Puto sinensis Zheng & Wu, 2025

Puto sinensis Zheng & Wu , sp. n.

Material examined. Holotype: Adult ♀; CHINA: Guizhou Prov., / Guiyang City, Kaiyang County, / Nanjiang Grand Canyon , 26°95′56″N, 106º98′74″E, / on Lindera communis ( Lauraceae ), / 1 May 2023, / Zhixiang Tan leg . Holotype mounted together with 1 paratype ♀ on 1 slide ( BFUC); holotype specimen is indicated with a circle in permanent marker on the coverslip.

Paratypes: CHINA: same data as holotype, 6 ♀♀: 1 mounted together with holotype on 1 slide, 1 mounted singly on 1 slide, and 2 slides each containing 2 ♀ mounted together ( BFUC); also 3 ♂♂: 2 mounted singly on 2 slides and 1 preserved in glycerine; 4 forewings mounted together on 1 slide, and 2 forewings mounted together on 1 slide. CHINA: Guangdong Prov., Shaoguan City, Yao Autonomous County of Ruyuan, Nanling National Forest Park , on Photinia serratifolia ( Rosaceae ), San-an Wu leg., 20.iv.2021: 2 ♀♀ mounted together on 1 slide ( BFUC) .

Etymology. The specific name is formed by combination of the Latin prefix ‘ sin -’, referring to China, the country of collection, with the Latin suffix ‘- ensis ’, meaning ‘from’.

Adult female

Appearance in life ( Figs 1B and C View FIGURE 1 ). Body oval, dorsum covered with plates of dense white flocculent wax, venter thinly coated with mealy white wax.

Slide-mounted material (n=9) ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ). Body 3.5–5.0 mm long and 2.0– 3.2 mm wide. Derm membranous. Antennae 9-segmented, each 1,300 –1,550 μm long; segment lengths (in µm): I, 150–183; II, 123–163; III longest, 225–250; IV, 145–163 V, 143–205; VI, 140–155; VII, 138–148; VIII, 128–155; and IX, 168–208. Each segment nearly cylindrical, except apical segment ovoid; antenna with few hair-like setae, each 75–150 μm long. Scape (segment I) widest, 153–180 μm wide, with fewest hair-like setae (4 or 5); pedicel (segment II) ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ) 68–103 μm wide, with 1 circular sensory pore and 1 or 2 coeloconic sensilla; remaining segments each 50–66 μm wide. Segments III, IV and VI each with a pair of intersegmental sensilla ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ) near distal end; segments VII and VIII each with a sensory seta near apex, 45–78 μm long; apical segment (IX) with 20–23 hair-like setae, 3 sensory setae, and sometimes with 1 coeloconic sensilla. Eyes protruding, each with stem sclerotized and apex membranous; eye prominence 155–185 μm long, situated posterior to scape. Clypeolabral shield 385–440 μm long, with anterior part sinking into derm, posterior part exposed and bearing a pair of hair-like setae, each seta about 185 μm long. Labium ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ) 3-segmented, 335–360 μm long; segment I poorly sclerotized, bearing 2 hair-like setae (each 58–130 μm long) and 1 spine-like seta 45–55 μm on each side; segments II and III sclerotized, segment II with 1 hair-like seta on each side; segment III with many hair-like setae, shorter setae near apex each 10–40 μm long. Legs well developed, lengths (in μm): foreleg shortest: entire length 2,075 –2,170; coxa 330–370; trochanter + femur 728–780; tibia 670–730; tarsus 230–250, and claw 70–78; middle leg: entire length 2,225 –2,390; coxa 380–400; trochanter + femur 758–855; tibia 710–780; tarsus 230–270, and claw 75–85; hind leg longest: entire length 2,470 –2,538; coxa 330–405; trochanter + femur 890–930; tibia 880–920; tarsus 240–275, and claw 60–88. Hind leg tibia + tarsus 1.30– 1.34 times as long as trochanter + femur; tibia 3.2–3.5 times as long as tarsus. Legs each with many hair-like setae, each 68–135 μm long; translucent pores absent. Trochanters each with 2 basal setae (about 5 μm long) and bearing 3 sensory pores on each surface plus a long hair-like seta, 273–350 μm long. Femora each with some spine-like setae on ventral side, each seta 35–55 μm long. Tibiae each with some short spine-like setae, each about 35 μm long. Tarsi each with 1 tarsal campaniform sensillum proximally; tarsal digitules each with pointed apex. Claws ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ) each with a plantar denticle and a pair of basal spurs; claw digitules each 60–68 μm long with capitate apex, longer than claw. Thoracic spiracles ( Fig. 4E View FIGURE 4 ) each with opening 105–125 μm in diameter, metathoracic spiracles larger. Circulus short and wide, 270–375 μm wide, more than three times as wide as long, without a medial constriction, situated inside posterior margin of abdominal segment III. Anterior and posterior ostioles each with inner edges of lips sclerotized, each lip with numerous lanceolate setae and trilocular pores, without oral collar tubular ducts. Anal ring ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ) 125–135 μm in diameter, with 3–5 rows of cells in a single anal ring, and bearing 6 sharply-tipped setae, each 275–340 μm long. Nearby is 1 pair of cisanal setae, each 160–245 μm long. Cerarii numbering 17 basic pairs (preocular cerarii (C 2) absent); also a few supplementary cerarii usually present between thorax and abdominal segment IV. Cerarii each with many lanceolate setae ( Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4 ) (each seta 30–48 μm long and about 8 μm wide at widest point) and a compact group of trilocular pores ( Fig. 4H View FIGURE 4 ), each pore 7–8 μm in diameter, but without tubular ducts. Cerarii each situated on a weakly sclerotized area with margin not clearly defined. Anal lobe cerarii each containing 25–30 lanceolate setae and 35–40 trilocular pores, all situated on a sclerotized area (145–200 μm wide) occupying most of lobe, with sclerotized area larger than anal ring. A few discoidal pores ( Fig. 4I View FIGURE 4 ) present near most cerarii, each about 3 μm in diameter.

