Hydropsyche nepalarawa Oláh & Johanson, 2008

Oláh, J. & Johanson, K. A., 2008, Generic review of Hydropsychinae, with description of Schmidopsyche, new genus, 3 new genus clusters, 8 new species groups, 4 new species clades, 12 new species clusters and 62 new species from the Oriental and Afrotropical regions (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae), Zootaxa 1802, pp. 1-248 : 110-111

Hydropsyche nepalarawa Oláh & Johanson , new species

Fig. 173–177

This species is closest to H. igunapali Oláh & Schefter , new species from India (Assam), but is recognized by the presence of a median keel that tapers angularly, and is not sloping distally, nor bilobed in dorsal view. Furthermore, the median keel does not overhang and cover part of the intersegmental depression in lateral view. Other similar species are H. gyantsana , new species and H. rhomboana Martynov both from Tibet, and H. kaznakovi Martynov from Tadzhikistan. The new species is separated by the clearly dotted forewing membranes; in H. gyantsana and H. kaznakovi the forewing membranes have no patterns, and those of H. rhomboana have indistinctly spotted pattern. Moreover, H. gyantsana , H. kaznakovi and H. rhomboana have sinuous coxopodites, not ventrally straight as in H. nepalarawa . The harpagones are parallel sided, and not narrowing like in H. nepalarawa . All 3 species have different shape of the phallotremal sclerites and endothecal processes. Malicky & Chantaramongkol (2000) illustrated an animal from Nepal under the name H. rhomboana with straight coxopodites, not sinuous like in the original description by Martynov. However, the dorsal, interlobular gap in the individual from Nepal is very deep and narrow. The harpagones are not narrowing, and the sclerous endothecal process is broad and not perpendicular to the axis of the phallotheca. The new species has shallow and wide dorsal interlobular gap.

Male. Body and wings brown with light pubescence. Forewing membranes brown, almost uniformly light spotted, except fewer dots below fermen. Maxillary palp formula I-II-(III, IV)-V, segment V as long as segments I–IV together. Head dorsum dark brown, with 7 brown warts. Swollen setal wart present on proepisternum. Pretarsal claws asymmetrical, laterally flanked by setal bundle. Spur formula 244. Protibiae with posteroapical spur smaller than anteroapical spur.

Wings. Venation typical for the genus. Forewing crossveins m-cu and cu separate. Sc and R, and Cu2 and A separate before costa. Hind wing Sc and R meeting before costa about at crossvein r. Stem of M and Cu1 running closely. Median cell closed. Fork 1 present. Forewing length 10.1 mm, hind wing length 7.8 mm.

Male genitalia. Abdominal segment IX fused annularly, moderately long. Median keel long, sharply triangular, almost tapering in dorsal view ( Fig. 174); dorsal surface granulose; lateral surfaces flat; anterior margin arciform; ventrum very short; dorsum about 2 times longer than ventrum ( Fig. 173). Antecosta on both sides well developed, forming double line ( Fig. 173); narrowing dorsally before margin; external groove of antecostal suture present. Apical lobe on posterolateral margins broad, rounded triangular. Posterior spine rows continuous, except with gap at suture system of segment X, absent on dorsum ( Fig. 173). Depression between segments IX and X long, deep. Dorsal margin of segment X short; ventral margin long, concave; segment rounded quadrangular in dorsal view ( Fig. 174), slightly constricting basally. Lateral setose areas (preanal appendages) located ventrally on both sides of segment X, diffuse horizontally into 2 loosely packed groups of setae. Apicoventral setose lobes modified into pair of short, digitiform processes with setae restricted to apex; very short and narrowing apically. Dorsal interlobular gap shallow, wide. Apicodorsal setose lobes forming pair of setose ridges, or crests, dominating dorsum in lateral view ( Fig. 173). Smooth cavity on segment X absent ( Fig. 174). Short, wide, darkly pigmented transverse suture running ventrally from bottom of intersegmental depression on each sides, crossing segment X in dorsal view ( Fig. 174). Longitudinal suture running below lateral setose areas, parallel with ventral margin of segment X. Additional suture-like line running immediately above lateral setose areas, anteriorly meeting ventral suture into an Y. Coxopodites exceeding apex of segment X; dorsal margin basally sinuous; processes dilating distally from mid-length; nearly straight in ventral view ( Fig. 175). Harpagones curving strongly mesad; tapering apically from distal one-third ( Fig. 173, 175). Phallic apparatus simply bent ( Fig. 176); very flat; with very short ventrad curving basal part; distally broadening. Dorsal margin of phallotheca straight, except with small dorsal hump at bend of phallic apparatus. Endophallus attached to dorsal wall of phallotheca, reaching bend of phallic apparatus. Phallotremal sclerites fuse at bottom, trough-like, with lateral rims; simple lobe with rounded apex in ventral view ( Fig. 177). Pair of sclerous endothecal processes present on both sides phallotremal sclerites; thin, slender, digitiform, perpendicular to axis of phallotheca in lateral view ( Fig. 176). Sclerous ventral process of phallotheca shorter similar to phallotremal sclerites ( Fig. 177), with rounded apex in ventral view.

Holotype male: NEPAL: Terhathum District , Gorja Deorali, 2900m, 27.iii.1996, collected at light [G. Csorba] ( OPC, in alcohol).

Distribution. Nepal.

Etymology. nepalarawa , from Nepal, the type locality; and “rawam”, meaning dotted in Sanskrit, referring to the prominent, pale dotted forewing membrane.