Smicridea (Smicridea) caatinga, Alves & Santos & Nessimian, 2018

Alves, André Almeida, Santos, Allan Paulo Moreira & Nessimian, Jorge Luiz, 2018, A new species of Smicridea McLachlan 1871 (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) from the Caatinga biome and new distributional records from Brazil, Zootaxa 4500 (3), pp. 388-396 : 389-390

Smicridea (Smicridea) caatinga sp. nov.

( Figures 2A–2G )

Smicridea (Smicridea) sp. 1 in Takiya et al. 2016

Description. Adult male. Length of each forewing 4.0–5.0 mm (n = 101). Color, in alcohol, brown. Head dark brown with dark brown setae; antennae dark brown, covered by short brown setae. Forewings dark brown, with median transversal white bar; wing venation typical for the subgenus. Legs yellowish brown. Sternum V with pair of anterolateral glandular processes of same length as sternum. Abdomen internally with two pairs of reticulate glandular structures, associated with posterolateral margins of segments VI and VII.

Male genitalia. Segment IX, in dorsal view, with anterodorsal margin concave, median membranous area covered with small spicules, lateral margins sinuous ( Fig. 2A ); in lateral view with anterolateral margins rounded, ventral margin 1/4 as long as dorsal margin ( Fig. 2B ). Segment X short, covered with short setae on lateral margins; in dorsal view, medially divided into pair of lobes, each divided apically into rectilinear mesal angle and round lateral lobe ( Fig. 2A ); in lateral view, apex rounded and upturned ( Fig. 2B ). Inferior appendages twosegmented; each with first article long, slightly inflated distally, setose, with long, fine apical setae ( Figs. 2A–2B ); second article short, about 1/2 as long as first article, setose, with dorsal tuft of setae subapically, in dorsal view slightly curved mesad, slightly inflated on distal half with acute apex ( Fig. 2A ); in lateral view, clavate ( Fig. 2B ). Phallus short and complex, enlarged basally, open apically, without basal curvature, with apex quadrangular and pair of dorsal mesolateral lobes covered by short setae, and with pair of ventrolateral sclerotized projections directed apicolaterad ( Figs. 2F–2G ); when retracted, pair of internal spines at middle of phallus, with folded margins ( Figs. 2C–2E ); when fully everted, phallotheca with pair of dorsal membranous lobes, ventral membranous lobe and pair of lateral membranous lobes, with small protuberances and one pair of apical spines, when retracted these spines positioned at middle of phallus ( Figs. 2C–2E ).

Female and immatures. Unknown

Remarks. Smicridea caatinga sp. nov. belongs to the S. (S.) nigripennis Group ( Flint 1974a) due to some characteristics of the phallic apparatus, as the basal half of the phallus open ventrally with the sclerotized part very much enlarged, the apical half open posterodorsally with spines extending from the endotheca, and with the lateral and ventral regions produced into lobes and spines. Among the species in this group, the new species is closest to S. (S.) franciscana Rocha, Dumas & Nessimian 2016 due to the shape of segment X, which is divided apically into two lobes, and the phallus with one pair of endothecal spines directed posterad. However, the new species can be easily distinguished from this and all other species in the subgenus by the phallus having one pair of dorsal mesolateral lobes covered by short setae, and one pair of ventrolateral sclerotized process. Additionally, when phallus is everted, on the apex of the apical section are a characteristic pair of dorsal membranous lobes, a lateral pair of lobes with small protuberances, and a large ventral membranous lobe.

Distribution. BRAZIL [Piauí, (Piracuruca municipality) and Ceará (Ubajara municipality)].

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to the biome which surrounds the type locality. Caatinga, in Tupi-Guarani language, means “white forest”, because of the whitish coloration of the trees as result of the dryness in this biome.

Material examined. Holotype male. BRAZIL: Piauí: Piracuruca, Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades, Riacho da Piedade , Malaise trap, 04°06’34”S, 41°43’39”W, 169 m a.s.l., 21–24.iv.2012, D.M. Takiya, R. R. Cavichioli & J.A. Rafael leg., ( CZMA).

Paratypes: BRAZIL: Ceará: Ubajara, Parque Nacional de Ubajara, Trilha Araticum , Rio das Minas , na altura da trilha do teleférico, Malaise trap, 3°49’58”S, 40°53’53”W, 420 m a.s.l., 14–16.ii.2013, D.M. Takiya, R. R. Cavichioli & J.A. Rafael leg., 1 male ( DZRJ) ; Piauí: Same data as holotype, 57 males ( DZRJ) ; same data but 20 males ( INPA) ; Piracuruca, Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades, Riacho da Piedade , Malaise trap, 04°06’34”S, 41°43’39”W, 169 m a.s.l., 18–21.iv.2012, D.M. Takiya leg., 18 males ( CZMA) ; Piracuruca, Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades, Cachoeira do Riachão , Pennsylvania trap, 04°06’28”S, 41°40’13”W, 171 m a.s.l., 18.iv.2012, D.M. Takiya leg., 2 males ( DZRJ) ; same data but Malaise trap, 1 male ( DZRJ) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Smicridea (Smicridea) caatinga sp. nov., holotype male. 2A, segments IX, X, and inferior appendages, dorsal. 2B, segments IX, X, and inferior appendages, right lateral. 2C–2E, retracted phallus: 2C, right lateral; 2D, dorsal; 2E, ventral. 2F– 2G, everted phallus: 2F, right lateral; 2G, posterior or caudal. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.