Agapetus ruiteri Parker, Etnier, and Baxter, 2010

Etnier, David A., Parker, Charles R., John T. Baxter, Jr., Long, Todd M. & Drive, News Sentinel, 2010, A review of the genus Agapetus Curtis (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae) in eastern and central North America, with description of 12 new species, Insecta Mundi 2010 (149), pp. 1-77 : 36-38

Agapetus ruiteri Parker, Etnier, and Baxter new species

Fig. 23a, 23b, 23c . Map 23

Type material. Holotype, mature male pupa, EX UT 1.104 , spring run in US Forest Service Quinn Springs Campground , TN 30 1.7 rd mi se of US 411, 35.2290 o N, 84.5460 o W, Polk Co., TN, 12 May 1977, D. A. Etnier, G. A. Schuster. ( NMNH)

Allotype, mature female pupa, taken with holotype. ( NMNH)

Paratopotypes, EX UT 1.104 : CASC, 1 larva, 1 prepupa ; CUAC, 1 larva, 1 prepupa, 1 mature male pupa ; INHS, 1 larva, 1 prepupa, 1 mature male pupa, 1 mature female pupa ; ROME, 1 larva, 1 prepupa, 1 mature male pupa, 1 mature female pupa ; SCHC, 1 larva, 1 prepupa ; UMSP, 1 larva, 1 prepupa ; NMNH, 1 larva, 1 prepupa. Eleven larvae, 3 prepupae, and 34 early pupae remain in UT 1.104 .

Additional paratypes, Polk Co., TN, EX UT 1.440 : Sheeds Cr. trib. at US Forest Service Road 221, 325 m n of Big Frog Loop Road , se Polk Co., TN, 8 June 1998, CASC, male pupa, female pupa, preserved late June ; SCHC, male emerged 11 June, female emerged late June ; UMSP, male emerged 11 June, female emerged late June ; 1 MMT male pupa, 2 MMT female pupae remain in UT 1.440 . Monroe Co., TN, UT 1.511 , trib. to Citico Cr. at Citico Creek Road (= USFS Road 35-1), 1.9 rd mi s of Mt. Pleasant Road, 16 May 1999, 19 larvae /prepupae, 1 early pupa, 1 male MMT + 6 MMT male pupae, emerged 22 May-10 June, 1 female MMT + 6 MMT female pupae emerged 19 May-10 June .

Additional material examined. TN, Monroe Co.: UT 1.1158 , Donnely Branch just above Indian Boundary Lake, 100 m w of boat ramp, 35.3943 o N, 84.1127 o W, 5 May 2009, 3 larvae, 1male, 1 female, emerged 3-9 June 2009 ; UT 1.1162 , Flats Creek just above Indian Boundary Lake, 1/ 4 mi w of boat ramp, 35.3922 o N, 84.1221 o W, 5 May 2009, 8 larvae /prepupae, 1 male + 2 female pupae, emerged 2-11 June. Polk Co.: UT 1.101 , type locality, 22 April 1977, 6 larvae, 2 prepupae, 1 early pupa, 1 male pupa ; UT 1.375 , same locality as UT 1.440 (above), 3 larvae, 28 April 1998 ; UT 1.437 , Conasauga R. trib. at USFS parking lot for Trail 61, off USFS Road 221, 6 June 1998, 6 female emerged late June ; UT 1.682 , stream 6.2 rd mi n of US 64 on TN 30 , above bridge, 31 May 2000, emerged through 28 June, 6 prepupae, 12 MMT male + 8 MMT female pupae/adults .

Diagnosis. Shares the upturned, spinose posterior margin of X with A. alabamensis , A. illini , A. minutus , and A. tricornutus . Differs from A. alabamensis and A. tricornutus in having about 5 similar denticles (versus only 3 in A. tricornutus , 5-9 in A. alabamensis , denticles irregular in length and spacing in these two species). Differs from A. illini in having only 1 prominent denticle on each inferior appendage (2 per appendage in A. illini ). Differs from the very similar A. minutus in having dorsal setae on preanal appendage as robust as denticles on X (much more slender than the denticles on X in A. minutus and all other Agapetus species discussed in this paper); in having the large, transverse denticle on the inferior appendage at 2/3 length of appendage and on inner face, not contacting ventral margin of appendage (terminal and continuous with posterioventral margin of inferior appendage in A. minutus ); and in having the small, proximal denticle on the inferior appendage (ventral view) on the shoulder of the appendage (halfway between shoulder and terminal denticle in A. minutus ). Also differs from A. minutus in having the denticulate, vertical, posterior process of X flexible, with about 1/2 of denticulate portion extending past dorsum of X, and with denticles arranged mostly in a single row (non-flexible, extending only slightly above the dorsal margin of X, and with denticles forming 2 irregular rows in A. minutus ). An additional character that may prove to be diagnostic between A. ruiteri and A. minutus is mentioned under the diagnosis for A. minutus .

