faintly bifurcated, end of C with R4+5; rounded bearing a faint streak, halter white with pale knob. Wing length 2.28 (2.27–2.30, n = 4), wing breadth 0.83 (0.82– 0.83. n = 4); CR 0.95. Abdomen. Dark brown, pleural membrane brown, cerci brown; spermathecae (Fig. 4j) moderately sclerotized, unequal and oval 0.17 × 0.11 and 0.12 × 0.09 with short neck, third one very small and indistinct.
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Fig. 3. a–j. Sphaeromias prominens sp.nov.: adult female: a. antenna; b. maxillary palpus; c. mandible; d–f. fore, mid and hind legs; g. claw; h. hind tibial comb; i. wing; j. spermathecae.
Male. Unknown. Type. Holotype♀, India:Jharkhand: Maithon Guest House (86°45″ E, 23°49′N),12.vii.2003(Coll. U.Majumdar). Paratypes 3♀♀, India; Jharkhand; Kumardubi (77°12′E, 28°35′N), 12.vii.2003 (Coll..U. Majumdar); 1♀,India:West Bengal: Bankura (87°04 E, 23°15N), 31. viii.2004 (Coll..N. Das). Etymology. The name “simililineus” originates from the faint streak at the end of costa. Remarks. The smaller species approximates to S. lineus sp.nov.in the presence of streak in r5, color pattern of femora and tibia and indistinct third or rudimentary spermatheca. But indistinct annulations of the flagellomeres, teeth of mandible, thoracic chaetotaxy, dark post scutellum, infuscation of Sc, small streak of wing, white knob of halter and sclerotization of spermatheca differ from other species favouring its establishment as a new Indian member of Sphaeromias.
Sphaeromias verbosus sp.nov. (Figs. 5a–j) Diagnosis Female. Head. Dark brown in color. Eyes broadly contiguous. Antenna (Fig. 5a) with dark brown scape and pedicel, basal flagellomeres subcylindrical, shining yellow base and brown apices, distal flagellomeres cylindrical, brown with yellow bases; length ratio of flagellomeres I–XIII 5:4:5 :5:5:5:5:5.5:13 .5:12:13:12:17, AR 1.70. Maxillary palpus (Fig. 5b) brown with unform spines, palpomere III long, palpomere V short bearing 4 apical spines; length ratio of palpomeres I–V 14:10:20:11:12, PR 2.22. Mandible (Fig. 4c) with 5 strong teeth.Thorax. Dark brown, dorsum with short pubescens on the middle and moderate to long lateral setae, scutellum dark with 18 long hyaline bristles. Legs (Figs. 5d–f).
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Fig. 4. a–j. Sphaeromias simililineus sp.nov.: adult female: a. antenna; b. maxillary palpus; c. mandible; d–f. fore, mid and hind legs; g. claw; h. hind tibial comb; i. wing; j. spermathecae.
Brown to dark brown, fore and mid femora with middle and small dark brown bands, middle band of fore femur broader, hind femur with broad apical band, fore and mid tibiae with small dark brown basal bands, hind tibia with a small basal and broad middle band, fore femora with 15–16, mid, 12 and hind with 14–15 ventral setae, tibiae unarmed, tarsomeres brown at the bases and yellow at the apices, tarsomere V brown, fore tarsomere V with 11, mid, 11 and hind with 8–9 batonnets, claws (Fig. 5g) elongated, equal bearing inner basal teeth. TR of hind leg 2.41. Hind tibial comb (Fig. 5h) with 8 spines. Wing (Fig. 5i). Pale with dark brown anterior veins and pale posterior veins, r–m without infuscation, microtrichia fine, r2 long 2 × length of r1, anal veins divided near and away from the base; halter light yellow. Wing length 3.33 (3.32–3.34, n = 5), wing breadth 0.94 (0.93–0.94, n = 5), CR 0.95 CR 0.95. Abdomen. Brown with little darker margin; spermathecae (Fig. 5j) well sclerotized, unequal and oval 0.19 × 0.12 and 0.14 × 0.10 with short neck and third spermatheca small and digit like. Male. Unknown. Type. Holotype ♀, India:West Bengal: Raniganj (87°52′E, 25°52′N), 10.ix.2004 (Coll..D.C.Sinharay). Paratypes 5♀♀, data same as holo-
