Wormaldia, McLachlan, 1865

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 : 64-66

Key to males of Nearctic Wormaldia

It is recommended that users of this identification key read the section “Morphological considerations” in “Material and methods” before using this key. Some morphological characters that are used as diagnostic tools for separating and identifying species exhibited some variation in shape from that of the holotype in some species. To obtain a successful species identification in Wormaldia as in other Trichoptera genera, it is necessary to use a combination of several diagnostic morphological characters of the male genitalia. Therefore, users of this identification key are recommended to corroborate their species determinations with the respective extensive diagnoses, descriptions, illustrations, maps, and distributional data that have been provided in this work. Sternum VII is not shown in the illustrations when its posterior margin is straight or does not present any process. Illustrations of the hypothetical male genitalia of Wormaldia with its components and detailed terminology are presented in Figs. 1–5.

1. Sternum VII with posteromesal process (e.g., Figs. 29, 36, 43).........................................................8

- Sternum VII with posterior margin straight, without mesal process (e.g., Fig. 3).............................2

2 (1’). Sternum VIII with slight, convex, posteromesal process (e.g., Figs. 8, 29, 43, 48, 86).....................7

- Sternum VIII with posterior margin straight, without mesal process (e.g., Figs. 3, 16, 62, 98, 117) 3

3 (2’). Tergum X complex, subtriangular, with conspicuous, lobate processes anteriorly or lateromedially ( Figs. 15, 102).....................................................................................................................................6

- Tergum X simple, triangular, without conspicuous, lobate processes (e.g., Figs. 7, 35, 77, 109)......4

4 (3’). Segment IX, when viewed laterally, posteriorly straight; inferior appendages, when viewed ventrally, paired basal segments united for about their anterior 2/3, separated posteromesally by shallow, U-shaped emargination ( Figs. 6–13, 129).................................................................. W. anilla (Ross)

- Segment IX, when viewed laterally, posteriorly concave; inferior appendages, when viewed ventrally, paired basal segments united for about their anterior 2/5, separated posteromesally by deep emargination ( Figs. 98, 117) ............................................................................................................. 5

5 (4’). Segment IX, when viewed laterally, narrow, C-shaped in appearance, anterior margin convex, when viewed ventrally, posteriorly projected sinuously with mesal process; inferior appendages, when viewed ventrally, with paired basal segments separated posteromesally by wider emargination ( Figs. 96–100, 132) ....................................................................................................... W. pachita Denning

- Segment IX, when viewed laterally, broad in appearance, enlarged ventrally, anterior margin straight, when viewed ventrally, posteriorly convexly projected with mesal concavity; inferior appendages, when viewed ventrally, with paired basal segments separated posteromesally by narrower emargination ( Figs. 115–121, 132).................................................................. W. strota (Ross)

6 (3). Segment X, when viewed laterally, its apex prominently balloon-shaped, without lobate projection; superior appendage, when viewed laterally, with dorsomedial margin extended convexly ( Figs. 14– 20, 129) ............................................................................................................. W. arizonensis (Ling)

- Segment X, when viewed laterally, its apex semiovate, with lobate projections; superior appendage, when viewed laterally, dorsomedial margin straight ( Figs. 101–107, 129) W. planae Ross and King

7 (2). Tergum X simple, triangular, without lobate processes ( Figs. 6–13, 129) ................. W. anilla (Ross)

- Tergum X complex, subtriangular, with several processes anteromesally and lateromedially ( Figs. 101–107, 129) ............................................................................................. W. planae Ross and King

8 (1). Sternum VII with conspicuous, elongate, digitate, posteromesal process ( Figs. 36, 55, 69, 78, 94)17

- Sternum VII posteromesally slightly convex ( Figs. 29, 43), or with convex process ( Fig. 23), or with process convexly subtriangular ( Figs. 48, 55, 62, 86, 110, 124)........................................................9

9 (8’). Tergum VIII, when viewed laterally, hood-shaped, posterodorsal apex strongly projected, reaching middle of segment X ( Figs. 41, 46, 60, 122) ....................................................................................14

- Tergum VIII, when viewed laterally, nearly rectangular, with posterodorsal apex reaching or slightly surpassing base of segment X ( Figs. 21, 27, 53, 84, 108)...............................................................10

10 (9’). Sternum IX posteriorly sinuous, without mesal process; inferior appendages, when viewed ventrally, paired basal segments united for at most their anterior 1/2, separated posteromesally by deep emargination ( Figs. 23, 55, 110)...............................................................................................................12

- Sternum IX with stout, posteromesal process; inferior appendages, when viewed ventrally, paired basal segments united for at least their anterior 3/4, separated posteromesally by shallow, U-shaped concavity ( Figs. 29, 86)...................................................................................................................11

