Leucotrichia imitator Flint, 1970

Thomson, Robin E. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2015, A revision of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Leucotrichia Mosely, 1934 (Hydroptilidae, Leucotrichiinae), ZooKeys 499, pp. 1-100 : 24-25

Taxon classification Animalia Trichoptera Hydroptilidae

Leucotrichia imitator Flint, 1970 Figs 4B, 23

imitator Flint, 1970: 8 [Type locality: Mexico, Vera Cruz, Plan del Río Ver, Rt. 140, km 368; NMNH; male; larva, case].

Diagnosis.

Leucotrichia imitator is similar to Leucotrichia fairchildi , Leucotrichia pictipes , and Leucotrichia sarita . Leucotrichia imitator is most similar to Leucotrichia pictipes in having a phallus with multiple membranous, asetiferous lobes arising from the apex (Fig. 23E, F). Leucotrichia imitator can be distinguished by having 3 lobes arising from the same apical location, while Leucotrichia pictipes has 2 pairs of symmetrically arranged lobes. Leucotrichia imitator is unique in that it has the reduced number of ocelli in male specimens, but does not also have some degree of head modifications (Fig. 4B).

Description.

Male. Length of forewing 3.1-3.9 mm (n=22). Head unmodified, with 2 ocelli; antennae unmodified. Dorsum of head brown with light brown setae; thorax dark brown with light brown setae dorsally, light brown ventrally; leg segments with light brown setae. Forewings covered with fine dark brown setae with scattered bands of light yellow setae. Genitalia. Abdominal sternum VII with mesoventral process replaced by tuft of dense, prominent setae. Sternum VIII in ventral view with posterior margin with V-shaped concavity. Segment IX anterolateral margin broadly produced dorsolaterally, posterolateral margin convex; in dorsal view anterior margin concave, posterior margin broadly concave. Tergum × with dorsal sclerite slender, elongate; ventral sclerite semielliptic with tridentate posterior margin; membranous apex not well developed. Subgenital plate with dorsal arm not apparent; ventral arm with small knoblike basal projection, tapering apically, curved dorsad, in ventral view lanceolate. Inferior appendage straight, with small pointed subdorsobasal projection, bearing single dorsal spine; in ventral view basally subquadrate, apex hooked inward. Phallus apex bearing pair of internal sclerites and 3 digitate apical lobes.

Material examined.

Holotype male: MEXICO: Veracruz: Plan del Río Ver, Rt. 140 km 368, 23.vii.1965, Flint and Ortiz (USNM 70898) (NMNH). Paratypes: Same data as holotype, 2 males (NMNH); COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: Río Seco, NW of Esparta, 23.vii.1967, O.S. Flint, Jr., 2 males (in alcohol) (NMNH); GUATEMALA: El Progreso: San Agustín Acasaguastlán, 11-21.viii.1965, Flint and Ortiz, 2 males, 1 female (NMNH); Suchitepéquez: Puente Ixtacapa, near San Antonio, 18-19.vi.1966, Flint and Ortiz, 1 male (NMNH). Nontypes: COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: Quebrada Portera nr Portera Grande, 5.vii.1992, T. Shepard, 13 males (in alcohol) (UMSP); MEXICO: Sonora: Yaqui River, Hwy 16, near Tonichi, 19.viii.1986, Baumann, Sargent, and Kondratieff, 1 male, 1 female (in alcohol) (NMNH).

Etymology.

Unknown.