type; 1♀, India:West Bengal: Durgapur (87°10′55′ E, 23°32′23″N), 2. x.2005(Coll.S.Nandi); 1♀, India:West Bengal: Galsi (77°12′E, 28°35′ N),5.x.2003 (Coll..B.Khan). Etymology. The name, “verbosus“ of species comes from the elongated claws. Remarks. The species comes nearer to S. distinctus and S. tetrastictus Kieffer (1911). In flagellomeres, dark and pubescent scutum. color of tarsomeres but annulations and yellow bases of flagellomeres, teeth of the mandible, dark thorax and its chaetotaxy, scutellar bristles, bifurcation of second anal vein, color pattern of femora and tibiae, number of batonnets and the digit like third spermatheca do suffice to consider it as a new species of Sphaeromias from India. Key to the new Indian species of Sphaeromias Curtis 1. Wing length more than 3 mm; mandible with 8 teeth; claws elongated; third spermatheca digitiform……………………………… verbosus sp.nov. Wing length less than 3 mm.; mandible with more than 5 teeth; claws normal; third spermatheca small or indistinct or both…………………..…2
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Fig. 5. a–j. Sphaeromias verbosus sp.nov.: adult female: a. antenna; b. maxillary palpus; c. mandible; d–f. fore, mid and hind legs; g. claw; h. hind tibial comb; i. wing; j. spermathecae.
2. Faint linear streak at the end of costa; spermatheca moderately sclerotized…………………………………………………simililineus sp.nov. No such streak at the end of costa; spermathecae well sclerotized…3 3. A small dark infuscation at the end of costa; third spermatheca not visible………………………………………………………………lineus sp.nov. Infuscation absent at the end of costa; third spermatheca small…….…4 4. Color bands of femora and tibiae very bright, hind tibial comb of 11 spines………………………………………………………… ornatipes sp.nov. Color bands dark, hind tibial comb of 9 spines………. prominens sp.nov. Acknowledgments We are thankful to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India for financial assistance to undertake this investigation and Head of the department of Zoology, University of Burdwan for laboratory facilities. Sincere indebtedness is owed to Professor S.K.
Das Gupta of Presidency College, Calcutta for kindly going through the manuscript and making useful suggestions. References Borkent, A., 1997. In: Borkent, A., Wirth, W.W. (Eds.), World species of biting midges (Diptera:Ceratopogonidae), 233. 1997 Bull. Amer. Nat. Hist. Mus. 257 pp. Borkent, A., 2007. Updated world species of biting midges (Diptera:Ceratopogonidae). http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/research/FLYTREE/Borkent.html (2007) Bose, M., Das Gupta, S.K., Mazumdar, A., Chaudhuri, P.K., 2003. Biting midges of the genus Atrichopogon Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from India. Tijdschr. Entomol. 146, 259–296. Curtis, J. 1829. British Entomology — illustrations and descriptions of the genera of insects found in Great Britain and Ireland containing color figures from the nature of the most rare and beautiful species and in many instances of the plants upon which they are found 6:242–289. London: Privately published. De Meijere, J.C.H., 1907. Studien über Südostasiatische Dipteren.I. Tijdschr. Entomol. 50, 196–264. Kieffer, J.J., 1910. Etude sur les chironomides des Indes Orientales,avec description de quelques nouvelles especes d'Egypte. Mem. Indian Mus. 2, 181–242. Kieffer, J.J., 1911. Description de nouveas chironomides de I'Indian Museum de Calcutta. Rec. Indian Mus. 6, 113–177. Szadziewski, R., Gwozalsks-Kentzer, M., Sontag, E., 2007. Predatory biting midges of the
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genus Sphaeromias (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Europe Poskie Pismo. Entomologiczne 76, 293–302. Wirth, W.W., Grogan, W.L., 1979. Natural history of Plumers Island, Maryland XXIV. Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). 2. The species of the tribes Heteromyiini and Sphaeromiini. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 91 (4), 847–903.
