First record of the frog parasite genus Batrachomyia Krefft from New Guinea (Diptera: Chloropidae)AuthorEvenhuis, Neal L.textZootaxa200613515359journal article10.5281/zenodo.2735977b92807d-00a8-417d-a8df-d0dccdc8b4b11175-5326273597Batrachomyia krausi
Evenhuis
,
sp. nov.Type
material
:
Holotype
(Ento.
BPBM
16,668) and 2
paratypes
of third (final) instar larval specimens from:
Papua New Guinea
: Fergusson Island: Oya Tabu [= Mt.
Kilkerran],
900–1000 m
, [
9.45ºS
,
150.78ºE
],
20–24 Aug 2002
, F. Kraus
et al
., collectors (Vert.
BPBM
16339).
Other
paratypes
: 3 third (final) instar specimens, topotypic, same data as
holotype
(Vert.
BPBM
16341); 2 third (final) instar specimens, topotypic, same data as
holotype
(Vert.
BPBM
16337).
Holotype
deposited in
BPBM
;
paratypes
in AMS and
BPBM
.
TABLE 1.
Known hosts of
Batrachomyia
.
Batrachomyia
species Frog species Family Country
Uperoleia laevigata
Keferstein
MyobatrachidaeAustralia
krausi
,
sp. nov.
Sylvarana supragrisea
(Menzies)
Ranidae
Papua New Guinea
mertensi
Lindner
Litorea caerulea
(White)
Hylidae
Australia
nigritarsus
Skuse
Litorea phyllochroa
(Günther)
Hylidae
Australia
quadrilineata
Skuse
Pseudophryne bibronii
(Günther)
Myobatrachidae
Australia
strigipes
Malloch
Uperoleia marmorata
Gray
Myobatrachidae
Australia
sp.
Crinia signifera
Girard
MyobatrachidaeAustraliaGeocrinia laevis
(Günther)
MyobatrachidaeAustraliaGeocrinia victoriana
(Boulenger)
MyobatrachidaeAustraliaHeleioporus albopunctatus
Gray
MyobatrachidaeAustraliaLitorea citropa
(Duméril & Bibron)
HylidaeAustraliaLitorea infrafrenata
(Günther)
HylidaeAustraliaPseudophryne corroboree
Moore
MyobatrachidaeAustraliaPseudophryne dendyi
Lucas
MyobatrachidaeAustraliaPseudophryne pengilleyi
Wells
&
MyobatrachidaeAustralia
Wellington
Larval Description
. Length:
12.5–16.9 mm
(n = 8). Greatest width (at level of segments 5 and 6): 5.0–6.0 mm. Body generally depressedly fusiform, tapered somewhat similarly at each end; lateral edges (when viewed dorsally) somewhat serrate in shape as a result of the general triangular shape of segments 3–9. In lateral view, larva flat on ventral surface, dorsal surface markedly convex with greatest girth and width at 5th and 6th segments. Head retracted into thorax leaving small visible cervical membrane anterior to anterior spiracles, mouthparts situated on ventral surface. First segment with spiracles on tentacle-like anterior respiratory processes. Anterior respiratory processes porrect, each tapering to blunt apex, constricted slightly subapically. Segments 2–10 with paired tubercles on tips of lateral processes; segments 2–10 dorsally each with three welt-like swellings: one medial bearing two small tubercles, one each admedianly bearing single small tubercle. Ventrally, segments 2–10 each with medial patch of dense microspicules (
Fig. 5
). Last segment with posterior spiracles borne on paired respiratory processes. Each process small and tapered to apex. Posterior spiracles each with three oval-shaped openings surrounded by a ridge.
FIGURES 1–2
.
Batrachomyia
, third (last) instar larval habitus, dorsal view.
1
.
B. krausi
,
sp. nov.2
.
B. nigritarsis
Skuse
(Royal National Park, NSW; AMS specimen). Abbreviations; ar = anterior respiratory process; t= lateral tubercle; pr = posterior respiratory process.
Remarks
. Adults have not been associated with the larvae, but the porrect anterior respiratory processes (
Figs. 1
,
3
) (directed caudally or decumbent in other
Batrachomyia
species, cf.
Figs. 2
,
4
) the distinctive triangular shape (when viewed dorsally) of the lateral portions of the abdominal segments with the presence of tubercles laterally on each segment (absent in Australian
Batrachomyia
species), and the ventromedial patches of dense microspicules (
Fig. 5
) (these segments each with single row of small blunt spinules in
Batrachomyia
, cf.
Fig. 6
) are unlike any other described species known and give me no hesitation in describing this species as new. Its large size (largest specimen
16.9 mm
) is larger than the recorded larval length in other described
Batrachomyia
species but I have seen larval specimens of an undescribed species from
Australia
in AMS with specimens of a similar size, so this in itself may not be of any significance.
FIGURES 3–4
.
Batrachomyia
last instar, dorsal view. Detail of anterior portion of larva.
3
.
B. krausi
,
sp. nov.4
.
B. nigritarsis
. Abbreviations. ar = anterior respiratory process; t = tubercle; dw = dorsal welts.
FIGURES 5–6
.
Batrachomyia
last instar, ventral view. Detail of anterior portion of larva.
5
.
B. krausi
,
sp. nov.
, showing medial patches of microspicules on segments.
6
.
B. nigritarsis
, showing medial row of small spinules on segments.
It is hoped that future collections can be made in the same general area to search specifically for adults but it is highly improbable that this specific area will be searched again for many years due to logistical difficulties. The frog species (
Rana supragrisea
) is fairly widespread on Fergusson Island but parasitized specimens were found only in the one specific area given above. A total of 16 frog specimens (
7 males
and
9 females
) were found by Kraus to be parasitized. Only 3 of the frogs were dissected to obtain larvae for the
type
series. The rest of the parasites remain
in situ
. All larval parasites were found on the sides of the frogs in front of the hind legs.
Etymology
. The specific epithet honors the primary collector of the species, Dr. E. Frederick Kraus. It has been pointed out to me that it is extremely unlikely that he will ever get something named after him, so I might as well do it now.
Distribution
: Known only from Fergusson Island,
Papua New Guinea
.