Nyctiophylax (Paranyctiophylax) orbicularis, Zhong & Yang & Morse, 2014

Zhong, Hua, Yang, Lian-Fang & Morse, John C., 2014, The genus Nyctiophylax Brauer in China (Trichoptera, Polycentropodidae), Zootaxa 3846 (2), pp. 273-284 : 276-278

Nyctiophylax (Paranyctiophylax) orbicularis n. sp.

( Fig. 3 )

Diagnosis. This new species is very similar to N. cascadensis Malicky 1995 from Vietnam. However, it differs in that 1) sternum IX has anterior and posterior margins both deeply excised such that the mid-length of sternum IX is only 1/2 as long as the lateral margins in ventral view; 2) its preanal appendages in lateral view are short and subtriangular, each having its ventral region 1/2 as long as its basal height; 3) each preanal appendage has a mesoventral process that is stout, roundly curved ventrad to an acute apex, and with half its length clearly visible in lateral view; and 4) tergum X has each upper lobe semi-sclerotized, its ventrolateral margins are highly sclerotized and has a long, spinous apex curved ventrad which extends well past its lower lobe tip in lateral view; each of its lower lobes is large, rounded, semi-transparent, as tall as long, and with its lower edge reaching the ventral margins of the preanal appendages. In N. cascadensis , 1) the anterior and posterior margins of sternum IX are shallowly excised, such that the mid-length of sternum IX is at least 3/4 as long as the lateral margins; 2) the preanal appendages are triangular in lateral view, each with its mid-length as long as its basal height; 3) the mesoventral process of each preanal appendage is hook-like, its basal 2/3 is tilted upward, and its tip is barely visible in lateral view; and 4) the upper lobes of tergum X are short, hook-like, and not extending beyond the preanal appendages; the lower lobes are small and tongue-like, with the two together positioned above the preanal appendages in lateral view.

Male. Length of each forewing 4.6–5.8 mm (N = 9). Head brown with dark yellowish antennae, pronotum yellowish brown, meso- and metanota and fore wings brown.

Male genitalia. Segment IX nearly triangular, with posterior margin almost straight in lateral view ( Fig. 3A ); in ventral view anterior margin with rounded concavity 1/3 as deep as length of sternum and posterior margin broadly and deeply excised ( Fig. 3C ); dorsal region of tergum IX pentagonal, semi-membranous in dorsal view, with basal width greater than its mid length ( Fig. 3B ). Preanal appendages in lateral view short, sub-triangular, ventral region 1/2 as long as basal height; each with mesoventral process stout, roundly curved ventrad to acute apex, with half its length clearly visible in lateral view. Tergum X in lateral view with each half divided into two lobes: upper lobe transparent, semi-sclerotized, its ventrolateral margin highly sclerotized and each with long, spinous apex curved ventrad; lower lobe large, rounded, semi-transparent, as tall as long ( Fig. 3A ); with U-shaped incision apicomesally in dorsal view ( Fig. 3B ). Inferior appendages dorsoventrally depressed, each with its main body narrow and long, tilting dorsad in lateral view, its basomesal lobe triangular with its base about 1.5 times as broad as base of main body ( Fig. 3A ); in ventral view inferior appendages broad and apically blunt, each about 3 times as long as its maximum width, with distal 1/3 of its outer margin excised; basomesal setose lobe triangular and at least 1/3 as long as main body ( Fig. 3C ). Phallus tubular, with pair of laterally compressed oval protrusions basolaterally and pair of long, needle-like parameres; lacking other spines ( Fig. 3A ).

Holotype male. Guang-dong Province : Ru-yuan County, Nan-ling National Nature Preserve , Lao-peng-keng Field Station, Lao-peng-keng, Route X 327, marker 21.5 km, N 24.9291°, E 113.0158°, alt. 1010 m, 18 May 2004, Coll. J.C. Morse, Yang L-f., Tong X-l.

Paratypes: Guang-dong Province : Zhao-qing City : Ding-hu District , Mt. Ding-hu Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Academia Sinica, Dong-gou, N 23.1607°, E 112.5323°, alt. 132 m, 24 May 2004, Coll. Yang L-f., Zhou X., C.J. Geraci, 1 male ; same data except at Shui-lian-dong-tian Waterfall , N 23.1604°, E 112.5250°, alt. 170 m, 24 May 2004, Coll. J.C. Morse and SUN C-h., 4 males . Bo-luo County, Mt. Luo-fu , unnamed stream, 400 m on trail to Shan-bei-shui, trailhead 3.2 km W of ridge of Mt. Cha-shan, N 23.3190°, E 114.0115°, alt. 290 m, 1 June 2004, Coll. J.C. Morse, Zhou X., C.J. Geraci, 3 males . Jiang-xi Province : Mt. Jiu-lian Shan: National Nature Preserve Da-Qiu-Tian, N 24°35’09’’, E 114°26’53’’, alt. 400 m, 10 June 2005, Coll. Sun C-h., 1 male ; Mt. Wu-Yi Shan : National Nature Preserve, unnamed tributary of Tong-Mu River, N 27.8397°, E 117.7224°, alt. 943 m, 3 June 2005, Coll. Zhou C-f., 1 male .

Etymology. Greek, orbicularis = circular, with reference to the lower lobes of tergum X expanded to round sclerites in lateral view.

Distribution. Oriental Biogeographic Region of China: Guang-dong, Jiang-xi.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Nyctiophylax (Paranyctiophylax) orbicularis n. sp. male genitalia. A, left lateral; B, dorsal; C, ventral. b.m.l. = basomesal setose lobe of an inferior appendage; inf.app. = inferior appendage; m.v.pro. = mesoventral process of a preanal appendage; para. = paramere; ph.b. = phallobase; ph.c. = phallicata; pre.app. = preanal appendage; s.IX = sternum IX; t.IX = tergum IX; t.X = tergum X.