Wirth, W.W., Grogan, W.L., 1988. The predaceous midges of the world (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae), tribe Ceratopogonini. Flora and Fauna Hand Book, 4. E.J. Berill. Publ., U.S.A, p. 160. Wirth, W.W., Ratanworabhan, N.C., Blanton, F.S., 1974. Synopsis of the genera of Ceratopogonidae (Diptera). Ann. Parasitol. 49, 595–613.
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Five new species of the genus Sphaeromias Curtis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from India Narayan Chandra Saha Abhijit Mazumdar ⁎, Prasanta Kumar Chaudhuri ⁎ Department of Zoology, University of Burdwan, Burdwan 713 104, India
a r t i c l e
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Article history: Received 16 April 2009 Revised 9 June 2009 Accepted 16 July 2009 Keywords: Diptera Ceratopogonidae Sphaeromias New species India
a b s t r a c t Five new Indian species, Sphaeromias lineus, S.ornatipes, S.prominens, S. similineus and S.verbosus are described. There are 7 recorded in India before this investigation. With these, the number of world species of the genus is raised from 27 to 32 including 12 from India. © Korean Society of Applied Entomology, Taiwan Entomological Society and Malaysian Plant Protection Society, 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Introduction Sphaeromias is a small genus of the tribe Sphaeromiini (subfamily Ceratopogoninae) comprising stout and large biting midges. The members of the genus have been reported mostly from Asia and African countries with a small number from Europe, Russia and United states. Females are known as predators on other small insects, mostly chironomid midges and the males do not take protein meal. They are prevalent near the swampy situations of stagnant water where sphagnum, skunk cabbage and fern are plentiful. They also occur in open bodies of water such as ponds, lakes and streams often with large quantities of algae and other aquatic vegetation. The eggs are said to lay in groups on the leaves of aquatic plants and remain covered with a gelatinous substance. The larvae are predatory, good swimmers and are common inhabitants of lakes and ponds and the pupa are with elongate respiratory horn, prominent sharp and conical abdominal tubercle and abdomen without ventral glandular discs (Wirth and Grogan, 1979; Szadziewski et al., 2007). The genus was established by Curtis (1829) after the type species, Sphaeromias albomarginatus Curtis. Later, Wirth et al. (1974) put Xyloceypta Kieffer in synonymy with the present genus (Wirth et al., 1974). The genus recognized by the large, grayish pollinose species, bare narrow to broad contiguous eyes, long slender antennal plume totally reduced, distal flagellomeres 2–3 times as long as the ultimate one, maxillary palpus with preapical sensillae, mandible with 6–7 large and several
⁎ Corresponding authors. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (N.C.S.A. Mazumdar), [email protected] (P.K. Chaudhuri).
small teeth. Scutum with a small setose anterior tubercle, scutellum with rows of bristles. Femora with numerous small, sharp ventral spines, tarsomere IV simple, V with numerous ventral batonnets, claws large bearing sharp inner basal teeth. Wing with fine or indistinct microtrichia, macrotrichia absent, anal lobe right angled or obtuse, first radial cell narrow and rectangular, costa extending nearly to the tip. Abdomen petiolate, segment VIII with tuft of hairs, spermathecae large, oval and unequal. The present paper describes five new Indian species in adults addition to 7 previous ones, brevispinus (Kieffer), cinereus (Kieffer), distinctus (Kieffer), photophilus (Kieffer), pictipes (Kieffer), stictonotus (Kieffer) and tetrastictus (Kieffer) raising total number of world species to 27 to 33 (Borkent, 2007) following recent consideration of Spaheromias sparaus Borkent (1997) as junior synonym of S. pictus (Meigen) (Szadziewski et al., 2007). Materials and methods The midges were light-trapped (New Jersey and Open tray types) from the several areas of the states of West Bengal and Jharkhand and mounted on micro slides following Bose et al. (2003). Descriptions of the species are made after the terminology and usages of Wirth and Grogan (1988) and Bose et al. (2003). Measurements of body parts are in millimeter (mm) with the mean value before the parentheses and the ranges suffixed by “n” within parentheses denoting the number specimens considered. Types presently retained in the Entomological collections of the Department of Zoology, University of Burdwan (lead institute of Indian Dipterans) will be deposited to the National Zoological Collections (NZC) at the Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta in due time.
