Neolasioptera fluminensis Maia & Carvalho-Fernandes, 2025

Neolasioptera fluminensis Maia & Carvalho-Fernandes , sp. nov.

( Figs. 4-5 View Figure 4 View Figure 5 )

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Diagnosis: Spatula five-toothed, three lateral papillae (two setae and one asetose) on each side, four pairs of setose terminal papillae (larva of 3 rd instar), antennal horns present, facial papillae absent, prothoracic spiracle not prominent (pupa), male antenna with 11 flagellomeres and female antenna with 13-16 flagellomeres, palpus three or four-segmented, empodia about as long as claws, ovipositor about 5 x as long as 8 th tergite.

Male: Head ( Fig. 4a View Figure 4 ) globoid; eye facets circular, closely appressed, except laterally and at vertex. Antenna ( Fig. 4b View Figure 4 ): scape wider apically than basally, pedicel globoid, 11 flagellomeres, 1 st- 10 th rectangular, slightly longer than wide (1,5 x), each with node setulose and neck short and bare, 11 th ovoid, setulose, 1 st and 2 nd flagellomeres fused, 11 th flagellomere wider and longer than the others; circumfila composed of two horizontal rings connected by two longitudinal bands ( Fig. 4c View Figure 4 ). Labrum long-attenuate, with three pairs of setae. Hypopharynx of the same shape of labrum, with long lateral setulae anteriorly directed. Palpus four-segmented in two specimens: 1 st and 2 nd segments ovoid, 2 nd segment wider than the others, 3 rd segment claviform or fusiform, 4 th segment claviform, thinner than the others; palpus three-segmented in a single specimen: 1 st and 2 nd segments ovoid, 2 nd segment wider than the others, 3 rd segment claviform; labella hemispherical, with lateral and three short 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 discal setae and scales, other sclerites bare. Tarsal claws one-toothed, curved beyond midlength, empodia about as long as claws ( Fig. 4d View Figure 4 ). Wing ( Fig. 4e View Figure 4 ): C with break at juncture with R5, Rs absent, Cu forked. Abdomen ( Fig. 4f View Figure 4 ): tergites more heavily sclerotized than sternites; 1 st- 6 th tergites rectangular with few lateral setae, posterior row of setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, and scattered scales elsewhere. Seventh tergite conspicuously thinner than 6 th tergite with few lateral setae, posterior row of setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, and scattered scales elsewhere; 8 th tergite band-like with only trichoid sensilla as vestiture. 2 nd- 6 th sternites squarish, mesal and posterior row of setae, few lateral setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, and scattered scales; 7 th and 8 th sternites thinner than other sternites with setae posterior and mesal rows of setae contiguous, few lateral setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, and scattered scales elsewhere. Male terminalia ( Fig. 4g View Figure 4 ): gonocoxite 2.4 x as long as wide, cylindrical, with setae and setulae, about 1.5-1.8 x as long as gonostylus; gonostylus claviform, larger basally and tapering towards apex, setulose in the basal third, striated elsewhere, with scattered short setae, and apical claw.; cerci entirely setulose, lobes wide, rounded, with several apical setae; hypoproct simple, entirely setulose, slightly truncate at apex, with apical setae; mesobasal lobes slightly shorter than aedeagus, entirely setulose, with setose papillae on each lobe apically. Aedeagus conical, rounded at apex. Measurements (N=2): body length 1.95-2.15 mm long; head 0.27 mm long, 0.24-0.27 mm wide; scape 0.05 mm long, 0.045 mm wide; pedicel 0.03-0.04 mm long, 0.04-0.05 mm wide; 1 st + 2 nd flagellomeres 0.06-0.07 mm long; 3 rd- 6 th flagellomeres 0.030-0.04 mm long; 7 th- 9 th flagellomeres 0.03 mm long; 10 th flagellomere 0.02-0.03 mm long; 11 th flagellomere 0.035-0.04mm; maxillary palpus: 1 st segment 0.020 -0.025 mm long; 2 nd segment 0.025 -0.030 mm long; 3 rd segment 0.035 mm long; 4 th segment 0.04; hypopharynx 0.070 -0.085 mm long; labellum 0.03-0.04 mm long; wing 1.10-1.15 mm long; R5 0.50-0.52 mm long; terminalia: gonocoxite 0.12 mm long, 0.05 mm wide; gonostylus 0.07-0.08 mm, long 0.015 -0.017 mm wide.

