Albascopia Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona-Granda, 2015

Albascopia Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona-Granda, 2015 View in CoL n. sensu

Redescription. Male. Body dark brown ( Fig. 4A, 4B View FIGURE 4 , 6A View FIGURE 6 ) or black ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ), moderately robust, and granulate, mainly on the thorax and legs ( Figs. 4A View FIGURE 4 , 6A View FIGURE 6 , 9A View FIGURE 9 , 14A View FIGURE 14 ). Head elongated, moderately constricted behind the eyes ( Figs. 4C, 4D View FIGURE 4 , 6B, 6C View FIGURE 6 , 8B, 8C View FIGURE 8 , 14B, 14C View FIGURE 14 ), fastigium conical, with widened based in lateral view, not surpassing the antenna length, inclined to the front and slightly to down ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 , 6C View FIGURE 6 , 14C View FIGURE 14 ), edges carinate, dorsoventrally compressed, and apex almost truncate ( Figs. 4C View FIGURE 4 . 6B View FIGURE 6 , 9B View FIGURE 9 ). Eyes globular and conspicuous; ocelli inconspicuous ( Figs. 4C View FIGURE 4 , 6B View FIGURE 6 , 9B View FIGURE 9 , 14B View FIGURE 14 ). Antennae groves located close to the mid of the inner edge of the eyes ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 , 6B View FIGURE 6 , 9B View FIGURE 9 , 14B View FIGURE 14 ); antenna with eight segments, antennal organs present ( Figs. 4D View FIGURE 4 , 6C View FIGURE 6 , 9C View FIGURE 9 , 14B View FIGURE 14 ). Clypeus rectangular, wider than high; labrum rounded with the posterior edge with a shallow median notch ( Figs. 4C View FIGURE 4 , 6B View FIGURE 6 , 9B View FIGURE 9 , 14B View FIGURE 14 ); palpi flattened dorsoventrally, first segment of the maxillary palpi twice longer and wider than the others ones, the following three segments sub-quadrangular and similar in size, and the last ovoid ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 , 6C View FIGURE 6 , 9B View FIGURE 9 , 14B View FIGURE 14 ).

Thorax. Prothorax cylindrical, granulated, with a well-developed pleural suture. Pronotum almost seven to eight times longer than mesonotum ( Figs. 4A View FIGURE 4 , 6A View FIGURE 6 , 9A View FIGURE 9 , 14A View FIGURE 14 ). Mesonotum in dorsal view with a plate rectangular, longer than wide, poorly divided laterally at the middle ( Figs. 4E View FIGURE 4 , 6D View FIGURE 6 , 9D View FIGURE 9 , 14D View FIGURE 14 ). Metanotum with a rectangular plate in dorsal view, posterior margin wider than the anterior one ( Figs. 4E View FIGURE 4 , 6D View FIGURE 6 , 9D View FIGURE 9 , 14D View FIGURE 14 ). Legs. Fore and middle legs slim and elongated. Hind femur is moderately or well-inflated at the base, and hind tibia has mid-sized dorsal spines. Wings absent. Abdomen smooth, first tergite longer than the metathoracic notum. Penultimate tergite medially constricted; last tergite divided and moderately separated at the middle ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 , 6E View FIGURE 6 , 9E View FIGURE 9 , 14E View FIGURE 14 ); epiproct lanceolated; cerci simple, cylindrical, and short ( Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4 , 6F View FIGURE 6 , 9F View FIGURE 9 ), rarely modified at apex ( Fig. 14F, 14G View FIGURE 14 ). Subgenital plate mid-sized, rounded, and moderately produced distally; pallium flat and almost quadrangular, produced moderately ( Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4 , 6F View FIGURE 6 , 9F View FIGURE 9 , 14F View FIGURE 14 ). Genitalia. Epiphallic sclerite U-shaped, curving noticeably inward, transverse sclerite (TS) and lophi (Lo) fuse without any division or separation ( Figs. 7B View FIGURE 7 , 10A, 10B View FIGURE 10 , 15B View FIGURE 15 ); hooks (Hk) rounded, wide, and laterally flattened ( Figs. 7A, 7C View FIGURE 7 , 10C View FIGURE 10 . 15A View FIGURE 15 ). Epiphallic rim (EpR) without accessory plate (EpRP); lateral plates (EpLP) thin and slim, separated by a membranous epiphallic rim ( Fig. 7B View FIGURE 7 , 10A, 10B View FIGURE 10 , 15B View FIGURE 15 ). Phallotreme (Ph) with a simple ridge almost membranous and surrounded by ectophallic valves ( Figs. 7B View FIGURE 7 , 10A, 10B View FIGURE 10 , 14B View FIGURE 14 ). Ectophallic valves (EcV) reduced, moderately sclerotized, and separated from the sclerotized membrane (SM) by a translucent, non-sclerotized area; sclerotized membrane thin and undivided posteriorly ( Figs. 7A, 7B View FIGURE 7 , 10A, 10B View FIGURE 10 , 15A, 15B View FIGURE 15 ). The endophallus with sclerotized structures ( Figs. 7C, 7D View FIGURE 7 , 10C, 10D View FIGURE 10 , 15D View FIGURE 15 ). Distal sac (DS) containing three lateral plates: lateral articulation (LA) connected and fused with the anterior supplementary plate (ASP); this last plate is not compressed and undivided anteriorly, placed under the ectophallic valves and the sclerotized membrane ( Figs. 7D View FIGURE 7 , 10C View FIGURE 10 ). Posterior supplementary plate (PSP) present, developed, and V-shaped ( Fig. 7D View FIGURE 7 ). Distal sac connected with the proximal sac (PS), is then connected with a membranous ejaculatory duct that ends in a conspicuous ejaculatory sclerite with three divergent fins ( Figs. 7C, 7D View FIGURE 7 , 10C, 10D View FIGURE 10 , 15C, 15D View FIGURE 15 ).

