Oxyethira (Trichoglene) caledoniensis Kelley

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 : 44-45

Taxon classification Animalia Trichoptera Hydroptilidae

Oxyethira (Trichoglene) caledoniensis Kelley Figs 16-18, 75, 91

Oxyethira caledoniensis Kelley, 1989: 196, figs 33, 42, 56.

Revised diagnosis.

A typical member of subgenus Trichoglene , with males superficially difficult to distinguish from other closely similar species such as Oxyethira abbreviata , Oxyethira arok and Oxyethira spinifera . Neither Oxyethira arok nor Oxyethira spinifera sp. n. has recognisable gonopods whereas both Oxyethira caledoniensis and Oxyethira abbreviata sp. n. have widely separated, shallowly dome-shaped gonopods; Oxyethira abbreviata sp. n. has very short, sharply pointed subgenital processes that are directed anteriorly and abdominal segment IX quadrate in ventral view, compared with the rod-shaped dorsal processes of Oxyethira caledoniensis and sub-triangular to shield-shaped abdominal segment IX.

Antennae: male with 19-24 flagellomeres, all dark; flagellomeres rectangular in profile, without sensilla placodea; female with 15 flagellomeres. Anterior wing length: male 1.4-1.9 mm (n=12); female 1.4-1.7 mm (n= 8). Tibial spurs 0,3,4. Abdominal segment VII with mid-ventral sharp spine.

Material examined.

Holotype. Male, New Caledonia, Plum, (BPBM). Other material. 1 male, province Sud, Ouenghi River, Boulouparis, 19.xii.1983, AW (ANIC); 4 males, Province Sud., Rivière Bleue, 282 m, stony river, loc 4, 22°05.705'S, 166°38.225'E, Malaise trap, 13-16.xi.2001, leg. K.A. Johanson, T. Pape & B. Viklund(NHRS); 4 males (on slides), 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); 2 males, Province Sud, stream draining to Marais de la Rivière Blanche, 2.25 km SW Pont Pérignon, 22.14158°S, 166.67993°E, 157 m, 6-16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#010, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 3 males (on slides), females, Province Sud, Mt Dzumac, source stream of Ouinne River, near crosspoint to mountain track, 22°02.439'S, 166°28.646'E, 805 m, 18. xi– 4.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#029, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 9 males, 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); 9 males, 8 females, Province Sud, Mt Dzumac, source stream of Ouinne River, downstream crosspoint to mountain track, 22°01.997'S, 166°28.486'E, 795 m, over about 30 m waterfall, 18. xi– 4.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#031, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 2 males, Province Sud, W slope Mt Ningua, Kwé Néco Stream, 3.9 km W summit of Mt Ningua, on Boulouparis–Thio Road, about 50 m upstream road, 21°44.359'S, 166°06.009'E, 117 m, 20. xi– 12.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#035leg. K.A. Johanson (MNHN); 1 male, Province Sud, on road between Noumea and Yaté, 1.0 km NW Pont des Japonais, 22°11.427'S, 166°42.868'E, 113 m, 22. xi– 4.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#039, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS);10 males (5 on slides), 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, ANIC); 59 males, 15 females, Province Nord, Mt Panié, stream at camp, 20.58167°S, 164.76472°E, 1311 m, 9.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#073, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 1 male, Province Nord, Mt Panié, stream at camp, 20. 58139°S, 164.76444°E, 1310 m, 9.xii.2003-2.i.2004, Malaise trap, loc#074, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 23 males, 3 females, Province Nord, Mt Panié, 20.57306°S, 164.77139°E, 902 m, 9.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#075, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 3 males, Province Nord, stream in Creek de Bambou, 5 m N road RT7 Ouégoa–Koumac, 20°27.863'S, 164°19.784'E, 58 m, 19.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#087, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 4 males (2 on slides), Province Nord, Bouérabate Stream, S Mont Ninndo, along road Barabache–Boulagoma, 20°17.409'S, 164°11.242'E, 60 m, 19.xii.2003-7.i.2004, Malaise trap, loc#089, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 5 males, Province Nord, Forêt Plate, Ouendé River, at 2.5 km WNW summit of Katépouenda, 23.3 km E Pouembout, 21°07.490'S, 165°06.723'E, 470 m, 8-15.i.2004, Malaise trap, loc#112, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS).

Remarks.

Delineation of this species among the large collection before us proved difficult, with only a very few specimens conforming closely to the holotype. In describing the species, Kelley (1989) had access to only a single specimen, re-examination of which shows it to be as illustrated in Kelley’s fig. 56 (redrawn here from the type in Fig. 14), except that the subgenital processes are gently curved mesally, not slightly sinuous as figured by Kelley. A considerable number of specimens have been examined that agree in general features, but have abdominal segment IX either shorter but much the same shape as in the holotype male, or more elongate and rounded anteriorly; in some the spine on the phallic apparatus is longer and more strongly recurved and arising closer to the apex than in the type. This latter form is illustrated in Fig. 17 and was initially thought to be a separate species. However, following examination of further material of forms intermediate between Oxyethira caledoniensis sensu Kelley and this particular form, it is included tentatively as a variant form of Oxyethira caledoniensis together with all newly available specimens with the apico-ventral margin of abdominal segment IX truncate, sometimes with some slight marginal sclerotisation, the gonopods reduced to short domes, and abdominal segment IX sub-triangular to conical. Future studies may show reveal that these represent more than one species. Oxyethira caledoniensis is recorded from sites along the length of the island, but most commonly in the far south (Fig. 91). A photograph of one of the northern collecting sites is shown in Fig. 75, the type locality of Oxyethira tiwaka and Oxyethira ouenghi , and shared with a number of other Oxyethira species.