Mavromoustaca brevispina, VIRAKTAMATH & WEBB & YESHWANTH, 2025

Mavromoustaca brevispina sp. nov.

Figs 2K–N View FIGURES 2 , 8 View FIGURES 8 OP, 11E, 12M–P, 25A–F

Diagnosis. This species is externally similar to M. macchiae (Lindberg) (see below) but differs in male genitalia characters: male pygofer macrosetae restricted to the dorsal marginal portion at the distal half, ventral process extending much beyond the dorsal margin, aedeagus with ventral pair of basal short spine-like processes about 0.25 as long as the shaft.

Description. Ochraceous. Crown with median sulcus dark brown, one semi quadrangular spot on either side of median line connected anteriorly by thin transverse line, more posterior rather triangular spots nearer to eyes, one short outwardly curved stripe on either side of median line (may be broken into spots), pale reddish brown. Sutures on face, area surrounding antennal base, series of lateral transverse lines on frontoclypeus, brown, frontoclypeus medially yellow; clypellus pale brown. Pronotum stippled with brown, a few spots coalesce to form larger spots on anterior submargin. Exposed mesonotum with basal triangles, small round spot on either side of median line between them, a few longitudinal patches on scutellum, brown. Forewing venation brown, apices of claval veins, clavus, veins R 1, R 2+3, R 4+5 with dark brown spots, apical margin of second apical cell, few cells with brown patches. Lower half of meso and meta epimera brown. Legs ochraceous.

Crown broadly rounded in front, 0.6–0.7× as long as interocular width. Pronotum twice as wide as long medially. Female sternite VII 0.4× as long as wide, posterior margin slightly convex; sternite VIII with well sclerotized lateral and median areas.

Male genitalia. Pygofer 1.25× longer than wide in lateral view, slightly constricted at midlength and with a dorsal patch of macrosetae, posterior margin more or less truncate, ventral process directed posteriorly then dorsally along posterior margin and far exceeding dorsal margin. Subgenital plate 2.5× as long as wide at base with submarginal row of macrosetae and few hair-like setae along margin. Aedeagus dorsal apodeme short, preatrium well-developed. Shaft slightly compressed and anteriorly curved, with pair of short spine-like processes arising slightly distad of base on lateral surface; gonopore apical.

Female genitalia. Valvula I slightly arched, with sculptured area occupying distal 0.5 length dorsally, sculpturing strigate but dorsal marginal sculpturing reticulate. Valvula II with hyaline area preceding toothed area that occupies distal 0.5 length.

Measurements. Male 4.1 mm long, 1.2 mm wide across eyes and 1.1 mm wide across posterolateral angles of pronotum. Female 4.9 mm long, 1.3 mm wide across eyes and 1.2 mm wide across posterolateral angles of pronotum.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂, INDIA: Pinjore , Ex Vitex negndo, 28.v.1975, A.S. Sohi ( UASB) . PARATYPES, 1♂, 1♀, same data as holotype ( UASB) .

Etymology. The species name is a combination of the Latin adjective brevis, -e, (= short, small) and of the Latin noun spina, -ae (= thorn, spine), referring to the short spine-like basal processes of the aedeagus; noun in apposition.