Description. Male. Length 5.2-5.8 mm (n = 3). Male genitalia: Lateral view ( Fig. 23a ), anterior margin of IX sinuous, trending down and forward at 45 o angle to midline, then vertical to 15 o back from vertical to convex ventral margin; dorsal margin 1/2 length of ventral margin, with up-sloped median elevation from anterior base extending posteriad nearly to end of IX; a transparent “window” often apparent near posteriodorsal corner of IX; posterior margin nearly vertical, slightly concave to base of preanal appendage, convex from preanal appendage to ventral margin. Preanal appendage clavate, exposed portion 0.6 times length of inferior appendage, 2.4 times maximum depth, ventral margin convex, distal 1/2 of dorsal margin convex, with about 12 long, very stout, vertical setae, these as thick as denticles on X. Base of preanal appendage with dorsal projection posterior to segment IX that extends to level of dorsal margin of X. Segment X sclerotized laterally, sclerotized area gradually more transparent dorsad and not clearly differentiated from membranous dorsal portion of X. Segment X steeply curved downward at ventral base to convex ventral margin, sclerotized ventral arms not well differentiated from sclerotized sides of X; posterior margin with filamentous, vertical projection that extends 1/3 its length above dorsal margin of X, denticulate portion mostly free from remainder of X, weakly sclerotized and flexible, denticles about 15, mostly lateral, some ventral denticles extend posteriad. Inferior appendage rhomboid, nearly as long as X, length = 2.3 times depth; dorsal margin concave, a concave horizontal carina on middle 1/3 of appendage parallels dorsal margin, extending above and slightly posterior to “shadow” of distal denticle. Ventral margin of inferior appendage slightly concave, especially distal to obtuse angle (150 o) near middle of appendage; posterior margin rounded; the two denticles are visible as dark spots, at ventral angle, and the larger denticle at mid-depth about equally spaced between tip of appendage and proximal denticle.

Dorsal view ( Fig. 23b ). Anterior margin of IX deeply concave, U-shaped, with distinct rim; mid-dorsal length 2/3 length of preanal appendages; posterior margin of IX faint and transverse, posterior to tip of triangular elevation on midline. What appears to be the posterior margin of IX is interpreted as representing convergent dorsomedian extensions of the preanal appendages. Preanal appendages with exposed basal 1/3 transverse, less divergent distally (15 o from body axis). Sides of X sclerotized; a triangular lateral projection typically present at 1/3 length; ventral arms difficult to see; posterior denticulate filament conspicuous, a vertical continuation of ventral arms; posterior portion of X membranous.

Ventral view ( Fig. 23c ). Anterior margin of IX concave; posterior margin concave on each side of obtuse projection (145 o) between bases of inferior appendages; a triangular array of setae 1/4 distance from posterior margin; a narrow depigmented area often apparent posteriad. Inferior appendages with outer margin slightly sinuate, mostly convex, tip rounded; mesal margin with bases in contact, then divergent from each other at 20 o angle to 2/3 length, then rounded shoulder forms obtuse (140 o) angle with base, with a tiny, dark, triangular denticle at the angle; a second, larger, transverse denticle 1/2 distance from basal denticle to end of appendage, at mid-depth on inner face. Ventral arms of X (not shown) with inner margins smoothly convex, meeting at 1/3 length, then diverging, and continuing as filamentous, denticulate posterior margin; outer margins parallel to inner margins; lateral denticle at 1/3 length, easily seen in dorsal view of X, occasionally visible.

Larva. Head, notal sclerites, and anal claws brown; other sclerotized areas paler except for usual dark sutures/margins typical for genus. Frontoclypeus with a tight cluster of three pale, dark-edged muscle scars in middle of posterior 1/2 of sclerite. Genae with area posterior and dorsal to pale eye spot covered with poorly defined pale muscle scars, those in posteriolateral corner most conspicuous. Pronotum with inconspicuous pale muscle scars on posteriolateral 1/2 of each sclerite; muscle scars on head and pronotum typically apparent only on shed sclerites of MMTs, not on larvae.

Emergence dates. 11 May-28 June.

Distribution. TN Monroe, Polk (5).

Discussion. See Discussion for A. minutus . We have not taken A. ruiteri with the other five species of Agapetus that occur in Polk Co., TN; it tends to be found at higher elevations, nearer the Blue Ridge physiographic province, than the other Polk Co. Agapetus . All localities are in or adjacent to areas managed by the US Forest Service, an agency whose stewardship has proved to be highly correlated with survival of robust populations of Agapetus . In spite of its limited range, we feel that its future is currently secure.

Etymology. Named in honor of David E. Ruiter, colleague, friend, and trichopterist.

Figures

Figure 22-24. Agapetus spp. male genitalia. 22) Agapetus pinatus Ross. 22a, lateral view; 22b, dorsal view; inferior appendages not shown; 22c, ventral view of IX and inferior appendages. 23) Agapetus ruiteri Parker, Etnier, and Baxter. 23a, lateral view; 23b, dorsal view; 23c, ventral view of IX and inferior appendages. 24). Agapetus spinosusEtnier and Way. 24a, lateralview; 24b, dorsal view; 24c, ventral view of IX and inferior appendages.