Dorsum. With lanceolate setae ( Fig. 4J View FIGURE 4 ) each 20–40 μm long, smaller than a cerarian seta; forming group on head and loose transverse bands across other segments. Multilocular disc-pores absent. Trilocular pores ( Fig. 4K View FIGURE 4 ) each 6–7 μm in diameter, numerous, forming broad transverse bands across each segment. Submarginal line of relatively bare cuticle with only a few lanceolate setae and trilocular pores. Oral collar tubular ducts ( Fig. 4L View FIGURE 4 ) of only 1 large type, each outer ductule 23–25 μm long and 8–10 μm wide; with 2–5 ducts present submedially on head, on submargins of thorax, and forming groups (of up to 4 ducts) posterior to most cerarii.

Venter. Lanceolate setae absent. With slender flagellate setae ( Fig. 4M View FIGURE 4 ), each 75–230 μm long, scattered on head, around legs and abdominal spiracles, and on median area of thorax; also forming transverse band across each abdominal segment, and in small groups around vulva and on submargins of each segment. With multilocular disc-pores of 2 sizes: (i) small disc-pores ( Fig. 4N View FIGURE 4 ), each 10–12 μm in diameter, with 5, 7 or 9 (mostly 7) circular loculi; numerous from head to abdominal segment VI, reaching almost to margins except on abdominal segment VI; also forming group near each thoracic spiracle; and (ii) large disc-pores ( Fig. 4O View FIGURE 4 ), each about 13 μm in diameter, with 5 or 7 (mostly 7) kidney-shaped loculi; present on posteriormost 3 abdominal segments, numerous around vulva, not reaching to margins. Trilocular pores ( Fig. 4P View FIGURE 4 ), each about 5 μm in diameter (smaller than those on dorsum), distributed similarly to that of setae but more numerous on margins and posterior areas of abdomen. Oral collar tubular ducts of 3 types: (i) large ducts ( Fig. 4L View FIGURE 4 ), same size as ducts on dorsum, few on margins of posterior abdomen; (ii) small ducts ( Fig. 4Q View FIGURE 4 ), each outer ductule 19–23 μm long and 5–7 μm wide; forming groups on margins, also with few near each thoracic spiracle and pro- and meso-coxa, and also forming short submedial transverse bands on abdominal segments IV–VII; and (iii) slender ducts ( Fig. 4R View FIGURE 4 ), each outer ductule 25–28 μm long and about 3 μm wide, sometimes deformed; with about 10 ducts anterior to clypeolabral shield. Each anal lobe with 1 anal lobe seta, 290–350 μm long.

