Polycentropus floridensis Lago and Harris, 1983

Orfinger, Alexander Benjamin, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the Polycentropus confusus species group (Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae), Journal of Natural History 57 (41 - 44), pp. 1825-1916 : 1871-1873

Polycentropus floridensis Lago and Harris

( Figures 23 , 47 )

Polycentropus floridensis Lago and Harris, 1983: 666 , fig. 2, J; type locality ′ Florida, Walton County, Headwaters of Rocky Creek , 4 mi . SW Mossy Head ̍ ( USNM) .

Polycentropus n. sp. Harris et al., 1982: 80.

Polycentropus floridensis Armitage and Hamilton, 1990 : A–D, J.

Diagnosis. Males of P. floridensis are most similar to those of P. dinkinsorum , P. pentus , and P. vernus in regard to the ventral swelling of the phallus, P. confusus and P. thaxtoni in the size and shape of the basodorsal processes of the inferior appendages. From P. dinkinsorum , P. pentus , and P. vernus , males of P. floridensis are distinguished by the large, round, lobate basodorsal appendage of the inferior appendage and the deep emargination of the bodies of the pre-anal appendages, which is absent in P. dinkinsorum and P. vernus ; in males of P. vernus , two deep emarginations of the bodies of the pre-anal appendages make it appear bifid. Males of P. floridensis are distinguished from those of P. confusus and P. thaxtoni by the presence of a large mesoventral swelling of the phallus and by the shape of the basodorsal process of the inferior appendages which, in ventral view, are mostly concealed behind the ventral portions in P. floridensis and mostly exposed in P. confusus and P. thaxtoni .

Adult description

General. Length. of male 5.9–7.0 mm (mean = 6.4 mm; n = 5).

Male genitalia ( Figure 23A–E ). Abdominal segment VIII annular. Terga IX and X fused, membranous, overlaying bases of intermediate appendages. Sternum IX subovoid in lateral view, posterior margin subtriangular. Intermediate appendages originating under terga IX+X, extending beyond them, oriented dorsocuadad, their apices each bearing 4 small setae; in dorsal view apices proximate, parallel. Bodies of pre-anal appendages each round, produced caudad with deep dorsal emargination; dorsal process long, curved ventrad, extending just above head of basodorsal process of corresponding inferior appendage, acute apically; in dorsal view slender, sinuous, apices convergent. Inferior appendages in lateral view each with lobate basodorsal process erect with short neck and long, broad head round dorsally and projecting ventrad with its round apex visible above main body of appendage, main body of appendage with wide base possessing basodorsal triangular bump, dorsal and ventral margins tapering along length to round apex terminating anterad of intermediate appendages, surface with dorsomesal excavation along length; in ventral view subparallel, wide basally, medial and lateral margins subparallel for ½ length, medial margin curving outward beyond about ½ length to round apex, basodorsal process mostly hidden by main body of inferior appendage, lateral margins extending beyond main body of inferior appendage to varying degrees, in cleared specimen rounded, subtriangular, with medial blunt projection; in caudal view oblong, with basomedial round bump. Phallus a fully sclerotised tube, in lateral view with larger base, large mesoventral swelling, curved slightly ventrad slightly beyond 2/3 length, apical section subrectangular, sinuous, internal spinules absent, internal phallic sclerite long, horizontal, slender, with subrectangular anterior base and linear posterior apex.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Larva. Described by Orfinger et al. (2023).

Pupa. Unknown.

Biology. This is a narrow-range and less common species. This species has been collected from clear, cool, flowing spring-fed streams of various sizes with sand substrate and ample deadwood and aquatic macrophytes. Adults have been collected from March to August and mid- to late-instar larvae have been collected from January to March. This species was classified as Threatened by Deyrup and Franz (1994).

Distribution ( Figure 47 ). USA: Alabama, Florida.

Polycentropus floridensis is apparently a narrow-range endemic restricted to the western panhandle of Florida and nearby areas of southern Alabama.

Material examined. Holotype: USA. Florida: Walton County, Eglin Air Force Base ; Headwaters of Rocky Creek ; 4 miles south-west of Mossy Head, J.F. Scheiring coll., 11-v-1979, 1 male (USNMENT01507919) . Paratype: USA. Alabama: Baldwin County, Pine Log Creek at Hwy. 59 , [N31°08 ʹ 39.90″, W87°48 ʹ 28.30″], S.C. Harris coll., 11-v-1982, 1 male ( CUAC000016085 ) .

Non-type material. USA. Florida: Okaloosa County, Eglin Air Force Base at BR-625, Rogue Creek , UV black light, [N30°33 ʹ 19″, W86°35 ʹ 51″], A . Rasmussen, M . Pescador, D. Denson, D . Ray , and B . Albrecht coll ., 7-viii-2008, 1 male ( UMSP 000173197 ) . Turkey Hen Creek (East Branch) at head, Eglin Air Force Base, 0.3 km W Okaloosa Tower, [N30° 38 ʹ 48″, W86°33 ʹ 23″], R .W. Flowers, M.L. Pescador, A.K . Rasmussen , and B .A. Richard coll ., 17-iv-2006, 1 male ( FAMU) . Unnamed tributary to Turkey Creek N of Eglin 626, T . Thom , T . Dall , and J . Tritt coll ., 22-iii-2001, 1 larva ( FAMU) . Santa Rosa County, East Branch of Dean Creek at powerline road, Eglin Air Force Base , dipnet, [N30°27 ʹ 54″, W86°53 ʹ 17″], R .W. Flowers, M.L. Pescador, A.K . Rasmussen , and B .A. Richard coll ., 27-v-2004, 1 larva ( FAMU) . Watering Head Branch at powerline road, Eglin Air Force Base, [N30°28 ʹ 22″, W86°53 ʹ 17″], A .K . Rasmussen, B.A . Richard , and M . Tongue coll ., 11-i-2006, 2 larvae ( FAMU) . UV black light, [N30°27 ʹ 54″, W86°53 ʹ 21″], R .W. Flowers, M.L. Pescador, A.K . Rasmussen , and B .A. Richard coll ., 19-iv-2006, 1 male ( FAMU) . Weaver Creek steephead, Eglin Air Force Base , [N30°30 ʹ 26″, W86°54 ʹ 42″], R .W. Flowers, A.K . Rasmussen , and B .A. Richard coll ., 19-iv-2006, 1 male ( FAMU) . Walton County, Alaqua Creek East on Hwy . 282, P . Carlson coll ., 27-iii-1971, 1 male ( CUAC0000107305 ) .

Figures

Figure 23. Polycentropus floridensis Lago and Harris, 1983, male genitalia (holotype). A. left lateral (with phallus removed); B. dorsal; C. segment IX and inferior appendages, ventral; D. phallus, left lateral; E. dorsobasal process of right inferior appendage, caudal.

Figure 47. Known Canadian province and US state distribution of Polycentropus floridensis Lago and Harris, 1983, as indicated by grey shading.