Aplatyphylax pumilus, Mey & Malicky, 2021

Mey, Wolfram & Malicky, Hans, 2021, Records and descriptions of caddisflies from Natma Taung National Park and adjacent localities in the Chin Hills of Myanmar (Insecta, Trichoptera), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 68 (1), pp. 139-164 : 139

Aplatyphylax pumilus sp. nov. Figs 4C , 9B-D

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (pinned), Myanmar, Chin, Chin Hills, 9 miles west of Mindat, 1960 m a.s.l., 9.x.2002, at light, leg. W. Mey, photo 24/20 (MfN).

Paratypes (pinned): 1 ♂, same data as holotype (MfN); 2 ♂, Natma Taung National Park, 16 miles camp, 2500 m a.s.l., 10.x.20002, at light, leg. W. Mey, photo 23/20, genitalia in glycerine vial (MfN).

Etymology.

Latin, Aplatyphylax pumilus , pygmy, referring to the small size of the male adults.

Diagnosis.

With 8-9 mm forewing length, the new species appears to be the smallest in the genus. The broadly-rounded apices of the forewings and the absent tessellated bands on abdominal sternites are further distinguishing characters. Concerning male genitalia, the short inferior appendage, the long, free intermediate appendages and the curved parameres are similar with A. unicornis (Mey & Yang, 2001) described from Shaanxi, China. The slightly serrate dorsal margins of the intermediate appendages and the forewing pattern are unique features of the new species, which together with A. unicornis , seems to take an isolated position within the genus. The majority of Aplatyphylax species occur in the Eastern Himalayas from Sikkim to Assam ( Schmid 1991b).

Description.

Length of forewing 8-9 mm (♂), wing span 16-18 mm. Head and thorax dark brown, setal warts slightly paler, frons and palpi light brown, antennae yellow-brown, somewhat longer than forewings; legs yellow-brown, spines black, absent on praetarsi, spurs 1.2.2; membrane of forewings light grey, with scattered pale spots, nygma present at base of fork 2 and in apical part of thyridial cell, venation as in A. mishmicus Kimmins, 1950 (genotype); abdomen yellow-brown, sternites unicoloured, without bands of tessellate structures on dorsal sides.

Male genitalia (Fig. 9B-D ). Tergit VIII with pair of subapical patches of short and black, spaced spines encircling a rounded depression between patches; segment IX in lateral view broadest in the middle, narrow on dorsal and ventral sides; pre-anal appendages relatively broad, long, slightly curved dorsad; intermediate appendages a pair of long, separate processes, not fused at bases, directed dorso-distad, dorsal margin with finely serrated surface; inferior appendages short and shallow, rounded in ventral view. Phallic apparatus large, endotheca extensible, long, with round sclerite on gonoporus; bases of parameres membranous, broad, apical parts sclerotised, hook-like, with apices directed laterad in exposed stadium and mediad in reposed state.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution.

Myanmar, Chin Hills.

Biology.

Mountainous species (1900-2500 m a.s.l.) with flight period in autumn. Adults are attracted by light.

Figures

Figure 4. Images of adults from the Chin Hills. A. Hydropsyche pallipenne; B. Arctopsyche subflava sp. nov., ♂ holotype; C. Aplatyphylax pumilus sp. nov., ♂ holotype; D. Micrasema turbo; E. Lepidostoma assamense; F. Lepidostoma serratum; G. Lepidostoma ylesomi; H. Paraphlegopteryx aykroydi; J. Adicella natmataungensis sp. nov., ♂ paratype; K. Poecilopsyche duhchasana. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figure 9. Male genitalia (scale: 0.5 mm) and wing venation. A. Wing venation of Hydromanicus abdominalis sp. nov., ♂ holotype (scale: 2 mm); Adicella natmataungensis sp. nov., ♂ holotype, B. Dorsal, C. Phallic apparatus, ventral, D. Lateral; Aplatyphylax pumilus sp. nov., ♂ holotype; E. Lateral, F. Dorsal, G. Ventral; Triaenodes mindatensis sp. nov., ♂ holotype, H. Lateral, J. Dorsal, K. Ventral, L. Inferior appendage, dorsal.