Neolasioptera hexasepali Maia & Carvalho-Fernandes, 2025

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

( Figs. 6-8 View Figure 6 View Figure 7 View Figure 8 )

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Diagnosis: Spatula three-toothed, mesal tooth shorter than lateral, four lateral papillae (two with setae and two asetose) on each side, four pairs of setose terminal papillae (larva of 3 rd instar), antennal horns present, facial papillae absent, abdominal spiracles prominent (pupa), male antenna with 10-11 flagellomeres and female antenna with 12-16 flagellomeres, palpus three-segmented, empodia longer than claws, ovipositor about 4.5-5.0 x as long as 8 th tergite.

Male: Head ( Fig. 6a View Figure 6 ) globoid; eye facets circular, closely appressed, except laterally and at vertex; antenna (Fig, 6b): scape wider apically than basally, pedicel globoid, 10-11 flagellomeres, 1 st and 2 nd flagellomeres fused, all flagellomeres squarish, each with node setulose and neck short and bare, except the last one (conical); circumfila composed of two horizontal rings connected by two longitudinal bands ( Fig. 6c View Figure 6 ); mouth parts: labrum long-attenuate, with three pairs of setae; hypopharynx of the same shape of labrum, with long lateral setulae anteriorly directed; palpus three-segmented, 1 st and 2 nd segments ovoid, subequal in length, shorter than the last segment; 3 rd fusiform, longer and thinner than the others, 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 in the central area, scales intermixed; anepimeron with a longitudinal group of setae and some scales, other pleura bare; tarsal claws one-toothed, curved beyond midlength, empodia longer than claws ( Fig. 6d View Figure 6 ); wing ( Fig. 6e View Figure 6 ): C with break at juncture with R5, Rs absent, Cu forked. Abdomen ( Fig.6f View Figure 6 ): 1 st- 7 th tergites rectangular with single posterior row of setae, no lateral setae, scattered scales, and anterior pair of trichoid sensilla; 8 th tergites not sclerotized, with only trichoid sensillae as vestiture; 2 nd- 8 th rectangular, with single posterior row of setae, few mesal setae, lateral setae, scattered scales, and anterior pair of trichoid sensilla. Male terminalia ( Fig. 6g View Figure 6 ): gonocoxite 2.2-2.8 x as long as wide, cylindrical, setose, setulose 1.4- 1.70 x as long as gonostylus; gonostylus 4 x as long as wide, claviform, larger subbasally and tapering towards apex, setulose in the basal 1/3, striated in the distal 2/3, with scattered short setae, and apical claw; cerci entirely setulose, lobes wide, rounded, with several apical setae; hypoproct entirely setulose, simple, convex apically, with apical setae; mesobasal lobes slightly shorter than aedeagus, entirely setulose, with setose papillae on each lobe apically; aedeagus cylindrical, not constricted subapically, convex at apex. Measurements (N=5): body length 2.40– 2.80 mm long; head 0.27-0.30 mm long, 0.27-0.30 mm wide; scape 0.05 mm long, 0.04-0.055 mm wide; pedicel 0.04-0.05 mm long, 0.04-0.05 mm wide; 1 st + 2 nd flagellomeres 0.04-0.08 mm long; 3 rd- 9 th flagellomeres 0.03-0.04 mm long; 10 th flagellomeres 0.03 mm long; 11 th- 12 th flagellomeres 0.02-0.03 mm long; maxillary palpus: 1 st segment 0.02 mm long, 2 nd segment 0.03 mm long, 3 rd segment 0.04 mm long, 4 th segment 0.07-0.08 mm long; hypopharynx 0.08-0.09 mm long; labellum 0.04 mm long; wing 1.15-1.28 mm long; R5 0.50-0.55 mm long; terminalia: gonocoxite 0.12-0.14 mm long, 0.04-0.06 mm wide; gonostylus 0.07 mm long, 0.02 mm wide.

