Neolasioptera floricola Maia, 2025

Neolasioptera floricola Maia , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1-3 View Figure 1 View Figure 2 View Figure 3 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Diagnosis. Spatula two-toothed, four lateral papillae (2 with seta and 2 asetose) on each side, four pairs of setose terminal papillae (larva of 3 rd instar), antennal horns and facial papillae absent (pupa), male antenna with 13 flagellomeres and female antenna with 14-15 flagellomeres, palpus four-segmented, empodia about as long as claws, ovipositor about 5 x as long as 8 th tergite.

Male: Head ( Fig. 1a View Figure 1 ) globoid; eye facets circular, closely appressed, except laterally and at vertex; antenna: scape wider apically than basally; pedicel globoid as long as wide, 13 flagellomeres, 1 st- 12 th rectangular, slightly longer (1.5 x) than wide, each with node setulose and neck very short and bare, 13 th flagellomere ovoid ( Fig. 1b View Figure 1 ), setulose; 1 st and 2 nd flagellomeres fused; circumfila as in Fig. 1c View Figure 1 ; mouth parts: labrum long-attenuate, with two pairs of setae; hypopharynx of the same shape of labrum, with long lateral setulae anteriorly directed, 0.07 mm long; palpus four-segmented ( Fig. 1d View Figure 1 ), 1 st and 2 nd segments ovoid and subequal in length, 3 rd segment claviform, 4 th segment cylindrical; labella pointed distally, with lateral and mesal setae. Thorax: scutum with two dorsocentral rows of setae, lateral row of setae on each side, scales intermixed; scutellum with setae only in the basal half; anepimeron with setae and scales, other pleura bare; tarsal claws one-toothed, curved beyond midlength, empodia about as long as claws ( Fig. 1e View Figure 1 ); wing: C with break at juncture with R5, Rs absent, Cu forked ( Fig. 1f View Figure 1 ). Abdomen ( Fig. 1g View Figure 1 ): tergites more heavily sclerotized than sternites; 1 st- 6 th tergites rectangular, wider than long, with few lateral setae, posterior row of setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, and scattered scales elsewhere; 7 th- 8 th tergites band-like, 7 th tergite with few lateral setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, no caudal setae, and scattered scales elsewhere; 8 th tergite with only trichoid sensila as vestiture; 2 nd- 6 th sternites rectangular, longer than wide, with mesal and posterior rows of setae, few lateral setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, and scattered scales, 7 th and 8 th sternites with setae of posterior row more abundant than in the others sternites, few lateral setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, and scattered scales elsewhere. Male terminalia ( Fig. 1h View Figure 1 ): gonocoxite 2.8 x as long as wide, cylindrical, setose, setulose 1.5-1.75 x as long as gonostylus; gonostylus 3.2-3.6 x as long as wide, claviform, larger basally and tapering towards apex, setulose in the basal half, striated in the distal half, with scattered short setae, and apical claw; cerci entirely setulose, lobes wide, rounded, with several apical setae; hypoproct entirely setulose, slightly concave at apex, with apical setae; mesobasal lobes slightly shorter than aedeagus, entirely setulose, with setose papillae on each lobe apically; aedeagus cylindrical, slightly truncate at apex. Measurements (N=2): body length 1.80- 2.60 mm; head 0.23 mm long, 0.24 mm wide; antenna: scape 0.04 mm long, 0.05 mm wide; pedicel 0.04 mm long, 0.05 mm wide; 1 st + 2 nd flagellomere: 0.07 mm long; 3 rd- -11 th flagellomeres 0.035 -0.040 mm long; 12 th flagellomere 0.045 mm long; 13 th flagellomere 0.05 mm long; maxillary palpus: 1 st- 2 nd segments 0.020 -0.025 mm long; 3 rd segment 0.04 mm long; 4 th segment: 0.06 mm long; hypopharynx 0.07-0.08 mm long; labellum 0.05 mm long; wing 1.65 mm long; R5 1.00 mm long; terminalia: gonocoxite 0.14mm long, 0.05 mm wide; gonostylus 0.08- 0.09 mm long, 0.025 mm wide.

