Leucotrichia melleopicta Mosely, 1934

Fig. 11

Diagnosis.

Leucotrichia melleopicta is most similar to L. mutica, also recorded from Panama. These species possess an inferior appendage with a similar shape, and the dorsal sclerite of the phallus of both bears a dorsal sclerite with a distinct apical emargination. Leucotrichia melleopicta can be distinguished by the elongate basal sclerite of the phallus and the poorly developed basal loop (Fig. 11E), and by the enlarged apex of the mesoventral process on segment VII (Fig. 11A).

Material examined.

Panama: Bocas del Toro Province • 6 males; Cuenca 093; Chiriqui Grande District; Quebrada Rambala; Rambala Jungle Lodge; 8.91627°N, 82.15469°W; 120 m a.s.l.; 28 Mar. 2015; B. Armitage, T. Arefina- Armitage, leg.; UV light trap; in alcohol; MUPADI • ibid ., 68 males; 31 Mar.-11 Apr. 2015; E. Carlson, leg.; Malaise trap • ibid ., 38 males; 7-9 Oct. 2016 • ibid ., 36 males; 15-20 Nov. 2016 • ibid ., 66 males; 21-31 Dec. 2016 • ibid ., 55 males; 6-12 Feb. 2017 • ibid ., 32 males; 12-15 Jun. 2017 • ibid ., 17 males; 28-20 Jun. 2017. Comarca Ngäbe Buglé • 1 male; Cuenca 093; Palo Seco Forest Preserve; Quebrada Martinez; Alto de Valle, detrás de las caseta de MiAmbiente; 8.79484°N, 82.19047°W; 480 m a.s.l.; 5-19 May 2019; T. Ríos, Y. Aguirre, leg.; Malaise trap; in alcohol; MUPADI • ibid ., 4 males; 24 May-6 Jun. 2019 • ibid ., 5 males; 22 Sep.-11 Oct. 2019 • ibid ., 2 males; Willie Mazu, 8.79361°N, 82.19391°W, 538 m a.s.l.; 13-27 Sep. 2019 • ibid ., 1 male; 11-30 Oct. 2019. Chiriqui Province • 27 males; Cuenca 108, Boquete District; Quebrada Jaramillo; Finca Monterey; 8.7632°N, 82.41383°W; 1,214 m a.s.l.; 19-25 Apr. 2018, K. Collier, leg.; Malaise trap; in alcohol; MUPADI • ibid ., 41 males; 8-12 May 2018 • ibid ., 54 males; 16-20 Jun. 2018 • ibid ., 5 males; 12-19 Aug. 2018 • ibid ., 52 males; 14-22 Oct. 2018 • ibid ., 6 males; 15-22 Nov. 2018 • ibid ., 48 males; Dolega District, Río Majagua, Potrerillos, Banquito de Palmira; 8.68083°N, 82.532528°W; 840 m a.s.l.; 28 Feb-14 Mar. 2019; T. Ríos, Y. Aguirre, leg.; Malaise trap; in alcohol; UMSP . Veraguas Province • 2 males; Cuenca 097, Santa Fe District, Santa Fe National Park, afl. RioCalovebora; PSPSCB-NPSF-C-097-2017-005; 8.54318°N, 81.16398°W; 515 m a.s.l.; 19-23 Apr. 2017; A. Cornejo, T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, C. Nieto, leg.; Malaise trap; in alcohol; COZEM • ibid ., 1 male; Rio Llanito, PSPSCB-NPSF-C-097-2017-012; 8.56553°N, 81.18817°W; 340 m a.s.l.; 21 Apr. 2017; UV light trap; COZEM • ibid ., 1 male; Rio Pedra Moler; PSPSCB-NPSF-C-097-2017-011; 8.55343°N, 81.17675°W; 395 m a.s.l.; 20 Apr. 2017 • ibid ., 104 males; Cuenca 132, Río Mulaba, 2do Brazo, PSPSCB-NPSF-C-097-2017-007; 8.52577°N, 81.13045°W; 623 m a.s.l.; 19-23 Apr. 2017; Malaise trap; COZEM • ibid ., 41 males; Río Mulaba, afl. 1er Brazo; PSPSCB-NPSF-C-097-2017-008; 8.51706°N, 81.1214°W; 770 m a.s.l.; 19-23 Apr. 2017; COZEM .

Distribution.

Mexico, Panama, Venezuela.

Remarks.

In the paper Harris and Armitage (2019), Leucotricha melleopicta was redrawn to compare with L. mutica as both species were common throughout Panama. In Thomson and Holzenthal (2015) the drawings were prepared from material collected in Mexico and compared to that of Venezuela. There were no comparisons with specimens from Central America. The drawings of genitalic features in the two publications are very similar. However, in the material from Mexico there was a posterior cleft in the ventral arm of the subgenital plate, which was not observed in material from Panama. This is a small character to observe and it could be present but not seen with the arm slightly turned, or it could be absent. The phallus drawings are similar, but in Harris and Armitage the subapical rods are separate, while in Thomson & Holzenthal they are fused. However, the rods are not fixed in position and there is some lateral movement. This is based on the large number of examined specimens from Panama. Likewise the phallic apical rods are fused basally in Harris and Armitage, while they are separate, but closely aligned in Thomson and Holzenthal. Both arrangements of the phallic rods were observed in the material from Panama.