Diagnostic characteristics: (i) circulus on abdominal segment III complete, more than three times as wide as long, without a constriction; (ii) anal lobe cerarius containing 25–30 lanceolate setae; (iii) abundant small multilocular disc-pores present from head to abdominal segment VI; (iv) numerous large multilocular disc-pores present on abdominal segments VI –VIII; (v) ostioles with setae on lips; (vi) anal ring bearing six acute setae; (vii) dorsum with a few large oral collar tubular ducts posterior to sclerotized areas of most cerarii (not within or immediately adjacent to sclerotized areas), also with a few present submedially on head and submargins of thorax; (viii) a few large oral collar tubular ducts ventrally on margins of posterior abdomen; (ix) venter with small oral collar tubular ducts forming groups on margins, and short submedial transverse bands on abdominal segments IV–VII; (x) claw digitules clubbed, extending beyond apex of claw; (xi) cerarii numbering 17 basic pairs, supplementary cerarii usually present also, between thorax and abdominal segment IV; (xii) a few slender oral collar tubular ducts present anterior to clypeolabral shield; and (xiii) venter without lanceolate setae.

Remarks. The adult female of P. sinensis is closest to that of P. thailandicus Williams, 2004 in having the following character states: (i) a single circulus situated on venter of abdominal segment III; (ii) anal ring bearing sharply-tipped setae; (iii) oral collar tubular ducts absent from cerarii; (iv) dorsum without additional dorsal cerarii; (v) wide oral collar tubular ducts present on dorsum of head and thorax, and (vi) wide tubular ducts present ventrally on margins. Puto sinensis differs from P. thailandicus by having (contrasting character state in P. thailandicus given in parentheses): (i) multilocular disc-pores of 2 sizes, each pore with 5, 7 or 9 subcentral loculi only (with multilocular disc-pores of only 1 size, each pores with 8 subcentral loculi); and (ii) a few slender oral collar ducts present anterior to clypeolabral shield (with large oral collar ducts anterior to clypeolabral shield) (data of P. thailandicus are derived from Williams (2004)).

The adult female of P. sinensis is also close to that of P. tubulifer Danzig, 1978 in having the following character states: (i) a single circulus situated on venter of abdominal segment III; (ii) anal ring bearing sharply-tipped setae; (iii) oral colar tubular ducts absent from cerarii; (iv) dorsum without additional dorsal cerarii; (v) wide oral collar tubular ducts present on dorsum of head and thorax; (vi) multilocular disc-pores of 2 sizes; and (vii) a few slender oral collar ducts present anterior to clypeolabral shield, these sometimes deformed. Puto sinensis differs from P. tubulifer by having (contrasting character states in P. tubulifer are given in parentheses): (i) multilocular disc-pores each with 5, 7 or 9 subcentral loculi (pores each with 9 or 10 subcentral loculi, quinquelocular pores absent); and (ii) wide oral collar tubular ducts present ventrally on margins throughout (wide tubular ducts absent from margins of head and thorax) (data of P. tubulifer are derived from Danzig & Gavrilov-Zimin (2014)).