1226-8615/$ – see front matter © Korean Society of Applied Entomology, Taiwan Entomological Society and Malaysian Plant Protection Society, 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.aspen.2009.07.002
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Descriptions Sphaeromias lineus sp.nov. (Figs. 1a–j) Diagnosis Female. Large species with brown thorax, legs and yellow abdomen. Head. Dark brown. Eyes broadly contiguous. Antenna (Fig. 1a) indistinctly annulated, basal flagelloemeres pale yellow, vase like, 2–2.5 times as long as broad with faint brown apices, distal flagelloemeres yellow; length ratio of flagelloemeres I–XIII 20:11:11:11:11:11:14:24:
26:24:26:35, AR (Antennal ratio) 1.35 (1.35–1.36, n = 3). Maxillary palpus (Fig. 1b) light brown, short, palpomere III somewhat swollen at the middle, palpomere V bearing 4 spines; length ratio of palpomeres I–V 6:9:11:8:11, PR (Palpal ratio) 1.83(1.82–1.83, n = 3). Mandible (Fig. 1c) with 7 large and 2–3 smaller teeth. Thorax. Brown with dense short pubescence and a large seta arising from the microtubercle. Legs (Figs. 1d–f). Coxa brown, trochantere pale, fore and mid femora with apical dark brown bands, base of mid femora dark, hind femora with a mid sub basal and an apical dark brown bands, fore tibia with basal middle and apical dark brown bands, mid and hind tibiae with long middle and small apical dark
Fig. 1. a–j. Sphaeromias linaeus sp.nov.: adult female: a. antenna; b. maxillary palpus; c. mandible; d. wing; e. hind tibial comb; f–h. fore, mid and hind legs; i. claw; j. spermathecae.
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brown bands, fore femora with a row of 18 short, mid, 7–8 and hind femora 6–7 ventral spines, tarsomeres creamy white with 8–11, mid, 10 and hind with 9 batonnets, claws (Fig. 1g) elongated, equal bearing inner basal teeth; length ratio of legs 22:19:7:4:5:3:2:4 in fore, 27:20:10:4:2:1:4 in mid and 28:22:12:5:6:2:1:4 in hind legs; TR (Tarsal ratio) of hind leg 2.08. Hind tibial comb (Fig. 1h) with 9 (N = 3) spines. Wing (Fig. 1i).Membrane white with brown anterior veins; r–m without any spot, An2 distally bifurcated, costal length 1.95, r1 over 0.43 length of r2(0:21), microtrichia fine and indistinct, a small dark streak at the end of C, anal lobe right angled; halter white with light yellow knob. Wing length 2.05 (2.05–2.06, n = 3), wing breadth 0.8 (0.6–0.08. n = 7); CR (Costal ratio) 0.94. Abdomen. Yellowish with dark brown lateral margin, pleural membrane brown, cerci light brown; spermathecae (Fig. 1j) unequal, well sclerotized 0.16 × 0.12 and 0.11 × 0.1(N = 3), third one not visible. Male. Unknown. Type. Holotype ♀, India: West Bengal: Pallaroad, (23.16 N, 87.4 E.), 15.x.1979 (Coll. S. Ghosh). Paratypes 2♀♀, data same as holotype. Etymology. The name, “lineus” derives from the linear streak of the wing. Remarks. The species bears affinities with S. distinctus (Kieffer, 1911) in body color and wing venation but the head, vase like basal flagellomeres, mandible with 7 large and small 2–3 small teeth, short pubescence of thorax, whitish wing with a small linear streak at the end of costa, color pattern of femora and tibiae, batonnets of tarsomere V, yellowish abdomen with dark lateral margin, structure of spermathecae and absence of third spermatheca favour its consideration as a new member of Sphaeromias from India. Sphaeromias ornatipes sp.nov. (Figs. 2a–j) Diagnosis Female. Brown to dark brown in color. Head. Brown in color. Antenna (Fig. 2a) light brown, basal flagellomeres yellow with brown apices, distal ones elongated; length ratio of flagellomeres I–XIII 20:11:11:11:12:12:13.5 :1 5:26:28:28: 27.5:33, AR 1.35 (1.31–1.40, n = 5). Maxillary palpus (Fig. 2b) dark brown, short palpomere III swollen at the middle, palpomere V bearing 4 