Pagastia (s. str.) shennong Liu & Tang, 2025

Pagastia (s. str.) shennong Liu & Tang , sp. nov.

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Figs 1D–F View FIGURE 1 , 2C–D View FIGURE 2

Type material. Holotype, Male, CHINA: Hubei Province, Shennongjia National Wetland Park, Dajiuhu Town , Dong village ; 13.v.2024; leg. HQ Tang; Dep. ( EJNU) . Paratype, 1 Male, same as holotype.

Etymology. From an ancient deity, Shennong, who was known as the forefather of Chinese agriculture. It also refers to the type locality, Shennongjia NNR. To be treated as a noun in apposition.

Description.

Male (n = 2). Total length 6.0– 6.9 mm. Wing length 3.0– 3.5 mm. TL/WL1.88–2.02.

Coloration. Dark brown in most body parts except the scutella, lateral antepronotal, and posterior prealar area are yellow.

Head. Antenna with 13 flagellomeres, the last flagellomere 1050–1160 µm long, subapex with a seta, 55– 60 µm long. AR 2.80–2.91. Temporals 35–46, including 28–35 verticals, 3–5 postoculars, and 7–12 orbitals, 3– 4 postorbitals. Palpomere lengths (in μm): 40–50; 120–130; 200–235; 280–300; 300–350. Clypeus with 34–45 setae.

Thorax. Lateral antepronotals 32–35, median antepronotals 20–22; acrostichals 20–26, dorsocentrals 40–44, anterior prealars 11–13, posterior prealars 25–32, scutellars 90–110, with 6–7 irregular rows.

Wing. Arculus with 3–4 setae. R with 25–36 setae; R 1 with 22–40 setae; R 4+5 with 16–18 setae; squama with 80–110 setae. VR 0.87–0.91.

Legs. Spur of fore tibia 110–130 μm long; spurs of mid tibia 80–100 and 90–100 μm; spurs of hind tibia 90–110 μm and 120–160 μm long. Hind tibia comb with 12–18 setae. Lengths and proportions of legs as Table 2.

Hypopygium ( Figs 1D–F View FIGURE 1 , 2C–D View FIGURE 2 ). Tergite IX with 12–16 setae on each side. Laterosternite IX with 15–20 setae. Anal point 80–100 μm long, 25–30 μm wide in base, tapering towards the apex ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ). Median aedeagal lobe (MAL) consists of two parts, the dorsal branch is goose-neck shaped (MALb), the main section is spatulated distally, with some granulations underneath. Lateral aedeagal lobe (LAL) broadly lanceolate, pectinate apically ( Fig. 2C–D View FIGURE 2 ). Gonocoxite 310–340 μm long. Gonostylus 250–280 μm long, with an outer heel near the apex. Megaseta 25–30 μm high, less than the inner margin of gonostylus. HR 1.20–1.24.

Remarks. The composition of the aedeagal complex of this new species is unique among known Pagastia species. Specifically, the aedeagal complex in P. shennong sp. nov. has a granulated apex of the median lobe and a basally arising pectinate dorsal branch. In addition, the pale scutellum, the outer heel in the apex of the gonostylus, separate it from the other known species in the genus. Currently, the species is only known from the type locality.