Triplectides mariannae, 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 : 17-18

Triplectides mariannae , new species

Figs 65–72 , 97 .

Diagnosis. This species is separated from most New Caledonian Triplectides species by the presence of 4 hind tibial spurs. It is easily distinguished from smithi , aequalichelatus , new species, and dawnae , new species, by having shorter mesal lobe of the inferior appendages and in the shape of tergum X. It strongly resembles nathaliae and wardi , the former recognized by the absence of fork 1 in the hind wings; the latter has a more rounded apical margin of tergum X.

Male: Body colour straw to medium brown (in alcohol). Tibial spur formula 2:2:4. Claws on all legs unmodified. Forewing ( Figs 65, 67 ) length 9.0–11.0 mm (N=56); colour straw to medium brown (in alcohol), with dark, rugged area around junction of R and Sc, sometimes with dark area bearing dense tuft of hairs 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 half length of fork 1; branching of m with stalk about 1/3 – 1/4 fork length; Dc broad, about 3/5 – 4/5 length of Tc; distance between crossveins s and S4 about one to two times length of S4, S4 meeting M close to or slightly apically of crossvein m-cu. Hind wing ( Fig. 66 ) forks 1, 2, 3 and 5 present; fork 1 stalk about 1/4 fork length; S4 arising slightly basally of apical 1/3 of Dc. Nygma present in all wings in fork 2.

Genitalia ( Figs 68–72 ): segment IX medium broad, widest dorsally, in ventral view ( Fig. 70 ) with short, central posterior extension. Superior appendages ( Figs 68, 69 ) slightly longer than half length of tergum X; dorsoventrally flattened; narrowly club-shaped in dorsal view ( Fig. 69 ). Tergum X with prominent bipartite, dorsobasal projection; in ventral view ( Fig. 70 ) nearly rectangular; with lateral carinae along proximal 2/3; apex with very shallow, wide mesal emargination; dorsal surface with few minute setae. Inferior appendages ( Figs 68, 70 ) broad; apicodorsal lobes about 1.5 times longer than harpagones; basoventral processes long, digitate, directed posterodorsad, exceeding mesal lobes, slightly exceeding base of harpagones; mesal lobes bearing few ventral setae, flat; lateral corners directed laterad; drop-shaped divergence present between mesal lobes and major branches. Phallus ( Figs 71, 72 ), slender, curved about 30 degrees ventrad slightly before midlength; in ventral view, nearly parallel-sided along its length; apex produced ventrally with v-shaped lateral flanges ( Fig. 72 ).

Distribution. This species seems widespread over Grande Terre ( Fig. 97 ).

Etymology. Named after PhD student Marianne Espeland, for her valued contribution during the collection of the Triplectides material in 2006.

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 – 9 males; same data as holotype, except 05–18.x.2006 [KA Johanson & M Espeland] – 1 male; Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road between Noumea and Yaté, Rivière des Pirogues, 22º11.225’S, 166º43.338’E, 100 m, 7.xi.2003, light trap, loc#016 [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; stream crossing Noumea-Yaté road, 1.5 km S Yaté Dam, about 200 m upstream the road, 22º09.931’S, 166º52.535’E, 197 m, 22.xi–17.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#041 [KA Johanson] – 4 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 nearly 1.0 km SE summit, 21º62.095’S, 165º88.072’E, 917 m, loc#047 – 10 males; W slope Mt Ningua, Kwé Néco stream, at Camp Jacob, 3.7 km WNW summit of Mt Ningua, on Bouloparis-Thio road, about 50 m upstream road, 21º43.613’S, 166º06.567’E, 150 m, 29.xi–12.xii.2003, malaise trap, loc#054 [KA Johanson] – 2 males; same data as previous except 12.xii.2003 – 5.i.2004 – 2 males; stream draining to Rivière des Pirogues, 850 m E summit of Mont Imbaah, 5.5 km E lucky Creek in Plum, 22º16.837’S, 166º42.195’E, 31 m, 1.xii.2003, light trap, loc#060 [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; 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] – 1 male; Parc Territorial de la Rivière Bleue, small stream draining into north bank of Rivière Bleue, 22º05.246’S, 166º38.182’E, 6–7.x.2006, light trap, loc#126 [KA Johanson & M Espeland] – 1 male.

Province Nord: Mt Panié, stream at camp, 20º58.167’S, 164º76.472’E, 1311 m, 9.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#073 [KA Johanson] – 3 males; Mt Panié, stream at camp, 20º58.139’S, 164º76.444’E, 1310 m, 9.xii.2003 – 2.i.2004, Malaise trap, loc#074 [KA Johanson] – 13 males; Mt Panié, 20º57.306’S, 164º77.139’E, 902 m, 9.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#075 [KA Johanson] – 1 male.

Figures

FIGURES 65 – 72. Triplectides mariannae, new species, male holotype. 65, forewing; 66, hind wing; 67, forewing anastomosis detail; 68, genitalia, lateral; 69, genitalia, dorsal; 70, genitalia, ventral; 71, phallus, lateral; 72, 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.