Consorophylax lepontiorum, Graf & Vitecek, 2016

Graf, Wolfram & Vitecek, Simon, 2016, A new species of Limnephilidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Western Alps (Insecta: Trichoptera), Zootaxa 4085 (3), pp. 431-437 : 432-434

Consorophylax lepontiorum sp. nov. Graf & Vitecek

Holotype. 1 male: Italy, Omegna , Campello Monti, Valstrona Valley, 45.941873°N 8.209528°E, 1900m asl, 12.x.2014, leg. Vinçon.

Diagnosis. The new species is a Consorophylax most similar to C. piemontanus Botosaneanu 1967 , C. delmastroi Malicky 2004 , and C. vinconi Graf & Malicky 2015 , but exhibits (1) terminal laterally positioned setae on the aedeagus, (2) gradually tapering parameres, (3) dorsocaudally bilobed superior appendages, and (4) inferior appendages each bearing a broad, unbifurcated tip that is flat in caudal view. Consorophylax piemontanus has no setae on the aedeagus, rounded suboval superior appendages, and a more-narrow tip of each inferior appendage in lateral view that is wide in caudal view. Consorophylax delmastroi has no setae on the aedeagus, long setae on the distinctly tapering parameres, rounded suboval superior appendages, and a slightly bifurcated tip of each inferior appendage in lateral view that is wide in caudal view. Consorophylax vinconi has no setae on the aedeagus, rounded capitate superior appendages, distally abruptly constricted parameres, and a slightly bifurcated tip of the inferior appendages in lateral view that is wide in caudal view. The other Consorophylax species are easily delineated as they exhibit a distinct dorsal digitate protrusion of each inferior appendage.

Description. General appearance dark brown (in alcohol), tergites and sternites dark brown; cephalic and thoracic setal areas cream-coloured; cephalic, thoracic, and abdominal setation light brown; legs light brown; haustellum and intersegmental integument cream-coloured; wings light brown to beige, translucent, setation on veins and membrane light brown, length of each forewing 14.5 mm. Male maxillary palps each trisegmented, tibial spur formula 1,3,4.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 2A–E ). Tergite VIII (VIII) light brown, with loosely spinose dorsolateral area in posterior 2/3rds extending to abruptly densely spinose, bilobed caudal area. Dorsal third of segment IX (IX) reduced to narrow transverse bridge, ventral 2/3rds long, with distinct anterolateral indentation and triangular posterolateral protuberance on each side in lateral view, seemingly fused with inferior appendages. Superior appendages (sup) in lateral view approximately suboval, but dorsocaudally bilobed; in dorsal view suboval, distinctly convex laterally, medially indented; in caudal view suboval, distinctly convex laterally, medially concave. Intermediate appendage (int) basally divided into separate vertical plates on either side of anus, each triangularly suboval in caudal view, in lateral and caudal views with rounded protrusion projecting caudad in ventral 1/3rd; dorsal process of each intermediate appendage plate in lateral view long, subhorizontal, distally tapering to sharp tip. Inferior appendages (inf) in lateral view thick, stout, fused with segment IX, each with dorsal portion directed somewhat caudad; in dorsal view stout with distinct, subtriangular dorsal portion; in caudal view slender, irregular, concave mesally, convex laterally, dorsal portion directed dorsomesad. Aedeagus in lateral view curved dorsad with row of terminal setae on each side and apicodorsal membranous portion; in dorsal view tip bifurcate with setae positioned laterally and membranous portion wider than sclerotized portion; parameres in lateral view slender, sinuous, slightly tapering and curved dorsad distally, each with terminal tip bearing several small spines; in dorsal view slightly curved laterad distally.

Female, pupa, larva, and egg unknown.

Etymology. Named for the Lepontii, a people inhabiting the region in the first century B.C., who spoke a distinct continental celtic language, Lepontic, and developed unique letters for its documentation.

DistriBUtion, Biogeography, and evolUtion. Members of the genus Consorophylax exclusively occur in the Alpine arc and most species are endemic to very small areas ( Graf et al. 2015a) ( Fig. 3 ). Although the exact distribution ranges of the species are not exactly defined, six of the eight known species are micro-endemics sensu Graf et al. (2008) by being restricted to single catchments or mountains throughout the Alps. Additionally, the southern slopes of the Western Alps were found to harbour four distinct micro-endemics on a very small geographical scale, each in a single catchment less than 100 km apart. The new species was found a mere 65 km North-Northeast of the type locality of the easternmost Southwestern Alpine Consorophylax species, C. vinconi ( Fig. 3 ). Thus, the currently known speciation patterns of Consorophylax in the Southwestern Alps ( Graf et al. 2015a, this study) suggest a complex evolutionary history potentially driven by glacial oscillations, geological processes, and particular species traits. Intriguingly, present-day distributions of Southwestern Alp Consorophylax micro-endemics ( C. corvo Malicky 2008 , C. delmastroi , C. piemontanus , C. vinconi ) correlate surprisingly well with historic (Miocene-Pliocene) river courses in the region ( Pfiffner 2010) ( Fig. 3 ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Male genitalia of C. lepontiorum sp. nov. 2 A, right lateral; 2 B, aedeagus, dorsal; 2 C, aedeagus, right lateral; 2 D, caudal; 2 E, dorsal. VIII, tergite VIII; IX, segment IX; sup, superior appendage; int, intermediate appendage; inf, inferior appendage. Scale bar = 1 mm. Del. Vitecek.

FIGURE 3. Distribution map of Consorophylax species. Two species (C. consors, C. styriacus) are comparatively widely distributed across the Alpine arc, whereas the other species are regional or micro-endemics. Dotted lines indicate late Miocene to early Pliocene river courses as estimated by Pfiffner (2010).