Adult male

Appearance in life ( Figs 3B and D View FIGURE 3 ). Body midge-like; forewings smoky gray, with anterior sclerotized area black; mesothorax and head coated with white wax; a pair of long, stout caudal pencils of wax present at end of abdomen.

Slide-mounted material (n=3) ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ). Body 3.1–3.2 mm long. Ventral surface of ocular sclerites with sclerotization restricted to near eyes; ocular sclerites each with 7 simple eyes. Antennae slightly longer than body, each with long hair-like setae and satellite setae present. Body with many long hair-like setae (hs). Loculate pores (lp) ( Fig. 5A View FIGURE 5 ) present, each 5–8 μm in diameter, with 4 or 5 loculi (rarely 6); small simple pores (smp) each about 2.5 μm in diameter, few, present near glandular pouches and posterior to each mesothoracic spiracle. Legs well developed, long hair-like setae, satellite setae and spine-like setae present but without bifurcated setae; tarsi 2 segmented; claws each with a pair of basal spurs, plantar denticle weak or absent, plus a weak denticle near apex; claw digitules with pointed apices. Wings without alar setae or sensoria; a pair of ostioles present between abdominal segments VI and VII; and a pair of glandular pouches present on abdominal segment VIII. Aedeagus slender.

Head 380–400 µm long, 470–480 µm wide, with a row of 7 simple eyes (se) on each side. Dorsum: dorsal mid-cranial ridge (dmcr) extending full length of head, fusing with transverse postoccipital suture (pos) posteriorly. Sclerotization extending from eyes to postoccipital suture (pos); membrane on each side of sclerotized area around dmcr; with 9–11 dorsal head setae (dhs) present on each side of dmcr, lp absent. Dorsum of ocular sclerites (ocs) with 10–17 dhs, each 10–15 μm long. Laterally: se near mid-cranial ridge larger, 58–60 μm in diameter; lateral simple eyes smaller, 30–43 μm in diameter; simple eyes prominent. With a single ocellus (o) laterally on each side, about 25 μm in diameter, difficult to observe. Ventrally: sclerotization of ocs restricted to near eyes, small sclerotized area near preoral ridges and postocular ridges. Venter of each ocs with 30–40 ventral head setae (vhs), some setae with basal sclerotization. Ventral arm of midcranial ridge (vmcr) extending to fuse with preoral ridges (pror) posteriorly; preocular ridge (procr) fusing with vmcr medially. Membranous area anterior to preocular ridge with 9–13 vhs and 9–13 lp. Postocular ridge (pocr) developed, extending from preoral ridges posteriorly along posterior margin of ocs ventrally. Preoral ridge (pror) sclerotized, extending from posterior end of vmcr posterolaterally, articulating with cervical sclerites (pepcv). Area posterior to pror membranous, without setae. Mouth (m) present. Hair-like setae present on head, each 35–60 μm long.

Antennae each 10 segmented, filiform, total length of each 3.2–3.6 mm, ratio of total body length to antennal length 1: 1.0–1.1. Segment lengths (in µm): I, 120–135; II, 75–95; III, 390–460; IV, 425–500; V, 390–440; VI, 413–505; VII, 370–430; VIII, 360–390; IX, 270–365; and X, 280–345. Scape (scp) (segment I) stout, 35–153 µm wide, with base sclerotized and apex membranous; bearing 2–5 short hair-like setae, each 35–58 μm long. Pedicel (pdc) (segment II) stout, 83–90µm wide, completely sclerotized, with 4–6 long hair-like setae and 1–3 short hair-like setae plus 1 campaniform sensillum (camp) dorsally. Each segment of flagellum parallel-sided, 28–65 μm wide, with many long hair-like setae ( Fig. 5B View FIGURE 5 ), each seta 290–465 μm long, mostly with 1 or 2 satellite setae ( Fig. 5B View FIGURE 5 ); also with 0–3 hair-like setae ( Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 ), each seta 100–133 μm long. Segments VIII and IX each with 1 sensory seta ( Fig. 5D View FIGURE 5 ) near apex; and apical segment (segment X) with 2 sensory setae and 5 hair-like setae subapically. Antennal intersegmental sensilla ( Fig. 5E View FIGURE 5 ) present between segments III–IV, IV–V and VII–VIII, with 2 sensilla at each location.