spines; length ratio of palpomeres I–V 5:11:12.5:8:9.5, PR 2.23. Mandible (Fig. 2c) with 7 strong and 4–5 smaller teeth. Thorax. Intense dark, dorsum with dense, short pubescences bearing 2 long setae from microtubercle. Legs (Figs. 2d–f).Coxa dark, trochanter pale, fore and mid femora brown with broad dark brown, apical band, hind femora brown with broad middle and apical dark brown band, tibiae brown with basal, middle and apical dark brown bands, the middle band of hind tibia connected to the basal one with a streak, tarsomere V brown, fore with 11,mid,10 and hind with 9 batonnets, claws (Fig. 2g) elongate, equal with inner basal teeth; length ratio of legs 24:21:7.5:5:3:2:5 in fore, 28.5:22:11:5:3:2:5 in mid and 30.5:25:14:6:3:2:5 in hind leg; TR of hind leg 2.33. Hind tibial comb (Fig. 2h) with 11 spines. Wing (Fig. 2i). Membrane whitish with dark brown anterior veins, r–m moderately infuscated, r2 0.48 × length of r1 (10:21), microtrichia not so distinct, anal lobe more or less right angled; halter white with yellow knob. Wing length 2.31 (2.38–2.43, n = 10), wing breadth 0.84 (0.81–0.86. n = 10), CR 0.94. Abdomen. Dark brown with darker lateral margin, pleural membrane brown, cerci yellow; spermathecae (Fig. 2j) large, sub equal balloon-like and highly sclerotized 0.15 (0.13–0.16, n = 8)× 0.12 (0.10– 0.12, n = 8) and 0.11 (0.10–0.12, n = 8) × 0.1 (0.09–0.1, n = 8), third one very small and indistinct. Male. Unknown. Type. Holotype♀, India: Jharkhand: Dehri-on-sone (83°36′47″ E,24° 49′51″N) 8..x.1967 (Coll..P.K.Chaudhuri). Paratypes 12♀♀, data same as holotype; 3♀♀, India:West Bengal: Chinsura (88°24′9E, 22° 53′44 N), 18.ix.2003 (Coll. U.Majumdar). Etymology. The name, “ornatipes” derives from the very bright color pattern of legs.
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Remarks. The species comes closer to S. discolor (De Meijere, 1907) in color pattern of legs and tibiae in particular, radial cells of wing and spermathecae. It also shows little affinities with S.bifidus Wirth and Grogan (1979) in division of second anal vein, color of halter and darker lateral margin of abdominal segments but indistinct annulation of flagellomeres, maxillary palpus, thoracic chaetotaxy and color pattern of mid tibiae, number of batonnets, spines of hind tibial comb and absence of third spermatheca justify its proposal for a new species of the genus. Sphaeromias prominens sp.nov. (Figs. 3a–j) Diagnosis Female. Head. Brown in color. Eyes bare and broadly contiguous. Antenna (Fig. 3a) with golden colored scape and pedicel, flagellomeres I–VIII brown and pale at the base, distal five slender, vase or sub cylindrical, last one narrowed down to rounded tip; length ratio of flagellomeres I–XIII 30:15:15:16:16:17:17:21:35:41:42:41:47, AR 1.39 (1.38–1.39, n = 5). Maxillary palpus (Fig. 3b) light brown to brown, palpomere III swollen at the middle with a sensory pit, palpomere V bearing 3 spines; length ratio of palpomeres I–V 5:10:17:11:13, PR 1.89. Mandible (Fig. 3c) with 6 teeth and a minute basal projection. Thorax. Dark brown; scutum with irregular dark patches bearing setae and lateral spines, scutellum dark brown with 8 long bristles. Legs (Figs. 3d–f).Brown to dark brown, fore and mid femora with dark brown apical color band, fore femur little infuscated at the basal margin, hind femur with dark brown broad mid and apical color bands, fore and hind tibiae with dark brown basal and apical bands, mid tibia with narrow basal band, basal bands of hind tibia broader, fore femora armed with 13–17, mid, 7–9 and hind tibia with 6–7 ventral setae, tibia unarmed, tarsomeres yellowish brown, tarsomere V brown, mid tarsomere I with single row of palisade setae, hind tarsomere I with double rows of palisade setae, fore tarsomere V with 11, mid, 10 and hind