Culoptila plummerensis, Blahnik, Roger J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2006

Blahnik, Roger J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2006, Revision of the genus Culoptila (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae), Zootaxa 1233, pp. 1-52 : 35-36

Culoptila plummerensis , new species

Fig. 30 A, B

Protoptila cantha Ross 1938 (in part); Blickle & Morse 1966.

This species is obviously very closely related to Culoptila cantha and was included among the paratype material of that species when it was described. Differences include the shape of tergum X, which is shorter and apically truncate in C. cantha and has its ventrolateral processes more abruptly curved apically, and the structure of the ventral plate of the phallotremal sclerite. The latter is differently shaped in the 2 species and has numerous distinct small spines in C. cantha , which are absent in C. plummerensis . These differences are consistent among populations. Culoptila cantha is nearly constant in morphology over its wide distribution in the western United States, and populations of C. plummerensis from Maryland and Maine were also very similar to each other.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.5–2.9 mm; female 2.7–3.4 mm. Color light brown; wing chord evident, but scarcely paler in coloration. Mesothorax of male not noticeably modified; mesoscutal wart short, heart­shaped; mesoscutal setae short. Mesothoracic tegulae of male slightly flattened, minimally modified; tegular setae short; tegular gland possibly present (if so, only minimally developed).

Male genitalia. Sternum VI process short, subtruncate. Tergum IX ventral margin subtruncately rounded, slightly produced posteroventrally. Inferior appendages not evident, apparently absent, but phallotremal sclerite complex forming a distinctive, sclerotized ventral plate, lacking minute spines on its dorsal surface. Tergum X very short, length much less than width, apex in ventral view narrowed, subacute; ventrolateral processes with apices incurved and posteriorly bent, bend very prominent, slightly obtuse, mesal margin of apex bluntly rounded, not acute. Phallobase relatively short, widening from base, dorsal and ventral margins more or less straight in lateral view, apicodorsal projection moderately elongate, with slight upward inflection at base, apex subacute. Phallic apparatus with 1 phallic spine, nearly length of phallobase, straight, often slightly recurved at base, stout at base, strongly tapered apically.

Material examined

Holotype male: UNITED STATES: Maryland: Plummers Island, 24.vi.1902 (R.P. Currie) (paratype of C. cantha ) ( UMSP 000206886) ( NMNH).

Paratypes: UNITED STATES: Maine: Lincoln, 8.vii — 1 male ( NMNH); Big Black River (T15R13), 25.vii.1961 (A. Brower) — 32 males, 27 females ( NMNH); Maryland: Plummers Island, (H.S. Barber) — 1 adult, 2 males (paratypes of C. cantha );— 1 male (paratype of C. cantha ) ( NMNH); 28.viii.1902 (Barber & Schwartz) — 1 male (paratype of C. cantha ) ( NMNH); 20.v.1903 (W.V. Warner) — 1 female ( NMNH); Stubblefield Falls of Potomac (near Plummer’s Island), 24.vi.1982 (H.S. Barber) — 45 males, 4 females ( NMNH).

Etymology

This species is named for Plummer’s Island, Maryland, where the holotype specimen was collected. The holotype specimen was selected from among specimens designated as paratypes for Protoptila cantha (now Culoptila cantha ) by Ross (1938).

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 31. Male genitalia. 29. Culoptila pararusia, new species: 29 A—lateral; 29 Bventral. 30. Culoptila plummerensis, new species: 30 A—lateral; 30 B—ventral. 31. Culoptila rusia Mosely: 31 A—lateral; 31 B—ventral.