Thorax. Prothorax: dorsum: pronotal ridges (prnr) developed and uninterrupted, fused medially, extending ventrally and nearly touching proepisternum + cervical sclerite (pepcv). With 0–3 hair-like setae anteriorly on each side between prnr and postoccipital suture (pos). Pronotal sclerite (prn) developed, each with a group of 8–11 lateral pronotal setae (lpns) and about 11 lp. Post-tergite (pt) present, 115–125 μm wide, lying transversely, each with a group of 4–7 post-tergital setae (pts) and 6–8 lp. With 0–4 medial pronotal setae (mpns) anterior to prescutum. Laterally: pepcv sclerotized and interrupted medially; anterior part articulating with preoral ridge (pror), posterior end with a triangular sclerotization, articulating with prnr; posterior part becoming broad near articulation with coxa. With a large group of 13–17 long propleural setae (pl 1 s) plus 30–35 lp. Venter: sternum (stn 1) with sclerotized median and transverse ridges; sternite sclerotized, with reticulated area medially; prosternal apophyses (stn 1 a) developed; each side of sternum with 2–4 prosternal setae (stn 1 s) and 2 or 3 lp. Without anteprosternal setae (astn 1 s). With a group of 1–4 antemesospiracular setae (asp 2 s) and 0–2 lp anterior to each anterior spiracle. Hair-like setae on prothorax each 70–118 μm long.

Mesothorax: dorsum: prescutum (prsc) sclerotized but not separated from scutum, prescutal ridge (pscr) and suture (pscs) absent or indistinct; without prescutal setae (prscs). Scutum (sct) 690–720 μm wide; with a small triangular membranous area anterior to scutellum, 80–115 μm long and 100–135 μm wide. Scutum with 2 longitudinal bands of 12–20 scutal setae (scts) on each side, also 1–3 setae along each lateral margin. Scutellum (scl) 295–350 µm wide and 165–175 µm long, nearly rectangular, with developed marginal ridges and 16–25 scutellar setae (scls). Laterally: prealare (pra) sclerotized. Mesepisternum (eps 2) reticulated; subepisternal ridge (ser) developed. Tegula (teg) with about 3 tegular setae (tegs). Mesothoracic spiracles (sp 2) each with outer part of peritreme 60–80 µm wide; postmesospiracular setae (pm 2 s) forming a group of 1–4 hs medially, plus1–5 hs, 10–13 lp and 4–7 smp posterior to each spiracle. Venter: basisternum (stn 2) 550–590 µm wide and 320–340 µm long; without median ridge; anterior margin developed, basisternum bounded posteriorly by well-developed mesoprecoxal ridges (pcr 2); additional short ridge extending ventrally from pcr 2 near articulation of mesocoxa; and with 13–21 basisternal setae (stn 2 s) on margins. Lateropleurite (lpl) narrow, with anterior margin poorly sclerotized, area near stn 2 s reticulated. Furca (f) with long arms, each arm 100–160 µm long. Mesopostnotum (pn 2) and postnotal apophyses (pn 2 a) well developed.