with 11 batonnets, claws (Fig. 3g) elongate, equal bearing inner basal teeth. TR of hind leg 2.18. Hind tibial comb with 9 spines. Wing (Fig. 3i). Whitish in color with dark brown anterior veins and r–m, base of r1 and M brown, r1 about 0.45 length of r2, An2 feebly bifurcated, microtrichia indistinct. Wing length 2.41 (2.39–2.41, n = 6), wing breadth 0.84 (0.83–0.85. n = 6), CR 0.92. Abdomen. Brown with darker margin.; spermathecae (Fig. 3j), well sclerotized, unequal, oval 0.17 × 0.11 and 0.12 × 0.11(n = 5)and the third one small but prominent 0.55 × 0.52 with distinct duct. Male. Unknown. Type. Holotype ♀, India:West Bengal:Asansol (86°40′60′E,59E, 23°40′59N) 2.v.1980 (Coll..P.K.Chaudhuri). Paratypes 4♀♀, India; West Bengal: Neamatpur (86°40′62E, 50′N, 23°40′42N) 2. vi. 2003 (Coll. S. Nandi); 1♀, India:West Bengal: Chittaranjan (57°00′E, 23°60′N), 16.iv.2004 (Coll. S.Nandi). Etymology. The name, “prominens” is given to the species for its prominent third spermatheca. Remarks. The new species shows resemblances with S. cinereus (Kieffer, 1910) in flagellomeres, anal veins and color pattern of legs. The species, S.brevispinus (Kieffer, 1911) also approximates to the present species in flagellomeres scutal strpes, anterior wing veins, color pattern of legs and batonnets. But its size, mandibular teeth, scutal patches, color bands of femora and tibiae, broader dark brown hind femoral band in particular, spines of hind tibial comb and the prominent third spermatheca do favour to consider the species as new member of the genus from India. Sphaeromias simililineus sp.nov. (Figs. 4a–j) Diagnosis Female. Head. Brown in color. Eyes bare and broadly contiguous. Antenna (Fig. 4a) with brown scape and dark pedicel, basal flagellomeres vase like, distal ones brown, cylindrical with pale base; length ratio of flagellomeres I–XIII 6:4:3:3:4:5:8:9:9:9:9:10:13,
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Fig. 2. a–j. Sphaeromias ornatipes sp.nov.: adult female: a. antenna; b. maxillary palpus; c. mandible; d–f. fore, mid and hind legs; g. claw; h. hind tibial comb; i. wing; j. spermathecae.
AR 1.19. Maxillary palpus (Fig. 4b) brown, palpomere III stout and longer, little swollen near the apex, palpomere V with 5 apical spines; length ratio of palpomeres I–V 5:13:18:13:12, PR 2.57. Mandible (Fig. 4c) with 6 teeth with middle two large and stronger. Thorax. Very dark brown. Scutum densely pubescent with fine lateral setae, scutellum dark with a few bristles. Legs (Figs. 4d–f). Brown to dark brown fore and mid femora with dark brown apical bands, mid femur with a narrow sub basal lateral infuscation, hind femur with dark brown broad middle and apical bands, fore tibia with dark brown basal middle and apical bands, mid and hind tibiae with basal and apical bands, basal bands extending to the middle, fore femora with 7, mid, 6 and hind with 6 pairs of ventral setae, femora and tibiae with numerous long sharp spines, tarsomeres
yellow, mid tarsomere I with a single row and hind tarsomere I with double rows of palisade setae, tarsomeres II with a sparse row of setae, tarsomeres V brown, fore tarsomere V with 10–12, mid and hind with 11 batonnets, claws (Fig. 4g) elongate, equal with inner basal teeth. TR of hind leg 2.0.Hind tibial comb (Fig. 4h) with 9 sub equal spines. Wing (Fig. 4i). Hyaline with dark brown anterior veins, Sc lightly infuscated, r2 3 × length of r1, An2 faintly bifurcated, end of C with R4+5; rounded bearing a faint streak, halter white with pale knob. Wing length 2.28 (2.27–2.30, n = 4), wing breadth 0.83 (0.82– 0.83. n = 4); CR 0.95. Abdomen. Dark brown, pleural membrane brown, cerci brown; spermathecae (Fig. 4j) moderately sclerotized, unequal and oval 0.17 × 0.11 and 0.12 × 0.09 with short neck, third one very small and indistinct.
