Papuanatula (Papuanatula) epibessa, Kaltenbach & Kluge & Gattolliat, 2025

Papuanatula (Papuanatula) epibessa sp. nov.

Figs 48 View Figure 48 , 49 View Figure 49 , 50 View Figure 50 , 51 View Figure 51 , 52 View Figure 52 , 53 View Figure 53 , 54 View Figure 54

Etymology.

The species name epibessa refers to the morphological similarity with P. bessa .

Material examined.

Holotype. Papua New Guinea • larva; Simbu Prov., Mt. Wilhelm, Pindaunde Creek , in forest, S 3 (oria 4); 05°49'S, 145°04'30"E; 2900 m; 18. viii. 1999; leg. L. Čížek; on slide; GBIFCH 01221766 ; MZL GoogleMaps . Paratypes. 31 larvae; same data as holotype; in alcohol; GBIFCH 00976020 , GBIFCH 00976121 ; MZL GoogleMaps • 93 larvae; Simbu Prov., Mt. Wilhelm, Pindaunde Creek , near fish farm, S 4 (oria 5); 05°49'02"S, 145°05'16"E; 2600 m; 18. viii. 1999; leg. L. Čížek; 3 on slides; GBIFCH 01221759 , GBIFCH 01221761 , GBIFCH 01221767 ; MZL; 90 in alcohol; GBIFCH 00976021 , GBIFCH 00976023 , GBIFCH 00976024 , GBIFCH 00976126 ; MZL GoogleMaps • 18 larvae; Simbu Prov., Mt. Wilhelm, Pindaunde Creek , S 2 (oria 2); 05°48'03"S, 145°04'09"E; 3210 m; 17. viii. 1999; leg. L. Čížek; 1 on slide; GBIFCH 01221762 ; 17 in alcohol; GBIFCH 00976124 ; MZL GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Larva. The following combination of characters distinguishes P. epibessa sp. nov. from other species of Papuanatula s. str.: body dorsally with irregular row of long, fine, simple setae along midline; metanotum and abdominal terga I – III with medioposterior, broad, paired humps, poorly developed on terga I – III; femur yellow brown, basally with wedge-shaped blank; paracercus with 6–8 segments; claw with 1–3 posterior setae.

Description.

Larva (Figs 48 View Figure 48 – 54 View Figure 54 ). Body length 4.1–5.5 mm, cerci much longer than body length (~ 1.7 ×).

Cuticular coloration (Figs 48 a – c View Figure 48 , 49 a View Figure 49 ) Head, thorax and abdomen dorsally yellow brown to brown, thorax with complex markings. Abdominal terga II – V with brown markings along anterior margin, tergum III additionally with mediolateral, brown markings. Femur yellow brown, basally with wedge-shaped blank. Tibia pale yellow brown; tarsus yellow brown. Cerci pale yellow brown.

Hypodermal coloration (Figs 48 a View Figure 48 , 49 a View Figure 49 ) Abdominal terga with narrow, dark brown, transverse bands along posterior margin.

Head. Dorsally with irregular row of long, fine, simple setae along midline. Antenna (Fig. 51 e View Figure 51 ). Length ~ 1.5 × head length. Developing turbinate eyes in last instar male larva (Fig. 51 e View Figure 51 ) rather small, ovoid, with big distance to each other. Labrum (Fig. 50 a, b View Figure 50 ). Length 0.5 × maximum width, laterally convex. Dorsal, sub-marginal arc with ~ 35 feathered setae. Right mandible (Fig. 50 d, e View Figure 50 ). Margin between prostheca and mola with few denticles close to prostheca. Otherwise, as typical for subgenus. Left mandible (Fig. 50 f, g View Figure 50 ). Margin between prostheca and mola smooth, with few denticles close to prostheca. Otherwise, as typical for subgenus. Hypopharynx (Fig. 50 c View Figure 50 ). As typical for genus. Maxilla (Fig. 51 c, d View Figure 51 ). Maxillary palp subequal in length to galea-lacinia; palp segment II approximately as long as segment I. Otherwise, as typical for genus. Labium (Fig. 51 a, b View Figure 51 ). As typical for the genus. Paraglossa dorsally with 2 spine-like setae near inner, distolateral margin. Labial palp with segment I approximately as long as segments II and III combined. Segment II with minute distomedial protuberance, dorsally with row of five or six spine-like setae near outer, distolateral margin. Segment III conical, pointed; 0.8 × length of segment II; inner dorsal margin with few feathered setae.

Thorax. Sterna. With small protuberances on sides of prosternum and close to openings of mesothoracic and metathoracic sternal apodemes (as Fig. 108 a View Figure 108 ). Terga (Figs 48 b View Figure 48 , 53 a View Figure 53 ) with irregular row of long, fine, simple setae along midline. Metanotum with medioposterior broad, paired humps, without hind protoptera or their vestiges. Legs (Fig. 52 a – h View Figure 52 ). Ratio of leg segments: fore leg 0.8: 1.0: 0.3: 0.1, middle leg 0.9: 1.0: 0.3: 0.1 and hind leg 1.0: 1.0: 0.3: 0.1. Femur. Length ~ 4 × maximum width. Posterior side of apex with row of robust setae (contrary to fine, simple setae as it is usually the case in Papuanatula s. str.). Tarsus. Inner margin distally sometimes with two long setae (Fig. 52 g View Figure 52 ). Claw with one row of 6–8 (9) denticles and 1–3 posterior setae.

Abdomen. Terga (Figs 48 b View Figure 48 , 53 a, b View Figure 53 , 54 a, b View Figure 54 ) with irregular row of long, fine, simple setae along midline. Terga I – III with poorly developed, medioposterior, broad, paired humps. Terga II – IV protruding slightly medially on posterior margin. Posterior margin of terga: I smooth, without denticles; II – IX with triangular, apically rounded denticles, partly with minute, pointed denticles in between. Surface with scattered small, ovoid, striated scales with slightly serrate margin. Tergalii (Fig. 53 e, f View Figure 53 ). Ovoid, tracheation poorly developed or absent; margins smooth, with short, fine, simple setae. Paraproct (Fig. 53 g View Figure 53 ). Posterior margin with prolongation and row of minute denticles. Caudalii (Fig. 53 c, d View Figure 53 ). Cerci in middle part with one to maximally five swimming setae per segment, initially increasing and then again decreasing toward distal part; sometimes total loss or maximally one swimming seta per segment. Paracercus with 6–8 segments.

Pose of subimaginal gonostyli under larval cuticle. Unknown.

Subimago. Unknown.

Imago. Unknown.

Egg. Unknown.

Distribution.

New Guinea (Fig. 146 View Figure 146 ).