Metathorax: dorsum: metapostnotum (pn 3) either absent or fused to tergites of abdominal segment I; with a short band of 6–9 metatergal setae (mts) and 1–5 lp on each side; and with 5–7 dorsospiracular setae (dss) with 5–13 lp. Laterally: Metapleural ridge (plr 3) well developed; suspensorial sclerites (ss) present. Episternum (eps 3) slightly sclerotized, with 4 or 5 postmetaspiracular setae (eps 3 s) and 2 or 3 lp. Precoxal ridge (pcr 3) developed, extending ventrally 142–185 µm; an additional short sclerotization present close to each articulation of metacoxa, 65–125 μm long. Metepimeron (epm 3) extending posteriorly. Venter: Metathoracic spiracles (sp 3) each with outer part of peritreme 80–85 µm wide, without antemetaspiracular setae (am 3 s). Metasternum (stn 3) sclerotized and reticulated, with large lateral metasternal apophyses (stn 3 a); with 12–15 anterior metasternal setae (amss) and 5 lp; and with about 2 posterior metasternal setae (pmss). Postmesoprecoxal ridge seta (ppcr 2 s) absent.

Wings. Fore wings ( Fig. 5F View FIGURE 5 ) oblong and well developed, each 3.0– 3.4 mm long and 1.2–1.4 mm wide; ratio of length to width 1: 0.4; ratio of total body length to wing length 1: 0.96; covered with microtrichia ( Fig. 5G View FIGURE 5 ); without alar setae or sensoria. Costal thickening (CT) slightly sclerotized. Subcosta (Sc) and radius (R) present along CT from the wing base, almost reach the apex. Cubitus anterior (CuA) originates from Sc at about 1/5 along wing length and runs obliquely to posterior wing margin. Alar lobe fold (alf) sclerotized along proximal posterior margin, with a membranous pocket; anal fold (af) transparent. Hamulohalteres (h) ( Fig. 5H View FIGURE 5 ) with anterior margin sclerotized, 233–285 µm long and 60–65 µm wide; with 3 or 4 hamuli (ham) at tip, each 105–115 µm long; each hamulus with apex curved.

Legs well developed; lengths (in μm): foreleg shortest: entire length 2,133 –2,308; coxa 210–220; trochanter + femur 710–760; tibia 840–930; tarsus 300–320, and claw 73–78; middle leg: entire length 2,108 –2,286; coxa 220– 235; trochanter + femur 660–740; tibia 860–940; tarsus 280–310, and claw 70–76; hind leg longest: entire length 2,269 –2,580; coxa 240–250; trochanter + femur 710–810; tibia 955–1,100; tarsus 290–345, and claw 74–75. Ratio of length of metatibia to length of metatarsus 1: 0.30–0.32. Legs setose, each with many hair-like setae, each seta 150–290 µm long; coxa, trochanter, femur and tibia with satellite setae; each coxa and trochanter also with some short hair-like setae (30–40 μm long). Trochanters each with 2 basal spine-like setae (20–23 μm long), and with 3 or 4 (mostly 4) sensory pores on each surface. Tibia with some inner-side spine-like setae ( Fig. 5I View FIGURE 5 ) on distal half, each seta 45–55 μm long. Tarsi each 2 segmented, with proximal segment triangular, without setae; segment II with a tarsal campaniform sensillum proximally, inner side with spine-like setae, each 25–40 μm long; outer side with hair-like setae, each 38–88 μm long; tarsal digitules (tdgt) with pointed apices, each 63–65 μm long. Claws (c) ( Fig. 5J View FIGURE 5 ) each with a pair of basal spurs (each about 10 μm long), plantar denticle weak or absent; plus a weak denticle near apex; claw digitules (cdgt) conical, each 30–35 μm, shorter than claw.

