Hebetula Wirth & Debenham
Creators: name: Borkent, Art
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Ceratopogonidae
Hebetula

description: Hebetula Wirth & Debenham
(Figs. 21B, 26F, 30K, 33D, 38B, 45H, 51B, 64C, 75J)
DIAGNOSIS: Only pupa of Ceratopogonidae with the metathorax with only one campaniform sensillum (M-3-T) situated at least ⅓ the length of the metathorax from its anterior margin (Fig. 51B) and L-1-IV and L-3-IV slender, contrasting with the basally thick L-2-IV and L-4-IV (Fig. 64C); also unique with the metathorax with only one campaniform sensillum (M-3-T) situated posterior from the anterior margin of metathorax (Fig. 51B), halter extending just anterior of the anterolateral margin of tergite 2 (Fig. 33D), and abdominal segment 4 with the lateral setae scattered (Fig. 64C) (not forming a transverse row as in Fig. 67B).
DESCRIPTION: Total length = 3.59 mm. Without larval exuviae retained on abdomen. Exuviae with flagellum appressed against lateral margin of midleg, wing (as in Figs. 16B, 33B). Ecdysial tear around base of antenna, with narrow connection between face and base of antenna (as in Figs. 16E, 79G). Head: Dorsal apotome (Fig. 21B), without ventral line of weakness, without dorsomedial tubercle, without central dome; dorsolateral cephalic sclerite (as in Fig. 13H) fused to scutum, each side separated medially by dorsal apotome in whole pupa; mouthparts (Fig. 26F) with mandible well-developed, lacinia absent; palpus extending posterior to posterolateral margin of labium; labium separated medially by labrum, hypopharynx; apex of antenna (Fig. 38B) posterior to posterior extent of midlength portion of midleg (portion lateral to mesosternum), narrowed posteriorly; sensilla: dorsal apotomals (Fig. 21B)—1 elongate seta, 1 campaniform sensillum; dorsolateral cephalic sclerite sensilla—1 seta, 1 campaniform sensillum; clypeal-labrals (Fig. 26F)—2 slender setae; oculars (Fig. 26F)—2 setae, 1 campaniform sensillum. Thorax: Prothoracic extension (Fig. 26F) wide, well-developed, extending from palpus to antenna; mesonotum yes, low ones tubercles, not extending posteromedially, not dividing metathorax medially (Fig. 51B); respiratory organ (Fig. 45H) length/width = 3.67–3.81, moderately elongate, somewhat flattened apically, with pores closely abutting at apex of respiratory organ, arranged in single row, outer surface with some wrinkles, with short, wide pedicel, base with elongate posteromedial apodeme, membranous base of respiratory organ moderately elongate, annulated, tracheal tube straight to slightly curved along length, with spirals restricted to base, wrinkles to half length; wing (Fig. 38B) with short tubercle at apex of hind leg, separated medially by fore-, midlegs; halter apex and hind leg (Fig. 33D) broadly abutting; halter apex extending just anterior of anterolateral margin of tergite 2; legs (Fig. 38B) with lateral margin of foreleg near midlength of wing evenly curved; hind leg visible at lateral margin of wing (Fig. 33D); with apex of foreleg moderately anterior to apex of midleg; apex of hind leg abutting apex of midleg laterally; sensilla: anteromedials—2 elongate setae (as in Figs. 31L–M); anterolaterals—1 moderately long seta; dorsal setae (Fig. 30K)—D-1-T, D-2-T, D-5-T, setae, D-4-T broken seta?, D-3-T campaniform sensillum, D-3-T anterolateral to D-4-T; supraalar 2—campaniform sensillum; metathoracics (Fig. 51B)—1 campaniform sensillum; M-3-T distant from margin of metathorax (at least 1/3 length of metathorax). Abdomen: with tergite 1 with 1 medial spot, tergites 2–7 with medial area with stripe, 2 anterolateral spots, sternites 3–7 with medial stripe, anterolateral spot, segment 2 as wide or slightly wider than segment 3, segments with undivided, thin to thick setae, with rounded, short tubercles, tergites or sternites entire, each without membranous disc; segment 9 (Fig. 75J) not strongly modified, terminal processes closely approximated basally, each projecting posterodorsolaterally, tapering to pointed apex; sensilla: tergite 1 (Fig. 51B) with 7 setae, 2 campaniform sensilla, including 3 lateral sensilla, D-2-I, D-3-I closely approximated, D-7-I situated anteriorly near D-3-I; segment 4 (Fig. 64C)—D-2-IV, D-3-IV short to moderately elongate setae on short tubercles; D-5-IV, D-8- IV, D-9-IV moderately elongate setae; D-5-IV on single tubercle, D-8-IV, D-9-IV on separate but closely approximated tubercles, posterior dorsal sensilla in transverse row, arranged medially to laterally: D-5-IV, D-4-IV, D-8-IV, D-9-IV; D-7-IV near D-3-IV; L-1-IV moderately elongate seta on short tubercle, just anterior of base of tubercle with L-2-IV; L-2-IV, L-3-IV, L-4-IV moderately elongate setae, L-2-IV, L-4-IV on rounded tubercles, V-5- IV, V-7-IV moderately elongate, V-6-IV short seta, on rounded tubercles, all closely approximated; segment 8 without D-3-VIII, without L-1-VIII; segment 9 (Fig. 75J)—with D-5-IX, D-6-IX campaniform sensilla.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT: The genus Hebetula is known from 22 species in the Oriental, Afrotropical and Australasian Regions (Borkent 2014). Pupae have been reared from moss in a creek and from the margin of a river.
TAXONOMIC DISCUSSION: Only one species of this genus is known as a pupa (Tables 2–3). The dorsal setae on the thorax of the single pupa differed on either side, with D-3-T missing on the right side. D-4-T was either a sensillum basiconica (as shown here) or the setae were broken off on both sides. If future specimens confirm D-4- T as a sensillum basiconica, this would be a distinctive and unique feature within the Ceratopogonidae (D-4-T is absent in some taxa).
Elson-Harris (1987) illustrated the respiratory organ of H. tonnoiri with a midband of darker pigmentation but reexamination indicates the pigmentation extends to the base of the respiratory organ.
MATERIAL EXAMINED: H. tonnoiri: 1 pupal exuviae, Nattai River, Mittagong, New South Wales, Australia, 4-XI-1964 (ANIC).
description: Published as part of Borkent, Art, 2014, The Pupae of the Biting Midges of the World (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), With a Generic Key and Analysis of the Phylogenetic Relationships Between Genera, pp. 1-327 in Zootaxa 3879 (1) on pages 79-80, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3879.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4949051