Culoptila saltena Mosely

Blahnik, Roger J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2006, Revision of the genus Culoptila (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae), Zootaxa 1233, pp. 1-52 : 39

Culoptila saltena Mosely

Fig. 32 A, B

Culoptila saltena Mosely 1954: 342 .

This is a distinct species, probably most closely related to C. nahuatl . Like that species, it has the posterodorsal apex of the phallobase strongly inflected and also the ventrolateral margin of tergum IX much narrowed. It is easily distinguished from any other species by the shape of tergum X, which is short, but deeply excavated mesally. Other distinguishing characters of C. saltena include the shape of the phallobase (parallel­sided), the phallic spines (1 elongate, 1 very short), and the acute apices of the inferior appendages.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2–2.7 mm; female 2.5–3 mm. Color brown; wing with indistinct whitish wing bar at anastomosis. Mesothorax of male narrow anteromesally; mesoscutal wart elongate, narrowed, rounded anteromesally; mesoscutal setae long. Mesothoracic tegulae of male rounded, greatly enlarged; tegular setae short; tegular gland elongate, pleated, concertina­like.

Male genitalia. Sternum VI process short, subtruncate. Tergum IX ventral margin rounded, tapered from anterolateral margin, distinctly produced posteroventrally. Inferior appendages short, subacute apically. Tergum X short, length slightly less than width, apex in ventral view with deep, broadly rounded mesal incision, apicolateral margins acute; ventrolateral processes with apices incurved, nearly planar in caudal view, apices only weakly bent, mesal margin subacute, slightly rounded. Phallobase elongate, dorsal and ventral margins subparallel in lateral view, apicodorsal projection short, with very distinct upward inflection at base, apex subacute. Phallic apparatus with 2 phallic spines, one elongate and prominent, about 2/3 length of phallobase, narrow, gradually curved, other short and inconspicuous, 1/3 or less length of other spine.

Material examined

GUATEMALA: El Progreso: San Augustin Ac., 11–21.viii.1965 (Flint & Ortiz) — 1 male ( NMNH); Suchitepequez: Puente Ixtacapa, 18–19.vi.1966 (Flint & Ortiz) — 1 male, 1 female ( NMNH); same, except 28.vi.1966 (Flint & Ortiz) — 1 male, 3 females ( NMNH). HONDURAS: Pespire, 1.viii.1967 (O.S. Flint) — 1 male ( NMNH); El Zamorano, 28–29.i.1966 (G.F. Freytag) — 16 males, 4 females ( NMNH); same, except 16.iv.1966 (G.F. Freytag) — 2 males ( NMNH); Río Humuya, NW Comayagua, 3.viii.1967 (O.S. Flint) — 43 males, 6 females ( NMNH), 2 males ( UNAM). MEXICO: Chiapas: Tapachula, Río Izapa, 21.iv.1983 (Bueno & Arce) — 1 male ( UNAM).

Distribution

MEXIXO (Chiapas, Morelos); GUATEMALA; HONDURAS.

Figures

FIGURES 32 – 34. Male genitalia. 32. Culoptila saltena Mosely: 32 A—lateral; 32 B—ventral. 33. Culoptila tapanti, new species: 33 A—lateral; 33 B—ventral. 34. Culoptila tarascanica Flint: 34 A—lateral; 34 B—ventral.