Female: Head: antennae ( Fig. 2a View Figure 2 ) with 14-15 flagellomeres; circumfila as in Fig. 2b View Figure 2 ; palpus: 1 st segment elliptical, 2 nd and 3 rd segments claviform, wider apically, 4 th segment elliptical. Abdomen ( Fig. 2c View Figure 2 ): 1 st- 6 th tergites rectangular, wider than long, 7 th tergite longer than wide, without sclerotization in the central area of the anterior margin and in the central area of the lateral margin, resulting in a X-shape with anterior “arms” thinner than posterior “arms; 8 th tergite, the longest one, trapezoid, 0.32 mm long, about 3.3x as long as wide, 1 st- 8 th tergites with few lateral setae, few posterior setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensillae, and scattered scales elsewhere; 2 nd- 7 th sternites weakly sclerotized, each with two sublateral longitudinal bands more sclerotized, mesal setae, posterior row of setae, few lateral setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, and scattered scales elsewhere; 8 th sternite not developed.Ovipositor ( Fig.2d View Figure 2 ) about 5 x as long as 8 th tergite; cerci fused, ovoid, entirely setulose, with thick sensory hairs apically; hypoproct small, delicate, bilobed in ventral view, with pair of setae apically. Measurements (N=2): body length 2.47-2.62 mm long; head 0.24 mm long, 0.26 mm wide; antenna: scape 0.05 mm long, 0.06 wide; pedicel 0.04 mm long, 0.04 mm wide; 1 st + 2 nd flagellomeres 0.07-0.08 mm long; 3 rd- 11 th flagellomeres 0.035 -0.040 mm long; 12 th flagellomere 0.045 mm long; 13 th- 15 th flagellomeres 0.035-0.40 mm long; maxillary palpus: 1 st segment 0.020 mm long; 2 nd segment 0.030 mm long; 3 rd segment 0.035 mm long; 4 th segment 0.05 mm long; hypopharynx 0.09 mm long; labellum 0.045 mm long; wing 1.70 mm long; R5 1.00 mm long; 8 th tergite 0.32 mm long; ovipositor (N=1) 1.72 mm long.

Pupa ( Fig. 2e View Figure 2 ): Head ( Fig. 2f View Figure 2 ): dorsal plate 2.4 x wider than long, 1.4 x longer than apical seta ( Fig. 2g View Figure 2 ), antennal horns and facial papillae absent. Thorax: integument smooth, prothoracic spiracle about as long as apical setae, conical, with outer margin serrated, trachea ending at apex ( Fig. 2h View Figure 2 ). Abdomen: dorsal spines absent, spicules on dorsal and ventral side ( Fig. 2i View Figure 2 ). Measurements (N=1): body length 2.70 mm; apical seta 0.07 mm long; dorsal plate mm 0.07mm long, 0.17 mm wide; prothoracic spiracle 0.10 mm long.

Larva of 3 rd instar ( Fig. 3a View Figure 3 ): Body fusiform; integument grainy ventrolaterally, ventral spiculae on the central area of each thoracic segment and 1 st to 7 th abdominal segments. Head: cephalic capsule as long as posterolateral apodemes. Thorax: prothoracic spatula long, strongly sclerotized, with two conical teeth, weakly developed lateral arms, well developed stalk; four lateral papillae (two setose and two asetose) on each side of the spatula ( Fig. 3b View Figure 3 ). Abdomen: terminal segment with four pairs of setose papillae. Free-living larvae on flower heads. Measurements (N=1): body length 1.80 mm, prothoracic spatula 0.11 mm long.

Host plant: Chromolaena laevigata (Lam.) R.M.King & H.Rob. ( Asteraceae ).

Etymology: The word “floricola ” refers to the host organ where larvae are found.

Material examined: Holotype ♂, Brazil, SP, Ibaté, 17.IV.-23.V.2004, M. Almeida-Neto et al. leg.( MNRJ-ENT1-71038 ); paratypes: same data, 2♂ ( MNRJ-ENT1-71037 , MNRJ-ENT1-71039 ), 3♀ ( MNRJ-ENT1-71034 , MNRJ-ENT1-71035 , MNRJ-ENT1-71036 ), 1 pupa ( MNRJ-ENT1-71033 ), 1 larva of 3 rd instar ( MNRJ-ENT1-71032 ).

Additional material: Same data as type material, 4 ♂ ( MNRJ-ENT1-71028 , MNRJ-ENT1-71029 , MNRJ-ENT1-71030 , MNRJ-ENT1-71031 ).

Geographical distribution: Brazil, SP: Ibaté and São Carlos (Cerrado).

Comments: There are 20 previously described Neotropical species of Neolasioptera on Asteraceae ( Gagné and Jaschhof, 2025) . Among them, Neolasioptera floricola sp. nov., N. rostrata Gagné, 1989 and N. verbesinae Möhn, 1964 are the only species which have two-toothed spatula. Nevertheless, their larvae differ in the number of terminal papillae (four pairs, two pairs and three pairs, respectively).Furthermore, their adults differ in the number of antennal flagellomeres ( 13-15 in the new species, 10-12 in N. rostrata , and 15-19 in N. verbesinae ). Another difference between larvae of N. floricola sp. nov. and N. rostrata lies in the number of lateral papillae (four on each side of the spatula in the new species and three in N. rostrata ). Additionally, adults of N. floricola sp. nov. have four-segmented palpi, while in N. verbesinae they are three-segmented. Neolasioptera exeupatorii (Cook, 1909) , known only from its gall, was not included in our comparison. It induces stem galls on Eupatorium villosum Swartz, a plant with no records in Brazil. Its gall is known only from Cuba.