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Fig. 3. a–j. Sphaeromias prominens sp.nov.: adult female: a. antenna; b. maxillary palpus; c. mandible; d–f. fore, mid and hind legs; g. claw; h. hind tibial comb; i. wing; j. spermathecae.
Male. Unknown. Type. Holotype♀, India:Jharkhand: Maithon Guest House (86°45″ E, 23°49′N),12.vii.2003(Coll. U.Majumdar). Paratypes 3♀♀, India; Jharkhand; Kumardubi (77°12′E, 28°35′N), 12.vii.2003 (Coll..U. Majumdar); 1♀,India:West Bengal: Bankura (87°04 E, 23°15N), 31. viii.2004 (Coll..N. Das). Etymology. The name “simililineus” originates from the faint streak at the end of costa. Remarks. The smaller species approximates to S. lineus sp.nov.in the presence of streak in r5, color pattern of femora and tibia and indistinct third or rudimentary spermatheca. But indistinct annulations of the flagellomeres, teeth of mandible, thoracic chaetotaxy, dark post scutellum, infuscation of Sc, small streak of wing, white knob of halter and sclerotization of spermatheca differ from other species favouring its establishment as a new Indian member of Sphaeromias.
Sphaeromias verbosus sp.nov. (Figs. 5a–j) Diagnosis Female. Head. Dark brown in color. Eyes broadly contiguous. Antenna (Fig. 5a) with dark brown scape and pedicel, basal flagellomeres subcylindrical, shining yellow base and brown apices, distal flagellomeres cylindrical, brown with yellow bases; length ratio of flagellomeres I–XIII 5:4:5 :5:5:5:5:5.5:13 .5:12:13:12:17, AR 1.70. Maxillary palpus (Fig. 5b) brown with unform spines, palpomere III long, palpomere V short bearing 4 apical spines; length ratio of palpomeres I–V 14:10:20:11:12, PR 2.22. Mandible (Fig. 4c) with 5 strong teeth.Thorax. Dark brown, dorsum with short pubescens on the middle and moderate to long lateral setae, scutellum dark with 18 long hyaline bristles. Legs (Figs. 5d–f).
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Fig. 4. a–j. Sphaeromias simililineus sp.nov.: adult female: a. antenna; b. maxillary palpus; c. mandible; d–f. fore, mid and hind legs; g. claw; h. hind tibial comb; i. wing; j. spermathecae.
Brown to dark brown, fore and mid femora with middle and small dark brown bands, middle band of fore femur broader, hind femur with broad apical band, fore and mid tibiae with small dark brown basal bands, hind tibia with a small basal and broad middle band, fore femora with 15–16, mid, 12 and hind with 14–15 ventral setae, tibiae unarmed, tarsomeres brown at the bases and yellow at the apices, tarsomere V brown, fore tarsomere V with 11, mid, 11 and hind with 8–9 batonnets, claws (Fig. 5g) elongated, equal bearing inner basal teeth. TR of hind leg 2.41. Hind tibial comb (Fig. 5h) with 8 spines. Wing (Fig. 5i). Pale with dark brown anterior veins and pale posterior veins, r–m without infuscation, microtrichia fine, r2 long 2 × length of r1, anal veins divided near and away from the base; halter light yellow. Wing length 3.33 (3.32–3.34, n = 5), wing breadth 0.94 (0.93–0.94, n = 5), CR 0.95 CR 0.95. Abdomen. Brown with little darker margin; spermathecae (Fig. 5j) well sclerotized, unequal and oval 0.19 × 0.12 and 0.14 × 0.10 with short neck and third spermatheca small and digit like. Male. Unknown. Type. Holotype ♀, India:West Bengal: Raniganj (87°52′E, 25°52′N), 10.ix.2004 (Coll..D.C.Sinharay). Paratypes 5♀♀, data same as holo-
type; 1♀, India:West Bengal: Durgapur (87°10′55′ E, 23°32′23″N), 2. x.2005(Coll.S.Nandi); 1♀, India:West Bengal: Galsi (77°12′E, 28°35′ N),5.x.2003 (Coll..B.Khan). Etymology. The name, “verbosus“ of species comes from the elongated claws. Remarks. The species comes nearer to S. distinctus and S. tetrastictus Kieffer (1911). In flagellomeres, dark and pubescent scutum. color of tarsomeres but annulations and yellow bases of flagellomeres, teeth of the mandible, dark thorax and its chaetotaxy, scutellar bristles, bifurcation of second anal vein, color pattern of femora and tibiae, number of batonnets and the digit like third spermatheca do suffice to consider it as a new species of Sphaeromias from India. Key to the new Indian species of Sphaeromias Curtis 1. Wing length more than 3 mm; mandible with 8 teeth; claws elongated; third spermatheca digitiform……………………………… verbosus sp.nov. Wing length less than 3 mm.; mandible with more than 5 teeth; claws normal; third spermatheca small or indistinct or both…………………..…2
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Fig. 5. a–j. Sphaeromias verbosus sp.nov.: adult female: a. antenna; b. maxillary palpus; c. mandible; d–f. fore, mid and hind legs; g. claw; h. hind tibial comb; i. wing; j. spermathecae.
