Orthotrichia ensiformis Wells 1984

Wells, Alice & Dostine, Peter, 2016, New and newly recorded micro-caddisfly species (Insecta: Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from Australia’s north, including islands of Torres Strait, Zootaxa 4127 (3), pp. 591-600 : 599

Orthotrichia ensiformis Wells 1984 , 281, figs 43–45

Figure 18

Material examined. NORTHERN TERRITORY: 2 males, Edith River, Pool 1, 14°10.289’ 132°7.061’, 31.i.2009, E. Garcia, UV lt ( NTM).

Remarks. Orthotrichia ensiformis was recorded originally from two sites in Papua New Guinea: Urimo in the Sepik Province and Keravat in eastern New Britain. This suggests that it is probably established in New Guinea, possibly native to New Guinea. The specimens taken to the south of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia, are not readily explained as vagrants. However, Finlay et al. (2014: 103) illustrated the passage of a cyclone ('Cyclone Monica') that travelled from the southeastern tip of Papua New Guinea across Cape York, made a second landfall near Maningrida in the Northern Territory, and circled the coast toward Darwin, moving south before turning inland. While this demonstrated that such an event can occur, survival of small insects such as microcaddisflies over such a distance and time span would be unlikely. Further data are needed to determine if this species is established in the north of Australia. The species is illustrated here as Figure 18 .

Figures

FIGURES 14 – 20. Orthotrichia spp. 14, 15, Orthotrichia pethericki sp. nov., male genitalia: 14, ventral; 15, dorsal. 16, 17, Orthotrichia becca sp. nov., male genitalia: 16, ventral; 17, dorsal. 18, Orthotrichia ensiformis Wells, male genitalia, ventral. 19, 20, Orthotrichia turrita Wells, male genitalia: 19, phallic apparatus; 20, ventral. Abbreviations: VIII, IX = abdominal segments VIII and IX; dpl = dorsal plate; dpr = dorsal process of gonopods; gon = gonopod; l dsp = left dorsal spine on dorsal plate; ph = phallic apparatus; pr = paramere; r dsp = right dorsal spine on dorsal plate; st s = stout setae on segment VIII; tlr = titillator.