Oxyethira (Trichoglene) spinifera, Wells, Alice & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2015

Wells, Alice & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2015, Review of New Caledonian species of Oxyethira Eaton, with description of 17 new species, and new records for Hydroptila Dalman and Hellyethira Neboiss (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae), ZooKeys 530, pp. 37-90 : 40

Taxon classification Animalia Trichoptera Hydroptilidae

Oxyethira (Trichoglene) spinifera sp. n. Figs 1-3, 86

Diagnosis.

Males closely resemble those of Oxyethira (Trichoglene) tiwaka sp. n. and Oxyethira (Trichoglene) perignonica sp. n. in having abdominal segment IX subquadrate in ventral view, with the apico-ventral margin truncate but both those species have recognisable gonopods, albeit strongly reduced, whereas as in Oxyethira (Trichoglene) arok , Oxyethira (Trichoglene) amieu and Oxyethira (Trichoglene) spinifera gonopods are so severely reduced that no gonopods can be identified. The rods of ventral processes of Oxyethira (Trichoglene) spinifera are slender and spiny, rather sharper than in Oxyethira (Trichoglene) tiwaka sp. n. but in both species the rods are almost parallel whereas in Oxyethira (Trichoglene) perignonica sp. n. they are sharply pointed and convergent.

Description.

Male antennae with 23-25 flagellomeres, flagellomeres rectangular in profile, without sensilla placodea, terminal 3 flagellomeres pale, rest dark; anterior wing length 1.3-1.5 mm (n=8); tibial spurs 0,3,4. Female antennae with 18 flagellomeres, flagellomeres all dark; anterior wing length 1.3-1.6 mm (n=4); tibial spurs 0,3,4. Abdominal sternite VII with sharp median spur.

Male, genitalia (Figs 1-3). Abdominal segment VIII in ventral view: width exceeds length; margins concave proximally and distally. Abdominal sternite IX: truncate distally. Gonopods reduced, not recognisable on apical margin. Rods of subgenital processes widely separated, parallel, in form of sharp spines. Phallic apparatus elongate, with slender titillator, and subapical narrow sinuous spine.

Material examined.

Holotype. Male (on slide), New Caledonia, small fall ~10 km SW Houailou on Houailou-Bourail road, 26.xii.1998, leg. A. Wells (MNHP).

Paratypes. 2 males (on slides), small stream ~15 km SW Houailou on Houailou–Bourail road, 26.xii.1998, leg. A. Wells (ANIC); 1 male (on slide), stream, ~20 km SW Thio on Boulouparis–Thio road, 28.xii.1998, leg. A. Wells (NHRS); 1 male, Province Sud, Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road between Noumea and Yaté, 2.0 km E Pic Mouirange, 22°12.356'S, 166°40.798'E, 220 m, 7-16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#014, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 15 males, Province Sud, W slope Mt Ningua, Kwé Néco, Stream, at Camp Jacob, 3.7 km WNW summit of Mt Ningua, on Boulouparis–Thio Road, about 50 m upstream road, 21°43.613'S, 166°06.567'E, 150 m, 29. xi– 12.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#054, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 24 males, 13 females (3 on slides), Province Nord, Wemwâdiu stream, 850 m E summit Kögi Mtn, 5 m upstream road, about 200 m S Tiwaka River, 20°49.020'S, 165°14.165'E, 24 m, 6-27.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#067, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS).

Additional material.

12 males, 6 females, Province Sud, Sarraméa, 2907 m, stony forest stream, loc 13, 21°37.097'S 165°49.351'E, Malaise trap, 18-21.xi.2001, leg. K.A. Johanson, T. Pape & B. Viklund (NHRS); 1 male, 1 female, Province Sud, Sarraméa, 220 m, forest stream, loc 10, 21°37.883'S 165°51.958'E, Malaise trap, 18-21.xi.2001, leg. K.A. Johanson, T. Pape & B. Viklund (NHRS); 5 males, 4 females, Province Sud, Monts des Koghis, ca 300 m S Koghi Restaurant, 22.18288°S, 166.50167°E, 417 m, 2-16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#004, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 18 males, 10 females, Province Sud, Monts des Koghis, ca 800 m S Koghi Restaurant, 22.18311°S, 166.50564°E, 460 m, 10-26.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#019, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); males, females, Province Sud, W slope Mt Ningua, Kwé Néco Stream, 3.9 km W summit of Mt Ningua, on Boulouparis–Thio Road, about 50 m upstream road, 21°44.359'S, 166°06.009'E, 117 m, 20. xi– 12.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#035, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS).

Etymology.

Name spinifera is descriptive of the sharp spines of the subgenital processes.

Remarks.

This species appears to be quite widespread from the far south towards the north of the island (Fig. 86).