Caledonotrichia minuta, Wells, Alice, Johanson, Kjell Arne & Mary-Sasal, Nathalie, 2013

Wells, Alice, Johanson, Kjell Arne & Mary-Sasal, Nathalie, 2013, The New Caledonian genus Caledonotrichia Sykora (Trichoptera, Insecta) reviewed, with descriptions of 6 new species, ZooKeys 287, pp. 59-89 : 65-70

Caledonotrichia minuta sp. n. Figs 41323 –2633– 3572

Diagnosis.

Males very closely resemble Caledonotrichia illiesi and Caledonotrichia bifida sp. n., both of which have wings without scales and both lobes of gonopods rounded, but Caledonotrichia minuta differs from Caledonotrichia illiesi by smaller size and far less robust appearance, antennae shorter than wings, and in male genitalia dorsal lobe of gonopods more broadly rounded and bat-shaped, and from Caledonotrichia bifida sp. n. by having ventral lobes of gonopods almost equal length to dorsal lobes, dorsal lobes more broadly rounded, and sclerotised rods of subgenital process with only small irregularity subapically, not bifid apically as in Caledonotrichia bifida sp. n.

Description, male.

Head rounded in dorsal view, as in Caledonotrichia capensis sp. n. (Fig. 1).

Antennae, male with 23-24 flagellomeres, female with 22 flagellomeres; in male, proximal flagellomeres elongate cylindrical, length not more than 2 × width, more distal flagellomeres subquadrate. Male maxillary palps (Fig. 13) similar to those of Caledonotrichia illiesi , with basal 2 segments short and rounded, rest cylindrical: segment 3 about 4 × maximum width, segment 4 length about 2 × width, segment 5 elongate, length almost 6 × width. Forewing length, male 1.5-2.2 mm (n=10); female 2.0-2.5 mm (n=10). Male forewing (Fig. 4) without scales, narrow, apically acute, with up right bristles on costal vein, hair on distal two thirds of costal margin with strongly curved tips as in Caledonotrichia illiesi .

Genitalia (Figs 23-26, 33-35): Abdominal segment IX broadly rounded proximally, distal margin of sternite shallowly excavated medially. Tergite X, tapered slightly to broad, slightly concave apex. Gonopods in ventral view with ventral lobes elongate club-shaped, dorsal lobes broadly rounded, mesal process digitiform, well developed, without setae; axillary seta well developed, acute apically. Sclerotised rods of subgenital process, simple, a slight irregularity below apex. Phallic apparatus elongate, almost straight, broadly rounded distally, with a slender almost straight spiny paramere.

Female terminalia (Fig. 72). Abdominal segment VII bearing fringe of dense short setae distally and apically a short, membranous collar bearing sparsely arranged setae marginally, sternite with a small medial prominence apically; abdominal segments VIII–X forming slender telescopic oviscapt.

Material examined.

Holotype male: New Caledonia: approx 10 km SW of Houailou on Houailou-Bourail road, small fall, 26.xii.1998, A. Wells (MNHP).

Paratypes: 10 males, same data as for holotype (ANIC); 4 males, approx 10 km NW Hienghène, small stream, 25.xii.1998, A. Wells (ANIC); 3 males, approx 15 km SW Thio on Boulouparis-Thio road, 28.xii.1998, A. Wells (ANIC); 1 male, 1 female (on slides), Province Sud, Mt. Dzumac, source stream of Ouinne River, near crosspoint to mountain track, 22°02.073'S, 166°28.460'E, 810 m, 18. xi– 4.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#030, K. A. Johanson (SMNH); 11 males, Province Sud, Mt Rembai, River Xwâ Be, upstream bridge on road Sarraméa-Koh, 21°33.877'S, 165°49.922'E, loc 157F-k, Malaise trap, 8. vii– 4.viii.2007, R. Pöllabauer (SMNH); 28 males, Chute S of Col d’Amieu on Sarraméa-Thio road, 2.iv.2012, A. Wells & S. Cazères (ANIC).

