Phylloteles picifons Pape 1985

Phylloteles picifons Pape 1985 View in CoL

( Figs 3A–M View Figure 3 , 4G–I View Figure 4 , 5E, F View Figure 5 )

Materialexamined: Fifteen larvae from a single female:/ Namibia / Way Gobabeb-Windhoek /-23.26 925 16.12 554/ 25 Nov 2018 / leg. A. Thomas-Cabianca //ArianaL/Phyl.// KEIB _ DIP_01299 // Phylloteles / picifons /( Pape 1985)/det. K. Szpila /

Pseudocephalon: Antennal complex (an) large, antennal dome (and) oval, with conical tip, antennal basal ring (abr) high ( Fig. 3A, B, D, E View Figure 3 ); maxillary palpus (mp) shaped as a high cone ( Fig. 3A, B, D–F View Figure 3 ), first sensillum basiconicum (sb1) very long and with slightly swollen tip, shifted away from central cluster of sensilla toward base of palpus, additional sensilla (ns1–ns2) large and both situated dorsally to central cluster of sensilla ( Fig. 3F View Figure 3 ); ventral organ (vo) on swollen, fleshy lobe ( Fig. 3A, B, D, E View Figure 3 ); laterally to the mouth opening a few (one or two) cirri/ suprabuccal teeth (c/sbt) ( Fig. 3E View Figure 3 ); oral ridges (or) well developed ( Fig. 3B, D, E View Figure 3 ); antero-dorsal surface of pseudocephalon with irregular cuticular warts, postero-dorsal surface with fine cuticular ridges ( Fig. 3A, B, D View Figure 3 ).

Cephaloskeleton: Labrum (lb) straight except for anterior part curved down, tip pointed (Figs 4H, 5E); mouthhook (mh) with a lateral arm at the base, almost parallel-sided and very slightly upcurved, mouthhook pick-axe shaped with a single pointed tip directed at an angle of about 45°C to longitudinal plane of mouthhook (Figs 4H, 5E, F); intermediate sclerite (is) slightly below the base of labrum and parastomal bars (pb) in lateral view (Figs 4H, 5E, F),in ventral view intermediate sclerite longer than wide ( Fig. 4I View Figure 4 ); parastomal bar long (Figs 4H, I, 5E, F); vertical plate (vp) slightly broader than ventral cornu (vc) and dorsal cornu (dc) (Figs 4H, 5E, F); dorsal bridge absent.

Toracic segments: Anterior spinose band on t1 interrupted dorsally, laterally with 5 to 7 and ventrally with 11–13 rows of spines ( Fig. 3A, B View Figure 3 ); spinose band on t2 with only one to three rows of spines and restricted to ventro-lateral and ventral surfaces ( Fig. 3B View Figure 3 ), spinose band on t3 complete but narrow and with three to five rows of spines; surface of integument with dense, fine, cuticular ridges ( Fig. 3A–C View Figure 3 ), dorsal surfaces of t1–t3 also with large and fragmented ridges ( Fig. 3G, H View Figure 3 ); t1 dorsally with a small cuticular protuberance (cp) in the centre, followed by large bulbous protuberance (Figs 3A, B, 4G, H); integumental papillae in form of conical protuberances, each with four to six ridges converging at the top sensillum ( Fig. 3B, C, G, J View Figure 3 ); Keilin’s organ with slightly elongated sensilla ( Fig. 3I View Figure 3 ).

Abdominal segments: Anterior spinose bands (asb) on a1–a7 restricted to lateral and ventral surfaces with from 2–3 to 8–9 rows of spines ( Fig. 3K View Figure 3 ), spines small and arranged in irregular lines ( Fig. 3L View Figure 3 ); posterior spinose bands (psb) not well defined ( Fig. 3K, M View Figure 3 ); lateral creeping welts (lcw) developed and covered by cuticular ridges and sparse spines; dorsal and lateral surfaces of all abdominal segments with a mixture of fine ridges and scattered large fragmented ridges, ventral surface of segments with regular cuticular ridges ( Fig. 3H View Figure 3 ); integumental papillae in form of conical protuberances, with four to six ridges converging at the top sensillum ( Fig. 3J View Figure 3 ); ventral surface with large segmentally arranged transverse protuberances formed by fusion of the posterior prolegs (pos) of one segment and the ventral creeping welt (vcw) of the following segment ( Fig. 3K, M View Figure 3 ).

Anal division: Anterior spinose bands (asb) on a1–a7 restricted to lateral and ventral surfaces, spines small and arranged in irregular lines ( Fig. 3M View Figure 3 ); dorsal and lateral surfaces of anal division with mixture of fine ridges and scattered large fragmented ridges, ventral surface of ad with regular cuticular ridges ( Fig. 3M View Figure 3 ); papillae around spiracular field distinct and in form of conical protuberances, with four to six ridges converging at the top sensillum; spiracular field ringed by a dorsally interrupted circle of hair-like spines; posterior spiracle (ps) with four peristigmatic tufts each with a few (one to four) branches; anal complex strongly protruded; anal papillae (ap) large and rounded ( Fig. 3M View Figure 3 ); spines of anal tuft absent ( Fig. 3M View Figure 3 ).

Remarks: Gravid females of P. picifons were observed perching on small tumuli formed by termites. After removing the tumuli, females quickly entered into the opened entrance ( Fig. 7D–F View Fig ). Attempts to raise first instars of P. picifons on freshly killed blow flies ( Chrysomya albiceps ) failed.