Afrorheithrus mirus

Weaver, John S., Gibon, François-Marie & Chvojka, Pavel, 2008, A new genus of Philorheithridae (Trichoptera) from Madagascar, Zootaxa 1825, pp. 18-28 : 24-25

Afrorheithrus mirus sp. nova

( Figures 4 , 16–22 , 29 )

Material. Holotype ɗ (pinned) [ NMPC], labeled: ” MADAGASCAR, Mus. Pragense”. [Specimen from the collections purchased from Lamberton (Antananarivo) in the early 1900s.] Paratypes 1ɗ & 1Ψ (in alcohol) [ MNHN], MADAGASCAR, Andringitra National Park, tributary of the Sahavatoy (Manampatrana river basin), 46.58.30 E, 22.12.50 S, 1210 m, (WWF camp #3, 22.XI.1993, leg. F.M. Gibon, at light trap in forest.

Diagnosis. Afrorheithrus mirus differs from A. fallax by having preanal appendages broader in lateral view, and segment X clavate almost square with apicolateral margins rounded and apex with a pair of short rounded triangular mesal processes in dorsal view, and wedge–shaped in lateral view.

Male. General color light brown; anterior wings mostly brown, each with proximal two–thirds yellowish brown, distal one–third greyish brown, proximal portion much lighter than distal portion. Posterior wings dull grey. Head with eyes nearly black and glabrous; antennal warts bearing light brown setae; occipital warts bearing mostly light brown setae and some brown setae laterally; postorbital warts bearing dark brown setae. Frons with anterolateral warts bearing brown setae; hypomedial warts with whitish setae and smaller than anterolateral warts. Pronotum brown, medial and lateral warts covered with combination of light and dark brown setae, with recessed area between medial warts dark brown. Mesonotum with scutal and scutellar warts bearing thin white setae. Legs mostly yellowish brown, with hind coxae and hind femora dark brown. Mesepimeron each with pleural warts bearing whitish setae. Setal warts of head, pronotum, and mesonotum generally similar to those of A. fallax , except mesoscutal warts nearly elliptical and tapered slightly anteriorly. Anterior wings each 14.2 mm, and posterior wings each 12.2 mm. Abdomen without midsternal processes.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 16–19 ). Segment IX, anterior margin of each pleuron bearing rounded triangular process just above sternum in lateral view. Preanal appendages, each having basal three–fourths with lateral margin angled slightly towards subapex, and distal fourth with apicolateral margin angled more strongly toward rounded triangular apex in dorsal view; triangular with horizontal length 2X vertical height at base, ventral margin slightly irregular, dorsal margin nearly straight, apex rounded triangularly in lateral view. Segment X, rounded triangularly, with dorsal margin nearly straight and horizontal, ventral margin inclined ventroposterad, apicodorsal margin rounded and emarginated, apex rounded and extended posteroventrad in lateral view; rounded square with base tapered slightly, apicolateral margin rounded, apical margin with a pair of short, rounded, mesal triangular processes in dorsal view. Inferior appendage thumblike and extended dorsoposterad in lateral view. Phallus extended as far as subapex of segment X, dorsal margin of apical portion nearly straight and inclined slightly ventral in lateral view.

Female. Color similar to male. Scapes each 0.74 mm. Anterior wings each 19 mm, and posterior wings each 15 mm. Genitalia ( Fig. 20–22 ): Segment IX tergum triangular, tapered toward rounded apical lobe in lateral view; U–shaped with posterior margin bilobed broadly in dorsal view; lateral appendages lobiform. Spermathecal sclerite 3X as long as wide.

Remarks. In a preliminary report of the caddisfly fauna of Madagascar ( Gibon et al. 1999), the paratype was considered to be a possible odontocerid or atriplectidid

Etymology. Latin: mirus , surprising.

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 6. Figs. 2 – 3. Afrorheithrus fallax: 2. male antenna, right lateral. 3. female head, pronotum and mesonotum, dorsal. Fig. 4. A. mirus, male mesonotum, dorsal. Figs. 5 – 6. A. fallax: 5. female wings. 6. male, anterior wing.

FIGURES 16 – 22. Afrorheithrus mirus. Figs. 16 – 19. male: 16. genitalia, lateral. 17. segments IX and X, dorsal. 18. phallus, lateral. 19. phallus, ventral. Figs. 20 – 22. female: 20. segments VIII and IX, lateral. 21. segment IX, dorsal. 22. spermathecal sclerite, ventral.

FIGURES 23 – 29. Figs. 23 – 28. Afrorheithrus admirabilis, male: 23. genitalia, lateral. 24. segments IX and X, dorsal. 25. segment X, dorsal. 26. left inferior appendage, posteroventral. 27. phallus, lateral. 28. phallus, ventral. Fig. 29. Map showing collection sites of Afrorheithrus species.