Pliocaloca kleithria, Shackleton, Michael, 2010

Shackleton, Michael, 2010, Two new species of Pliocaloca Neboiss (Trichoptera: Calocidae) from eastern Australia, with descriptions of the immature stages of one species, Zootaxa 2476, pp. 30-38 : 34-38

Pliocaloca kleithria sp.nov.

Figs 5–8 , 11–23

Diagnosis. As stated above, P. kleithria and P. fidesria possess many similar characteristics, suggesting a close alliance between the two. Of the previously described species, P. d a s o d e s ( Neboiss 1984) appears to be most similar to P. kleithria . In both species the forewings ( Fig. 11 ) lack a thyridial cell and possess a setose, sclerotised knob on the underside of vein Cu1. Morphology of the genitalia is similar in both species and a slender process rises, medially, from the base of the inferior appendage ( Fig. 6 ).

The following characters separate Pliocaloca kleithria from P. dasodes : the preanal appendages ( Fig. 5 ) and the slender processes of the inferior appendages ( Fig. 6 ) are much longer, segment X ( Fig 5 ) is not as tapered and has a much wider apical incision, and the sclerotised knob on vein Cu1 of the forewing ( Fig. 11 ) is located more basally. The shape of the apices of segment X also differs between these species. In P. dasodes , the lateral margins of this segment gently taper along its length ( Neboiss 1984). The segment is deeply and narrowly incised apically. In P. kleithria , the lateral margins are curved inwards at about 2/3rds their length ( Fig. 5 ). The medial incision of the segment is wider but not as deep as in P. d a s o d e s and the apices are somewhat rounded.

The shapes of the genital features distinguish Pliocaloca kleithria from P. fidesria . The slender process arising from the inferior appendage ( Fig. 6 ) is gently curved outwards in P. kleithria , while in P. f i d e s r i a it is abruptly curved outwards at about 1/3rd the length of the segment ( Fig 2 ). In P. kleithria , segment X ( Fig 5 ) bears a pair of strong dorsal ridges that diverge apically. The apices of the segment are somewhat rounded, with the lateral margins curved outwards. In P. fidesria , the dorsal ridges of segment X ( Fig. 1 ) are parallel to each other and the lateral margins of the posterior 1/3rd are relatively straight and tapered inwards.

Description. Male. Length of fore wing 5.7–6.7 mm. Wings brown. Fore wing with distinct white patches, 1 large patch adjacent to costal margin basal of pterostigma, 1 large patch on anal region, scattered smaller patches. Forewing ( Fig. 11 ): thyridial cell absent; vein A1 joins Cu1b at arculus just behind position where Cu1b separates from Cu1a; base of Cu1 with oval sclerotised knob bearing tuft of dark, long, setae on underside of wing; membrane between veins A1 and Cu1 with long setae. Hind wing ( Fig. 12 ): crossvein m–cu not quite joining with Cu1a. Genitalia ( Figs 5–7 ): Segment X long and narrow, strongly incised apically, 2 strong dorsal ridges extending along most of length of segment and diverging apically; preanal appendages slender, rounded apically, strongly curved medially, enlarged sub-apically, extending to approximately half length of segment X; inferior appendages relatively narrow, curved inwards, apices pointed and projecting dorsad, each with slender process arising medially from base; slender process extending almost to apex of inferior appendage, gently curved, tapered to point. Phallus ( Fig. 8 ): with a pair of rounded lobes within distal1/2, projecting from the lateral margin.

Female unknown.

Pupa. Head: antennae as long as body; labrum ( Fig. 13 ) with anterior margin straight or slightly concave, 3 dark setae towards each posterolateral corner, each anterolateral corner with 3 dark sub-apical setae and 2 transparent apical setae; mandibles ( Fig. 13 ) with small serrations along inner margins, each with 2 setae on basal 1/4th of outer margin. Middle legs: each tibia with dorsal fringe of setae. Abdomen ( Fig. 14 ): lateral fringes present; anterior hookplates on tergites 3–6, posterior hookplates on segment 5 only; all hookplates with 2 hooks; terminal processes ( Figs 15, 16 ) narrow, apically acute and upturned, each with 2 long black setae subapically, rows of finer setae on ventral and dorsolateral surfaces.