Female: Head ( Fig.6h View Figure 6 ): antennae ( Fig.6e View Figure 6 ) with 12-16 flagellomeres, scape trapezoid, pedicel globoid, 1 st and 2 nd flagellomeres fused, circumfila as in Fig. 6j View Figure 6 . Thorax: tarsal claws one-toothed, curved beyond midlength, empodia about as long as claws ( Fig. 7a View Figure 7 ), wing as in Fig. 7b View Figure 7 . Abdomen ( Fig. 7c View Figure 7 ): 1 st- 7 th tergites rectangular with single posterior row of setae, no lateral setae, scattered scales, and anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, 8 th tergite as two longitudinal sclerites incompletely divided, connected subapically, with only anterior pair of trichoid sensilla as vestiture; 2 nd- 7 th sternites rectangular with single posterior row of setae, complete row of lateral setae, scattered mesal setae, scattered scales, and anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, 8 th sternite not sclerotized. Ovipositor ( Fig. 7c View Figure 7 ) about 4.5-5.0 x as long as 8 th tergite; cerci large, fused, entirely setulose, with thick sensory hairs apically; hypoproct small, delicate, slightly concave in ventral view, with pair of setae apically. Measurements (N=2): body length 2.50-2.90 mm long; head 0.30-0.35 mm long, 0.30-0.35 mm wide; scape 0.05-0.06 mm long, 0.04-0.045 mm wide; pedicel 0.04-0.05 mm long, 0.04-0.05 mm wide; 1 st + 2 nd flagellomeres 0.08 mm long; 3 rd- 14 th flagellomeres; 0.03- 0.04 mm long, 15 th flagellomeres 0.06; maxillary palpus: 1 st segment 0.025 mm long; 2 nd segment 0.04 mm long; 3 rd- 4 th segments 0.05 mm long; hypopharynx 0.09 mm long; labellum 0.07 mm long; wing 1.35-1.43 mm long; R5 0.59-0.62 mm long; 8 th tergite 0.20 mm long; ovipositor (N=3) 0.92-1.00 mm long.

Pupa ( Fig. 7d View Figure 7 ): Head ( Fig. 7e View Figure 7 ): dorsal plate 1.9-2.5 x wider than long, as long as apical seta ( Fig. 7f View Figure 7 ), antennal horns conical, facial papillae absent. Thorax: integument smooth, prothoracic spiracle as long as or slightly longer than apical setae, cylindrical, outer margin not serrated, trachea ending at apex ( Fig. 7g View Figure 7 ). Abdomen: dorsal spines absent, spiracles prominent, spicules on dorsal and ventral side ( Fig. 8a View Figure 8 ). Measurements (N=5): body length 2.30- 2.80 mm; apical seta 0.06-0.08mm long; dorsal plate 0.06-0.09 mm long, 0.15-0.17 mm wide; antennal horn 0.03 mm long; prothoracic spiracle 0.06-0.08 mm long.

Larva of 3 rd instar ( Fig. 8b View Figure 8 ): 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 three conical teeth, mesal tooth shorter than lateral teeth, lateral arms strongly developed, stalk well developed, anchor-like bases ( Fig. 8c View Figure 8 ), four lateral papillae on each side, two with setae and two asetose ( Fig. 8d View Figure 8 ). Abdomen: terminal segment with four pairs of setose papillae. Measurements (N=5): body length 2.25- 2.50 mm, prothoracic spatula 0.30-0.32 mm long.

Host plant: Hexasepalum apiculatum (Willd.) Delprete & J. H. Kirkbr. ( Rubiaceae ). In all labels, the host plant is written as Diodella apiculata, a synonym of Hexasepalum apiculatum.

Gall: Stem swelling, fusiform, brown, glabrous, and multichambered (Fig. 101 in Carvalho-Fernandes et al. (2016).

Etymology: The word “hexasepali ” refers to the genus of the host plant.

Material examined: Holotype ♂, Brazil, RJ, Arraial do Cabo, Parque Estadual da Costa do Sol , 17.I.2012, S.P.C.Fernandes col.; paratypes: same data, 4♂, 1♀, 5 pupal exuviae; same locality and collector, 25.I.2012, 3♀, 2 pupal exuviae, 3 larvae of 3 rd instar; 26.III.2012, 1♂, 3 pupal exuviae, 2 larvae of 3 rd instar.

Additional material: Brazil, RJ, Arraial do Cabo, Parque Estadual da Costa do Sol , 26.III.2012, S.P.C. Fernandes col., 3♂ .

Geographical distribution: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro: Araruama, Arraial do Cabo, Cabo Frio, and São João da Barra (Atlantic Forest - restinga).

Comments: There is only one previously known species of Neolasioptera on Rubiaceae in the world, N.borreriae Möhn, 1964 ( Gagné and Jaschhof, 2025). It was described from El Salvador and induces galls on Borreria verticillata. The new species differs from it in the number of segments of the palpi (three in N. hexasepali sp. nov. and four in N. borreriae ), in the relative length of the empodia (as long as the tarsal claws in N. hexasepali sp. nov. and shorter than those in N. borreriae ), length of the pupal antennal horns (longer in the new species), and length of abdominal spiracles (prominent only in the new species).