Agapetus kirchneri Parker, Etnier, 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 : 27-28

Agapetus kirchneri Parker, Etnier, and Baxter new species

Fig. 17a, 17b, 17c . Map 17

Type material. Holotype, mature male pupa, Station Creek at horse barn, 36.6040 oN, 83.6285 oW, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Lee Co., VA, 5 April 2007, emerged 25 Apr-7 May, JL Robinson. ( NMNH)

Allotype, mature female pupa, same data as for holotype. ( NMNH)

Paratopotypes, mature male and female pupae, same data as for holotype CASC, male ; CUAC, male MMT, female MMT; INHS, male MMT, female MMT; ROME, female, male MMT, UMSP, male, female; NMNH, male; UT 1.1117 , 2 males .

Additional paratypes. SCHC, 1male, 1 female, 1 mature male pupa, EX UT 1.604 , Lone Mountain Cr. just above summer pool level of Norris Reservoir, along Lone Mountain Road, Claiborne Co. TN, 20 April 2000 ; 3 prepupae, 9 male + 6 female mature pupae/adults remain in UT 1.604 .

Additional material examined. Tennessee, Anderson Co.: UT 1.355 , Univ. Tenn. Arboretum trib. to Melton Hill Reservoir embayment n side of TN 170 , about 1/ 2 mi e of TN 62 , Solway, 31 March 1988, 12 larvae / prepupae, 5 male + 8 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.479 , Clinch R. trib. 0.5 rd mi w of jct. Laurel Road / Hillcrest Road, w of Clinton, 24 April 1999, 3 larvae /prepupae, 3 male + 6 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.480 , jct. Old Dutch Valley Road and Shinliver Road, 24 April 1999, 2 prepupae, 4 pupae, 6 male + 6 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.481 , Sulphur Springs at Sulphur Springs Road, 24 April 1999, 11 larvae /prepupae, 17 pupae, 10 male + 6 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.860 , Sulphur Springs at Dutch Valley Road, n of Clinton, 8 April 2003, 2 prepupae, 6 male + 5 female mature pupae/ adults. Blount Co.: UT 1.432 , entrance to Laurel Valley Golf Course , 1.2 rd mi from TN 73 on Laurel Valley Road , Townsend , 16 May 1998, 1 mature male pupa. Grainger Co. : UT 1.383 , Buffalo Springs , about 20 m below source, TWRA access rd, just n of TWRA Headquarters , 2 May 1998, 10 larvae /prepupae, 1 pupa, 7 male + 5 female mature pupae/adults. Jefferson Co. : UT 1.380 , Indian Cr. at jct. US 411 and Bridges Chapel Road , 2.2 rd mi sw of US 70, 2 May 1998, 9 larvae /prepupae, 1 pupa, 1 male + 2 female mature pupae/adults. Knox Co. : UT 1.878 , Pitts Spring, Campbell Station Road s of Hardin Valley Road, 8 May 2003, 1 prepupa, 1 male ; UT 1.1200 , same locality, 24 April 2010, 1 prepupa, 1 male pupa, 1 female pupa ; UT 1.1039 , spring run n of Gilbert Drive crossing, 0.2 rd mi w of Lovell Road, 20 m below lower end of concrete raceway near springhead, 3 May 2006, 2 larvae /prepupae, 1 male, 1 female ; UT 1.1199 , Conner Cr. and spring run, w side of East Gallaher Ferry Road at Rustic Bridge Road, 35.9230 o N, 84.2193 o W, 24 April 2010, 5 prepupae, 1 female pupa. Roane Co.: UT 1.448 , White Oak Cr. km 6.8, 25 April 1989, 2 mm ; UT 1.742 , Keylon Hollow Road 0.4 rd mi above TN 304 , 5 May 2001, 2 larvae, 1 pupa, 3 male + 4 female mature pupae/adults. Virginia, Lee Co.: UT 1.591 , Sims Spring run above VA 662, 20 April 2000, 9 larvae, 1 pupa, 10 male + 7 female mature pupae/adults ; UT 1.601 , northern trib. to Hardy Cr. along US 58, 5.2 rd mi ne of Rose Hill, 20 April 2000, 13 larvae /prepupae, 8 male + 7 female mature pupae/adults. Smyth Co.: UT 1.873 , Laurel Spring Road 0.6 rd mi s of I-81 Mile 43 overpass, 27 April 2003, 5 larvae, 2 pupae, 3 female mature pupae. Washington Co .: UT 1.876 , Rockhouse Run at jct. VA 710 and VA 711, near Alvarado, 4 May 2003, 6 larvae /prepupae, 2 pupae, 17 male + 12 female mature pupae/adults .

