Hemipsocus mockfordi, Ramesh & Babu & Subramanian, 2025

Hemipsocus mockfordi sp. nov.

( Figs 2−14 View FIGURES 2–6 View FIGURES 7–10 View FIGURES 11–14 , 19−23 View FIGURES 19–23 )

Diagnosis. The current species of Hemipsocus are similar to H. africanus Enderlein, 1907 ; H. parallelicus Li, 1996 and H. roseus (Hagen, 1859) in terms of forewings with smoky hyaline and phallosomes. However, Hemipsocus mockfordi sp. nov. differs from the aforementioned species, as well as all other known species of this genus, primarily by the female subgenital plate ending with two apical lobes, which are absent in other species, i.e., posterior margin of subgenital plate broad and medially with narrow indentation and pigmented portion parallel and ‘8’ shaped in H. parallelicus ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 24–26 ); posterior margin of subgenital plate broad and medially with broad indentation and two eye shaped sclerites in the anterior portion in H. massulatus ( Fig. 25 View FIGURES 24–26 ); posterior margin of subgenital plate broad and medially with narrow indentation and two eye-shaped sclerites in the anterior portion in H. africanus ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 24–26 ).

Males also differ from the species referred above: the hypandrium is covered with setae on both the anterior and pigmented portions and triangular posterior margin; the epiproct has median denticular fields situated in the anterior portion, and a straight, heavily chitinized paraproct tip. However, it can be differentiated by paraproctal tip circular in H. ornatus , deeply curved in H. parallelicus , H. africanus and H. massulatus ( Figs 17, 18 View FIGURES 15–18 , 40, 41 View FIGURES 40–41 ). The posterior margin of hypandrium with medially outdent in H. parallelicus and H. africanus , rounded in H. massulatus and triangular in H. ornatus ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 15–18 ). The phallosome of present species is similar to the above mentioned species, however endophallic sclerite oval in shape and ½ of the sclerite present outside of the paramere in H. ornatus ( Fig. 15 View FIGURES 15–18 ).

Description. Male. Color (in 70% ethanol). Head creamy white with pinkish brown markings present as follows: longitudinal bands on the clypeus, the anterior margin of the frons just below the clypeus, two oblique bands on either side of the genae, bands in front of the eyes on either side, and a U-shaped band around the ocelli. Eyes have a transverse black band and a small black spot. Maxillary palpi are yellowish-brown, antennae are ferruginous brown, the thoracic pleural region is creamy yellow with patches of brownish pink. Wings are smoky-hyaline, and veins are dark yellowish with black dots running through them, except for CuP. Legs have a creamy yellowish, claw with a black base and a hyaline tip. Abdomen is creamy white with transverse pinkish brown bands ( Figs 2−3 View FIGURES 2–6 ).

Morphology. Head: The head is broad and oval-shaped, and its surface is covered with long, shaggy hair. The eyes are hemispherical, and the cornea lacks pubescence. Antennae with a shorter scape and pedicel compared to the flagellar segments. The flagellar segments are long and cylindrical, covered with somewhat close-set long bristly hairs. Maxillary palpi with a stout seta on the distal end of second and third segments ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 2–6 ). Lacinia with well-defined inner and outer tines, the outer tine tridentate at the apex ( Fig. 6 View FIGURES 2–6 ). Thorax: The prothorax is much reduced, and the meso and metathorax is well developed. Forewing: well developed, with rounded apices; with one row of long hairs on the veins except CuP and the margins; hairs on the veins with dark spots; Sc not distinct; subcosta very short; stigmasac well demarcated; pterostigma long and narrow, Rs and M meeting at a point ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 7–10 ). Hindwing: hairless margin, Rs-M fused for a distance, R2+3 is short, and slanted; the membrane of the wings is minutely punctate ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 7–10 ). Legs: trochanter with setae, femora flattened, tibiae long and cylindrical, tarsi are two-segmented, with the first tarsal segment containing a row of 29 ctenidiobothria, claw with a preapical tooth, a basal setiform process, and a cushion-like pulvillus. Hypandrium: The hypandrium ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 11–14 ) is covered with setae on both the anterior and pigmented portions and triangular posterior margin. Phallosome ( Fig. 12 View FIGURES 11–14 ): the external parameres is open, and narrow phallobase. The endophallus is strongly sclerotized and features a row of 23 teeth in an umbrella-shaped arrangement. The aedeagus is fully membranous, with the inner margin of the phallobase adorned with two narrow sclerites. The epiproct ( Fig.13 View FIGURES 11–14 ) is sub-triangular and has three long terminal setae, a pair of small lateral setae, and three subapical setae. It possesses well-developed scales at the anterior portion and has a couple of heavily chitinized curving spines in the anterior corners. The paraprocts ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 11–14 ) are somewhat tilted with a field of 8 trichobothria on basal rossets and a lack of basal rosset, the paraproctal "horns" are straight and heavily chitinized.

