Culoptila azulae Bueno­Soria & Santiago­Fragoso

Blahnik, Roger J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2006, Revision of the genus Culoptila (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae), Zootaxa 1233, pp. 1-52 : 15

Culoptila azulae Bueno­Soria & Santiago­Fragoso

Fig. 13 A, B

Culoptila azulae Bueno­Soria & Santiago ­ Fragoso 1996: 451.

This species is most similar to Culoptila aluca , as discussed under that species, and is also similar to C. bidentata , n. sp. All of these species have a short, subtruncate tergum X and an inflated and much rounded phallobase with 2 prominent spines, one of which is enlarged and sclerotized basally. Both C. azulae and C. aluca have males with greatly enlarged tegulae, affecting the shape of the anterior margin of the thorax, which is consequently much narrowed; C. bidentata has only moderately enlarged tegulae and the shape of the thorax is not greatly modified. The most distinct differences of C. azulae from C. aluca include the longer inferior appendages, absence of an apparent apical fork on the lateral processes of tergum X, and the relative lengths of the included spines of the phallic apparatus. The shorter phallic spine in C. azulae is the one that lacks a pronounced basal enlargement. The form of the phallic spines is, however, very similar to C. bidentata , which differs in that the lateral processes of tergum X are forked, although less distinctly than in C. aluca , and also in having a shorter tergum X than C. azulae .

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.0– 2.2 mm. Color yellowish­brown in alcohol, appendages paler. Mesothorax of male narrow and greatly acute anteromesally; mesoscutal wart elongate, narrowed, rounded anteromesally. Mesothoracic tegulae of male rounded, greatly enlarged; tegular gland elongate, pleated, concertina­like.

Male genitalia. Sternum VI process short, subtruncate. Tergum IX ventral margin rounded, tapered from anterolateral margin, slightly produced posteroventrally. Inferior appendages long, narrow apically, divergent from base. Tergum X short, about as long as wide, apex in ventral view broadly rounded to subtruncate; ventrolateral processes with apices incurved, nearly planar in caudal view, mesal margin acute; apices not or scarcely posteriorly bent. Phallobase large, broadly rounded in lateral view, apicodorsal projection short, with slight inflection at base, apex subacute. Phallic apparatus with 2 phallic spines, one greatly elongate, overall length exceeding length of phallobase, narrow, strongly recurved at base, basally greatly enlarged, sclerotized, the other spine elongate, about 1/2 length of phallobase, narrow, nearly straight, without basal enlargement.

Material examined

MEXICO: Chiapas: Ocosingo, Reserva Montes Azules, 29.iv.1986 (R. Barba, et al.) — 1 male ( NMNH), male holotype, 4 male paratypes ( UNAM).

Distribution

MEXICO (Chiapas).

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 14. Male genitalia. 13. Culoptila azulae Bueno­Soria & Santiago­Fragoso: 13 Alateral; 13 B—ventral. 14. Culoptila barrerai Bueno­Soria & Santiago­Fragoso: 14 A—lateral; 14 B—ventral.