Afrorheithrus fallax

Weaver, John S., Gibon, François-Marie & Chvojka, Pavel, 2008, A new genus of Philorheithridae (Trichoptera) from Madagascar, Zootaxa 1825, pp. 18-28 : 21-24

Afrorheithrus fallax sp. nova

( Figures 2, 3, 5–15 , 29 )

Material. Holotype ɗ (pinned) [ USNM], MADAGASCAR, Fianarantsoa Prov., 7 km W. Ranomafana, 1,100 m, 22–31.X.1988, W. E. Steiner, flight intercept–yellow pan in Malaise trap, island in stream, montane rainforest. Paratype Ψ (pinned) [ USNM], same data as holotype. 1ɗ (in alcohol) [ NMPC], MADAGASCAR, Fianarantsoa Prov., 2.5 km SE Ranomena (Iranomena), brook, tributary of Tatamaly River, 47°24’11’’ E, 21°29’36’’ S, approx. 1,050 m a.s.l., 9.II.2000, P. Chvojka leg., swept along rapid brook in rain forest.

Diagnosis. Afrorheithrus fallax differs from A. mirus by having preanal appendages more slender in lateral view, and segment X petiolate in lateral view, and with apicolateral margins nearly straight and angled toward small apicomesal notch in dorsal view.

Male. Color predominately dull brown with some yellowish brown areas; anterior wings brown with flecks of beige and yellowish brown. Head, eyes dark brown, glabrous; antennal warts each bearing many light yellowish setae and few dark brown setae on anterolateral side; occipital warts with many long dark brown anterolateral bristles, and some light yellowish, posteromesal setae; postorbital warts with dark brown setae. Frons yellowish brown with notch between bases of antennae and anterolateral warts each triangular and adjacent to eye; hypomedial warts small, nearly circular. Antennae, scapes nearly cylindrical, each equal in length to diameter of eye and bearing many dark brown setae. Maxillary and labial palps with dark brown setae. Pronotum mostly yellowish brown, medial warts with combination of yellowish setae and dark brown setae; median area, between medial warts, recessed, dark brown with slender light brown stripe; and lateral warts with many dark brown setae and some yellowish setae. Mesonotum, scutum with anterior portion having pair of medial stripes composed of many light yellowish microtrichia; scutellum yellowish brown with many yellowish setae throughout and some dark brown setae in posterolateral area. Thorax with pleura and fore coxae yellowish brown, middle coxae brown and hind coxae dark brown; mesepimeron each with pleural wart bearing conspicuous tuft of white setae. Scapes, each 0.6 mm. Anterior wings each 13 mm, and posterior wings each 11.5 mm.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 7–12 ): Segment IX, anterior margin of each pleuron bearing rounded projection just above sternum in lateral view. Preanal appendages extended posterad with lateral margins nearly straight and parallel, but slanted slightly mesad in dorsal view; each appendage thumblike and 2X as long as basal width in dorsal view; mid section nearly uniform in height, majority of dorsal margin nearly straight and horizontal, but apical 1/4 curved slightly ventrad in lateral view. Segment X capitate with dorsal margin nearly straight, inclined slightly dorsad, apical portion curved strongly ventrad in lateral view; maximum width at 2/3 length, lateral margins curved, and apex nearly right–angled with small mesal notch in dorsal view. Inferior appendage thumblike and extended dorsoposterad in lateral view. Phallus extended almost as far as segment X; curved irregularly, middle of dorsal margin convex and ventral margin concave, maximum height at mid– length, about 1.5X greater than height of apical portion in lateral view.

Female. Color similar to that of male. Scapes each 0.7 mm. Anterior wings each 20 mm, posterior wings each 16.5 mm. Genitalia ( Figs. 13–15 ): Segment IX tergum triangular with blunt apex in lateral view; U– shaped with posterior margin slightly bilobed, with each lobe broadly curved in dorsal view; lateral appendages lobiform and short, each having small, shallow, glabrous, dorsolanteral cavity. Segment IX sternum, somewhat pentagonal, posterior margin with lateral portions nearly straight and middle half rounded triangular in ventral view. Spermathecal sclerite about 2.5 times as long as wide.

Egg mass. Nearly spherical, gelatinous, dry, about 3.5 mm in diameter. Prior to clearing the female abdomen, the egg mass was attached to the egg pouch.

Etymology. Latin: fallax , elusive, deceiving.

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 7 – 15. Afrorheithrus fallax. Figs. 2 – 3. male: 7. genitalia, lateral. 8. segments IX and X, dorsal. 9. segment X, dorsal. 10. left inferior appendage, posteroventral. 11. phallus, lateral. 12. phallus, ventral. Figs. 13 – 15. female: 13. segments VIII and IX, lateral. 14. segment IX, dorsal. 15. segment IX, 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.