Potamophylax asturicus, Martínez & Martín & González, 2016

Martínez, Jesús, Martín, Luís & González, Marcos A., 2016, A new species ofPotamophylax from Spain with a key to the Iberian species (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 56 (2), pp. 837-844 : 838-841

Potamophylax asturicus sp. nov.

( Figs 1–5 )

Potymophylax albergaria (misidentification): MARTÍNEZ & GONZÁLEZ (2011a): 240.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: 1 J, SPAIN: ASTURIAS: Ortigosa, río Ortigosa Páramo, Teverga , 43º4′38.68″N 6º2′2.15″W, 1263 m, 18.x.2009, leg. J. Martínez, collected with light traps (coll. M. A. González, University of Santiago de Compostela ).

Description. Adult (in alcohol) general colour, including legs and antennae, light orange with brown spots; forewings partially coloured pale brown with clearer spots in the posterior border; length of forewing: 15 mm. Tibial spur formula: 1, 3, 4.

Male genitalia ( Figs 1–5 ). Posterior third of tergite VIII with dorsomedial part largely covered by two patches of dark spinules, roughly rectangular in dorsal view ( Fig. 2 ), almost joining medially, with narrow and straight pale central area between them. Segment IX very broad laterally ( Fig. 1 ), widest in middle, approximately ovoid. Superior appendages moderately developed, laterally rounded; in caudal view they are strongly concave and look ear-like ( Fig. 2 ). The intermediate appendages are short (not protruding beyond superior appendages in lateral view); caudally they are slender, digitiform, convergent towards their tips (each appendage describing roughly a semicircle), where they are slightly dilated ( Fig. 2 ).

Inferior appendages, in lateral view ( Fig. 1 ), with posterior margin of its basal part prominent and markedly convex, clearly delimited from segment IX. Inner distal part protruding in characteristic dark lobe, strongly sclerotized, fringed by some fine black teeth; in lateral view, this lobe is straight and digitiform, obliquely directed upwards; in caudal view ( Fig. 2 ), it is short, slender and acuminate.

Phallic apparatus ( Figs 4–5 ) with aedeagus feebly sclerotized, enlarged at tip, almost rectangular in ventral view; in lateral view, its distal part slightly curved upwards. Parameres regularly recurved upwards and tapered towards apex, clearly shorter than phallus; under high magnification, their apices are brush-shaped, bearing group of 6–7 tiny spines.

Female. Unknown.

Differential diagnosis. The new species is closely related to P. albergaria . The segment IX and the shape of the inferior appendages mainly distinguish the males of these two species. In lateral view, the segment IX is considerably wider in the new species. The posterior margin of the basal part of the inferior appendages is prominent and markedly convex in the new species while in P. albergaria it is only slightly sinuous, almost straight; the distal part is straight and directed obliquely upwards in the new species while in P. albergaria it is almost straight or slightly recurved outwards. In caudal view, the distal part is somewhat dilated apically in P. albergaria , clearly slenderer and acuminate in the new species.

The shape and extension of the spinose areas of the tergite VIII are also quite different. In dorsal view they are large and roughly rectangular in the new species, more reduced and clearly triangular-shaped in P. albergaria .

The morphology of the intermediate appendages is quite similar, but some differences are visible, especially when they are viewed caudally; in the new species they are clearly convergent at the tips (almost parallel in P. albergaria ) while they are not visible in lateral view (their apices slightly protruding beyond the superior appendages in P. albergaria ).

In the phallic apparatus there are only some minor differences in the parameres, which are apparently a little thicker in the new species.

Finally, concerning the forewing venation ( Figs 6–7 ), we only recognise some minor differences in the apical forks III and V: m1 is longer in P. asturicus and as a consequence, the apical fork III is slightly broader. Besides, in the new species, both Cu1 and Cu1a converge directly, forming the apical fork V, while in P. albergaria they converge in a small transverse vein that goes to t3 (note that the new species is known only from a single specimen so far).

Etymology. The specific name is the latinized adjective asturicus (- a, - um), referring to Asturias, where the new species was collected.

Figures

Figs 1–13. 1–5 – male genitalia of Potamophylax asturicus sp. nov.:1 – lateral view; 2 – caudal view; 3 – dorsal view; 4 – phallus and parameres, ventral view; 5 – phallus and parameres, lateral view. 6–7 – forewings: 6 – P. asturicus sp. nov., 7 – P. albergaria Malicky, 1976. Arrows highlight some minor differences observed between the venation of these two species. 8 – P. albergaria, male genitalia in caudal view. Scale bars: 1–5, 8 – 3.85 mm; 6–7 – 3.73 mm.