Leucotrichia fairchildi Flint, 1970

Thomson, Robin E. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2015, A revision of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Leucotrichia Mosely, 1934 (Hydroptilidae, Leucotrichiinae), ZooKeys 499, pp. 1-100 : 18-20

Taxon classification Animalia Trichoptera Hydroptilidae

Leucotrichia fairchildi Flint, 1970 Figs 3A, 18

fairchildi Flint, 1970: 10 [Type locality: Panama, Cocle, El Valle; MCZ; male]; 1968: 38 [male, female, Grenada, but misidentified as sarita ]. - Botosaneanu and Sakal 1992: 201 [biology]. - Flint and Sykora 1993: 54 [Grenada, but misidentified as sarita ]. - Botosaneanu and Alkins-Koo 1993:7 [larva, case]. - Leucotrichiini , case 2 Botosaneanu and Alkins-Koo 1993: 14 [female]. - Flint 1996: 86 [to synonymy].

Diagnosis.

Leucotrichia fairchildi is similar to Leucotrichia imitator , Leucotrichia pictipes , and Leucotrichia sarita ; the pictipes species group consists of these 4 species. In addition to the similarities discussed under "Species Relationships", these species also possess similarities in the shape of the inferior appendage and sternum VII, when seen in lateral view, and in the presence of hollow sections of the subgenital plate (Fig. 18A). While the head modifications of Leucotrichia fairchildi (Fig. 3A) may be most similar to those of Leucotrichia pictipes , the broadened basal flagellum of the antennae and the setiferous protuberance on the dorsum of the head make Leucotrichia fairchildi easily distinguishable from Leucotrichia pictipes (Fig. 3C). And both the peglike setae present on the phallus apex (Figs 18E, F) and the small mesoventral process on sternum VII in place of prominent setae (Fig. 18B) are characteristics that separate Leucotrichia fairchildi from all 3 of the other species.

Description.

Male. Length of forewing 2.1-3.1 mm (n=53). Head with posterolateral wart large, eversible, with membranous lobe beneath; anteromesally with asymmetrical, setiferous protuberance, with 2 ocelli; antennae with scape enlarged, basal flagellum very broad. Dorsum of head dark brown with light yellow setae; thorax dark brown with light yellow setae dorsally, brown ventrally; leg segments with brown and yellow setae. Forewings covered with fine brown setae with bands of yellow setae basally and scattered patches of yellow setae apically. Genitalia. Abdominal sternum VII with short, pointed mesoventral process. Sternum VIII in ventral view with posterior margin concave. Segment IX anterolateral margin produced dorsolaterally, posterolateral margin convex; in dorsal view anterior margin concave, posterior margin concave. Tergum × with dorsal sclerite slender, elongate; ventral sclerite semielliptic with tridentate posterior margin; membranous apex amorphous. Subgenital plate bulbous, with hollow interior; with dorsal arm not apparent; ventral arm slender, acute, extending dorsad, in ventral view lanceolate. Inferior appendage straight, with small apicodorsal projection, bearing single dorsal spine; in ventral view apex hooked inward, broadly rounded on outer margin. Phallus apex trilobed, 2 lateral lobes with darkened dorsal margin, all 3 lobes bearing peglike setae on dorsal surface.

Material examined.

Holotype male: Holotype deposited at MCZ, but unable to be located. Nontypes: COLOMBIA: Antioquia: Quebrada La Jiménez, Municipio Sopetrán, elev. 780 m, trap C, 1983-1984, U. Matthias, 2 females (in alcohol) (NMNH); Quebrada La Jiménez, Municipio Sopetrán, elev. 780 m, trap C, 13.vii.1983, U. Matthias, 1 female (in alcohol) (NMNH); Quebrada La Jiménez, Municipio Sopetrán, elev. 780 m, trap C, 22.v.1983, U. Matthias, 3 males, 3 females (in alcohol) (NMNH); Tolima: Armero, near Guayabal, 2-10.ii.1977, #58 malaise trap, E.L. Peyton, 3 males (NMNH); Armero, near Guayabal, 2-10.ii.1977, malaise trap, E.L. Peyton, 1 male (in alcohol) (NMNH); COSTA RICA: Guanacaste: Parque Nacional Guanacaste, ca. 0.7 km N Est. Maritza, 10.96°N, 85.50°W, 31.viii.1990, el. 550 m, Huisman and Quesada, 3 males (UMSP); Parque Nacional Guanacaste, ca. 0.7 km N Est. Maritza, 10.96°N, 85.50°W, 31.viii.1990, el. 550 m, Huisman and Quesada, 6 females (UMSP); ECUADOR: Quevedo, 36 km NE, elev. 1100', 21.vii.1976, black light, Jeffrey Cohen, 7 males (in alcohol) (NMNH); EL SALVADOR: 2 mi. N of Candelaria, 7.viii.1967, O.S. Flint, Jr., 1 male (NMNH); GRENADA: 2 mi. E of L. Grand Etang, 4-8.viii.1963, O.S. Flint, Jr., 7 males and 4 females (NMNH); 2 mi. E of L. Grand Etang, 4-8.viii.1963, O.S. Flint, Jr., 7 males, 10 females (in alcohol) (NMNH); St. Andrew, Great R., LaForce Bridges, 12°07.6'N, 61°39.8'W, 19.ix.1996, O.S. Flint, Jr., 2 females (in alcohol) (NMNH); St. John, Concord Valley, 12°07.0'N, 61°44.0'W, 14.ix.1996, O.S. Flint, Jr., 2 females (in alcohol) (NMNH); PANAMA: Barro Colorado Island, Snyder-Molino trail, marker 3, light trap III, 10-16.iii.1989, H. Wolda, 1 male (in alcohol) (NMNH); TOBAGO: Charlotteville, 5 km S, Hermitage R., 11°19'N, 60°34'W, 10-11.vii.1993, UV light, O.S. Flint, Jr. and N.E. Adams, 1 male (NMNH); Speyside, 1 km NW, Doctor Riv., 11°18'N, 60°32'W, 12.vi.1993, UV light, O.S. Flint, Jr. and N.E. Adams, 1 male (in alcohol) (NMNH); Speyside, 1 km NW, Doctor Riv., 11°18'N, 60°32'W, 12.vi.1993, by net, O.S. Flint, Jr., 4 males (NMNH); St. John, Speyside, 1 km NW, Doctor Riv., 11°18'N, 60°32'W, 12-13.vi.1993, W.N. Mathis, 1 male (NMNH); Parlatuvier West River, 11°18'N, 60°39'W, 14.vi.1993, by net, O.S. Flint, Jr., 1 male, 1 female (NMNH); TRINIDAD: Marianne R., 9 km S, Blanchisseuse, 10°46'N, 61°18'W, 25.vi.1993, by net, O.S. Flint, Jr., 4 males (NMNH); Marianne R., 9 km S, Blanchisseuse, 10°46'N, 61°18'W, 28.vi.1993, UV light, O.S. Flint, Jr. and N.E. Adams, 1 male (in alcohol) (NMNH); Paria River, stream, iii.1985, light trap, V. Jones, 7 males (in alcohol) (NMNH); Maracas Falls, elev. 270 m, 10°44'N, 61°24'W, 18.vi.1993, UV light, O.S. Flint, Jr., 1 female (in alcohol) (NMNH); VENEZUELA: Sucre: Península de Paria, Puerto Viejo, “Río el Pozo," 11°43.073'N, 62°28.569'W, elev. 20 m, 3.iv.1995, Holzenthal, Flint, and Cressa, 1 female (NMNH).

Etymology.

Named in honor of G. Fairchild, the collector of the holotype specimen.