Acritoptila planichela Kelley

Wells, Alice & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2014, Review of the New Caledonian species of Acritoptila Wells, 1982 (Trichoptera, Insecta), with descriptions of 3 new species, ZooKeys 397, pp. 1-23 : 14

Acritoptila planichela Kelley Fig. 17

Acritoptila planichela Kelley (1989: 194).

Revised diagnosis.

In having the parameres branched, Acritoptila planichela resembles Acritoptila forficata , sp. n. however in Acritoptila forficata the parameres are more slender and the mesal branch is the shorter, finer branch and closely associated with the lateral branch whereas in Acritoptila planichela the lateral branch is shorter and finer than the lateral branch, and Acritoptila planichela lacks the pronounced lateral lobes on abdominal segment IX seen in Acritoptila forficata sp. n. Acritoptila planichela shares with Acritoptila ouenghica and Acritoptila macrospina sp. n. the feature of curiously modified knob-like setae on the fused, non-sclerotized gonopods, but neither of those species has branched parameres. Male antennae damaged in only specimens at hand; forewing length, 2.1 mm (n = 1).

Remarks.

Only a single specimen was collected despite the extensive field work. Thus, with the 3 identified by Kelley (1989), 4 specimens are now known, all from the southern province.

Material examined.

Holotype male: New Caledonia, mountain stream up Boulari River, (BPBM); 1 male (on slide), Province Sud, Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road between Noumea and Yaté, 1.5 km E Pic Mouirange, 22°12.545'S, 166°40.246'E, 143 m, 9.xi.2003, light trap, loc#018, KAJ (NHRS).