Female: Head: antennae with 13-16 flagellomeres, scape trapezoid, wider apically than basally, pedicel globoid, 1 st and 2 nd flagellomeres fused; last flagellomere wider and longer than the others ( Fig. 4h View Figure 4 ); circumfila as in Fig. 4i View Figure 4 . Palpus: 1 st segment cylindrical, 2 nd segment cylindrical or ovoid, larger than the others, 3 rd segment claviform, 4 th segment claviform or fusiform; labella hemispherical. Thorax: tarsal claws one-toothed, curved beyond midlength, empodia about as long as claws. Abdomen ( Fig. 4j View Figure 4 ): 1 st- 6 th tergites rectangular, 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, about 2.4 x as long as wide, 1 st- 7 th tergites with few posterior setae, few lateral setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensillae and scales elsewhere; 8 th tergite with only posterior setae and anterior pair of trichoid sensilla. 2 nd- 5 th sternites irregularly sclerotized, each with sublateral longitudinal large areas more sclerotized, few mesal setae not forming rows, single posterior row of setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensilla and scales elsewhere; 6 th sternite with few mesal setae not forming rows, double posterior row of setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensilla and scales elsewhere; 7 th sternite with few mesal setae not forming rows, a band of posterior setae, anterior pair of trichoid sensilla and scales elsewhere; 8 th sternite not developed. Ovipositor ( Fig. 4k View Figure 4 ) about 5x as long as 8 th tergite; cerci large, fused, entirely setulose, with thick sensory hairs apically; hypoproct small, delicate, bilobed in ventral view, with pair of setae apically. Measurements (N=4): body length 1.82-2.45 mm long; head 0.30- 0.035 mm long, 0.30-0.35 mm wide; scape 0.05-0.06 mm long, 0.04-0.045 mm wide; pedicel 0.04 mm long, 0.04-0.05 mm wide; 1 st + 2 nd flagellomeres 0.07-0.08 mm long; 3 rd flagellomeres 0.035-0.04 mm long, 4 th- 5 th flagellomeres 0.03-0.04 mm long; 6 th- 9 th flagellomeres 0.035 -0.040, 10 th- 13 th flagellomeres 0.03- 0.04 mm long; 14 th flagellomere 0.03 mm long; 15 th- 16 th segments 0.025 mm long; maxillary palpus: 1 st segment 0.02-0.03 mm long; 2 nd segment 0.030 -0.035 mm long; 3 rd- 4 th segments 0.04-0.05 mm long; hypopharynx 0.06-0.08 mm long; labellum 0.045 -0.050 mm long; wing 1.35-1.50 mm long; R5 0.63-0.70 mm long; 8 th tergite 0.13-0.14 mm long; ovipositor (N=3) 0.64-0.68 mm long.

Pupa ( Fig. 5a View Figure 5 ): Head ( Fig. 5b View Figure 5 ): dorsal plate 1.8-2.1 x wider than long, 1.2-1.3 x longer than apical seta ( Fig. 5c View Figure 5 ), antennal horns conical, facial papillae absent. Thorax: integument smooth, prothoracic spiracle shorter than apical setae, cylindrical, outer margin not serrated, trachea ending at apex ( Fig. 5d View Figure 5 ). Abdomen: dorsal spines absent, spicules on dorsal and ventral side ( Fig. 5e View Figure 5 ). Measurements (N=2): body length 2.40-2.60 mm; apical seta 0.08-0.09mm long; dorsal plate 0.10-0.12 mm long, 0.21-0.22 mm wide; antennal horn 0.03-0.04 mm long; prothoracic spiracle 0.02-0.03 mm long.

Larva of 3 rd instar: 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 five conical teeth, lateral teeth shorter than mesal teeth, mesal teeth subequal in length, no lateral lateral arms, stalk welly developed, tapering towards bases ( Fig. 5f View Figure 5 ); three lateral papillae (two setae and one asetose) on each side of the spatula. Abdomen: terminal segment with four pairs of setose papillae. Measurements (N=1): body length 2.00 mm, prothoracic spatula 0.25 mm long.

Host plant: Inga maritima Beth. ( Fabaceae ).

Gall: On stems, leaf veins or petioles, fusiform, green, glabrous, one-chambered. The gall is occupied by a single gall-inducing larva.

Etymology: The word “fluminensis ” means native from the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Material examined: Holotype ♂, Brazil, RJ, Maricá, APA de Maricá , 21.VIII.1998, V.Maia col.(emergence: 23.VIII.1998) ( MNRJ-ENT1-71056 ); paratypes: same locality, 16.V.2001, Maia & Azevedo col., 2♀ ( MNRJ-ENT1-71054 , MNRJ-ENT1-71055 ); 05.VI.1998, V. Maia col., 1 pupal exuvia ( MNRJ-ENT1-71053 ); Itaipuaçu, 04.IX.1008, V.Maia col., 1 pupal exuvia ( MNRJ-ENT1-71052 ), 2 larvae of third instar ( MNRJ-ENT1-71051 ); Arraial do Cabo, 17.I.2012, S.H.S. Ascendino col., 2♂ ( MNRJ-ENT1-71049 , MNRJ-ENT1-71050 ); Saquarema, 28.IX.2011, V. Maia col., 1♀ ( MNRJ-ENT1-71048 ), 4 pupal exuviae ( MNRJ-ENT1-71047 ).

Additional material: Brazil, RJ, Saquarema , 28.IX.2011, S.H.S. Ascendino col., 4♀ ( MNRJ-ENT1-71041 , MNRJ-ENT1-71042 , MNRJ-ENT1-71043 , MNRJ-ENT1-71049 , MNRJ-ENT1-71045 ), and 1 larva of third instar ( MNRJ-ENT1-71040 ); same locality, 28.IX.2011, V.C. Maia col., 1♀ ( MNRJ-ENT1-71044 ), Arraial do Cabo, 17.I.2012, S.H.S.Ascendino col., 1♀ ( MNRJ-ENT1-71046 ) .

Geographical distribution: Brazil, RJ: Rio de Janeiro (Marambaia and Grumari), Maricá, Saquarema, Araruama, Arraial do Cabo, and São João da Barra (Atlantic Forest - restinga) ( Oliveira and Maia, 2005; Carvalho-Fernandes et al., 2016; Maia and Silva, 2016).

Comments: There are six Neotropical species of Neolasioptera on Fabaceae ( Gagné and Jaschhof, 2025) . Among them, only Neolasioptera fluminensis sp. nov. has five-toothed spatula and three lateral papillae on each side (larva), not prominent prothoracic spiracle (pupa), and antenna with 11 flagellomeres in male and 13-16 in female. Neolasioptera fariae also has a five-toothed spatula, but it differs from the new species in the length of the pupal apical setae (157 µm), number of male and female antennal flagellomeres, 15 and 22, respectively, and relative length of empodia (as long as tarsal claws in the new species and longer than those in N. fariae ). Terminalia masculina e feminina