Rhyacophila masudi, Ali & Hussain & Majeed & Pandher & Parey, 2024

Ali, Tabraq, Hussain, Zahid, Majeed, Aquib, Pandher, Manpreet Singh & Parey, Sajad H., 2024, A new species of the genus Rhyacophila Pictet, 1834 (Insecta, Trichoptera, Rhyacophilidae), from India, Contributions to Entomology 74 (1), pp. 7-11 : 7

Rhyacophila masudi sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles Rhyacophila obscura Martynov, 1927, in the R. obscura Species Group. The characters that place the new species in the R. obscura Group are features of segment X, the aedeagus, parameres, ventral lobes of the aedeagus, and the second segment of each inferior appendage. In lateral view, segment X is short and bent downwards in R. masudi sp. nov. but in R. obscura , it is long and directed posterad. The phallotheca is crescentic in the former and rectangular in the latter species. The excision between the two lobes of the second segment of the inferior appendages is wider in R. masudi sp. nov. but it is shallow in R. obscura . In R. masudi sp. nov. parameres are apically rounded but oval in the latter (Fig. 4A ).

Description.

Adult (male): Head, thorax, and legs yellowish brown; general body pale brown and antennae with alternating light and dark brown bands. Abdomen dark brown and genitalia pale brown. Length of each antenna 4.3 mm and of each forewing 6.79 mm (n = 14). In forewings, fork II arises slightly more nearly basal than fork I (Fig. 3A-C ).

Genitalia (♂) (Fig. 4 ). In lateral view, tergum of segment IX slightly longer than its sternum. In dorsal view, segment X trilobed, outer lobes much broader than median lobe and apicolaterally round, tiny middle lobe triangular; in lateral view bent downwards, with blunt apex. Pair of dark anal sclerites elliptical in ventral view. Phallotheca crescentic in lateral view, with convex anterior margin and concave posterior margin; endotheca shorter, tubular; aedeagus slender, tubular, acute distally; ventral lobe longer than aedeagus, apically acute, directed posterodorsad; parameres elliptical, round apically, clothed with dense setae. Inferior appendages each with first segment longer than second; second segment with dorsal lobe apically round and elevated, ventral lobe slender and projecting beyond dorsal lobe, with tall, deep excision between lobes. In ventral view first segment of inferior appendage with mesal concavity.

Female. Unknown.

Type material.

Holotype. ♂, INDIA: Jammu and Kashmir, Buffliaz, DKG forest, 33.5937°N, 74.3646°E, 1850 m, 15.vi.2019, Coll. Tabraq Ali, Zahid Hussain, Aquib Majeed, and Osman Javid.

Paratypes. INDIA: (2♂) same locality and collection data as holotype except 2.ix.2019; (2♂) Jammu and Kashmir, Rajouri, Kandra, 33.3844°N, 74.5975°E, 1820 m, 17.ix.2020; (2♂) Jammu and Kashmir, Kousernag, 33.5007°N, 74.8347°E, 3680 m, 12.viii.2020; (3♂) Jammu and Kashmir, Thajawas Glacier, 34.2920°N, 75.2686°E, 2780 m, 2.vii.2021; (3♂) Himachal Pradesh, Panchpulla waterfall, 32.5260°N, 75.9893°E, 2000 m, 28.v.2022; (1♂) Himachal Pradesh, Bhagsunag waterfall, 32.2460°N, 76.3369°E, 1770 m, 30.v.2022. Collectors: Tabraq Ali, Zahid Hussain, Aquib Majeed, and Sajad H. Parey.

Holotype and paratypes depository.

Holotype and paratypes are deposited in the museum of the Department of Zoology, BGSB University, Rajouri, India.

Distribution.

India: Jammu and Kashmir region, Himachal Pradesh state.

Etymology.

This species is named in honor of the late Masud Choudhary (Fig. 3D ), founding Vice Chancellor of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, J&K, India, for his great contributions towards making the university a hub of excellence in teaching and research and for his excellent services to improve social and educational opportunities for the people of the Pirpanjal Range of Jammu and Kashmir.

Figures

Figure 3. Adult male of Rhyacophila masudi sp. nov. and picture of M. Choudhary. A. R. masudi, habitus, left lateral; B. R. masudi, right forewing, dorsal; C. right hind wing, dorsal; D. picture of the late Masud Choudhary.

Figure 4. Rhyacophila masudi sp. nov. male genitalia. A. Left lateral; B. Segment X, dorsal; C. Segment X and anal sclerites, ventral. Abbreviations: AB = apical band; AED = aedeagus; AS = anal sclerite (paired); END = endotheca; INF = inferior appendage (paired); IX = abdominal segment IX; PAR = paramere (paired); PHAL = phallotheca; TB = tergal band; VLA = ventral lobe of aedeagus; X = abdominal segment X.