Wormaldia oconee Morse

Muñoz-Quesada, Fernando J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2008, Revision of the Nearctic species of the caddisfly genus Wormaldia McLachlan (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae), Zootaxa 1838, pp. 1-75 : 49-51

Wormaldia oconee Morse

Figures 92–95, 131

Wormaldia oconee Morse 1989 , in Morse et al. 1989: 28, figs. 3 A–E, male, South Carolina, USA (NMNH); Armitage 1996: [work not paginated].

Morse ( Morse et al. 1989) placed this species within the W. thyria Complex of the W. anilla Group, as defined by Ross (1956). Subsequently, Armitage (1996) considered this W. thyria Complex as the W. thyria Group (Table 1).

The genitalia of this species, Wormaldia gesugta Schmid (1989) , W. hamata Denning (1951) , W. laona Denning (1989) , W. mohri ( Ross 1948) , and W. thyria Denning (1950) are similar in having tergum VIII projected posteriorly; when viewed laterally, it resembles a hood, which differentiates these six species from the other Nearctic species of Wormaldia . However, W. oconee is distinguished from the five formerly mentioned species and other members of Wormaldia by the shapes of tergum VIII and the inferior appendage. Tergum VIII in this species has the posterior margin slightly projected, barely surpassing bases of tergum X and the superior appendages, and with a very shallow, broad, and U-shaped emargination mesoapically; when viewed laterally, it has the posterior margin convex. Finally, when viewed laterally, the inferior appendage in W. oconee has the basal segment subrectangular and slightly elongate, and the apical segment is widely rectangular and very slightly tubularly elongate.

Adult (in alcohol). Length of male forewing 5 mm (holotype). Head brown, with lighter setae. Antenna long, slender, yellowish, with small, lighter setae. Maxillary palps yellowish, with lighter setae. Labial palps yellowish, with lighter setae. Dorsum of thorax lighter brown. Legs yellowish, with small, lighter setae. Forewing yellowish, covered with some fine, small, brown setae (most of them rubbed away), with apical forks I, II, III, and V present ( Morse et al. 1989: fig. 3E). Hind wing translucent, with very few fine, small, brown setae, with apical forks I, II, III, and V present ( Morse et al. 1989: fig. 3E).

Male genitalia ( Figs. 92–95). Sternum VII with prominently broad, digitate, posteromesal process strongly elongate, about 0.7 times length of segment VIII. Tergum VIII slightly subtriangularly projected posteriorly, slightly surpassing bases of tergum X and superior appendages, with shallow concavity posteromesally; when viewed laterally, hood-shaped, posterior margin convex, with posterodorsal apex narrowly rounded. Sternum VIII concave anteriorly, with conspicuous, broad, convexly triangular process posteromesally, about 0.5 times length of posteromesal process of sternum VII. Segment IX, when viewed dorsally, deeply concave anteriorly; when viewed laterally, nearly subtriangular in appearance, with strong and wide projection convexly elongate anteriorly, slightly concave posteriorly; when viewed ventrally, concave anteriorly, sinuously projected posteriorly with shallow, mesal concavity. Segment X, when viewed dorsally, triangularly elongate, weakly bulged medially, narrowest and rounded apically; when viewed laterally, stout, narrowly rounded apically. Superior appendages digitate; when viewed dorsally, parallel with segment X, slender, elongate, narrowly rounded apically; when viewed laterally, approximately equal length to segment X, rounded apically. Inferior appendages two segmented; when viewed laterally, basal segment broad, subrectangular, slightly elongate, broader medially, convex dorsally, slightly sinuous ventrally, apical segment broadly rectangular, slightly tubularly elongate, slightly shorter (about 0.8 times) and narrower than basal segment, widely rounded posteriorly, when viewed dorsally, apical segment stout, tubularly elongate, narrowest and subovate posteriorly, with elongate and apicolateral patch of short, thin, black, spine-shaped setae; when viewed ventrally, basal segments paired, united for about their anterior two-thirds, separated posteromesally by a moderately deep and V-shaped emargination, each basal segment thick, widest medially, with outer margin convexly curved anteromedially, apical segment as when viewed dorsally. Phallus, when viewed laterally, pistol-shaped, widest basally, tapering from middle to apex, membranous apically, very lightly sclerotized, with highly convulated membranes with several internal sclerites, difficult to distinguish.

Material examined. USA: South Carolina: Holotype: Male, Oconee Co.: Coley Creek , Duke Power Company , 1400 ft [= 427 m], 20–21.vii.1987, S.W. Hamilton & K.M. Hoffman (in alcohol, NMNH).

Distribution. USA: SC.