Chimarra indicis, Blahnik & Andersen, 2022

Blahnik, Roger & Andersen, Trond, 2022, New species of the genus Chimarra Stephens from Africa (Trichoptera, Philopotamidae) and characterization of the African groups and subgroups of the genus, ZooKeys 1111, pp. 43-198 : 43

Chimarra indicis sp. nov.

Fig. 40A-F

Type material.

Holotype. Ghana - Western Reg. ● ♂ (in alcohol); Ankasa Game Production Reserve; 5°15'N, 2°37'W; 6-12 Dec. 1993; T Andersen & J Kjærandsen leg.; Malaise trap; UMSP 000550036. Paratypes. Ghana - Western Reg. ● 4♂♂; same data as for holotype; ZMBN. - Central Reg. ● 1♂; Kakum Forest Reserve; 5°21'N, 1°22'W; 8-15 Nov. 1994; T Andersen leg.; Malaise trap; ZMBN.

Additional material.

Ghana - Western Reg. ● 1♀; Ankasa Game Production Reserve; 5°15'N, 2°37'W; 6-12 Dec. 1993; T Andersen & J Kjærandsen leg.; Malaise trap; UMSP .

Diagnosis.

Chimarra indicis appears to be somewhat similar to C. georgenis Barnard, particularly in a having an acute cusp on the ventral margin of the inferior appendage and in having each of the lateral lobes of tergum X with an elongate and short digitate process near its apex. A direct comparison is difficult because the genitalia of C. georgensis was drawn as fragmented parts. In general, C. georgensis is probably more directly related to C. uncinata sp. nov. and C. serrella sp. nov. because of the similarity in the structure of the phallobase in those species, with the apex decurrent and with two distinct apical points on each side and an acute projection on the dorsal margin where the apex begins to bend downward. Besides the differently formed apex of the phallobase in C. indicis , it also differs from C. georgensis in that the inferior appendage has an acute dorsal projection, and the lateral lobes of tergum X have a greater overall length, each lobe with two sensilla on short digitate processes, one basal and one curved and preapical, just before the elongate, acute, dorsally recurved apical projection.

Description.

Adult. Overall color (in alcohol) light brown, undersides and appendages yellowish brown, vertex of head slightly darker, setal warts of head not distinctly contrasting. Head short (postocular parietal sclerite short). Palps elongate; maxillary palp with 1st segment very short (approximately as long as wide), 2nd segment moderately elongate (~ 3 × 1st), apex with cluster of ~ 6 setae, 3rd segment elongate, distinctly longer than 2nd, 4th segment short (shorter than 2nd), 5th segment very elongate and narrow (subequal to 3rd and 4th combined). Forewing length: male, 3.5-4.0 mm. Fore- and hind wings with forks I, II, III, and V present. Forewing with R1 straight, stem of Rs straight, or nearly so, basal fork of discoidal cell slightly enlarged, evenly forked, length of cell ~ 2 × width, fork I subsessile, fork II sessile, r crossvein diagonal, intersecting discoidal cell near apical fork, s, r-m, and m crossveins linear and hyaline, both 2A and 3A looped to 1A (2A without apical fork). Hind wing with R1 obsolete (or fused to subcosta), forks I and II subsessile, fork III distal and relatively narrow, anal loop small. Forelegs with apical tibial spur very short; male with modified tarsal claws, apical three segments of tarsi short and flattened, claws asymmetrical, outer one elongate and twisted.

Male genitalia. Segment VIII very short, tergum approximately same length as sternum, sternum without posteroventral projection. Segment IX, in lateral view, short, anteroventral margin only slightly expanded, dorsal margin without apodemes, ventral process very short, subtriangular, ventrally oriented, inferior appendages inserted near ventral margin; as viewed dorsally, with tergum very narrow, but continuous, sternum short, subtruncate. Tergum X with mesal lobe very short and membranous, lateral lobes projecting, distinctly sclerotized, produced apically into strongly dorsally curved spine-like projection (bent at approximately right angle), dorsal projection subequal to length of base before inflection, ventral margin of inflection with additional small spine; sensilla of lobes apparently reduced to two, on short nipple-like projections, one basodorsally and one dorsolaterally, before apical bend. Preanal appendages short and rounded, distinctly flattened, inserted membranously (not fused to segments IX or X). Inferior appendage with distinct basal inflection; as viewed laterally, narrow, with short, sclerotized projection from apex of ventral margin, appendage dorsally inflected and tapering from ventral projection, apex acute; as viewed ventrally, with acute sclerotized cusp on posterior margin (extended onto mesal surface), and additional small, irregular cusp basally on mesal surface. Phallic apparatus with phallobase very short and strongly sclerotized, with usual basodorsal expansion, securely anchored within segment by semi-sclerotized periphallic membrane (attached to lateral margin of segment IX), apicoventral margin of phallobase very distinctly sclerotized and produced, down-turned, apex divided into pair of ventrally projecting spine-like processes; endotheca short, membranous, internally with pair of prominent recurved sclerites (possibly modified elements of phallotremal sclerite complex).

Etymology.

Chimarra indicis , used as a noun in apposition, from the Latin index, a sign, token, or forefinger, for the notable upturned apex of tergum X in this species.

Figures

Figure 40. Chimarra indicis sp. nov., ♂ genitalia A lateral B dorsal, segments IX and X C inferior appendage, ventral D inferior appendage, dorsal E phallus, lateral F phallus, ventral.