Triplectides aequalichelatus, 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 : 19-25

Triplectides aequalichelatus , new species

Figs 81–88 , 99 .

Diagnosis. This species is separated from many other New Caledonian Triplectides species by the presence of 4 hind tibial spurs. It is easily distinguished from mariannae , nathaliae and wardi by the longer mesal lobe of the inferior appendages and in the shape of tergum X. This species is easily separated from dawnae by shorter harpagones and mesal lobe of the inferior appendages. It shows great similarity to smithi but is generally larger, differs in the apical region of tergum X, and does not have the enlarged anterior foreleg claw.

Male: Body colour light to medium brown (in alcohol). Tibial spur formula 2:2:4. Claws on all legs unmodified. Forewing ( Figs 81, 83 ) length 12.0–16.0 mm (N=46); colour medium brown (in alcohol), with dark, rugged area around junction of R and Sc, dark area with dense hair tuft posterior to base of Dc; light area present around M at S4 and crossvein m-cu; forks 1, 2 and 5 present; fork 1 stalk about 1/3 length of fork; branching of m with stalk about 1/4 fork length; Dc broad, about 3/5 length of Tc; distance between crossveins s and S4 about double the length of S4, S4 meeting M slightly apically of crossvein m-cu. Hind wing ( Fig. 82 ) forks 1, 2, 3 and 5 present; fork 1 stalk very short or absent; S4 arising at apical 1/3 of Dc. Nygma present in all wings in fork 2.

Genitalia ( Figs 84–88 ): segment IX narrow, widest dorsally, in ventral view ( Fig. 86 ) with minute central process. Superior appendages ( Figs 84, 85 ) slightly longer than half length of tergum X; dorsoventrally flattened, digitate. Tergum X with small bipartite, dorsobasal projection; in ventral view ( Fig. 86 ) parallel-sided before apex; apically produced into dorsal and ventral lobes; ventral lobe rounded, apex with small mesal notch ( Fig. 86 ); short setae present on posterior margin and in central cluster before margin; dorsal lobe shelflike, rectangular; bearing small setae at dorsal surface. Inferior appendages ( Figs 84, 86 ) broad; apicodorsal lobes almost twice as long as harpagones; basoventral processes digitate, long, directed posterad, exceeding mesal lobes and reaching about halfway along harpagones; mesal lobes wide, with small, median group of small setae, mesal part prominently produced triangularily, lateral corners produced posterolaterad, deeply separated from major branches. Phallus ( Figs 87, 88 ), slender, curved about 70 degrees ventrad shortly before mid-length; parallel-sided along its length; apex slightly produced ventrally; with v-shaped lateral flanges; tuboid in ventral view ( Fig. 88 ).

Distribution. This species has been found on the southern half of Grande Terre ( Fig. 99 ).

Etymology. From Latin, aequalis – equal, and chela – claw; named for the equal-sized foreleg claws, in comparison to the similar species T. smithi , where the anterior claw is much larger than the posterior claw.

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; Monts des Koghis, ca 300 m S Koghi Restaurant, 22º18.288’S, 166º50.393’E, 447 m, 16–26.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc #002 [KA Johanson] – 3 males; W part of Plaine des Lacs, 150 m downstream bridge at La Capture, 22º15.967’S, 166º49.493’E, 261 m, 4– 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; Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road between Noumea and Yaté, 2.0 km E Pic Mouirange, 22º12.356’S, 166º40.798’E, 220 m, 7–16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#014 [KA Johanson] – 3 males; ditto, except 16–30.xi.2003 – 3 males; ditto, except 5–18.x.2006 [KA Johanson & M Espeland] – 2 males; Rivière Ouanéoue, at bridge crossing road to Koghi Mountains, about 1.5 km from road RT1 Noumea-Dumbea, 22º10.861’S, 166º29.531’E, 20.i.2004, light trap, loc #024 [KA Johanson] – 1 male; 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] – 1 male; 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] – 1 male; stream crossing Noumea-Yaté road, 22º10.191’S, 166º44.474’E, 162 m, 22.xi–4.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#040 [KA Johanson] – 1 male; Rivière des Lacs, above waterfall at Chutes de Madeleine, 22º13.930’S, 166º51.633’E, 243 m, 23.xi.2003, light trap, loc#042 [KA Johanson] – 2 males; Platou de Dogny, source of Dogny River, about 900 m SE summit of Platou de Dogny, 21º61.917’S, 165º88.072’E, 919 m, 25.xi–16.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#046 [KA Johanson] – 1 male; same data as previous except about 1.2 km SE summit, about 200 m from waterfall, 21º62.067’S, 165º88.290’E, 915 m, loc#048 – 1 male; same data as previous except about 1.4 km SE summit, about 20 m upstream waterfall, 21º62.054’S, 165º88.503’E, 912 m, loc#049 – 3 males; Dothio river, 10 m E bridge at Atè, 6.2 km WNW Thio, 21º35.288’S, 166º09.070’E, 13 m, 29.xi.2003, light trap, loc #057 [KA Johanson] – 1 male; Mt Dzumac, source stream of Ouinne River, downstream cross-point to mountain track, 22º02.330’S, 166º28.605’E, 796 m, 3.xii.2003, light trap, loc#062 [KA Johanson] – 1 male; Creek Pernod, 7 m downstream bridge at Route du Carénage on Lac Yaté-Prony road, 22º10.862’S, 166º50.565’E, 162 m, 10.xii.2003, light trap, loc#076 [KA Johanson] – 1 male; Rivière des Lacs, at camp site about 200 m from Route du Carénage between Lac Yaté and Prony, 800 m N summit of ancient mine Anne Madeleine, 22º13.295’S, 166º50.888’E, 223 m, 10.xii.2003, light trap, loc#077 [KA Johanson] – 4 males; Rivière des Lacs, 1.1 km NW Lac en Huit, 4.9 km NW summit of Pic du Grand Kaori, 22º15.195’S, 166º52.178’E, 10.xii.2003, light trap, loc#078 [KA Johanson] – 6 males; Parc territorial de la Rivière Bleue, Rivière Bleue, 22º05.826’S, 166º38.293’E, 6–7.x.2006, light trap, loc#127 [KA Johanson & M Espeland] – 1 male.

Province Nord: Western slope of Kugüö Mt, Xwé Wida stream, 2 km E Koh, 21º35.474’S, 165º50.776’E, 154 m, 20.xi–12.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#036 [KA Johanson] – 2 males; N slope of Mt Rembai, Xwé Méréxwana stream, 21º33.804’S, 165º50.528’E, 309 m, 20.xi–12.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc #037 [KA Johanson] – 1 male.

Figures

FIGURES 81 – 88. Triplectides aequalichelatus, new species, male holotype. 81, forewing; 82, hind wing; 83, forewing anastomosis detail; 84, genitalia, lateral; 85, genitalia, dorsal; 86, genitalia, ventral; 87, phallus, lateral; 88, phallus, ventral.

FIGURES 98 – 100. Maps of Grande Terre, New Caledonia, with male Triplectides specimen records plotted. 98, Triplectides dawnae, new species; 99, Triplectides aequalichelatus, new species; 100, Triplectides australis Navás.