Rhyacophila acutis, Kaur & Saini, 2012

Kaur, L. & Saini, M. S., 2012, Two New Species Of Rhyacophila Pictet (Trichoptera, Rhyacophilidae) From India, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (3), pp. 211-215 : 214

Rhyacophila acutis sp. n.

( Figs 6–10)

Description. Length of forewing 8.73 mm and that of antenna 5.82 mm. Color of body and wings dark brown but antenna, maxillary palps, labial palps and legs are pale yellow.

Male genitalia. Segment X in lateral view with rounded projection. Dorsal appendage of phallic apparatus pointed apically. Terminal segment of inferior appendage very small in size and with two patches of spines. Upper process of ventral plate of phallicata curved backward ( Fig. 6). In dorsal view segment X rounded at edges ( Fig. 7) and in ventral view inner and outer surfaces of terminal segment of inferior appendage are concave and convex respectively ( Fig. 10).

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to R. gyaldzen SCHMID, 1970 but it can easily distinguish from it by the following features. Segment X in R. acutis with rounded projection ( Fig. 6) whereas in R. gyaldzen projection is pointed. Dorsal appendage of phallic apparatus pointed apically in R. acutis ( Fig. 6) but in R. gyaldzen apex of dorsal appendage of phallic apparatus truncate. Upper process of ventral plate of phallicata curved backward ( Fig. 6) but in R. gyaldzen it is not curved backward. In dorsal view segment X of R. acutis with U shaped indentation ( Fig. 7) but in R. gyaldzen indentation V shaped. In caudal view anal sclerite bean shaped in R. acutis ( Fig. 9) but in R. gyaldzen anal sclerite rounded. In dorsal view outline of ventral plate of phallicata heart shaped ( Fig. 8) but in R. gyaldzen it is rounded.

Material examined: Holotype: male, India: Meghalaya, Padammaphlong, 1500 m, 26.v.2011. Holotype deposited in the Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University , Patiala , India. Female : Unknown Derivato nominis: The species name refers to the acute apex of dorsal appendage of phallic apparatus .

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Acknowledgements – The authors are grateful to Dr. J. C. MORSE (Clemson University, USA) for his help. Thanks are due to Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi for providing financial assistance in accomplishing this work.