Oxyethira (Pacificotrichia) digitata, 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 : 66-67

Taxon classification Animalia Trichoptera Hydroptilidae

Oxyethira (Pacificotrichia) digitata sp. n. Figs 67-69, 84, 109

Diagnosis.

One of the New Caledonian species of Oxyethira with genitalia retracted within the very rounded abdominal segment VIII but differs from other species with this feature such as Oxyethira incana and Oxyethira spicula by well-defined clearly branched gonopods and the phallic apparatus a simple rod, sharply bifid apically.

Description.

Male antennae with 25-29 flagellomeres; flagellomeres slender rectangular in profile, without sensilla placodea, terminal 5 flagellomeres pale, followed by 3 dark, 10 pale, rest dark; anterior wing. Length 3.0-3.7 mm (n=4); tibial spurs 0,3,4; abdominal segment VII short, sharp mid ventral spur.

Male, genitalia (Figs 67-69). Abdominal segment VIII broadly rounded, ventrally and dorsally concave apically; abdominal segment IX in ventral view rounded, sharply triangular in lateral view, retracted within VIII; gonopods fused basally, distally stoutly bilobed, subgenital process V-shaped, fused ventrally with gonopods; phallic apparatus a simple elongate rod, distally forming sharply bifid apex.

Material examined.

Holotype. Male (on slide), Province Sud, side stream to Rivière Blanche, 10.75 km SW Pont Pérignon, 22°10.073'S, 166°39.903'E, 180 m, 6-16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#012, leg. K.A. Johanson (MNHP).

Paratypes. 6 males (on slides), same data as holotype (NHRS); 1 male Province Sud, stream draining to Marais de la Rivière Blanche, 1.35 km S Pont Pérignon, 22°08.496'S, 166°42.152'E, 180 m, 6-16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#009, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 1 male, Province Sud, Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road between Noumea and Yaté, Rivière des Pirogues, 22°11.225'S, 166°43.338'E, 100 m, 7.xi.2003, light trap, loc#016, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 1 male (on slide), Province Sud, Mt Dzumac, source stream of Ouinne River, near crosspoint to mountain track, 22°02.073'S, 166°28.460'E, 810 m, 18. xi– 4.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#030, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 1 male (on slide), 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).

Etymology.

Named for the finger-like lobes of the gonopods in male.

Remarks.

Oxyethira digitata shares a southern distribution (Fig. 109) with Oxyethira melasma and Oxyethira scutica . A photograph of the type locality with the trap is rendered in Fig. 84.