Other material examined: 1 male, Chute approx 15 km N Col d’Amieu on Boulouparis-Thio road, 27.xi.1998, A. Wells, ANIC; 1 male, Province Sud, stony stream draining Lac Yaté, 200 m, loc 5, 22°08.795'S, 166°42.313'E, Malaise trap 13-16.xi.2001, Johanson, Pape & Viklund (NHRS); 9 males, 14 females, Province Sud, Sarraméa, 290 m, stony forest stream, loc 13 21°37.097'S 165°49.351'E, Malaise trap, 18-21.xi.2001, Johanson, Pape & Viklund (NHRS); 55 males, 18 females, Province Sud, Col d'Amieu, 323 m, small stony river, loc 24, 21°34.844'S, 165°49.677'E, Malaise trap, 30. xi– 5.xii.2001, Johanson, Pape & Viklund (NHRS); numerous males, females, Province Sud, Col d'Amieu, 319 m, small stony river, loc 23, 21°34.720'S, 165°49.620'E, Malaise trap, 30. xi– 5.xii.2001, Johanson, Pape & Viklund (NHRS); numerous males, females, Province Sud, Monts des Koghis, ca 300 m S Koghi Restaurant, 22.18288°S, 166.50167°E, 417 m, 2-16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#004, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); 1 male, Province Sud, stream draining to Marais de la Rivière Blanche, 1.35 km S Pont Pérignon, 22°08.496'S, 166°42.152'E, 180 m, 6-16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#009, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); 8 males, 29 females, Province Sud, stream draining to Marais de la Rivière Blanche, 2.25 km SW Pont Pérignon, 22.14158°S, 166.67993°E, 157 m, 6-16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#010, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); males, females, Province Sud, side stream to Rivière Blanche, 10.75 km SW Pont Pérignon, 22°10.073'S, 166°39.903'E, 180 m, 6-16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#012, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); males, Province Sud, Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road between Noumea and Yaté, 2.0 km E Pic Mouirange, 22°12.356'S, 166°40.798'E, 220 m, 7-16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#014, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); 6 males, Province Sud, Monts des Koghis, ca 800 m S Koghi Restaurant, 22.18311°S, 166.50564°E, 460 m, 10-26.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#019, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); 1 male, 4 females (male, female on slides), Province Sud, Mt. Dzumac, source stream of Ouinne River, near crosspoint to mountain track, 22°02.073'S, 166°28.460'E, 810 m, 18. xi– 4.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#030, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); 2 males, 5 females, Province Sud, Monts des Koghis, ca 800 m S Koghi Restaurant, 22.18406°S, 166.50383°E, 420 m, 1126.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#022, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); 3 males, 2 females, Province Sud, Hwa Hace Mt., Hwa Motu River, at Pont Wamuttu, 1.0 km E Nassirah, about 200 m upstream bridge, 21°48.094'S, 166°04.298'E, 137 m, 20. xi– 12.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#034, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); 2 males, 1 female, Province Nord, Wemwâdiu stream, 850 m E summit Kögi Mt., 5 m upstream road, about 200 m S Tiwaka River, 20°49.020'S, 165°14.165'E, 24 m, 6-27.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#067, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); 3 males, Province Nord, Wé Caot Stream, draining NNE side of Mt. Panié, 0.9 km NW Cascade de Tao, 20°33.311'S, 164°48.064'E, 18.xii.2003, light trap, loc#084, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); numerous males, females, Province Sud, W slope Mt. Ningua, Kwé Néco Stream, at Camp Jacob, 3.9 km W summit of Mt. Ningua, on Boulouparis–Thio Road, about 50 m upstream road, 21°44.083'S, 166°06.298'E, 117 m, 29.xi.2003-12.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#053, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); numerous males, females, Province Nord, Ponandou Tiôgé River at Kögi, 3.9 km SSW Touho, 20°49.043'S, 165°13.551'E, 25 m, 26.xii.2003, light trap, loc#100, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); males, females, Province Sud, W slope Mt. Ningua, Kwé Néco Stream, 3.9 km W summit of Mt. Ningua, on Boulouparis–Thio Road, about 50 m upstream road, 21°44.359'S, 166°06.009'E, 117 m, 20. xi– 12.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#035, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); 3 males, Province Nord, 50 m upstream bridge on Hienghène-Tnèdo road, 3.9 km S summit of Mt. Tnèda, 2.2 km E Tnèdo, 20°43.085'S, 164°49.928'E, 29 m, 7.xii.2003, light trap, loc#071, K. A. Johanson (NHRS); 6 males, 15 females, Province Sud, stream crossing way to sanatorium 2.3 km E St Laurent, ca. 150 m upstream bridge, 22°04.484'S, 166°19.910'E, loc 027, Malaise trap, 17-19.x.2006, K. A. Johanson & M. Espeland (NHRS); 2 males, 2 females, Province Sud, stream crossing way to sanatorium 2.3 km E St Laurent, ca. 150 m upstream bridge, 22°04.484'S, 166°19.910'E, loc 027, Malaise trap, 17-19.x.2006, K. A. Johanson & M. Espeland (NHRS); 11 males, numerous females, Province Nord, Ponandou Tiôgé River at Kögi, 3.9 km SSW Touho, 20°49.043'S, 165°13.551'E, 25 m, 26.xii.2003, light trap, loc#100, K. A. Johanson (NHRS).

Etymology.

Minuta , name referring to the small size of the species.

Remarks.

This species appears to be widespread and often abundant but, like most of the Caledonotrichia species, is hard to identify with certainty unless it is mounted on a microscope slide. Thus, only a small number of specimens are designated as paratypes. Considerable numbers of these tiny mostly jet black caddisflies, with shiny silver areas of setae on their wings, most of them males, were seen running around in bright sunlight on exposed rocks at waterfalls. Fig. 74 shows a locality where a large number of specimens, mostly males, of this species were collected by sweep net.