Wormaldia natalis, Holzenthal & Blahnik & Ríos-Touma, 2022

Holzenthal, Ralph W., Blahnik, Roger J. & Rios-Touma, Blanca, 2022, A new genus and new species of Ecuadorian Philopotamidae (Trichoptera), ZooKeys 1117, pp. 95-122 : 95

Wormaldia natalis sp. nov.

Fig. 14

Type material.

Holotype. Male (pinned). Ecuador: Napo: Wildsumaco Lodge, small stream, Coati Trail @ wooden bridge, 0.67433°S, 77.60260°W, 1420 m a.s.l., 10.iii.2020, Ríos, Holzenthal, Frandsen, Pauls, Amigo, UMSP000500642 (UMSP). Paratype. Ecuador: same data as holotype, 1 male (pinned) (MECN).

Diagnosis.

Wormaldia natalis is undoubtedly most closely related to W. aymara Muñoz-Quesada & Holzenthal, 2015, described from Bolivia and resembling it in several respects, but particularly in the short, broad posteromesal projections from the posterior margin of tergum VIII (Fig. 14A, B ) and the strongly tapering apical segment of the inferior appendage (Fig. 14A ). However, it differs in the shorter, more basally inflated preanal appendages (Fig. 14B ), less angular projection of segment IX below the inferior appendages (Fig. 14A ), details of the apex and shape of the lateral projections of tergum X (Fig. 14A, B ), development of the apical segment of the inferior appendages, and in having a longer phallic spine (Fig. 14D ). Additionally, the two short projections from the posterior margin of tergum VIII have a more V-shaped than U-shaped basal separation (Fig. 14B ).

Description.

Adult. Forewing length male 5.2 mm (n = 1). Head brown, with yellowish setae. Antenna with overall color yellowish, indistinctly annulated with light brown, somewhat flattened setae. Palps very short, with dark brown setae. Dorsum of thorax brown. Legs medium brown, spurs slightly darker; hind tibiae with sparse brush of long setae. Forewing covered with dark brown setae; apical forks I, II, III, IV, and V present. Hind wing translucent, with very fine, small, brown setae; apical forks I, II, III, and V present.

Male. Segment VIII slightly shorter than segment IX, tergum with pair of short, diverging, subtruncate posteromesal projections. Segment IX, as viewed laterally, with anterior margin weakly angularly produced at ca. mid-height, posterior margin nearly linear, angularly narrowing just below preanal appendage, dorsal margin, as viewed dorsally, very short, with short projecting anterolateral apodemes. Segment X, in lateral view, elongate narrow, somewhat down-curved, apex with short, angular apicodorsal projection, sensilla confined to apex; as viewed dorsally, elongate, tapering, subtriangular, apex subacute, with scattered sensilla, apex continuous laterally with short, diverging, rounded projections, each with several sensilla. Preanal appendage elongate, irregular in shape, with distinct basodorsal expansion, narrowing apically. Inferior appendage bi-segmented, both segments tapering from base to apex, basal segment very wide basally, ca. half height of segment IX, apical segment with apex subacute and slightly down-turned; as viewed ventrally, with basal segment bulbous, ~ 2 × width of apical segment, apical segment with dense apicomesal pad of short spines. Phallus, when viewed laterally, with phallobase very short, with basodorsal expansion, weakly sclerotized, tapering apically, endotheca with two spines, one short and strongly curved, the other elongate, narrow, more sinuously curved.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

From the Latin Wormaldia natalis , meaning birthday in reference to the date when the species was collected, March 10th, the shared birthday of collectors Frandsen and Holzenthal.

Figures

Figure 14. Wormaldia natalis sp. nov. Male genitalia A segments VIII-X, lateral B segments VIII-X, dorsal C segments VIII, IX, inferior appendage, ventral D phallus, lateral, detail: endothecal spines.