Phraepsyche Malicky & Chantaramongkol

Oláh, János & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2010, Description of 33 new species of Calamoceratidae, Molannidae, Odontoceridae and Philorheithridae (Trichoptera), with detailed presentation of their cephalic setal warts and grooves 2457, Zootaxa 2457 (1), pp. 1-128 : 113

Phraepsyche Malicky & Chantaramongkol

Phraepsyche Malicky & Chantaramongkol in Malicky et al. 2000: 865.

Type species: Phraepsyche danaos Malicky & Sompong in Malicky et al. 2000. Original designation by monotypy.

Type locality: Thailand .

Malicky et al. (2000) described this genus based on a single species from Thailand. We describe 2 more species below, as well as give the following 2 additional characters to the genus diagnosis: (1) pectination of the antennae; and (2) presence of a sternal projection on the posterior margins of abdominal segment VI. All 3 species known in the genus have relatively uniform genitalia. There are significant differences among the species both in the groove and setal wart patterns on the head and on the thorax. The genitalia generally resemble those of species in the genera Marilia and Odontocerum , from which Phraepsyche species are easily distinguished mostly by forewing venation characters and presence of mesally claw-like and subapically located harpagones. The pectinate antennae being characteristic for this genus are present also in the Australian philorheithrid genus Ramiheithrus Neboiss, 1974 . However, each antennal pecten of Ramiheithrus is directed mesad while in Phraepsyche it is directed laterad; and each pecten unit appears being of epidermal origin, not setal origin as in Ramiheithrus . The pectinate antennae were not mentioned in the original genus description of Phraepsyche , probably because they were lost. Pectination possibly developed from elongated setae because all branches originate from alveoli formed by a skeletal ring and rim, and from setal theca. Similarly to setae, this antennal pectination can be easily detached, but the alveoli remain visible. The pectinal branches on the first and second segments of the flagellae are very short. The well-developed, long and robust sternal projection (hammer) on the posterior margin of segment VI is only present in the males. In other families, like Rhyacophilidae , Glossosomatidae , Hydroptilidae and Philopotamidae , this structure might be used for substrate-born vibration communication. Such behavious has previously not been reported for any leptoceroid species.