Aquaelicium elegantulum Distant 1917

Aquaelicium elegantulum Distant, 1917

(Figs 3, 13)

Aquaelicium elegantulum Distant, 1917: 289.

Types. Lectotype, (here designated) 3, SEYCHELLES: glued, genitalia in genital vial, labelled (handwritten) Aquaelicium elegantulum Type Dist., Seychelle Islands, Percy Sladen Trust Expedition, 1913- 170 (BMNH). Paralectotypes, (here designated), 3, pinned, labelled (handwritten) 17, (printed) Mahe ’08-9, Seychelles Exp., Seychelle Islands, Percy Sladen Trust Expedition, 1913-170 (BMNH), 3, glued on card, labelled (handwritten) 74, Seychelle Islands, Percy Sladen Trust Expedition, 1913-170 (BMNH).

Remarks. The original description does not mention the designation of a holotype, therefore these specimens are regarded as syntypes. A lectotype is hereby designated to provide a diagnostic reference for the species.

Other material examined. SEYCHELLES, Mahé: 1 3, Congo Rouge, montane forest, 4°38’42.4”S, 55°26’01.3”E, 820m, mixed stand of Phoenicophorium and Pandanus, 17.xi.2006, [12-2, S1-963] (W. Holzinger & B. Komposch) (OEKO); 2 3, near (E) Tea plantation, 2km E Port Glaud, 4°39’42.3”S, 55°26’20.4”E, 350–450m, on Roscheria melanochaetes and Deckenia nobilis H.A.Wendl, 10.xi.2006, [6-2] (W. Holzinger & B. Komposch) (OEKO). Praslin: 3 3 3 Ƥ, Valle de Mai, 4°19’45’’N, 55°44’15’’E, 130– 250m, 28. and 30.xi.2006, on Verschaffeltia splendida and Nephrosperma vanhoutteanum (Wendl. ex Van Houtte) Balf. f., [22-1, 24-2 and 24-3] (W. Holzinger & B. Komposch) (OEKO).

Colour. Upper part of body including eyes dark brown, with a reddish tinge. Vertex of head and a central fascia to pro- and mesonotum yellowish. Clypeus and legs yellowish. Forewings very dark brown with some ochraceous spots (Figs 3 A–B).

Morphology. Body length: male 4.0– 4.2 mm, female 3.1–4.2 mm.

Thorax: Forewing 3.4–3.9 times longer than wide (at level of apex of clavus), wing distinctly widening posterior of apex of clavus.

Male genitalia: Anal tube with two small apical processes pointing caudad (Fig. 13 D, E, H). Genital styles as in Figs 13 F–G. Aedeagus as in Figs 13 A–C, with slender shaft and with process “e” very long and slender (Figs 13 A–B).

Diagnosis. This species can be differentiated from the other two species of Aquaelicium by the direction in which the two small apical processes of the male anal tube are pointing: caudad in A. elegantulum (Fig. 13 H), ventrocaudad in A. typicum and A. brunnescens (Figs 11 D, I).

Distribution. Mahé, Praslin.