New and newly recorded micro-caddisfly species (Insecta: Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from Australia’s north, including islands of Torres Strait
Author
Wells, Alice
Author
Dostine, Peter
text
Zootaxa
2016
4127
3
591
600
journal article
38720
10.11646/zootaxa.4127.3.11
9a4e6f2f-055d-4dae-ad2f-af5e35b9e772
1175-5326
255937
214DF7EA-3BE3-47E3-92A9-D0AF24ACB4CB
Oxyethira
(
Dampfitrichia
)
torresiana
sp. nov.
Figures 8–11
Diagnosis.
Superficially this species is easily confused with
Oxyethira
(
Dampfitrichia
)
incana
Ulmer
, which is widespread from
Indonesia
to New
Guinea
, northern
Australia
and
New Caledonia
. However, it is distinguished by the broader apical margin of abdominal segment VIII; absence of elongate spines apico-laterally on the deep apical concavity in the dorsal margin of abdominal segment VIII; phallic apparatus straight, with an elongate, anteriorly directed and free strap-like process arising subapically (compared with the phallic apparatus with a bend at mid length in
O
.
incana
); and by the very different female terminalia that are stouter and without the darkly sclerotised quadrate area apico-ventrally on segment IX.
FIGURES 8–13.
Oxyethira
and
Hellyethira
spp. 8–11,
Oxyethira torresiana
sp. nov.
, male genitalia: 8, ventral; 9, phallic apparatus; 10, lateral. 11.
O. torresiana
sp. nov.
, female terminalia, ventral. 12, 13,
Hellyethira khukri
sp. nov.
, male genitalia: 11, ventral; 12, left lateral. Abbreviations: VIII, IX = abdominal segments VIII and IX; dpl = dorsal plate; dpr = dorsal process of gonopods; gon = gonopod; mes p = mesal process of abdominal segment VII; ph = phallic apparatus; pr = paramere; stl = setose lobes of gonopods; vpl = ventral plate.
Description.
Male
. Length of each forewing
1.6–2.2 mm
(n = 7). Antennae banded, each with 27 flagellomeres. Genitalia as in
Figs 8–10
. Abdominal segment VIII almost quadrate in ventral view, with apical margin slightly convex, bordered by palisade of stout, distally down-turned setae, concave dorsally in lateral view; segment IX subtriangular in lateral view, antero-ventral margin tapered narrowly; gonopods fused basally, separate in distal quarter; subgenital plate similar to gonopods in shape, setose, reduced to small, fused median structure; dorsal process even smaller, fused; mid ventral apodeme elongate slender; phallic apparatus straight, stout basally, tapered distally, with strap-like sclerotised spine arising at 3/4 length, directed proximally.
Female
(
Fig. 11
). Length of each forewing
1.6–2.3 mm
(n = 12). Antennae each with 19 flagellomeres, basal 7 dark, followed by 4 lighter, 4 dark, terminal 4 pale. Abdominal segment VII bearing small short, sharp midventral spine. Abdominal segment VIII length about
2x
basal width, tapered distally. Segment IX with triangular sclerotised areas disto-laterally, apical margin coarsely crenulate.
Etymology.
Named for Torres Strait, the origin of the
types
.
Types
.
Holotype
.
1 male
, NORTH EAST QUEENSLAND, Sesia via
Bamaga
,
20–23.iii.2012
, W. Stevens, ex
Culicoides
trap (ANIC, slide).
Paratypes
. NORTH EAST QUEENSLAND:
3 males
,
3 females
, data as for
holotype
(ANIC);
27 males
,
11 females
, Sesia, via Weipa, Sesia yards,
3.iv.2014
, E. Cottis, ex
Culicoides
trap, (ANIC);
7 males
,
Bamaga
, airport road,
19.iv.2010
, J. Bond, ex
Culicoides
trap (ANIC);
2 males
,
3 females
, Sesia,
23.ii.2012
, W. Namai, ex
Culicoides
trap (ANIC);
1 male
,
4 females
, Badu Island, Torres Strait,
26.iii.2012
, T. Nona, ex
Culicoides
trap (ANIC).
Other material examined.
NORTH EAST
QUEENSLAND:
1 male
, Badu Island, Torres Strait,
4.iv.2011
, T. Nona, ex
Culicoides
trap (
ANIC
);
2 males
, NEQ,
Bamaga
,
31.v–3.vi.2011
, J. Bond, ex
Culicoides
trap (
ANIC
);
1 male
,
3 females
,
Bamaga
,
26.iii.2008
, J. Bond, ex
Culicoides
trap (
ANIC
).
PAPUA
NEW
GUINEA
:
4 males
, Western Province, Kautru,
8°03.267’S
,
141°11.038’E
,
1.vi.2009
, Lt, B. Cookson & N. Harris, ex
Culicoides
trap (
ANIC
, 1 slide, 3 alcohol).
Remarks.
This new species has been collected from Badu Island and the far north of Cape York and also from
Papua New Guinea
. Given the large number of specimens collected from Cape York, it is probably established there, as well as in New
Guinea
(from whence available
Trichoptera
samples are so few). The closely similar
O. incana
has been collected from northern
Australia
to
New Caledonia
to the east, and westward through the Oriental Region to
Sri Lanka
.