Leucotrichia melleopicta Mosely, 1934

Thomson, Robin E. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2015, A revision of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Leucotrichia Mosely, 1934 (Hydroptilidae, Leucotrichiinae), ZooKeys 499, pp. 1-100 : 8

Taxon classification Animalia Trichoptera Hydroptilidae

Leucotrichia melleopicta Mosely, 1934 type species Figs 1, 2

melleopicta Mosely, 1934: 157 [Type locality: Mexico, Tabasco, Teapa; NHM; male]. - Flint 1970: 5 [male], 1981: 25 [distribution].

Diagnosis.

This species is similar to Leucotrichia mutica . Both of these species possess an inferior appendage that is broadest mesally in lateral view and digitate in ventral view and the dorsal sclerite of the phallus in each species has an apical emargination. Leucotrichia melleopicta can be recognized by the enlarged apex of the mesoventral process on sternum VII, the apical emargination of the ventral arm of the subgenital plate, and the basal fusion of the inferior appendages.

Description.

Male. Length of forewing 1.9-2.5 mm (n=9). Head unmodified, with 3 ocelli; antennae unmodified. Color in alcohol brown. Genitalia. Abdominal sternum VII with elongate mesoventral process with enlarged apex. Sternum VIII in ventral view with posterior margin concave with rounded mesal emargination. Segment IX anterolateral margin straight, posterolateral margin convex; in dorsal view anterior margin concave, posterior margin straight. Tergum × with dorsal sclerite slender; ventral sclerite semielliptic with tridentate posterior margin; membranous apex not well developed. Subgenital plate with dorsal arm not apparent; ventral arm arched mesally, apex slightly flared (Fig. 2A), in ventral view with rounded apical emargination. Inferior appendage broadest mesally, apex rounded, bearing single dorsal spine; in ventral view fused basally, subspatulate. Phallus with “windows” of median complex not apparent, basal loop composed of 2 separate filaments, apex bearing dorsal sclerite with crenulate margins and pair of elongate internal sclerites.

Material examined.

Holotype male: MEXICO: Tabasco: Teapa, collected in March, H. H. Smith, slide mounted (NHM). Nontypes: MEXICO: Veracruz: Laguna Escondido, 28.iii.1976, J. Bueno, 7 males, 2 females (in alcohol) (NMNH); VENEZUELA: Aragua: Río El Limón, fish hatchery, Maracay, 3-6.ii.1976, C.M. and O.S. Flint, Jr., 1 female (NMNH); Río El Limón, fish hatchery, Maracay, 19-20.v.1975, F.H. Weibezahn, 1 male (in alcohol) (NMNH).

Etymology.

Unknown.