Agapetus baueri Etnier, Parker, and Baxter, 2010

Etnier, David A., Parker, Charles R., John T. Baxter, Jr., Long, Todd M. & Drive, News Sentinel, 2010, A review of the genus Agapetus Curtis (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae) in eastern and central North America, with description of 12 new species, Insecta Mundi 2010 (149), pp. 1-77 : 10-12

Agapetus baueri Etnier, Parker, and Baxter new species

Fig. 5a, 5b, 5c . Map 5

Type material. Holotype, male, length 6.0 mm, EX UT 1.424 , North Indian Creek at USFS picnic area, 1.2 rd mi e of TN 173 on TN 107 , 36.1665 o N. 82.2520 o W, Unicoi Co., TN, 17 May 1998, D. A. Etnier, emerged 8 June 1998. ( NMNH)

Allotype, female, length 5.8 mm, same data as for holotype, emerged 26 May. ( NMNH)

Paratopotypes, all EX UT 1.424 . CASC, male MMT emerged 11 June ; CUAC, male MMT emerged 2 June, female MMT emerged 7 June, 1 larva ; INHS, male + female MMT, emerged 4 June, 1 larva ; ROME, 2 June MMT male, 7 June MMT female, 1 larva ; SCHC, male MMT emerged 11 June; NMNH, 1 larva ; 2 male MMT, 1 female MMT, 3 early pupae, 1 prepupa, and 1 larva remain in UT 1.424 .

Additional material examined. North Carolina, Buncombe Co.: UT 1.931 , creek at Christmont Conference Center, about 2 rd mi s of I-40 on NC 9 , Black Mountain , 7 April & 22 May 2004, 3 larvae / prepupae, 5 male + 5 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.944 , Texas Road cutoff at NC 9 , Montreat, 22 May 2004, larvae/prepupae, early pupae, 9 male + 4 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.949 , Cabin Cr., 1130 NC 9 , n of Black Mountain , 22 May 2004, 9 male + 5 female mature pupae/adults ; Burke Co.: UT 1.673 , Linville R. trib. at Leafy Way , about 0.2 rd mi s of NC 183 Linville R. bridge, 26 May 2000, 5 larvae /prepupae, 3 male + 2 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.683 , stream 2.3 rd mi w of Caldwell Co. line on NC 2 ( Brown Mountain Road), 26 May 2000, 2 male + 1 female mature pupae/adults ; Caldwell Co.: UT 1.763 , creek at ne edge of Jim and Carolyn Wagner property, 2.8 air mi ne of jct. US 321 & NC 268 , 31 May 2001, 2 early pupae, 7 male + 6 female mature pupae/adults ; Haywood Co.: UT 1.583 , Cold Spring Cr. 1.2 rd mi n of I-40, Harmon Den Exit, 12 April & 20 May 2000, 7 larvae /prepupae, 9 male + 6 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.731 , Cove Cr. at Cove Road, 0.3 rd mi above Sutton Town Road, 28 April 2001, 20 larvae ; UT 1.758 , same locality, 28 April 2001, 4 larvae /prepupae, 5 early pupae, 9 male + 3 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.1124 , Pisgah Cr., 1st bridge above Little Pisgah Creek , 12 June 2008, 12 males ; UT 1.1163 , Pisgah Cr., Chinquapin Road, 1/2 rd mi e of US 276, 4 larvae /prepupae, 2 male + 2 female mature pupae/adults ; McDowell Co.: UT 1.933 , 3116 Pine Cove Road, about 0.7 rd mi n of Mt. Hebron Road (co rd 1100), 27 April 2004, 4 male + 35 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.934 , 1101 Hebron Hill Drive, at Mt. Hebron Road , 27 April, many male + female mature pupae/adults ; Polk Co.: UT 1.820 , creek at Midway Baptist Church, 2.3 rd mi ssw of NC 9 on NC 108 , 1 May 2002, 3 male + 6 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.822 , Ostin Cr., Holbert Cove Road 1.2 rd mi above Silver Cr. Road, w of Mill Springs, 1 May 2002, 2 male + 5 female mature pupae/adults ; Watauga Co.: Blue Ridge Parkway, at beaver pond at Milepost 286.0 left, 10 July 2007, 1 male. Tennessee, Carter Co .: UT 1.928 , upper Gap Creek at TN 362 , ca 0.5 rd mi n of TN 361 , 3 May 2004, 2 larvae, 3 male + 3 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.948 , 0.4 rd mi s of Roan Mountain State Park “cabins road” on TN 143 , 3 May 2004, 2 male mature pupae/adults. Johnson Co.: UT 1.894 , Atcheson Branch, TN 91 at Atcheson Road, near Laurel Bloomery, 3 May 2003, 2 mm ; UT 1.906 , Campbell Cr., Mack Branch Road, 28 May 2003, 5 male + 2 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.914 , same site, 28 May 2003, 4 male + 1 female ; UT 1.915 , Greer Branch, TN 91 3.1 rd mi s of VA state line, 3 May 2003, 1 MMT female pupa ; UT 1.1049 , Big Dry Run, Dry Run Road just below mouth of Baker Branch, 11.5 air mi sw of Mountain city ; Unicoi Co.: UT 1.412 , Rocky Fork trib. at TWRA Management Area gate, 17 May 1998, 1 male ; UT 1.434 , Scioto Cr., Scioto Cr. Road at TN 107 , 17 May 1998, 2 larvae, 3 male + 2 female mature pupae/adults ; Virginia, Floyd Co.: Blue Ridge Parkway, outflow of Mabry Mill Pond, downstream to approximately 30 m, Milepost 176.2 right, 8 June 2006, 2 males ; Blue Ridge Parkway, confluence of two streams feeding Mabry Mill pond, along paved trail, Milepost 176.2 left, 20 July 2007, 1 male.