Abdomen. Segments I–VII: tergites (at) represented by pairs of small sclerotizations on anterior margins of all segments, smaller posteriorly, at on segments I– VI reticulated. Sternites (as) similar to at but on segments II–VII, reticulated on segments II–V. Caudal extensions (ce) absent. Each segment with dorsal abdominal setae (ads), dorsopleural setae (dps), ventral pleural setae (vps) and ventral abdominal setae (avs), accompanied by lp; with more lp on margins. A pair of distinct ostioles present laterally between segments VI and VII. Segment VIII with at strongly sclerotized and cambered across segment, and a group of ads posterior to at; also with a pair of large sclerotized as, a group of avs posterior to each as. Hair-like setae forming groups on margins. Glandular pouches (gp) ( Fig. 5K View FIGURE 5 ) large and shallow, each with about 240 lp, each pore ( Fig. 5L View FIGURE 5 ) with 4–7 loculi; each gp containing 2 rather thick glandular pouch setae (gls), each 275–290 µm long, plus 11–15 shorter setae, each 25–98 μm long; each pair of gls with a large group of duct-like pores around their bases. Abdominal spiracles not detected.

Genital segment. Anal opening (an) present on membranous dorsum of penial sheath, 50–58 μm wide. Penial sheath (ps) ( Fig. 5M View FIGURE 5 ) extending posteriorly from segment VIII, with base broad and tapering to a point, 390–445 µm long and 220–320 μm wide basally; mostly membranous but with sclerotized framework. Venter of membrane with 7–9 hair-like penial sheath setae, each 33–55 μm long; dorsum with 6 or 7 setae on membrane; sclerotized framework with some hair-like setae anteriorly, becoming spine-like ( Fig. 5N View FIGURE 5 ) and shorter posteriorly; with a group of sensoria (psp) near tip. Basal rod (bra) strongly sclerotized, 200–255 μm long, attached ventrally to anterior margin of penial sheath. Aedeagus (aed) sclerotized, 405–475 µm long, long and C-shaped, broadest at base (about 58 µm wide), tapering posteriorly (apex about 13 µm wide); attached to bra basally; apex not bilobate.

Diagnostic characteristics: (i) fore-wings developed; (ii) claw with a weak denticle near apex and a pair of basal spurs, with or without a weak plantar denticle medially; (iii) tarsal digitules with pointed apices; (iv) with 9–13 loculate pores on each side of membranous area anterior to ocular sclerite; (v) with seven eyes on each side of head; (vi) antennal segment II with elongate setae and satellite setae; (vii) glandular pouches each containing about 240 loculate pores, pores each with 4–7 loculi, mostly with 5 or 6 loculi; (viii) both sides of abdomen with loculate pores, these fewer on venter; (ix) long hair-like setae on antenna each 290–465 μm long; (x) tegula with about 3 tegular setae; (xi) apex of aedeagus not bilobate; (xii) sclerotization of ocular sclerites restricted to near eyes; and (xiii) small simple pores very few, present near glandular pouches and posterior to each mesothoracic spiracle.

Remarks. The adult male of P. sinensis differs from that of P. huangshanensis by having (contrasting character states in P. huangshanensis are given in parentheses): (i) sclerotization of ocular sclerites restricted to near eyes (sclerotization extending to postocular ridge); (ii) claw without or with a weak plantar denticle medially (with a strong plantar denticle medially); (iii) glandular pouches each containing about 240 loculate pores (with about 100 loculate pores); (iv) sixth antennal segment longest (fifth antennal segment longest); and (v) a few small simple pores present near glandular pouches and posterior to each mesothoracic spiracle (present throughout whole body).

The adult male of P. sinensis is closest to that of P. cupressi ( Coleman, 1908) in having the following character states: (i) aedeagus blunt apically; (ii) each side of head with seven eyes plus one ocellus; (iii) antennal segment III more than 350 µm long; and (iv) antennal segment IV or VI longest. Puto sinensis cannot be distinguished from P. cupressi using morphological characters, because the descriptions of the latter are all too simple ( Coleman 1901, 1908, Ferris 1918). However, they can be distinguished by their distributions and host plant preferences: P. sinensis occurs only in the Old World, in the Oriental region, and feeds on Lauraceae (belonging to the Angiospermae); whereas P. cupressi occurs only in the New World, in the Palearctic region, and feeds on Cupressaceae , Pinaceae and Taxaceae (belonging to the Gymnospermae).