11 (10’). Sternum VII with slight, convex, posteromesal process, less than 0.2 times length of sternum VIII; tergum X concave anterolaterally, bulged medially, rounded posteriorly ( Figs. 27–33, 129).............. ..................................................................................................................... W. clauseni , new species

- Sternum VII with elongate, convexly subtriangular, posteromesal process, about 0.5 times length of sternum VIII; tergum X triangular, relatively straight laterally, acutely rounded posteriorly ( Figs. 84–91, 129) ............................................................................................................. W. occidea (Ross)

12 (10). Tergum VIII with conspicuous, U-shaped, posteromesal emargination; inferior appendages, when viewed ventrally, apical segments thick ( Figs. 53–59, 130) ............................... W. lacerna Denning

- Tergum VIII posteriorly straight, without mesal emargination; inferior appendages, when viewed ventrally, apical segments slender ( Figs. 23, 110)...........................................................................13

13 (12’). Segment IX, when viewed laterally, broad, subrectangular in appearance; inferior appendages, when viewed ventrally, slender, paired basal segments united for about their anterior 1/5, separated posteromesally by deeper, wide emargination, basal and apical segments nearly equal in length ( Figs. 21–26, 132) .......................................................................................... W. birneyi , new species

- Segment IX, when viewed laterally, slender and nearly C-shaped in appearance; inferior appendages, when viewed ventrally, stout, paired basal segments united for about their anterior 1/2, separated posteromesally by deep, narrow emargination, apical segments longer than basal segments ( Figs. 108–114, 132) ............................................................................................ W. shawnee (Ross)

14 (9). Segment IX, when viewed laterally, with broad, elongate, convex, anterior projection ( Figs. 60, 122); when view ventrally, with wide, deep, V-shaped posteromesal emargination ( Figs. 62, 124) .............................................................................................................................................................16

- Segment IX, when viewed laterally, anteriorly convex ( Figs. 41, 46); when viewed ventrally, posteriorly straight or weakly sinuous ( Figs. 43, 48)...............................................................................15

15 (14’). Sternum IX posteriorly slightly sinuous; inferior appendage, when viewed laterally, basal segment broad, convex medially, shorter than apical segment ( Figs. 41–45, 131) ............ W. gesugta Schmid

- Sternum IX posteriorly straight; inferior appendage, when viewed laterally, basal segment straight ventromedially, elongate, nearly equal in length to apical segment ( Figs. 46–52, 131)....................... ............................................................................................................................. W. hamata Denning

16 (14). Sternum VII with narrowly subtriangular, posteromesal process; tergum VIII strongly projected posteriorly, narrow posteromesally, reaching middle of tergum X; tergum X with concave, preapical constriction ( Figs. 60–66, 131) ............................................................................... W. laona Denning

- Sternum VII with prominently wide, convex, posteromesal process; tergum VIII convexly projected posteriorly, barely surpassing bases of tergum X and superior appendages; tergum X without preapical constriction ( Figs. 122–128, 131) .................................................................... W. thyria Denning

17 (8). Tergum VIII, when viewed laterally, nearly rectangular in appearance, posteriorly straight or slightly concave ( Figs. 34, 53, 67)................................................................................................................18

- Tergum VIII, when viewed laterally, hood-shaped in appearance, projected posteriorly, surpassing bases of tergum X and superior appendage ( Figs. 76, 92)...............................................................20

18 (17). Sternum VIII posteromesally convex or with triangular process; sternum IX posteromesally slightly concave or emarginated ( Figs. 36, 55); inferior appendage with basal segment clearly shorter than apical segment ( Figs. 34, 53)...........................................................................................................19

- Sternum VIII with elongate, digitate, posteromesal process; sternum IX with small, subtriangular, posteromesal process; inferior appendage with basal and apical segments nearly equal in length ( Figs. 67–75, 130) .................................................................................................. W. moesta (Banks)

19 (18). Tergum VIII posteriorly straight; sternum VIII with triangular, posteromesal process ( Figs. 34–40, 130) .................................................................................................................... W. gabriella (Banks)

- Tergum VIII with U-shaped, posteromesal emargination; sternum VIII posteriorly sinuous, with mesal convexity ( Figs. 53–59, 130)...................................................................... W. lacerna Denning

20 (17’). Tergum X, when viewed laterally, dorsal margin smooth, straight; inferior appendage, when viewed ventrally, basal segment slightly longer than apical segment, apical segment without spine-shaped, preapical projection on inner margin ( Figs. 92–95, 131) ........................................ W. oconee Morse

- Tergum X, when viewed laterally, dorsal margin serrated medially, strongly upcurved preapically; inferior appendage, when viewed ventrally, basal segment clearly longer than apical segment, apical segment with spine-shaped, preapical projection on inner margin ( Figs. 76–83, 131) ........................ ................................................................................................................................... W. mohri (Ross)