Triplectides nathaliae, Malm, Tobias & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2008

Malm, Tobias & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2008, Description of eleven new Triplectides species (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) from New Caledonia, Zootaxa 1816, pp. 1-34 : 16

Triplectides nathaliae , new species

Figs 57–64 , 96 .

Diagnosis. This species is separated from most New Caledonian Triplectides species by the presence of 4 hind tibial spurs. The species is easily distinguished from smithi , aequalichelatus , new species, and dawnae , new species, by having shorter mesal lobes of the inferior appendages, and by the shape of tergum X. It resembles wardi , and mariannae , new species, from which it is separated by the absence of fork 1 in the hind wings.

Male: Body colour light to medium brown (in alcohol). Tibial spur formula 2:2:4. Claws on all legs unmodified. Forewing ( Figs 57, 59 ) length 10.0– 12.5 mm (N=35); colour straw to medium brown (in alcohol), with dark, rugged area around junction of R and Sc, and dark area around crossvein m-cu and basally in fork 5; light area present around base of S4 and crossvein m-cu; forks 1, 2 and 5 present; fork 1 stalk slightly longer than half length of fork 1; branching of m with stalk slightly shorter than 1/3 fork length; Dc narrow, about 4/5 as long as Tc; distance between crossveins s and S4 about equal to length of S4, S4 meeting M close to crossvein m-cu. Hind wing ( Fig. 58 ) forks 2, 3 and 5 present; S4 arising slightly apically to mid-length of Dc. Nygma present in all wings in fork 2.

Genitalia ( Figs 60–64 ): segment IX widest dorsally and ventrally, in ventral view ( Fig. 62 ) with small central, posterad projection. Superior appendages ( Figs 60, 61 ) about half as long as tergum X; slightly dorsoventrally flattened, broad, roughly triangular ( Fig. 61 ). Tergum X with two dorsobasal projections, one minute present dorsally of prominent, bipartite, projection; in ventral view ( Fig. 62 ) roughly rectangular, except with concave lateral margins; lateral carinae present along basal 2/3; apex with wide mesal excavation, apicolateral corners often with small lateral protuberances (not seen in illustrated specimen); dorsal surface bearing minute setae. Inferior appendages ( Figs 60, 62 ) broad; apicodorsal lobes about 2 times length of harpagones; basoventral processes long, digitate, directed posterad, exceeding mesal lobes, reaching half-length of harpagones; mesal lobes wide, smooth, apically concave, lateral corners produced, shallowly separated from major branch. Phallus ( Figs 63, 64 ) straight along its length, except curving posterad along basal 1/3; slightly widening posteriorly after anterior 1/ 3 in ventral view; apex straight with lateral flanges.

Distribution. This species is found in the southern part of Grande Terre ( Fig. 96 ).

Etymology. This species is named after Dr Nathalie J. Mary, in recognition of her previous work on the Triplectides species and other Trichoptera genera of New Caledonia.

Holotype male: New Caledonia: Province Sud: stream draining to Marais de la Rivière Blanche, 1.35 km S Pont Pérignon, 22º08.496’S, 166º42.152’E, 180 m, 6–16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#009 [KA Johanson].

Paratypes: Province Sud: same data as holotype – 4 males; same data as holotype, except 05–18.x.2006 [KA Johanson & M Espeland] – 1 male; W part of Plaine des Lacs, 150 m downstream bridge at La Capture, 22º15.967’S, 166º49.493’E, 261 m, 04–22.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#007 [KA Johanson] – 1 male; stream draining to Marais de la Rivière Blanche, 2.25 km SW Pont Pérignon, 22º14.158’S, 166º67.993’E, 157 m, 6– 16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#010 [KA Johanson] – 1 male; ditto, except 05–18.x.2006 [KA Johanson & M Espeland] – 3 males; stream draining to Marais de la Rivière Blanche, 5.0 km SW Pont Pérignon, 22º09.513’S, 166º39.942’E, 180 m, 6–16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#011 [KA Johanson] – 1 male; Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road between Noumea and Yaté, 800 m N Pont des Japonais, 22º11.043’S, 166º43.566’E, 120 m, 7–16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#015 [KA Johanson] – 3 males; ditto, except 16–30.xi.2003 – 5 males; Mt Dzumac, source stream of Ouinne River, downstream cross-point to mountain track, 22º01.997’S, 166º28.486’E, 795 m, over about 30 m waterfall, 18.xi–4.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#031 [KA Johanson] – 5 males; Mt Dzumac, source stream of Ouinne River, at cross-point to mountain track, 22º02.218’S, 166º28.566’E, 797 m, 18.xi.2003, light trap, loc#032 [KA Johanson] – 2 males; Haute Yaté Fauna Reserve, 1760 m S bridge Pont Perignon, 50 m upstream bridge over stream, 22º14.954’S, 166º70.1211’E, 180 m, 14.xii.2003 – 13.i.2004, Malaise trap, loc#081 [KA Johanson] – 8 males.

Figures

FIGURES 57 – 64. Triplectides nathaliae, new species, male holotype. 57, forewing; 58, hind wing; 59, forewing anastomosis detail; 60, genitalia, lateral; 61, genitalia, dorsal; 62, genitalia, ventral; 63, phallus, lateral; 64, phallus, ventral.

FIGURES 95 – 97. Maps of Grande Terre, New Caledonia, with male Triplectides specimen records plotted. 95, Triplectides wardi, new species; 96, Triplectides nathaliae, new species; 97, Triplectides mariannae, new species.