Cerasmatrichia akanthos Armitage and Harris, 2020

Armitage, Brian J. & Harris, Steven C., 2020, The Trichoptera of Panama XIV. New species of microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from Omar Torrijos Herrera National Park, Insecta Mundi 763, pp. 1-19 : 3-4

Cerasmatrichia akanthos Armitage and Harris , new species

Fig. 6

Diagnosis. This new species is difficult to place. In overall appearance it resembles the genera Leucotrichia and Betrichia within the Leucotrichiini , but it lacks the diagnostic phallic structure of the Leucotrichiini . The phallus of the new species is tubular, without the medial constriction and median complex with dorsal “windows” and basal supports, which is characteristic of the Alisotrichiini ( Santos et al. 2016) . Based on the tibial spur count of 1–3–4, 3 ocelli and an incomplete tentorial bridge with a mesal gap, and the unmodified antennae and wings, the new species is placed in Cerasmatrichia . However, the foreleg spur is elongate rather than short, the inferior appendages are fused, and the phallus is structurally different from the typical Cerasmatrichia . The same structures above are also characteristic of Celaenotrichia , but this genus has an elongate ventromesal process from abdominal segment VII and an elongate tenth tergite with sclerotized bands, both of which are lacking in the new species. The new species is easily recognized by the extensive phallic spines.

Descripton. Length 2.0– 2.3 mm, head unmodified, 24 antennal segments, unmodified, tibial spurs 1–3–4, wings unmodified, and overall color brown (in alcohol). All specimens were cleared, so any color pattern was lost. Mesoscutellum with transverse suture, metascutellum pentagonal to triangular.

Male genitalia. Abdominal segment VII annular, lacking a ventromesal process. Segment VIII triangular, narrowing dorsally; in dorsal view deeply incised medially; in ventral view, more sharply incised mesally. Segment IX truncate posteriorly, bearing a series of stout setae on posterior margin, dorsal and ventral sclerites thin, anteriorly narrowing mesally; in dorsal view, deeply incised mesally, margins acute and lightly sclerotized, anteriorly nearly truncate; in ventral view, divided into a pair of lateral processes, which widen distally to truncate apices. Segment X lobate laterally, in dorsal view wide and rounded apically. Inferior appendages wide basally, narrowing distally to upturned and curving apex; in ventral view wide basally, abruptly narrowing subapically and basally fused. Subgenital plate shelflike, wide basally, narrowing distally to rounded apex; in ventral view wide basally, rounded apically. Phallus tubular in dorsal view, cluster of spines at midlength, apically narrowing and membranous, ejaculatory duct inconspicuous, in lateral view wide basally and mesally, narrowing apically, cluster of spines in mesal region.

Female and larva. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype male. Panama, Coclé Province, Cuenca 134, Omar Torrijos Herrera National Park , Quebrada La Yayas , PSPSCB-PNGDOTH-C134-2017-004, 8.66168°N and 80.5952°W, 602 m, Malaise trap, 22–26 March 2017, E. Álvarez, E. Pérez, and T. Ríos (COZEM) . Paratypes. ibid., Veraguas Province, Cuenca 097, Santa Fe National Park, Afluente Río Caloveboro , PSPSCB- PNSF-C097-2017-005, 8.54318°N and 81.16398°W, 536 m, Malaise trap, 19–23 April 2017, T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, and C. Nieto, 3 males (MIUP) ; ibid., Río Caloveboro , PSPSCB-PNSF-C097-2017-006, 8.55038°N and 81.16486°W, 461 m, Malaise trap, 23–27 April 2017, A. Cornejo, T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, and C. Nieto, 1 male (COZEM) ; ibid., Cuenca 132, Río Mulaba, afluente 2do Brazo , PSPSCB-PNSF-C132-2017-007, 8.52577°N and 81.13045°W, 623 m, Malaise trap, 19–23 April 2017, A. Cornejo, T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, and C. Nieto, 2 males (MUPADI) ; ibid., Río Mulaba, Isleta , PSPSCB-PNSF-C132-2017-015, 8.54513°N and 81.11970°W, 412 m, UV trap, 22 April 2017, T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, and C. Nieto, 1 male (SCH) .

Etymology. akanthos is the Greek word for spiny, referring to the spiny phallus characteristic of this species.

Figures

Figure 6. Cerasmatrichia akanthos, sp.n. Male genitalia. A) Lateral view. B) Dorsal view. C) Ventral view. D) Phallus, lateral view. E) Phallus, dorsal view.