2. Faint linear streak at the end of costa; spermatheca moderately sclerotized…………………………………………………simililineus sp.nov. No such streak at the end of costa; spermathecae well sclerotized…3 3. A small dark infuscation at the end of costa; third spermatheca not visible………………………………………………………………lineus sp.nov. Infuscation absent at the end of costa; third spermatheca small…….…4 4. Color bands of femora and tibiae very bright, hind tibial comb of 11 spines………………………………………………………… ornatipes sp.nov. Color bands dark, hind tibial comb of 9 spines………. prominens sp.nov. Acknowledgments We are thankful to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India for financial assistance to undertake this investigation and Head of the department of Zoology, University of Burdwan for laboratory facilities. Sincere indebtedness is owed to Professor S.K.
Das Gupta of Presidency College, Calcutta for kindly going through the manuscript and making useful suggestions. References Borkent, A., 1997. In: Borkent, A., Wirth, W.W. (Eds.), World species of biting midges (Diptera:Ceratopogonidae), 233. 1997 Bull. Amer. Nat. Hist. Mus. 257 pp. Borkent, A., 2007. Updated world species of biting midges (Diptera:Ceratopogonidae). http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/research/FLYTREE/Borkent.html (2007) Bose, M., Das Gupta, S.K., Mazumdar, A., Chaudhuri, P.K., 2003. Biting midges of the genus Atrichopogon Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from India. Tijdschr. Entomol. 146, 259–296. Curtis, J. 1829. British Entomology — illustrations and descriptions of the genera of insects found in Great Britain and Ireland containing color figures from the nature of the most rare and beautiful species and in many instances of the plants upon which they are found 6:242–289. London: Privately published. De Meijere, J.C.H., 1907. Studien über Südostasiatische Dipteren.I. Tijdschr. Entomol. 50, 196–264. Kieffer, J.J., 1910. Etude sur les chironomides des Indes Orientales,avec description de quelques nouvelles especes d'Egypte. Mem. Indian Mus. 2, 181–242. Kieffer, J.J., 1911. Description de nouveas chironomides de I'Indian Museum de Calcutta. Rec. Indian Mus. 6, 113–177. Szadziewski, R., Gwozalsks-Kentzer, M., Sontag, E., 2007. Predatory biting midges of the
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genus Sphaeromias (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Europe Poskie Pismo. Entomologiczne 76, 293–302. Wirth, W.W., Grogan, W.L., 1979. Natural history of Plumers Island, Maryland XXIV. Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). 2. The species of the tribes Heteromyiini and Sphaeromiini. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 91 (4), 847–903.
Wirth, W.W., Grogan, W.L., 1988. The predaceous midges of the world (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae), tribe Ceratopogonini. Flora and Fauna Hand Book, 4. E.J. Berill. Publ., U.S.A, p. 160. Wirth, W.W., Ratanworabhan, N.C., Blanton, F.S., 1974. Synopsis of the genera of Ceratopogonidae (Diptera). Ann. Parasitol. 49, 595–613.