Protoptila totumas Blahnik and Armitage, 2019

Blahnik, Roger J. & Armitage, Brian J., 2019, The Trichoptera of Panama. XII. Contributions to the family Glossosomatidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) in Panama, Insecta Mundi 740 (740), pp. 1-17 : 6-7

Protoptila totumas Blahnik and Armitage , new species

Fig. 5

Diagnosis. Protoptila totumas is distinctive and unlikely to be confused with any other described species. The most distinctive and usefully diagnostic feature of this new species is the structure of the paramere appendages, which are relatively elongate and narrow and each possesses a corkscrew-like spiral at midlength, subtending and crossing over each other beneath the phallicata, with the apices dorsal to the phallicata. Although the exact structure is somewhat variable in the material examined, the symmetrical arrangement of the appendages, as in Fig. 5E , is probably the most common configura- tion. Other usefully diagnostic features include the structure of tergum X, which has relatively elongate, narrow lateral lobes, each with two acute mesal projections, one in the basal half of the lobe (not readily observed in lateral view), and the other preapically, and also the structure of the phallicata, which is relatively narrow and arched dorsally, as viewed laterally, but is distinctively bulged in its basal half, as viewed dorsally, and has acute apicolateral projections.

Description. Length of forewing: male 3.2 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present; hind wing with fork II only, wing narrow and acute apically, costal margin with pronounced invagination. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color (in alcohol) brown, anastamosis unpigmented, but otherwise not evidently marked.

Male genitalia. Sternum VI process relatively prominent, posteriorly directed, slightly curved, longer than wide, apex subacute. Tergum VIII with row of elongate setae along posterior margin; sternum VIII densely setose with elongate setae, posterior margin distinctly produced, slightly curved upward, extending nearly as far as dorsolateral lobes of tergum X; as viewed ventrally, with ventral projection narrow, weakly and bluntly forked apically. Segment IX with anterior margin broadly rounded, sternum mesally produced into short, acute process, with single apical seta, posterolateral margin of segment IX without processes. Preanal appendages absent. Tergum X, as viewed laterally, with lateral lobes not obviously subsegmented, each lobe relatively elongate and narrow, downturned, forked preapically, ventral branch forming mesally directed, trianguloid projection with spine-like apex, dorsal branch extending as narrow, apically acute, finger-like projection; as viewed dorsally, with additional acute, mesal projection in basal half, not readily observable in lateral view. Phallobase dorsally with large, laterally compressed apodeme, ventrally with pair of short, rod-like, articulated appendages with membranous apices, appendages fitting into sclerotized pockets on ventral margin of phallobase. Phallicata, as viewed laterally, tubular, fused to phallobase, dorsally arched, slightly widened preapically; as viewed dorsally, with lateral margins distinctly rounded and widened in basal half, narrowing apically, preapically with acute, trianguloid, lateral projections on either side. Phallotremal sclerite forming curved, narrow, tube-like structure, upturned as viewed laterally. Parameres each with membranous basal structure and elongate, narrow, sclerotized paramere appendage, with a helical spiral past midlength; appendages apparently crossing over each other beneath phallicata and converging dorsally, apices relatively straight and acute.

Female and immatures. Unknown.

Holotype male (alcohol). PANAMA: Chiriquí: Cuenca 102, afluente de Río Colorado, Mount Totumas Biological Reserve , 8.884717°N and 82.684077°W, 1950 m, 11–17.i.2016, Malaise trap, B. Armitage and J. Dietrich ( COZEM).

Paratypes. Same locality as holotype, 7–13.xii.2015, Malaise trap, J. Dietrich, 2 males ( COZEM, UMSP) .

Etymology. This new species is named after the Mount Totumas Cloud Forest and Biological Reserve from which it was collected. The name is formulated as a noun in apposition.

Figures

Figure 5. Protoptila totumas, new species, male genitalia, A) Lateral (phallic ensemble removed). B) Phallic ensemble, lateral. C) Sternum VIII, ventral. D) Dorsal of segment IX, tergum X and apex of phallic ensemble. E) Variant of apex of phallic ensemble and parameres, dorsal.