Chimarra minacis, Blahnik & Andersen, 2022

Blahnik, Roger & Andersen, Trond, 2022, New species of the genus Chimarra Stephens from Africa (Trichoptera, Philopotamidae) and characterization of the African groups and subgroups of the genus, ZooKeys 1111, pp. 43-198 : 43

Chimarra minacis sp. nov.

Fig. 34A-E

Type material.

Holotype. Ghana - Volta Reg. ● ♂ (in alcohol); Wli, Agumatsa waterfall, station # 3; 7°07'29"N, 0°35'31"E; 10 Mar. 1993; JS Amakye & J Kjærandsen leg.; light trap; UMSP 000550079. Paratypes. Ghana - Volta Reg. ● 1♂ (lacking abdomen); same data as for holotype except station # 2B; 5-8 Mar. 1993; Malaise trap; UMSP ● 3♂♂; same data as for holotype except 17 Nov. 1993; J Kjærandsen leg.; ZMBN ● 2♂♂; same data as for holotype except station # 6; 20 Nov. 1993; J Kjærandsen leg.; ZMBN.

Diagnosis.

Chimarra minacis is very closely related to C. kibiensis sp. nov. The differences between the two are relatively minor, but distinctive. The decision to recognize them as different species is admittedly subjective. Although it is conceivable that they may eventually be shown to be forms of a single species, the use of names in the meantime is meant to draw attention to the distinctiveness of the forms. Both species are readily recognized by the strongly upturned dorsal spine-like lobes of tergum X, with the elongate and apically downturned ventral lobes of the same tergum. Chimarra cornuta Jacquemart & Statzner also has spine-like lobes of tergum X, but in this species the lobes are not as upright, and the posterior margin of segment IX is not as produced in its ventral part as either of the two species discussed here. The primary difference of C. minacis from C. kibiensis is that the apices of the ventral lobes of tergum X are much more strongly developed and sclerotized in C. kibiensis , even resulting in some asymmetry of the lobes. Also, the sclerotized cusp or projection on the apical margin of the inferior appendage in C. minacis is not as strongly developed; notably it is not projecting or readily visible in lateral view; there is also a second small cusp found in C. minacis , not present in C. kibiensis .

Description.

Adult. Overall color (in alcohol) nearly uniformly yellowish brown, spurs slightly darker. Head moderate in length (postocular parietal sclerite slightly> 1/2 diameter of eye). Palps moderately elongate; maxillary palp with 1st segment very short (approximately as long as wide), 2nd segment relatively short (<3 × 1st), apex with small cluster of stiff setae, 3rd segment elongate, almost 2 × length of 2nd, 4th segment very short (shorter than 2nd), 5th segment subequal to 3rd. Forewing length: male, 4.7-5.5 mm. Fore- and hind wing with forks I, II, III, and V present. Forewing with R1 sinuous, stem of Rs inflected at past midlength (with small node at inflection), basal fork of discoidal cell distinctly enlarged, fork slightly asymmetric, length of cell ~ 2 × width, forks I and II subsessile, r crossvein diagonal, intersecting discoidal cell at approximately midlength, s and r-m, crossveins linear, m crossvein more proximal, s pigmented (like wing), r-m and m crossveins hyaline, 2A with crossvein (apparently forked apically to 1A and 3A). Hind wing with R1 narrowly parallel to subcosta, forks I and II subsessile. Forelegs with apical tibial spur distinct; male with foretarsi unmodified, claws small and symmetrical.

Male genitalia. Segment VIII short, tergum not longer, sternum without ventromesal projection. Segment IX, in lateral view, with anteroventral margin greatly produced, anterodorsal margin with distinct and broadly rounded apodeme, margin between strongly concave; dorsomesal margin of segment very short, but continuously sclerotized; posterior margin strongly and truncately produced in ventral half, strongly narrowed dorsally above inferior appendages, segment very short dorsally; ventral process emerging from ventral margin, very elongate, digitate, with apex rounded in lateral view, apex with short spines or setae; anteroventral margin of segment, in dorsal or ventral views, very strongly concave. Lateral lobes of tergum X each divided laterally into dorsal and ventral lobes, dorsal lobes strongly upturned and spine-like, very strongly sclerotized, especially compared to base, almost appearing as separate structures; ventral lobes relatively elongate, with apices strongly, angularly downturned, apices of lobes rounded. Preanal appendages short and knob-like, constricted basally. Inferior appendage with pronounced basal inflection, dorsally with moderately elongate, tapering dorsal projection, apex subacute; posteromesal margin with a pair of small, sclerotized cusps, not or scarcely visible in lateral view. Phallic apparatus with phallobase moderately elongate, with usual basodorsal expansion, apical half strongly flared and vase-like, apicoventrally with short rounded, sclerotized projection; endotheca with two moderately elongate, slender, symmetrically positioned spines, membrane not noticeably textured, phallotremal sclerite complex composed of short rod and ring structure, with small apical sclerite.

Etymology.

Chimarra minacis , used as an adjective, from the Latin minax, meaning jutting out or threatening, for the upright spine-like processes on tergum X in this species.

Figures

Figure 34. Chimarra minacis sp. nov., ♂ genitalia A lateral B dorsal, segments IX and X C caudal D inferior appendage, dorsal E phallus, lateral, with dorsal detail of phallotremal sclerite complex.