Neolasioptera myriopi Maia & Carvalho-Fernandes, 2025

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

( Figs. 9-10 View Figure 9 View Figure 10 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

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 papillae (larva of 3 rd instar), antennal horns present, facial papillae absent (pupa), male antenna with 10-11 flagellomeres and female antenna with 16 flagellomeres, palpus four-segmented, empodia longer than claws, ovipositor about 7.5-as long as 8 th tergite.

Male: Head ( Fig. 9a View Figure 9 ) globoid; eye facets circular, closely appressed, except laterally and at vertex; antenna ( Fig. 9b View Figure 9 ): scape wider apically than basally, pedicel globoid, 10-11 flagellomeres, 1 st- 14 th flagellomeres squarish, each with node setulose and neck short and bare, last flagellomere ovoid, setulose, 1 st and 2 nd flagellomeres fused, 11 th and 12 th free (in five specimens) or incompletely fused (in two specimens); circumfila composed of two horizontal rings connected by two longitudinal bands ( Fig. 9c View Figure 9 ); mouth parts: labrum long-attenuate, with three pairs of setae; hypopharynx of the same shape of labrum, with long lateral setulae anteriorly directed; palpus four-segmented, 1 st segment ovoid, shorter than the others, 2 nd and 3 rd ovoid, subequal in length, 2 nd segment larger than the others, 4 th segment fusiform, longer and thinner than the others, labella pointed apically, 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 row of setae and some scales, other pleura bare; tarsal claws one-toothed, curved beyond midlength, empodia longer than claws ( Fig. 9d View Figure 9 ); wing ( Fig. 9e View Figure 9 ): C with break at juncture with R5, Rs absent, Cu forked. Abdomen ( Fig. 9f View Figure 9 ): 1 st- 7 th tergites rectangular with single posterior row of setae, lateral row of setae, scattered scales, and anterior pair of trichoid sensilla; 8 th tergites band-like, with only trichoid sensillae as vestiture; 2 nd- 8 th partially sclerotized (mesal area and anterior margin not sclerotized centrally), 2 nd- 6 th sternites with single posterior row of setae, few mesal setae, lateral setae, scattered scales, and anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, 7 th and 8 th sternites with double posterior row of setae, no mesal setae, few lateral setae, scattered scales, and anterior pair of trichoid sensilla. Male terminalia ( Figs. 9g View Figure 9 ): gonocoxite 2.3-3.0 x as long as wide, cylindrical, setose, setulose 1.7- 2.0 x as long as gonostylus; gonostylus 3.5 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, slightly constricted subapically, convex at apex. Measurements (N=3): body length 2.40-2.70 mm long (N=2); head 0.27-0.30 mm long, 0.27- 0.30 mm wide; scape 0.05 mm long, 0.05 mm wide; pedicel 0.04 mm long, 0.04 mm wide; 1 st + 2 nd flagellomeres 0.07 mm long; 3 rd- 5 th flagellomeres 0.035 mm long; 6 th- 9 th flagellomeres 0.04 mm long; 10 th flagellomere 0.06 mm long; maxillary palpus: 1 st- 3 rd segments smached; 4 th segment 0.07 mm long; hypopharynx 0.08 mm long; labellum 0.035 mm long; wing 1.25-1.30 mm long; R5 0.53-0.60 mm long; terminalia: gonocoxite 0.14 mm long, 0.05 mm wide; gonostylus 0.08 mm long, 0.015 mm wide.

