Triaenodes forcipatus Puranen Li & Johanson

Johanson, Kjell Arne, Eriksson, Maertha, Mueller, Hanna & Li, Helena Puranen, 2012, Description of three new Triaenodes species from Fiji (Trichoptera, Leptoceridae), ZooKeys 244, pp. 21-31 : 26-28

Triaenodes forcipatus Puranen Li & Johanson sp. n. Figs 3, 14-18

Diagnosis.

The species is most similar to Triaenodes kalydon (Malicky, 2005) from Sumatra, particularly in the male genitalia which comprise two-branched coxopodites and absence of the upper part of tergum X. Triaenodes forcipatus is easily distinguished from kalydon by having much smaller basomesal processes, downward curving gonopods and longer cerci.

Description, male.

Wings (Fig 3). Forewing 5.2-5.9 mm (N=3), hind wing 4.0-4.6 (N=3). Forewing: stem of M absent; forks I and V present; wing membrane with pale area at apex and basal one-third of posterior margin, two rectangular pale fields at anterior margin, well separated by dark area. Hyaline area present at anastomosis. Hind wing: uniformly gray, without apparent patterns.

Genitalia (Figs 14-18). Segment IX almost triangular in lateral view, ventrally produced posterad before gonopods; ventral margin two times longer than dorsal margin; in dorsal view slightly longer than wide, central part of anterior margin produced anteriorly into rounded lobe; in ventral view anterior margin deeply concave, posterior margin shallowly concave, anterior two-thirds almost two times wider than posterior one-third, sightly pointed laterad at mid-length. Cerci originating from posterodorsal margin of segment IX, uniformly broad along their lengths, with irregular lateral and mesal margins; setose; apex unevenly narrowing; in lateral view posteriorly slightly exceeding gonopods. Tergum X consisting of lower part, upper part vestigial and not evident; lower part separated from near base into lateral branches slightly longer than cerci, forming a pair of posteriorly elongate processes originating immediately below cerci; basally wide in lateral view, strongly narrowing from basal one-sixth, uniformly slender along posterior five-sixths, apex pointed, proximal two-thirds of left branch nearly straight, distal one-third slightly curving ventrally; right branch sigmoid, with posteriorly orienting distal one-third; connected ventrally by concave plate. Gonopods in lateral view as high as posteriormost part of segment IX, each divided at mid-length into dorsal and ventral branch, dorsal branch about half width of ventral branch, slightly shorter than ventral branch, dorsal branch bearing marginal setae, ventral branch with scattered setae. In ventral view, anterior half of gonopods forming broad plates being completely fused anteriorly, distal half about half as wide as anterior half, slightly curving laterally, two times longer than wide; each with mesal margin sigmoid, apex almost pointed. Basomesal processes as long and wide as ventral branches, originating from anterior one-quarter of gonopods; apex club-shaped with few setae. Phallic organ strongly curving ventrally; in lateral view phallobase slightly elliptic, phallicata widening immediately after phallobase; endotheca rounded; in ventral view distal end of phallotheca about half as wide as proximal end; endotheca rounded, almost triangular, membranous.

Material examined.

Holotype male: Fiji: Viti Levu Island, Pabitra, 17.5833°S, 178.0833°E, 1034 m, Malaise trap, 17-20.xi.2003, leg. Delena Veikovi, Wabu Baseline Survey [FNIC, alcohol].

Paratypes: 5 males: Fiji: Viti Levu Island, Vuda Province, Koroyanitu Natural History Park, Savuione Trail, 17°40'S, 177°33'E, 450 m, Malaise trap, 12-19.x.2002, leg. M. Irwin, E. Schlinger & M. Tokoka’a [NHRS, alcohol].

Etymologi.

Forcipatus , from Latin forceps, claw in English, referring to the claw-shaped gonopods in lateral view.

Key to the Fijian species of Triaenodes , based on characters on male genitalia