Schmidopsyche Oláh & Schefter, 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 : 170-171

Schmidopsyche Oláh & Schefter , new genus

Type species: Schmidopsyche rossi , new species

Monotypic genus, present designation.

Diagnosis. This genus belongs to the Hydropsyche genus cluster and is closely related to Hydropsyche . The genus is characteristic in having a spiny forewing bearing long, erect and stiff setae arranged in rows. It also has a unique combination of four underived primary generic characters in the male: (2) proepisternal wart present; (3) forewing crossvein m-cu located distally of crossvein cu; (5) hind wing crossvein m-cu present; (7) hind wing forks 1, 2, 3, and 5 present. An unusual combination of 3 derived primary generic characters are present in the males: (1) process-like preanal appendages absent; (4) hind wing median cell open; and (6) spur formula (1–2), 4, 4. There is also a unique combination of secondary generic characters in the male head: nearly equal maxillary palp segment lengths, i.e. short maxillary palp segment V; and vertex with modified setal wart pattern. A pronounced sexual dimorphism characterizes the genus, being strongly different body sizes, setal wart numbers and patterns on the vertex, the spur formulas, the mid leg tibial and tarsal segments, pretarsal claws, and different wing venation. Beside this pronounced sexual dimorphism, there are reduction in body, wing and genital characters distinguishing the genus from all other Hydropsychinae . The tibial spur formula is sexually dimorphous, being 144 in the males and 244 in the females. The wing venation is highly reduced in the male: forewing crossvein m absent, so the median cell is open; open hind wing median cell; crossvein r being indiscernible, so the discoidal cell is open; and no crossvein r-m. The female genitalia exhibit an overall simplification, having no posterolateral apodeme on tergite VIII; no deep, mesodistal excision on sternite VIII; the lateral lobe ( sensu Denning 1943 ) or tongue-like lamellae ( sensu Nielsen 1980 ) is modified to a very short, triangular lobe; no sclerotized lobe visible on sternum X; gonocoxal grooves widening into large depressions dominating on the dorsal half of tergum VIII; all setae are reduced or absent except for on those short lobes. The apex of the phallotheca in the male genitalia is simple, having only membranous endothecal lobes nested in the apicoventral sclerotized spatulate lobe with hardly discernible phallotremal sclerite.

Description. Adult. Dark animal, female being significantly larger than males. Antennae thick, about half as long as forewings. Male and female maxillary palp ( Fig. 280) equally thick and long; segments II, III and IV equally long; segment I half as long as segment II; segment V much shorter than sum of segments I–IV. Vertex with 6–7 setal warts (sexually dimorphic) ( Fig. 279); setal wart pattern sexually dimorphic. Maxillary and labial palp covered by short setae; without sharp bristles or long setae; small group of medium-sized setae present on dorsal and dorsomesal area of palp segment II ( Fig. 280). Proepisternum with swollen setal wart. Female mesotibia and mesotarsus broad, flattened, with long, marginal setae for swimming. Spurs well-developed, spur formula 144 in male, 244 in female; spurs long, broad in female; male protibiae with preapical spur shorter in males than in females. Pretarsal claws sexually dimorphic: very long and symmetrical in females; asymmetrical in males, laterally flanked by setal bundle on fore-legs, symmetrical and long on mid- and hindleg.

Wings ( Fig. 281, 287). Forewing with stiff, erect, large setae on longitudinal veins and on large cell areas. Venation highly reduced in male ( Fig. 281): forewing without crossvein m. Hind wing crossvein m-cu present; median cell open; crossvein r indiscernible, so Dc appears open; crossvein r-m reduced due to fusion of R4+5 and M1+2 for a short distance.

Basodorsal sub-margin of sternum V forming small, elongated protuberance in female, short lobe in male.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 282–286). Segment X bilobed ( Fig. 283), setose surface of preanal appendages shifted apicad. Phallothecal apex simple, with 5 membranous endothecal lobes located in broadly spatulate, apicoventral sclerotized lobe ( Fig. 285, 286). Endophallus long, narrowing anteriorly; sclerous band located unusually far dorsally. Phallotrema surrounded by slightly sclerotized sclerites.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 288–290). Posterolateral apodeme absent on tergite VIII. Deep mesodistal incision on VIII sternite absent. Lateral lobes ( sensu Denning 1943 ) or tongue-like lamellae ( sensu Nielsen 1980 ) reduced to short, triangular lobes. Sclerotized lobes visible on sternum X. Clasper groove widening into large depression dominating dorsal half of tergum VIII ( Fig. 289). Except for on those short lobes, setae reduced or absent.

Etymology. Schmidopsyche , derived from the collector of the type species of the genus, Dr. Fernand Schmid, who inspired substantially and supported personally one of the author (OJ) during his university studies.