Diagnosis. The very elongate inferior appendages (length> 4.5 times depth) separate A. baueri from all North American Agapetus except A. flinti , A. iridis , A. jocassee , and A. pinatus . It differs from all of these except A. jocassee in having each inferior appendage with only 2 denticles (lacking terminal denticle), versus 3 denticles per appendage (terminal denticle present) in A. flinti , A. iridis , and A. pinatus . Differs from A. jocassee (ventral view) in having a single denticle in middle of narrow, triangular ridge along internal margin of inferior appendage (broad, serrate, trapezoidal ridge with the largest denticle at posterior end of ridge in A. jocassee ). Additionally differing from A. jocassee in having preanal appendages outcurved in dorsal view (straight in dorsal view in A. jocassee ). In ventral view ( Fig. 5c vs. Fig. 16c ) inferior appendages of A. baueri have the subterminal denticle 1.5-2.0 “denticle lengths” from tip of appendage (only 1 “denticle length” from tip of appendage in A. jocassee ).

Description. Male. Length 6.0- 6.6 mm (n = 11). Male genitalia: Lateral view ( Fig. 5a ), anterior margin of IX thickened, sloping down and forward at 45 o to midline, then smoothly down and back at 35 o angle to ventral margin. Dorsal margin of IX essentially absent (see dorsal view), much of upper portion of posterior margin narrow, concealed behind variously developed lateral shoulder; dorsal margin of shoulder conceals basal fifth of preanal appendage; posterior margin of IX below preanal appendage convex, angling down and forward at 75 o. Preanal appendage linear, 3/4 length of inferior appendage, length = 9 times depth, 10-15 long, erect setae evenly spaced along entire exposed dorsal margin. Segment X sclerotized only on ventral margin, sclerotized portion thickest on basal 1/3, which slopes down and back; distal 2/3 with sclerotized area mostly confined to ventral arms, which extend well past inferior appendage tip, and form a 130 o angle with basal 1/3; each arm terminating in a pair of sharp denticles. Distal (outer) denticle a straight continuation of dorsal edge of sclerotized area; proximal (inner) denticle dorsal to other denticle, tip decurved. Inferior appendage horizontal, nearly parallel-sided, length = 6 times depth; dorsal margin concave on basal 1/3, slightly convex on distal 2/3, tip rounded. Lateral carina slopes down from near dorsal base and becomes lateral edge of inferior appendage, appearing as a line in mid-lateral area. Subterminal black denticle on inner surface visible, located an “inferior appendage depth” from tip and just dorsal to lateral carina. Ventral margin of inferior appendage slightly sinuate, convex basad and distad, and concave on either side of small denticle on inner margin located nearly 2/3 distance from base.

