Triplectides minutus, Malm, Tobias & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2008

Malm, Tobias & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2008, Description of eleven new Triplectides species (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) from New Caledonia, Zootaxa 1816, pp. 1-34 : 7

Triplectides minutus , new species

Figs 17–24 , 91 .

Diagnosis. This is the smallest known New Caledonian Triplectides species. It is separated from many other Triplectides species by having the spur formula 2:2:2. Unlike australis it lacks fork 1 in the hind wing and is distinguished from sasali and koghiensis , new species, by the shape of tergum X. It shows strong similarities in genitalic and wing features to winstanleyi , tigrinus , new species, and noumeiensis , new species, but is distinguished from the first by the small size, and from the latter two by the size and direction of the basoventral process of the inferior appendages, and by the forewing hair patterns. It is most similar to mouiensis and abnormalis from which it is separated by the relatively longer apicodorsal lobe of the inferior appendages and by the presence of the hind wing discoidal cell, respectively.

Male: Body colour light straw to golden brown (in alcohol). Tibial spur formula 2:2:2. Claws on all legs unmodified. Forewing ( Figs 17, 19 ) length 6.0–7.0 mm (N=20); colour straw to golden brown (in alcohol); with diffuse dark areas around base of fork 1, extending anterad to R, and in fork 5 to crossvein m-cu, sometimes as a dark band connecting these regions; lighter area present around S4 and crossvein m-cu; forks 1, 2 and 5 present; fork 1 and branching of m with very short stalks or stalks absent; Dc narrow, less than half length of Tc; distance between crossveins s and S4 shorter than length of S4, S4 meeting M close to, or slightly basally of crossvein m-cu. Hind wing ( Fig. 18 ) forks 2, 3 and 5 present; S4 arising at apical 1/4–1/5 of Dc. Nygma present in all wings in fork 2.

Genitalia ( Figs 20–24 ): segment IX medium wide, widest dorsally; in ventral view ( Fig. 22 ) with small, central, posterad extension. Superior appendages ( Figs 20, 21 ) slightly shorter than half length of tergum X, broad; apices rounded in dorsal view. Tergum X with minute, bifid dorsobasal projection; in ventral view ( Fig. 22 ) slightly widening to rectangular apical half, posterolateral corners rounded, apex with shallow mesal emargination; apical margin with minute setae; ventrally with lateral, setae-bearing carinae tangent mesally, not readily seen in lateral view ( Fig. 20 ). Inferior appendages ( Figs 20, 22 ) slender; apicodorsal lobes greatly exceeding small, slender harpagones; basoventral processes short, club-shaped, directed posterolaterad, nearly reaching posterior margin of mesal lobes; mesal lobes narrow, rectangular, apically flat, deeply diverging from major branch. Phallus ( Figs 23, 24 ) bent at about 1/3 its length; apex with 2 protruding, lateral flanges; broadening distally in ventral view ( Fig. 24 ).

Distribution. This species seems widespread across Grande Terre ( Fig. 91 ).

Etymology. From Latin, minutus – small, little; named for the small size of this species.

Holotype male: New Caledonia: Province Sud: Monts des Koghis, ca 300 m S Koghi Restaurant, 22º18.288’S, 166º50.393’E, 447 m, 16–26.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#002 [KA Johanson].

Paratypes: Province Sud: Monts des Koghis, ca 300 m S Koghi Restaurant, 22º18.288’S, 166º50.490’E, 457 m, 02–16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#001 [KA Johanson] – 7 males; Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, 20 m upstream Noumea-Yaté road, 2.0 km E Pic Mouirange, 22º12.356’S, 166º40.798’E, 220 m, 15–16.i.2004, light trap, loc#120 [KA Johanson] – 2 males.

Province Nord: N slope of Mt Rembai, Xwé Méréxwana stream, 21º33.804’S, 165º50.528’E, 309 m, 20.xi–12.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc #037 [KA Johanson] – 2 males; 50 m upstream bridge on Hienghène- Tnèdo road, 3.9 km S summit of Mt Tnèda, 2.2 km E Tnèdo, 20º43.085’S, 164º49.928’E, 29 m, 14.x.2006, light trap, loc#071 [KA Johanson & M Espeland] – 2 males; Mt Panié, stream at camp, 20º58.139’S, 164º76.444’E, 1310 m, 9.xii.2003 – 2.i.2004, Malaise trap, loc#074 [KA Johanson] – 4 males; Mt Panié, 20º57.306’S, 164º77.139’E, 902 m, 9.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#075 [KA Johanson] – 2 males.

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 24. Triplectides minutus, new species, male holotype. 17, forewing; 18, hind wing; 19, forewing anastomosis detail; 20, genitalia, lateral; 21, genitalia, dorsal; 22, genitalia, ventral; 23, phallus, lateral; 24, phallus, ventral.

FIGURES 89 – 91. Maps of Grande Terre, New Caledonia, with male Triplectides specimen records plotted. 89, Triplectides mouiensis, new species; 90, Triplectides abnormalis, new species; 91, Triplectides minutus, new species.