Agapetus harrisi Etnier, Parker, and Baxter, 2010

Etnier, David A., Parker, Charles R., John T. Baxter, Jr., Long, Todd M. & Drive, News Sentinel, 2010, A review of the genus Agapetus Curtis (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae) in eastern and central North America, with description of 12 new species, Insecta Mundi 2010 (149), pp. 1-77 : 17-18

Agapetus harrisi Etnier, Parker, and Baxter new species

Fig. 10a, 10b, 10c . Map 10

Type material. Holotype, male, MMT pupa, EX UT 1.607 , Chandler Branch 0.6 rd mi n of jct. co rd 593 on AL 79, 34.4680 o N, 86.2270 o W, Marshall Co., AL, 26 April 2000, preserved 23 May, DA Etnier. ( NMNH)

Allotype, MMT female, 5.4 mm, collected with holotype, preserved 8 May.( NMNH)

Paratopotypes, all EX UT 1.607 and collected with holotype. CUAC, MMT male pupa, MMT female pupa, preserved 23 May, 1 larva ; INHS, MMT female pupa preserved 23 May, 1 larva ; ROME, MMT male pupa, MMT female pupa, preserved 11 May, 1 larva ; SCHC, MMT male pupa, preserved 23 May; UMSP, MMT male pupa, MMT female pupa, preserved 23 May, 1 larva ; 2 MMT female pupae (preserved 21 April), and 5 early pupae remain in UT 1.607 .

Additional paratypes, AL 79 at co rd 377, 5.0 rd mi s of jct. AL 279, Jackson Co., AL, 10 April 1999 - CASC ; MMT male pupa preserved 3 May , MMT female preserved 26 April, 1 larva ; INHS, MMT male pupa, preserved 6 May ; 5 larvae, 2 early pupae; 5 MMT male pupae, 11 MMT male/female pupae, remain in UT 1.457 ; UT 1.1034 , se side of co rd 67, 50 m ne of powerline, 2.3 rd mi ne of co rd 38 in Langston , Jackson Co., AL, 27 April 2006, 1 larvae 1 prepupa, 1 MMT male, 3 MMT female, emerged 30 April-1 June .

Diagnosis. Only two other species ( A. ibis , A. meridionalis ) of eastern and central North American Agapetus have the end of the ventral arms of X abruptly down-curved and pointed. Differs from both of these in having tip of inferior appendage with a deep posterioventral emargination (versus smoothly rounded). Also similar to A. tomus , in which tip of inferior appendage is weakly and symmetrically emarginate, and the ventral projection of the ventral arms of X is broadly rounded rather than pointed.

Description. Male. Length 5.4-6.1 mm (n = 2). Male genitalia: Lateral view ( Fig. 10a ), anterior margin of IX thickened, concave and sloped down and forward at 65 o to midline, then down and back at 75 o to convex ventral margin; dorsal margin horizontal, slightly depressed in middle, length = 3/4 length of ventral margin. Posterior margin of IX nearly vertical, slightly concave on dorsal 1/2, produced posteriad at mid-depth, convex to ventral margin. Preanal appendage ovoid, 1/3 length of X, length = 1.5 times depth, about 10 dorsal setae. Length of X = 3/4 inferior appendage length, moderately sclerotized dorsal margin converges with ventral arm toward tip; ventral arm slender at base, gradually broader distad, shaped like hockey stick with tip (acutely pointed, occasionally bifid) directed posterioventrad at 45 o, “heel” expanded and pointed dorsad to merge with dorsal margin. Inferior appendage length = 1.6-2.0 times depth; dorsal and ventral margins slightly divergent, dorsal margin straight; ventral margin straight basad, convex distad, and continuing posteriad as finger-like extension; posterior margin angles down and forward at 65 o from rounded posteriodorsal corner to base of finger-like ventral projection.

Dorsal view ( Fig. 10b ). Anterior margin of IX deeply concave, with median thickened ridge on anterior 1/2; posterior margin straight, moderately differentiated from X. Each preanal appendage with convex margins, diverging from body axis at 25 o. Lateral margins of X straight, diverging from body axis at 10 o, posterior margin in-curved to posterioventral points; inner margins joined near base, V-shaped, meeting at 30 o angle, membranous area between lateral plates of X has V-shaped anterior and posterior border. Ventral arms of X dark on inner margin, mostly concealed by dorsal sclerotized area.

Ventral view ( Fig. 10c ). Anterior margin of IX thickened, nearly straight; posterior margin with obtuse (120 o) angular projection between bases of inferior appendages; triangular depigmented area often apparent at posterior margin. Outer margin of inferior appendages with bulbous base, slightly concave middle 2/3, tips slightly in-curved; inner margin nearly straight to transverse denticle at tip; posterior emargination U- or V-shaped, extending forward 0.2 times length of appendage.

Larva. Head and notal sclerites glossy brown, darker than other sclerites, which are straw-yellow, with darker brown sutures and edges typical for genus. Sclerites of MMTs faintly marked, frontoclypeus with area behind arc from mid-lateral corners darker than anterior 3/4 of sclerite; two weak, dark muscle scars along line between lateral corners, each 3/4 distance from corner to midline; single weak, transverse muscle scar at midline just anterior to darkened posterior area. Genae with large, rectangular, pale eye spot; two irregular rows of pale, rounded to vertically elongate muscle scars angle down and back from eye area at 15-20 o from horizontal, the upper row extending halfway from posterior border to pale eye area.

Emergence dates. 26 April-1 June.

Distribution. AL Jackson (2), Marshall.

Discussion. The 1999 Jackson County locality is tiny, with limited Agapetus substrate, and with discarded oil cans and other debris in the creek. The species is abundant at the type locality, which appears to be reasonably stable. In April 2006 we found a third population in a tiny southeastern tributary to Guntersville Reservoir, which is protected by TVA ownership. Agapetus harrisi appears to be one of the most geographically restricted Agapetus of eastern North America. We suggest that searches for additional populations be conducted, especially at the head ends of several embayments on the southeast side of Guntersville Reservoir south of Scottsboro, and on the northwest side of the reservoir north of Scottsboro. If these searches fail to yield additional populations, it should be considered for Alabama and Federal protected species status.

Etymology. Named in honor of Steven C. Harris, friend, colleague, trichopterist, and superb student of the microcaddisflies (family Hydroptilidae ).

Figures

Figure 10-12. Agapetus spp. male genitalia. 10) Agapetus harrisi Etnier, Parker, and Baxter. 10a, lateral view; 10b, dorsal view; 10c, ventral view of IX and inferior appendages. 11) Agapetus hesperus Etnier, Baxter, and Parker. 11a, lateral view; 11b, dorsal view; 11c, ventral view, preanal appendages not shown. 12) Agapetus hessi Leonard and Leonard. 12a, lateral view; 12b, dorsal view; 12c, ventral view of IX and inferior appendages.