Dorsal view ( Fig. 5b ). Anterior margin of IX deeply concave; posterior margin with median V-shaped emargination nearly contacting anterior margin on midline. Preanal appendages with concave outer margin, slightly thicker at base. Sclerotized arms of X medial to preanal appendages, inner and outer margins nearly parallel, denticle-bearing tips swollen, divergent. Outer denticle a straight continuation of outer sclerotized margin; inner denticle straight, dorsal, medial, and proximal to outer denticle. Inferior appendages sinuate, median and subterminal denticles visible, transverse.

Ventral view ( Fig. 5c ). Anterior margin of IX concave, posterior margin poorly differentiated, forming 110 o angle between inferior appendage bases, area between inferior appendage bases depigmented forward to transverse row of conspicuous setae. Inferior appendage with outer margin sinuate, basal 1/4 convex, middle concave, distally convex. Inner margin of inferior appendages in or near contact for basal 1/3, then divergent (110 o from each other) and concave, much less divergent (20 o) to tip. Each inferior appendage with a single pointed denticle near middle of sharp ridge that occupies middle 1/4 of inferior appendage; a second, longer denticle on inner margin 2 “denticle-lengths” from tip of inferior appendage.

Larva. Legs, sterna, and sclerites on IX and X typical for genus. Otherwise, all sclerites strawcolored. Genae with four horizontal rows of darker pigment behind eye barely visible on larvae but not on MMT sclerites. Frontoclypeus with transverse arc (concave anteriad) of 5-6 elongate muscle scars extending across widest portion of sclerite, most easily seen in MMT sclerites. Prosternum with inner margin slightly longer than outer margin. Genae of MMT with area around eye and posterior third noticeably paler than remainder of sclerite.

Emergence dates. 3 May-28 June.

Distribution. NC Buncombe (3), Burke (2), Caldwell, Haywood (5), McDowell (2), Polk (2), Watauga. TN Carter (2), Johnson (4), Unicoi (3). VA Floyd (2)

Discussion. Taken with A. iridis , A. pinatus , A. ruiteri , and A. tomus . Males, females, and larvae are very similar to those of A. jocassee . The range of A. baueri is northeast of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, while that of A. jocassee includes the Park and areas to the south and west. Both species occur in Haywood Co., NC, with A. baueri known from the north side and extreme headwaters (Pisgah Creek) of Pigeon River, and A. jocassee from the south side of the river, in the Park. Both species also occur in Buncombe Co., NC, with A. baueri records from the eastern portion of the county (Black Mountain area) and many records of A. jocassee from Bent Creek southwest of Asheville, collected by Dr. Cornelius Betten in the 1930s. Preliminary data suggest that males are larger than females in this species.

Etymology. Named in honor of Bruce H. Bauer, colleague and participant in many aquatic biology efforts throughout the area covered.

Figures

Figure 4-6. Agapetus spp. male genitalia. 4) Agapetus avitus Edwards. 4a, lateral view; 4b, dorsal view, inferior appendages not shown; 4c, ventral view of IX and inferior appendages. 5) Agapetus baueri Etnier, Parker, and Baxter. 5a, lateral view; 5b, dorsal view; 5c, ventral view, preanal appendages not shown. 6) Agapetus crasmus Ross. 6a, lateral view; 6b, dorsal view; 6c, ventral view, preanal appendages not shown.

Figure 16-18. Agapetus spp. male genitalia. 16) Agapetus jocassee Morse. 16a, lateral view; 16b, dorsal view; 16c, ventral view of IX and inferior appendages. 17) Agapetus kirchneri Parker, Etnier, and Baxter. 17a, lateral view; 17b, dorsal view; 17c, ventral view of IX and inferior appendages. 18) Agapetus medicus Ross. 18a, lateral view; 18b, dorsal view; 18c, ventral view of IX and inferior appendages.