Smicridea (Smicridea) franciscana, Rocha, Isabela Cristina, Dumas, Leandro Lourenço & Nessimian, Jorge Luiz, 2016

Rocha, Isabela Cristina, Dumas, Leandro Lourenço & Nessimian, Jorge Luiz, 2016, Three new species and a new record of Smicridea McLachlan 1871 (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) from Minas Gerais state, Brazil, Zootaxa 4107 (3), pp. 423-430 : 426-427

Smicridea (Smicridea) franciscana sp. nov.

( Figures 2 A–D)

Description. Adult male. Length of each forewing 4.08–4.32 mm (n = 32). Color in alcohol brown. Head and thorax brown with dark brown setae. Antennae and legs yellowish brown, legs with short dark brown setae. Forewings brown with dark brown setae, each with white spot on apical Cu2 vein; R1 vein thickened. Wing venation typical for subgenus.

Male genitalia. Segment IX much longer dorsally than ventrally, with anterolateral margins straight; anterior part of dorsal margin slightly concave, posterior part convex and bearing small spicules; posterolateral margin oblique and sinuous; ventral margin short, rounded ( Fig. 2 A); in dorsal view, anterior margin strongly concave, mesally bearing spicules; lateral margins sinuous and parallel-sided ( Fig. 2 B). Tergum X setose, ear-like ( Fig. 2 A); in dorsal view, divided on meson 1/4 its length, each half divided into lateral and mesal lobes, each lateral lobe slightly bilobed apically ( Fig. 2 B), with apex upturned in lateral view ( Fig. 2 A), mesal lobe shorter than lateral lobe, mostly hidden under lateral lobe, with acute apex directed posteromesad ( Fig. 2 B). Inferior appendages each two-segmented, basal segment relatively elongate, covered with long setae, slightly inflated on distal third; apical segment slender, approximately 1/3 as long as basal segment; apex rounded ( Fig. 2 A); in dorsal view, apical segment lightly inflated on distal half with subacute apex ( Fig. 2 B). Phallus with basal section enlarged and open ventrally, bearing two pairs of basolateral spines: (1) first pair sclerotized, elongate, curved posterodorsad; (2) second pair arising more distally, much shorter than first, directed laterodorsad, with sclerotized base; apical section open apically, apex with ventral lobe entire, tongue-like, subtruncated apically ( Fig. 2 C), in ventral view, oblong ( Fig. 2 D); endotheca with pair of long and paired spines apically, often retracted; when phallus expanded, apical spines extending posterad beyond ventral lobe ( Fig. 2 D).

Female and immatures. Unknown.

Diagnosis. This species belongs to the S. (S.) nigripennis Group (Flint 1974) by sharing some phallic apparatus diagnostic characters: (1) the basal half of the phallus is open ventrally with the sclerotized part very much enlarged; (2) the apical half is open posterodorsally with spines extending from the membranous central portion, and (3) the lateral and ventral regions are produced into a lobe. Smicridea (S.) franciscana sp. nov. is closest to S. (S.) mirnae Almeida & Flint 2002 in the shape of the phallus. The new species can be distinguished by having a tongue-like ventral lobe in lateral view, two pairs of basolateral spines and a pair of long and paired, apical spines on the endotheca, whereas in S. (S.) mirnae the ventral lobe is produced in a single scoop-like projection, there are no basolateral spines and seven small apical spines occur on the endotheca. Additionally, the new species is very similar to S. (S.) multidens Flint & Denning 1989 in the shape of segments IX and X, inferior appendages, and phallus. However, S. (S.) franciscana sp. nov. can be distinguished by having the mesoventral margin of the segment IX rounded in lateral view, in S. (S.) multidens the ventral margin is undulated. Another useful character to separate S. (S.) franciscana sp. nov. from this species are the spines on the phallus: Smicridea (S.) multidens possesses (1) one pair of long, paired basolateral spines, directed posterad; (2) a basolateral plate with many short spines; and (3) sclerotized projections with a pair of large, internal spines apically on the endotheca. However, the new species possess two pairs of basolateral spines, the basolateral plate is indistinct, the endotheca lacks sclerotized projections and the pair of spines is apparently 2 times longer than in S. (S.) multidens .

Distribution. Brazil, Minas Gerais state.

Etymology. The specific epithet is an adjective referring to the São Francisco river basin, where part of the Canastra mountain range is located and the material was collected.

Material examined. Holotype male: BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: São Roque de Minas, Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra, afluente do Ribeirão das Posses (Córrego dos Pombos), 20°14’56.6”S, 46°38’04.9”W, el. 997 m, 02.iv.2014, JL Nessimian, ALH Oliveira, LL Dumas & SP Gomes leg. ( DZRJ).

Paratypes: BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: São Roque de Minas, Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra, Ribeirão das Posses (Fazenda Velha), 20°14’49.2”S, 46°38’33.4”W, el. 990 m, 01.iv.2014, JL Nessimian, ALH Oliveira, LL Dumas & SP Gomes leg., 1 male ( DZRJ); São Roque de Minas, Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra, afluente do Ribeirão das Posses (Córrego dos Pombos), 20°14’56.6”S, 46°38’04.9”W, el. 997 m, 02.iv.2014, JL Nessimian, ALH Oliveira, LL Dumas & SP Gomes leg., 30 males ( DZRJ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Male genitalia of Smicridea (Smicridea) franciscana sp. nov., holotype: A, left lateral; B, dorsal; C – D, phallus: C, left lateral; D, ventral.