Female. Similar to the male, but noticeably longer and robust ( Figs. 11A View FIGURE 11 , 16A View FIGURE 16 ). Head conical and elongated ( Figs. 11B, 11C View FIGURE 11 , 16B, 16C View FIGURE 16 ), moderately constricted behind the eyes ( Figs. 11B View FIGURE 11 , 16B View FIGURE 16 ); fastigium conical, slender compared to the male, antenna with eight or nine segments ( Figs. 11C View FIGURE 11 , 16C View FIGURE 16 ). Thorax similar to the male, not inflated dorsally and with a mid-tubercle on the metanotum; pleura granulated, not smooth. Abdomen robust; penultimate tergite constricted; last tergite dorsally divided; epiproct lanceolate with a rounded apex; cerci conical and reduced ( Figs. 11D View FIGURE 11 , 16D View FIGURE 16 ). Ovipositor valves strong and almost smooth, with minute denticulations ( Figs. 11E View FIGURE 11 , 16E View FIGURE 16 ); subgenital plate rectangular, longer than wide, apex with a medial projection ( Figs. 11F View FIGURE 11 , 16F View FIGURE 16 ). Spermatheca. Only one spermatheca present ( Figs. 16 View FIGURE 16 , 17 View FIGURE 17 ). Copulatory chamber (CC) completely membranous ( Figs. 11A, 11D View FIGURE 11 , 17A, 17B View FIGURE 17 ). Duct (Dt) has long digitiform projections; some have two branches ( Figs. 11B, 11C View FIGURE 11 , 17A, 17B View FIGURE 17 ). Apical diverticula (AD) globose, with two unequal lobes ( Figs. 11A, 11B View FIGURE 11 , 17A, 17B View FIGURE 17 ); duct connects at the middle of the apical diverticula ( Figs. 11B, 11D View FIGURE 11 , 17A, 17B View FIGURE 17 ).

Species included. Albascopia columbica ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1890) ( type species), Albascopia caldensis ( Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona-Granda, 2015) comb. nov., Albascopia afroensis ( Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona-Granda, 2015) comb. nov., and Albascopia baudoensis sp. nov.

Distribution. Colombia, Andes and Biogeographic Chocó.

