Microptila Ris

Ito, Tomiko, 2017, The genus Microptila Ris (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae) in Japan, Zootaxa 4232 (1), pp. 104-112 : 104-105

Genus Microptila Ris

Microptila Ris 1897 , 416–418. Type species Microptila minutissima Ris , by monotypy.

Adult (modified after Marshall 1979). Head with 3 ocelli but no setal warts ( Fig. 1 A). Antenna 18–25 segmented. Maxillary palpi each 5-segmented, 2 basal segments short, other segments cylindrical; labial palpi each 3- segmented, basal segment short, other segments cylindrical. Pronotum with pairs of round mesal and round lateral warts; mesoscutellum reversed triangular and metascutellum triangular ( Fig. 1 A). Wings long, apically acuminate, length of each forewing 1.5–3.0 mm. Spur formula 0, 3, 4.

Male genitalia simple: Segment IX large with anterior and posterior excisions dorsally and ventrally; tergite X membranous lobe; subgenital plate elongate; inferior appendages elongate caudally; phallus slender and long, tapering to pointed apex in some species, with short spiral titillator in some species.

Larva. Known only for a European species, Microptila minutissima Ris 1897 ( Graf et al. 2004; Waringer & Graf 2011). The larva is mainly characterized as follows: Tibial process of foreleg with pinnate spines, abdomen slightly flattened laterally with dorsal sclerite on segment I (hardly visible with transmitted light under compound microscope, visible using scanning electron microscopy) but without caudal filament on segment IX or X; cases purse-shaped, constructed largely of silk with sparse filamentous algae.

Habitat. Adults of most species are found near hygropetric zones.

Japanese name. Keshi-himetobikera-zoku.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Microptila orienthula Kjaerandsen & Ito 2009 male and female; type specimens (1 A – 1 E, 1 G, 1 H), type locality (F), Shizuoka (I), Yakushima (J). Male (1 A – 1 G): 1 A, head and thorax, dorsal; 1 B, genitalia, left lateral; 1 C, same, dorsal; 1 D, same, ventral; 1 E, subgenital plate, dorsal; 1 F, right inferior appendage, ventromesal; 1 G, phallus, left lateral. Female (1 H – 1 J): 1 H, abdominal segments VII – X, ventral; 1 I and 1 J, abdominal segment VII, ventral, variation. Abbreviations: VII – X = abdominal segments VII – X; inf app = inferior appendage (paired); ph = phallus; sg plate = subgenital plate; ti = titillator; t X = tergite X.