Leucotrichia fulminea Thomson & Holzenthal

Thomson, Robin E. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2015, A revision of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Leucotrichia Mosely, 1934 (Hydroptilidae, Leucotrichiinae), ZooKeys 499, pp. 1-100 : 21-22

Taxon classification Animalia Trichoptera Hydroptilidae

Leucotrichia fulminea Thomson & Holzenthal sp. n. Fig. 20

Diagnosis.

Leucotrichia fulminea sp. n., is most similar to Leucotrichia angelinae . Both species possess a long, slender mesoventral process on sternum VII; a broad, rounded inferior appendage; a subgenital plate with a small apical emargination in the ventral arm when viewed ventrally; and a phallus bearing a pair of subapicodorsal sclerites that each point laterad. Leucotrichia fulminea can be distinguished by the rugose ventral surface of the mesoventral process and the 3 small setae on the inferior appendage, each of which is absent in Leucotrichia angelinae . Near the base of the subapicodorsal sclerite on the phallus there is also a bend that can be seen in the lateral view that is not present in Leucotrichia fulminea .

Description.

Male. Length of forewing 4.7-4.9 mm (n=7). Head unmodified, with 3 ocelli; antennae unmodified. Dorsum of head dark brown with light yellow and dark brown setae; thorax dark brown with dark brown and light yellow setae dorsally, brown ventrally; leg segments with brown setae. Forewings covered with fine light yellow setae mesally with dark brown setae along the edges. Genitalia. Abdominal sternum VII with elongate, rugose mesoventral process. Sternum VIII in ventral view with posterior margin concave. Segment IX anterolateral margin convex, posterolateral margin irregular; in dorsal view anterior margin shallowly concave, posterior margin irregular. Tergum × with dorsal sclerite slender, bent ventrad; ventral sclerite large, semielliptic, with tridentate posterior margin; membranous apex with dorsal and ventral lobes, rhomboid in dorsal view. Subgenital plate with dorsal arm not apparent; ventral arm rounded basally, arched mesally, tapering apically, in ventral view with rounded apical emargination. Inferior appendage apex rounded, bearing 3 small dorsal setae; in ventral view inner margin crenulate. Phallus apex bearing multiple internal apodemes and pair of pointed subapicodorsal sclerites extending outward.

Holotype male: ECUADOR: Cañar, Río Chauchas, 2910m, 3 km N Zhud, 17.ix.1990, O.S. Flint (UMSP000140611) (NMNH). Paratypes: same data as holotype, 5 males (NMNH); same data as holotype, 1 male (UMSP).

Etymology.

Fulmineus, Latin for "of lightning", referring to the shape of the pointed dorsal sclerites on the phallus, which resemble lightning bolts when viewed laterally.