Comparison. Albascopia is similar to Rowellscopia gen. nov., so the characters differentiating Rowellscopia gen. nov. from Pseudoproscopia and Milenascopia also apply to distinguish Albascopia , except for the following differences:

Regarding males, the fastigium is shorter and curved forward compared to Pseudoproscopia and Milenascopia . Likewise, the head is more robust and less elongated than in the latter two genera. The males of Albascopia are smaller (pronotum length: 19–20 mm) than those of Rowellscopia gen. nov., Pseudoproscopia , and Milenascopia (pronotum length: 22–28 mm). The hind femur is thicker at its base than in the other genera, although not as thickened as in Apioscelis ; rather, it represents an intermediate state between this latter genus and the other Proscopiini .

Based on male genital characters, the differences that separate Rowellscopia gen. nov. from the other genera also apply, with the distinctions between Rowellscopia gen. nov. and Albascopia being the most evident. The epiphallic rim plate is absent in Albascopia , so the epiphallic lateral plates are separated by the epiphallic rim membrane ( Figs. 7B View FIGURE 7 , 10B View FIGURE 10 , 15B View FIGURE 15 ). In contrast, Rowellscopia gen. nov. possesses these plates, which are fused, enclosing the epiphallus ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ). The lophi of Albascopia are robust and spatulate, relatively short ( Figs. 7A, 7C View FIGURE 7 , 10A View FIGURE 10 , 15A View FIGURE 15 ), whereas in Rowellscopia gen. nov., they are cylindrical or digitiform and do not flatten ( Figs. 2A, 2C View FIGURE 2 ). Additionally, the sclerotized membrane is posteriorly divided in Rowellscopia gen. nov. ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ), which does not occur in Albascopia ( Fig. 7B View FIGURE 7 ). The lateral articulation and anterior supplementary plate are strongly fused in Albascopia ( Figs. 7C, 7D View FIGURE 7 ) but separated in Rowellscopia gen. nov. ( Fig. 2C, 2D View FIGURE 2 ). The posterior supplementary plate of Rowellscopia gen. nov. is absent or highly reduced, unlike in Albascopia . Finally, the sclerite of the ejaculatory duct in Rowellscopia gen. nov. is tubular, covered by the duct membrane, and cannot be detached, remaining attached to the ventral region of the male ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 ). In contrast, in Albascopia , the ejaculatory duct is membranous and only connects to the sclerite of the ejaculatory duct at the end, which is exposed and features fin-like structures ( Figs. 7C View FIGURE 7 , 10C View FIGURE 10 , 15C View FIGURE 15 ).

Regarding females, the morphology of Albascopia and Rowellscopia gen. nov. is very similar. However, the head morphology of A. afroensis comb. nov. and A. baudoensis sp. nov. (the only known females of the genus) more closely resembles the structure of R. panamensis comb. nov. The last two tergites of Rowellscopia gen. nov. females are dorsally separated, whereas in Albascopia , only the last tergite is divided. The subgenital plate of A. afroensis comb. nov. has a small medial projection on the posterior margin, triangular and surrounded by a rounded, blackish fold. In R. septentrionalis comb. nov., the posterior margin has a bifurcated projection, whereas R. panamensis comb. nov. lacks any projections.

The spermathecae are another useful character for distinguishing these genera. R. panamensis comb. nov. has two spermathecae, whereas R. septentrionalis comb. nov., A. afroensis comb. nov. and A. baudoensis sp. nov. each have only one. These species differ in their ducts: in R. septentrionalis comb. nov., the duct is thickened, with three short, unbranched projections, while in A. afroensis comb. nov. and A. baudoensis sp. nov., it has multiple, longer, and branched projections.

Comments. Two species grouped within this genus A. caldensis comb. nov., A. afroensis comb. nov. were originally described under Pseudoproscopia ( Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona-Granda 2015) , making their new combinations effective. Their distant distribution in distinct geographical areas suggests the potential existence of additional, yet undiscovered species of Albascopia . This genus is likely to be found in the Chocó Biogeographic Region, from Panama to northern Ecuador, as well as in the mid-elevation zones of the inter-Andean valleys along the slopes of the Andes in Colombia (Map 1). By contrast, species of Prosarthria Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1890 , are usually found in the lowland areas of these inter-Andean valleys.

A key to identify the species based on only males is provided below, since female specimens of A. caldensis comb. nov. are not available for study and description.