Polyplectropus hofmaierae, Suwannarat & Malicky & Laudee, 2020

Suwannarat, Nannaphat, Malicky, Hans & Laudee, Pongsak, 2020, Four new species of caddisflies (Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae, Psychomyiidae Hydropsychidae, Odontoceridae) from Khao Nan and Tai Rom Yen National Parks, southern Thailand, Zootaxa 4801 (3), pp. 577-583 : 578-579

Polyplectropus hofmaierae sp. n. Malicky and Suwannarat

Figs. 1 A–1D

Type material. Holotype male ( PSUNHM). Thailand, Surat Thani Province, Huai Khamin, Ban Song, Wiang Sa district , 8 o 42’N, 99 o 28’E, altitude 820 m, 30.x.2018, leg Nannaphat Suwannarat.

Etymology. The species is dedicated to Mrs. Herta Hofmaier, who has supported us during our research visits to Austria.

Description. Body and appendages yellowish. Forewings greyish brown and hind wings hyaline. Length of each forewing 4 mm.

Male genitalia ( Figures 1 A–1D). Segment IX kidney-bean-like with pointed ventroposterior edge in lateral view ( Fig. 1B); subrectangular with 1/3 of its length having pair of U-shaped incisions posteriorly in ventral view ( Fig. 1C). Intermediate appendages each triangular with flask-bottle-like incision posteromesally in dorsal view ( Fig. 1A), beak-like in lateral view ( Fig. 1B). In dorsal view, dorsolateral processes of preanal appendages curved inward basally and curved outward and needle-like subapically, in lateral view ( Fig. 1B) needle-like, first turned downward and then abruptly turned caudad, pointed apically; mesolateral processes curved outward, thumb-like in dorsal view ( Fig. 1A), long, curved downward, beak-like with setae in lateral view ( Fig. 1B); mesoventral process of each preanal appendage beak-like with moderate protrusion posteromesally in lateral view ( Fig. 1B). In lateral view, inferior appendages straight, relatively broad, each divided into dorsal branch and ventral branch; dorsal branch very small, triangular with numerous bristles posteriorly, pointed dorsally; ventral branch short, pointed posteroventrally, with numerous setae ( Fig. 1B). In ventral view, inferior appendages long oval; ventral branch of each inferior appendage parallel-sided with numerous long setae along posteromesal edge; dorsal branch cylindrical, bent inward, beak-like posteriorly ( Fig. 1C). Phallus plough-handle-like with two long tube-like processes crossing subapically ( Fig. 1D).

Diagnosis. The new species is very similar to P. akrisios Malicky 1997 with which it shares the unusual shape of the phallus; which may raise the question of the proper generic position. We leave both species in Polyplectropus until a new revision of Polycentropodidae is available. The characters that can differentiate the new species from P. akrisios are the shapes of the apical ends of the inferior appendages and the sharp intermediate appendages. Polyplectropus hofmaierae n. sp. has the posterior edge of each inferior appendage running diagonally to the posteroventral point and is densely covered by short, stiff bristles on that edge ( Fig. 1E). In P. akrisios the posterior end of each inferior appendage is rounded with a prominent dorsal point and is covered with only sparse fine hairs. The intermediate appendages of the new species are beak-like in lateral view ( Fig. 1B) but rounded in P. akrisios .