Polyplectropus berryensis, Cartwright & Dostine, 2022

Cartwright, David I. & Dostine, Peter, 2022, Five new species and new records of caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from Australia’s ‘ Top End’, Zootaxa 5138 (3), pp. 283-304 : 291-293

Polyplectropus berryensis sp. nov.

Figures 16, 17

Type material. Holotype male ( BOLD BIN No. ADF1528/DC303, specimen CT-765 figured), NT, Berry Ck, 17– 18 Mar 2015, P. Dostine ( MVM, T-22582 ).

Paratypes. Northern Territory. 29 males, Blackmore River , 26 Apr 2017, P. Dostine (all MAGNT) .

Other material examined. Northern Territory. 1 male, 1 female, Berry Ck, 16 Apr 2015, P. Dostine; 1 female, same loc. and coll., 11 Jan 2016; 1 male, 1 female, same loc. and coll., 8 Feb 2016; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 6 Apr 2016; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 6 Jun 2016; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 3 Aug 2016; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 25 May 2017; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 22 Jun 2017; 1 male, Berry Springs , TWP, 14 May 2015, P. Dostine; 1 female, same loc. and coll., 12 Nov 2015; 1 male, Blackmore R., 17 Mar 2015, P. Dostine; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 17 Jun 2015; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 13 Aug 2015; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 8 Feb 2016; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 8 Mar 2016; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 6–7 Jun 2016; 2 males, same loc. and coll., 3 Aug 2016; 1 female, same loc. and coll., 26 Apr 2017; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 25 May 2017; 1 male, Anniversary Ck, 9 May 2015, P. Dostine; 1 male, Peel Ck, 14 May 2015, P. Dostine; 2 females, same loc. and coll., 11 Jan 2016; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 27 Feb 2017; 1 male, same loc. and coll., 27 Jun 2017; 1 male, Amy Ck , 17 May 2015, P. Dostine; 2 males, same loc. and coll., 28 Mar 2017; 2 males, Petherick’s Ck , 6 Jun 2015, P. Dostine; 2 males, 1 female, Finniss R., Litchfield Rd Crossing, 5 May 2019, P. Dostine; 1 male, Bennett Ck , 9 Feb 2016, P. Dostine (all FFD) . Western Australia, Kimberley. 1 male, Mt Barnett Stn, Manning Gorge , 16°39.27’S, 125°55.41’E, 30 Apr 1992, P.S. Cranston ( MVM); 1 male, El Questro Stn, Chamberlain R. pool, 15°58’S, 127°56’E, 26 Aug 1996, I. Edwards ( MVM) .

Diagnosis. The male of Polyplectropus berryensis sp. nov. appears most similar to that of P. chapmani from New Guinea, but it differs in that the inferior appendages in ventral view appear more narrowly separated and semicircular in shape.

Description, male. Spur formula: 3:4:4. Wings similar to P. bamboosa ( Fig. 13 ). Length of each forewing 4.0 mm. Head, body, and wings light brown. Wing venation: each forewing with forks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 present; fork 1 short; fork 2 sessile with length about 1.7 times length of fork 3; fork 3 with short footstalk; fork 4 shorter than fork 3, fork 5 about 1.7 times length of fork 4. Hind wings each with forks 2 and 5 present; fork 2 sessile, fork 5 about 1.1 times length of fork 2.

Male. Posterior margin of sternum IX with truncate projection near mid-height in lateral view. Fused terga IX+X membranous ( Fig. 16 ). Intermediate appendages laterally compressed, in lateral view irregularly subovate, approximately 2.2 times as long as maximum width, broadest in basal half, posterior 1/3 tapered to rounded apex ( Fig. 16 ), in ventral view apices appearing acute ( Fig. 17 ). Inferior appendages robust, slightly dorso-ventrally depressed, subrectangular, broadest subapically, tapered slightly basally ( Figs 16, 17 ), in lateral view distal ends shorter than distal ends of intermediate appendages ( Fig. 16 ); in ventral view, each appendage with acute angle apicomesally, slightly concave mesally, rounded laterally ( Fig. 17 ). Phallus tube-like, with expanded phallobase ( Fig. 16 ).

Female. Collected with males but not described here.

Etymology. Berryensis —named after the type locality (Berry Creek).

Remarks. Many males (and females) of Polyplectropus berryensis have been collected from about nine sites in the Top End of the NT and two sites from the Kimberley Region of northern WA (latitudinal range 12.61– 16.39°S).

Figures

FIGURES 13–17. Polyplectropus spp. n. 13–15. Polyplectropus bamboosa sp. nov.: 13, apices of right fore- and hind wings, dorsal. 14–15, male genitalia: 14, left lateral; 15, ventral. 16–17. Polyplectropus berryensis sp. nov.: 16–17, male genitalia: 16, left lateral; 17, ventral.Abbreviations: F1 = fork 1; F2 = fork 2; F3 = fork 3; F4 = fork 4; F5 = fork 5; inf. app. = inferior appendage (paired); int. app. = intermediate appendage (paired); st. IX = sternite IX.