Neboissomina mida, Cartwright, David I., 2011

Cartwright, David I., 2011, Descriptions of Neboissomina, new genus and 6 new species of Ecnomidae from Australia (Trichoptera), Zootaxa 2736, pp. 17-30 : 21-22

Neboissomina mida sp. nov.

Figs 9–11, 25

Diagnosis. Neboissomina mida closely resembles N. krokale in possessing fused, oval inferior appendages which are tapered strongly in their distal 1/4th to form a single point, but this species is distinguished by the pair of lateral processes visible subapically on the fused inferior appendages.

Description. Head, body, and wings light brown; wings similar to those of N. jardinei , new species (Fig. 2), length of each forewing: male 2.4–2.9 mm, female 2.4–2.8 mm, about 3.3 times width; length of each hind wing 3.4–4.1 times width. Wing venation: Each forewing with forks 2, 3, 4 and 5 present; fork 2 long, sessile, fork 2 length 2.0–2.3 times length of fork 3; fork 3 short, with long footstalk, length 0.9–1.3 times length of footstalk, footstalk of fork 3 length 2.7–3.2 times length of cross-vein m, cross-veins r-m and m nearly contiguous at fork 3, rm and m separated by 0.4–0.7 times length of cross-vein m; fork 5 long, length about 1.7 times length of fork 4. Each hind wing with forks 2, 3 and 5 present; fork 2 with long footstalk, length of footstalk 1.4–2.4 times length of cross-vein r-m, fork 2 length 1.3–1.7 times length of fork 3.

Male. Tergum X membranous, with 1 pair of long, slender dorsal processes, widely separated at base, converging and crossing distally (Fig. 11). Superior appendages short and robust, in lateral view length about twice width, tapered slightly in distal 1/3rd (Fig. 9), in dorsal view length about 2.5 times width, slightly dilated distally (Fig. 11); pair of long, slender processes (mesal processes of tergum X) ventro-basal of superior appendages. Phallus simple, tube-like, relatively slender with spine-like process dorsally (Fig. 9). Inferior appendages longer than superior appendages, fused, in ventral view large, ovoid shield, tapered slightly in distal 1/4th to point, length about 1.8 times width (Fig. 10), in lateral view length about 5 times width, dilated near middle, narrowed distally (Fig. 9).

Female. Genitalia without pair of obvious lobes on sternite VIII, with small mesal notch distally (Fig. 25).

Holotype male: Queensland, Trib. Bertie Ck, 250 m SW of Heathlands H.S., 11°45'S, 142°35'E, 11 Feb 1992, Cartwright and Wells ( NMV, T- 21002).

Paratypes: Queensland. 1 male, 2 females (specimen CT-502 figured), collected with holotype; 1 male (specimen CT-463 figured), Gunshot Ck, Telegraph Crossing, 11°44'S, 142°29'E, 18 Feb 1992, Cartwright and Wells; 3 males, 9 females, Bertie Ck, 1 km SE Heathlands H.S., 11°45'S, 142°35'E, 4 Feb 1992, Cartwright and Wells; 1 male, Cholmondeley Ck, Telegraph Crossing, 11°27'S, 142°26'E, 8–9 Feb 1992, Cartwright and Wells ( NMV).

Other material examined: Queensland. 1 male, 11 km ENE Mt Tozer, 12°42'S, 143°18'E, 11–16 Jul 1986, J.C. Cardale ( ANIC); 1 male, Middle Claudie R., Iron Range, 29 Sep 1974, Moulds ( NMV).

Etymology. Mida - Queensland Aboriginal word for “shield,” referring to the shape of the fused inferior appendages.

Remarks. Neboissomina mida has been collected from 6 localities in 2 areas of Cape York Peninsula, northern Queensland (latitudinal range 11°27'– 12°44'S).