Diagnosis. Similar to A. hessi , A. spinosus , and A. walkeri in having ventral arms of X out-turned and darkened at tip, and in having each inferior appendage with a single, transverse denticle near distal margin. Differs from all three of these in having tips of ventral arms of X shaped like a duck-head in dorsal and ventral views (versus straight denticle, pair of denticles, or cluster of denticles), and in having sides of X sclerotized and forming a notch distally at junction with ventral arms (versus membranous and smoothly merging with ventral arms). Inferior appendages of A. kirchneri differ from those of the three above species in having dorsal and ventral margins parallel (versus divergent toward tip), with terminal denticle at dorsal corner (versus at middle or at ventral corner); in having inferior appendage tip smoothly rounded (versus with angular projection near middle), and in having a darkened, denticulate ridge along the posterioventral portion (versus no denticulate ridge).

Description. Male. Length 4.0- 5.9 mm (n = 6). Male genitalia: Lateral view ( Fig. 17a ), anterior margin of IX slopes down and forward at 45-50 o to midline, then down and back at 65 o and sinuate to convex ventral margin; dorsal margin straight, 1/2 length of ventral margin; posterior margin sloping down and back at 65 o to base of preanal appendage, then straight to slightly convex, vertical or nearly so to ventral margin. Preanal appendage ovate, depth = 1/3 times exposed length, dorsal and ventral edges convex to rounded tip; 1/3 length of inferior appendage; 8-12 setae on distal 2/3 of exposed dorsal margin. Segment X sclerotized, more so on ventral arms; dorsally with basal concavity, then a convex dorsal margin, slightly down-sloped to 0.8 length, then decurved at 90 o and smoothly merging with ventral arms. Ventral arms slightly less deep than preanal appendage, same depth throughout, basal 1/4 forms 140 o angle with slightly concave, distal 3/4; tip with upturned, curved, black denticle. Inferior appendage length = 2.6 times depth, 3/4 length of X, dorsal and ventral margins nearly straight, parallel, tip bluntly rounded; posteriodorsal subterminal denticle visible as dark spot, posterior half of ventral margin with tuberculate ridge at or near edge, up-curved near posterior margin, and with small denticle at each end of ridge.

Dorsal view ( Fig. 17b ). Anterior margin of IX broadly concave, posterior margin faint to not apparent, mid-dorsal length 1/2 length of preanal appendage. Outer dorsal margins of X concave, convergent on basal 1/3, nearly parallel distally; dorsal inner margins fused near base, divergent (5 o from body axis) to contact distal end of outer dorsal margin. Ventral arms of X distally shaped like a duck head, “beak” transverse, with tip slightly up-turned; inner margins convergent to nearly contact each other at 1/4 length, then slightly divergent to tips. Inferior appendages with terminal dorsal denticle, and ventral denticulate ridge prominent on distal 1/2.

Ventral view ( Fig 17c ). Anterior margin of IX concave; posterior margin forms 90 o angle between inferior appendage bases; a triangular, depigmented area from slightly anterior to inferior appendage bases posteriad. Inferior appendages with outer margin beyond bulbous base convex to angular tip which bears a dark, in-pointed denticle; inner margins nearly in contact at base, ventral margins diverging from each other at 40 o on basal 1/2; distal 1/2 more divergent, concave, denticulate ridge with a small denticle at each end.

Larva. Head and pronotum dark brown, other sclerites paler. Pale area around eye spot and dark markings on sclerites typical for genus, except mandibles same color as other head sclerites. Frontoclypeus and genae lacking apparent muscle scars except on shed sclerites of MMT; pronotum with about 10 large, elliptical, pale, dark-margined muscle scars on posterior 1/2, mostly near lateral and posterior margins. In MMT, a row of 3 transversely elliptical, pale, dark-margined muscle scars may be apparent at posterior fifth of frontoclypeus, along with scattered, less apparent muscle scars. Genae with 3 obscure rows of small, pale muscle scars behind eye, a few additional ones scattered elsewhere on posterior 1/2; a tight cluster of 3-4 more obvious muscle scars at posterior margin near ecdysial line.

Emergence dates. 25 April-26 July.

Distribution. KY Bell (larvae). TN Anderson (5), Blount, Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox (2), Roane (2). VA Lee (2), Smyth, Washington.

Discussion. Taken with A. iridis and A. minutus . This species and A. minutus are the only two Agapetus known to persist in Knox Co., TN. Specimens in UT 1.1039 are from what appeared to be a pristine spring in a heavily wooded area, but pupae were very difficult to find, taken only from a very small area, and more heavily covered with silt (inside the case) than any others we have seen. Glossosoma nigrior Banks is abundant at the site, but the persistence of A. kirchneri there may be very tenuous. Agapetus kirchneri was abundant at the two additional localities (UT 1.1199, UT 1.1200) in the Hardin Valley area of western Knox County on 24 April 2010.

Etymology. Named in honor of Ralph F. Kirchner, prominent North American plecopterist who has contributed much to the study of Trichoptera in eastern North America through his collecting.

Figures

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.