Larva. Length: 8 mm. Head ( Figs 20, 21 ): brown, dorsum covered by spinules, slight depression in posterior region of frontoclypeus; strong band of pale secondary setae mostly outside frontoclypeus, those inside frontoclypeus longer and directed mesad; frontoclypeus with 2 pairs of primary setae on anterior margin; antennae small, situated about halfway between anterior margin of head capsule and eye; carina not present. Pronotum ( Figs 17, 18 ): dorsum covered by spinules; each sclerite with anterior margin curved forward between suture line and lateral margin; lateral carina present, almost reaching posterior margin, not extending onto dorsum of segment; anterior margin with dense row of short blunt setae; foretrochantin not fused to propleuron, apically acute. Mesonotum ( Fig. 22 ): lightly sclerotised, pigmentation predominantly in anterior half. Metanotum ( Fig. 22 ): with single, round, medial sclerite; setal area 1 with about 6 setae, setal area 2 with 1 seta, setal area 3 with about 8 setae. Abdomen ( Fig. 23 ): segment I lateral humps without sclerites; abdominal gills absent; tergite 9 with 5 pairs of hairlike setae; anal lateral sclerites with many setae, 2 setae darker, thicker, and slightly longer than rest; abdominal prolegs each with 1 accessory tooth. Legs ( Fig. 19 ): hind legs almost twice as long as forelegs. Case ( Fig. 19 ): curved cylinder of sand grains, posterior aperture round.

Holotype male: New South Wales, Wilson River Res nr. Bellangry, 5 Dec 1988, G. Theischinger, (MV TRI–26295).

Paratype (specimen figured): 1 male, New South Wales, Terania Creek N of Lismore 28°25 S, 153°18 E, 21 Jan 1986, G. Theischinger, (MV TRI–26285).

Other material examined: New South Wales. Tributary of Wilson River, 70 meters along Falls Walk Track 13°12’ S, 152°29’ E, 4 Dec 2007, A. Glaister, J. Dean, and R. St Clair 1 male pupa, 3 female pupae, 5 larvae, (AM); 4 male pupae, 2 female pupae, 3 larvae (MV).

Etymology. From the Greek kleithria , meaning “keyhole,” pertaining to the keyhole shape formed by the apical incision in segment X.

Remarks. Jackson (1998, figs 1.12–1.17) has previously illustrated the larvae of what she called Pliocaloca sp. AV1, with a distribution in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. She makes reference to a pupal specimen associating this larva with an undescribed adult of Pliocaloca . Unfortunately, the specimens Jackson used to associate this larva are missing from the Australian voucher collection. The larva of P. kleithria is similar to the illustrations given by Jackson (1998). However, it is not known if the larva Jackson illustrated represents P. kleithria or P. fidesria , or if the larvae of these species can be distinguished based on morphology.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Male genitalia of Pliocaloca spp., dorsal (Figs 1, 5), ventral (Figs 2, 6), and left lateral views (Figs 3, 7) and phallus in left lateral view (Figs 4, 8). 1 – 4. Pliocaloca fidesria, sp. nov.; 5 – 8. Pliocaloca kleithria, sp. nov.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Male right fore wings (Figs 9, 11) and hind wings (Figs 10, 12) of Pliocaloca spp. 9 – 10. Pliocaloca fidesria, sp. nov.; 11 – 12 Pliocaloca kleithria, sp. nov.

FIGURES 13 – 16. Pupa of Pliocaloca kleithria, sp. nov. 13. labrum and mandibles, dorsal; 14. hookplates; 15. terminal segment, right lateral; 16. terminal segment, dorsal.

FIGURES 17 – 23. Larva of Pliocaloca kleithria, sp. nov. 17. pronotum, dorsal; 18. head and pronotum, right lateral; 19. larva in case, right lateral; 20. head, dorsal, illustrating robust setae; 21. spinules on dorsum of head; 22. meso- and metanotum; 23. right abdominal proleg, right lateral.