Pseudophacopteron sodalis Malenovský & Burckhardt 2009, sp. nov.

Pseudophacopteron sodalis sp. nov.

(Figs. 37, 187, 237, 253)

Description. Examined only from slide-mounted specimens. Adult. Colour. Hardly observable on available material. Fore wing membrane transparent, clear, except for a dark brown infuscation along full length of vein Cu 1b (Fig. 37).

Morphology. Head similar to P. zimmermanni. Antenna robust, slightly serrate, segments short and widening to apex; terminal setae subequal, long, the longer terminal seta more than 1.5 times longer than segments 9 and 10 together (Fig. 237). Fore wing pyriform, apex truncate; surface spinulation not observed. Mesotibia with subapical comb on outer margin consisting of 5–7 densely arranged stout setae. Metatibia with 8–9 apical spurs and 10 similar spurs laterally; metabasitarsus slightly longer than broad. Female proctiger and subgenital plate with moderately long apical extensions; circumanal pore ring with two rows of pores, pores of outer row contiguous; subgenital plate, in lateral view, pointed apically (Fig. 187); in ventral view, similar as in P. pretoriense. Dorsal and ventral valvulae laterally with 3–4 distinct teeth. Measurements and ratios in Tabs. 2–4.

Male unknown.

Fifth instar larva (Fig. 253). Body robust. Whole body margin with pointed lanceolate setae in following numbers (one side only): head in front of insertion of antenna: 5–8, cephalothorax behind eyes: 11–14, fore wing pad: 21–26, hind wing pad: 2–8, abdomen: 1 + (3–6) + (19–23). Dorsum of body lacking conspicuous setae. Antenna short, oriented obliquely backwards and bent over the upper body surface, lacking distinct full divisions but often subdivided, with anterior margin sinuate and one rhinarium. Tarsal arolium slightly smaller than claws. Abdomen dorsally with five free sclerites and fused caudal plate; caudal plate margin broadly rounded. Anus in ventral position. Circumanal ring wide, with fore and hind margin close together; outer ring composed of a single row of pores, not sinuate. Measurements and ratios in Tab. 5.

Host plant. Ekebergia benguelensis (Meliaceae).

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. Angola.

Material examined. Holotype, ♀, ANGOLA: Chianga, 4 July 1970, on Ekebergia benguelensis (A. van Harten). Slide-mounted [BMNH]. Paratypes: ANGOLA: 1 ♀, 5 larvae, same data as holotype. Slide-mounted [BMNH].

Etymology. The Latin noun sodalis = companion, associate, mate (used in apposition) indicates that P. sodalis was collected on the same host plant with two other species of Pseudophacopteron.

Comments. P. sodalis shares its host plant with P. benguelense and P. electum. It can be easily differentiated from P. benguelense by its smaller size, the clear fore wing membrane around apices of veins M 1+2, M 3+4 and Cu 1a and the touching point of Rs and M 1+2. The chaetotaxy and the structure of circumanal pore ring of fifth instar larvae also differ. P. sodalis can be distinguished from P. electum by the pointed female subgenital plate, the presence of pointed lanceolate setae on the cephalothorax and the wing pads and the shorter fore wing pads in fifth instar larvae. See also comments under P. pretoriense and P. carapae.