Measurements. FW: 3.220, HW: 2.464, F:0.881, T:1.360, t1:0.677, t2:0.145, ctt1: 29, ctt2: 2, Mx4: 0.195, f1: 0.886, f2: 0.891, IO: 0.575, D: 0.274, d: 0.198, IO/D: 2.098, PO: 0.72

Female: Color: Similar to male.

Morphology. Head ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 19–23 ) and wings ( Figs 9–10 View FIGURES 7–10 ) are similar to male, except for the terminalia. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 19–23 ) with two apical lobes and pointed. Gonapophyses ( Fig. 21 View FIGURES 19–23 ) ventral and dorsal valves gradually tapered and pointed; external valve triangular, membranous, with three marginal setae. Gonopore rounded with the anteriorly directed process ( Fig. 22 View FIGURES 19–23 ). Paraproct with two rows of marginal setae and a field of eight trichobothria and lacks a basal rosette. The epiproct is trapezoidal, with a row of subapical setae and sparsely positioned medial setae ( Fig. 23 View FIGURES 19–23 ).

Measurements. FW: 3.551, HW: 2.684, F:0.907, T:1.453, t1:0.703, t2:0.150, ctt1:26, ctt2: 2, Mx4: 0.215, f1: 0.948, f2: 0.938, IO: 0.611, D: 0.278, d: 0.195, IO/D: 2.197, PO: 0.70

Materials examined. HOLOTYPE male, INDIA: Tamil Nadu, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Ambasamudram Range, Stream near Kakachi [08.55440° N, 077.38393° E], 1286m, 12.III.2022; R. Babu & Party (Reg. No. ZSI/SRC/I/PSO/227) GoogleMaps . PARATYPES. 4 males, 6 females, same data as the holotype (Reg. No. ZSI/SRC/ I/PSO/227-1) GoogleMaps .

Other specimens: Tamil Nadu: 4 males, 6 females, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Ambasamudram Range, On the way between Oothu and Kuthiraivetti [8.58790°N, 077.34141°E], 1231m, 22.VIII.2019, R. Babu & Party GoogleMaps . 2 males, 3 females, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Ambasamudram Range, Stephan Junction , on the way to Manjolai [8.57158°N, 077.41978°E], 809m, 25.VIII.2019, R. Babu & Party GoogleMaps . 1 male, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Ambasamudram Range, Marapalam [8.54368°N, 077.37486°E], 1169m, 25.VIII.2019, R. Babu & Party GoogleMaps . 1 male, 2 females, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Ambasamudram Range, Golf field, Kakkachi [08.56097°N, 077.38573°E, 1317m, 25.VIII.2019, R. Babu & Party GoogleMaps . 5 males, 1female, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Ambasamudram Range, Oothu 25 th Kadu [08.57091°N, 077.34777°E], 1255m, 12.III.2022, R. Babu & Party GoogleMaps . 3 males, 2 females, Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, on the way to Muthukulivayal , 2 nd bend [08.47609°N, 077.38336°E], 994m, 16.II.2020, Varadaraju & Party GoogleMaps . 4 males, 3 females, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Valparai Range, Pudhuthottam [10.344803°N, 76.971399°E], 1181m, 7.II.2024, Ranjana & Party GoogleMaps . 5 males, 6 females, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Manambolly Range, Varattuparai [10.352571°N, 76.936953°E], 1068m, 7.II.2024, Ranjana & Party GoogleMaps . 2 males, 3 females, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Amaravathi Range, Kootaru , Sarkkupatti [10.351847°N, 77.239523°E], 424m, 5.III.2024, R. Babu & Party GoogleMaps . 5 males, 4 females, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Manambolly Range, Chinna Kallar , 10.302594°N, 77.029279°E], 1212m, 11.III.2024, R. Babu & Party GoogleMaps . Kerala: 8 males, 7 females, Trivandrum, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Ponmudi hills [8.768533°N, 77.108317°E], 1028m, 18.I.2019, Palot, Md. J. and G. Ramesh GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The specific epithet is named after Professor Dr. Edward L. Mockford, renowned American Psocidologist who made significant contributions to the study of Psocoptera.