Absensomina weara, Cartwright, David I., 2010

Cartwright, David I., 2010, Descriptions of 2 new genera and 13 new species of caddisflies from Australia (Trichoptera: Ecnomidae), Zootaxa 2415, pp. 1-21 : 4-5

Absensomina weara sp. nov.

Figs 1–6

Diagnosis. Absensomina weara is most similar to species of the genus Agmina from New Caledonia which also lack fork 3 in the hind wing ( Ward and Schefter 2000). It differs from Agmina species in several characters, including the forewings each having both forks 2 and 3 with relatively long footstalks (Fig. 1) and small details of the male genitalia.

Description. Head, body and wings fawn; length of forewing: male 2.6–3.2 mm, female 2.7–3.0 mm; wing venation: as in generic description (Fig. 1).

Male. Tergum X not apparent (Fig. 5). Superior appendages short and robust, in lateral view, subrectangular, length about twice height (Fig. 3), in dorsal view, length about same as width, each with 1 dorsal and 1 ventral mesal digitiform processes subapically (Fig. 5). Phallus tube-like with pair of long upturned dorsolateral processes near middle and short, partly retracted spine apically (Fig. 3). Inferior appendages in ventral view fused to form single, wide, strongly depressed semi-triangular plate, with short central process distally (Fig. 4); in lateral view slender, length about 5 times width (Fig. 3).

Female. Genitalia with abdominal sternite VIII relatively broad, basally with small mesal process, not well developed (Figs 6, 6a); segment IX long, broad-based, tapered distally, segment X relatively short, slender (Fig. 6).

Holotype male: Queensland, 1 male, Gunshot Ck, Telegraph Crossing, 11°44'S, 142°29'E, Cartwright and Wells ( NMV, T- 20705).

Paratypes. Queensland. 1 male (specimen CT-439 figured), Bertie Ck, 1 km SE Heathlands HS, 11°45'S, 142°35'E, 4 Feb 1992, Cartwright and Wells; 2 males, 2 females, Yuccabine Ck, Kirrama State Forest, 18°12'S, 145°45'E, 5 Mar 1985, R. Pearson; 1 male, same loc., 18°12'S, 145°54'E, Mar 1986, R. Pearson and L. Benson; 2 males, 1 female (specimen CT-498 figured), same locality and collector, Dec 1985; 1 male, Camp Ck trib., Mt Spec State Forest, 18°57'S, 146°10'E, lt. tr., 760m, 27 Jan 1994, A.L. Sheldon ( NMV).

Etymology. Weara - North Queensland Aboriginal word for wide (inferior appendages- ventral view).

Remarks. Absensomina weara is a distinctive and uncommon species recorded from two widely separated areas of northeastern Queensland (latitudinal range 11°44'– 18°57'S). This species has previously been referred to as Ecnomina sp. n. A ( Wells and Cartwright 1993: 227) and Ecnomina sp. nov. PT-1590 ( Walker et al. 1995: 22; Cartwright 1997: 5).

FIGURES 1–6. Absensomina weara sp. nov. 1: Forewing and hind wing. 2: Head and thorax, dorsal view. 3–5: Male genitalia in left lateral, ventral and dorsal views. 6: Female genitalia in ventral view. d.c., discoidal cell; i.a., inferior appendage(s); occ.w., occipital wart(s); pha., phallus; s.a., superior appendage(s); s.viii, sternite viii; R1, 1st radius; 2, fork 2; 3, fork 3; 4, fork 4; 5, fork 5.