Female: Head ( Fig. 9h View Figure 9 ): antennae with 16 flagellomeres, 14 th and 16 th flagellomeres partially fused, scape trapezoid, pedicel globoid, 1 st and 2 nd flagellomeres fused, circumfila as inFig. 9i; mouth parts: palpus: 1 st segment ovoid, 2 nd segment cylindrical, wider than the others, 3 rd and 4 th segments fusiform, subequal in length, 4 th segment thinner than the others; labella hemispherical. Thorax: tarsal claws one-toothed, curved beyond midlength, as long as empodium ( Fig. 9j View Figure 9 ). Abdomen ( Fig.10a View Figure 10 ): 1 st- 6 th tergites rectangular with single posterior row of setae, no lateral setae, scattered scales, and anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, 7 th tergite rectangular with single posterior row of setae, lateral setae only at posterior half, scattered scales, and anterior pair of trichoid sensilla, 8 th tergite as two longitudinal sclerites incompletely divided, connected subapically, with posterior setae and anterior pair of trichoid sensilla; 2 nd- 7 th sternites partially sclerotized, as two longitudinal sclerites, all 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. 10a View Figure 10 ) about 7.5 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 2.10-2.80 mm long; head 0.29-0.31 mm long, 0.24-0.32 mm wide; scape 0.05-0.06 mm long, 0.04-0.06 mm wide; pedicel 0.040 -0.045 mm long, 0.045-0.05 mm wide; 1 st + 2 nd flagellomeres 0.060 -0.075 mm long; 3 rd- 7 th flagellomeres 0.04 mm long, 8 th- 12 th flagellomeres 0.035 - 0.040 mm long; 13 th flagellomere 0.03-0.04, 14 th- 15 th flagellomeres 0.035 -0.040 mm long; 16 th flagellomere 0.03 mm long; mouth parts smashed; wing 1.22-1.50 mm long; R5 0.52-0.65 mm long; 8 th tergite 0.15-0.17 mm long; ovipositor (N=3) 1.13-1.24 mm long.

Pupa ( Fig. 10b View Figure 10 ): Head: dorsal plate 1.5-1.8 x wider than long,.085- 1.1 x longer than apical seta ( Fig.10c View Figure 10 ), antennal horns conical ( Fig. 10d View Figure 10 ), 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.10e View Figure 10 ). Abdomen: dorsal spines absent, spicules on dorsal and ventral side ( Fig. 10f View Figure 10 ). Measurements (N=5): body length 2.55-2.75 mm; apical seta 0.07-0.08mm long; dorsal plate 0.06-0.08 mm long, 0.16-0.18 mm wide; antennal horn 0.01 mm long; prothoracic spiracle 0.08-0.11 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 three conical teeth, mesal teeth shorter than lateral teeth, lateral arms strongly developed, stalk welly developed, anchor-like bases ( Fig. 10g View Figure 10 ), four lateral papillae on each side, two with setae and two asetose. Abdomen: terminal segment with four pairs of papillae with setae. Measurements (N=2): body length 2.00- 2.45 mm, prothoracic spatula 0.26-0.27 mm long.

Host plant: Myriopus villosus Salzm. ex DC. ( Heliotropiaceae ) – recorded as Tournefortia villosa Salzm. ex DC. ( Boraginaceae ).

Gall: Stem swelling, fusiform, green, glabrous, multichambered (Fig. 16. in Carvalho-Fernandes et al. (2016).

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

Material examined: Holotype ♂, Brazil, RJ, Araruama, Parque Estadual da Costa do Sol , 08.VII.2011, S. H. Ascendino col.; paratypes: same data, 3♂, 5♀, 3 pupal exuviae, 2 larvae of 3 rd instar; same locality and collector, 03.VI.2011, 1♂, 5♀, 12 pupal exuviae, 1 larva of 3 rd instar. In all labels, the host plant is written as Tournefortia villosa, a synonym of Myriopus villosus.

Geographical distribution: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro: Araruama (Atlantic Forest - restinga).

Comments: According to Gagné and Jaschhof (2025), there are three species of Neolasioptera in the world previously known associated with Boraginaceae , all reported from the Neotropical region: N. cordiae Möhn, 1964 ; N. tournefortiae Möhn, 1964 and N. tridentifera (Kieffer & Jörgensen, 1910). Neolasioptera myriopi sp. nov. has three-toothed spatula as N. tridentifera and N. tournefortiae , while N. cordiae and N. fariae have five-toothed spatula. In new species, the mesal tooth of the spatula is shorter than lateral ones and the lateral arms are strongly sclerotized as in N. tournefortiae . Both species also have four lateral papillae on each side of the spatula and four pairs of setose terminal papillae. Nevertheless, their larvae differ in the shape of the middle teeth, which is conical in the new species and with slightly bilobed in N. tournefortiae . In N. tridentifera, the middle tooth is longer than the lateral ones.