Neboissomina topendica, Cartwright & Dostine, 2022

Cartwright, David I. & Dostine, Peter, 2022, Five new species and new records of caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from Australia’s ‘ Top End’, Zootaxa 5138 (3), pp. 283-304 : 288-290

Neboissomina topendica sp. nov.

Figures 6–9

Type material. Holotype male (CT-807), Northern Territory, Umbrawarra Gorge , 21 May 2015, P. Dostine ( MVM, T-22578 ).

Paratypes. Northern Territory. 1 male (CT-667/DC-312 figured), collected with holotype ( MVM) ; 7 males, collected with holotype ( MAGNT) .

Other material examined. Northern Territory. 1 male, Blackmore R., 14 May 2015 , P. Dostine; 2 males, same loc. and coll., 17 Jun 2015; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 13 Aug 2015; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 3 Aug 2016; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 31 Aug 2016; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 28 Nov 2016; 1 male, Sandy Billabong, Kakadu N.P., 26 May 2017, P. Dostine (all FFD) .

Diagnosis. The male of Neboissomina topendica sp. nov. is most similar to those of N. jardinei , N. kuranya Cartwright 2011 , N. riyala , and N. philsuteri Cartwright 2011 in possessing inferior appendages which are fused to form a single large sub-rectangular plate, but it is distinguished by the three, minute, acute projections apicolaterally and apicomesally on each inferior appendage, in ventral view.

Description, male. Spur formula: 3:4:4. Head, body, and wings light brown, abdomen paler ventrally; wings ( Fig. 6 ) similar to those of N. jardinei ( Cartwright 2011, fig. 2), length of each forewing: male 2.3–3.1 mm, female 2.8–3.1 mm, length about 3.0 times width; length of each hind wing 3.2–3.3 times width. Wing venation: Each forewing with forks 2, 3, 4, and 5 present; fork 2 sessile, length about 1.5 times length of fork 3; fork 3 with length of fork about twice length of footstalk, fork 4 about 0.8 times length of fork 3, fork 5 about 1.6–1.7 times length of fork 4. Hind wings each with forks 2, 3, and 5 present; fork 2 sessile, its length about 1.7 times length of fork 3.

Male. Tergum X membranous, with pair of long, slender dorsal sclerotized processes converging near middle and diverging posteriorly ( Fig. 9 ). Superior appendages short and robust ( Figs 7, 9 ), in lateral view appearing subrectangular, very slightly tapered posteriorly, length about 2.8 times width, apices slightly rounded ( Fig. 7 ), in dorsal view slightly dilated in posterior third ( Fig. 9 ); pair of long, slender curved processes (mesal processes of tergum X) ventral to superior appendages. Phallus simple, tube-like ( Figs 7, 8 ) with elongate, slender process partly embedded and emergent posteriorly ( Fig. 7 ). Inferior appendages slightly longer than superior appendages, fused ( Figs 7–9 ), in ventral view large, subrectangular shield, truncate posteriorly, length about 1.5 times width, with acute apicolateral corners and acute apicomesal projection ( Fig. 8 ), in lateral view robust, tapered basally, very slightly tapered posteriorly, appearing sub-trapezoidal, length about 3 times width ( Fig. 7 ).

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. Topendica —based on the colloquial regional name for the locality (Top End of the NT).

Remarks. At least thirty males of N. topendica have been collected from 3 localities in the Top End (latitude range 12.80– 14.59 °S), including sites in Kakadu NP and in the greater Darwin area.

Figures

FIGURES 6–12. Ecnomidae. Figures 6–9, Neboissomina topendica sp. nov.: 6, apices of right fore- and hind wings, dorsal. 7–9, male genitalia: 7, left lateral; 8, ventral; 9, dorsal. Figures 10–12, Wellsomina tamoides sp. nov. male genitalia: 10, left lateral; 11, ventral; 12, dorsal.Abbreviations: F2 = fork 2; F3 = fork 3; F4 = fork 4; F5 = fork 5; ap. sp. X = apical spine tergum X; inf. app. = inferior appendage (paired); mes. pro. terg. X = mesal process tergum X (paired); pha. = phallus; sup. app. = superior appendage (paired); sup. app. dors. = dorsal branch of superior appendage (paired); sup. app. vent. = ventral branch of superior appendage (paired).