Ceraclea (Athripsodina) lamellata, Yang & Hu & Morse, 2020

Yang, Lian-Fang, Hu, Ben-Jin & Morse, John C., 2020, Interesting new Chinese species of Leptoceridae and Odontoceridae (Insecta: Trichoptera) from several recent collecting efforts, Zootaxa 4732 (1), pp. 138-160 : 142-146

Ceraclea (Athripsodina) lamellata sp. n. Yang & Hu

( Figs. 3 A–3D, 4D–4F)

Diagnosis. This new species is among the members of the Ceraclea (Athripsodina) riparia Group all sharing the character of the retracted paramere spines of the male phallus being aligned, such that the posterior end of the basal spine touches the anterior end of the distal spine. The male of this new species is most similar to that of C. (A.) nankingensis Yang & Morse 1988 from Jiangsu. It can be distinguished from the latter in male genitalia by the following characters: (1) The basoventral lobe of each inferior appendage has two stout apical spines and the basal half of the lobe is expanded ventromesad in a very thin, semicircular plate (there is only one stout spine apically and the basoventral branch does not have a thin semicircular plate in C. nankingensis ), (2) the anterodorsal end of the phal- lobase is conspicuously expanded such that the phallic foramen is positioned on the ventral surface near the middle (the phallic foramen is positioned anteriorly in C. nankingensis ).

The female of the new species is most similar to that of C. (A.) yangi ( Mosely, 1942) , keying to that species in the work by Yang & Morse (1988). It differs from the latter by the following characters: (1) the preanal appendages (IXb) are transversely much narrower in the new species; and (2) tergum IXc is about 1/3 as long as the lamellae (IXd) in lateral view (half as long as the lamellae in C. yangi ).

Adult. Length of each male forewing 5.2–5.5 mm (n = 5), of each female forewing 4.0– 4.5 mm (n = 5). Head and thorax reddish brown. Forewings yellowish brown, with white and brownish hairs intermixed. Dorsum of abdominal segments II–IV dark brown.

Male genitalia. Preanal appendages oval, fused on basal 1/ 3 in dorsal view. Tergum X broad and triangular in basal half, 1.3 times as long as preanal appendages in dorsal view, with distal portion narrow and parallel-sided to rounded apex ( Fig. 3B ), lateral processes of X slender, arising near base, extending not quite to apex of segment X ( Fig. 3A ). Basoventral lobe of each inferior appendage forming 30°angle to main body ( Fig. 3A ), with its basal half expanded ventromesad in thin, semi-circular plate conspicuous in both lateral and ventral views ( Figs. 3A arrow, 3C arrow), and lobe with two short spines apically; in ventral view, these two apical spines appearing appressed togeth- er as single projection ( Fig. 3C ); mesal ridges of main body inconspicuous except for patch of stiff hairs, just as in C. nankingensis ( Yang & Morse 1988 p. 56, fig. 16C), but not visible in our Fig. 3C . Phallobase conspicuously expanded anteriorly, about 2.5 times as long as wide, phallic foramen positioned on ventral surface nearly half distance from anterior end; retracted two stout paramere spines arranged in line, anterior spine curved in ventral arc with its basal end touching anterior walls of endophallic membranes (Fig, 3D left arrow) and distal end connecting with base of posterior spine ( Fig. 3D right arrow), latter strongly curved ventrad at 1/3 distance from base ( Fig. 3D ).

Female genitalia. Tergum IXa thick and rounded in lateral view but small and nearly acute with pair of apicomesal papillae in dorsal view ( Figs. 4D, 4E ). Preanal appendages (IXb) transversely broad but longitudinally very short, mostly fused with segment IX ( Figs. 4D, 4E ). Dorsal apex of segment IX (IXc) acute in lateral view, undivided and ogival in dorsal view ( Figs. 4D, 4E ). Lamellae (IXd) large, about as long as segment IX in lateral view ( Fig. 4D ), especially setose on ventral surfaces ( Fig. 4F ). Gonopod plates separated by membrane mesally, with few longitudinal striae laterally, each plate with 2 apical projections, with mesal one (e.gon.VIII) short, semicircular, and lateral one (e.gon.IX) large, elliptical, visible in dorsal and ventral views ( Figs. 4E, 4F ). Spermathecal sclerite sub-rhomboid, about 1.5 times long as median width with anterior end extending to middle of segment VIII, and with side margins sinuate ( Fig. 4F ).

Holotype male. PR CHINA: An-hui Province , Qi-men County, Lu-xi Town , Dao-hu Village, N29.52, E117.42, alt. 200 m, 16 Aug. 2001, Coll. Wang B-x. and Hu B-j . Paratypes. Same data as holotype, 49 males, 255 females.

Etymology. Latin, lamellata , adjective, meaning “having a small plate,” referring to the basoventral branch of each inferior appendage expanded mesad in a thin, semi-circular plate on its basal half.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Ceraclea (Athripsodina) lamellata Yang & Hu, sp. n., male genitalia. 3A, left lateral; 3B, dorsal; 3C ventral; 3D, phallus, left lateral.

FIGURE 4. Ceraclea spp. n., female genitalia. 4A–4C, Ceraclea (C.) megalophyllon Yang & Morse, sp. n.: 4A, left lateral; 4B, dorsal; 4C, ventral. 4D–4F, Ceraclea (Athripsodina) lamellata Yang & Hu, sp. n.: 4D, left lateral; 4E, dorsal; 4F, ventral.