Tinodes tafo, Gibon, 2017

Gibon, François-Marie, 2017, New species of Tinodes from Madagascar (Trichoptera, Psychomyiidae), Zootaxa 4318 (2), pp. 364-376 : 365-366

Tinodes tafo n. sp.

Figs 1 A–1E

Diagnosis. Tinodes tafo n. sp. is very similar to T. isalo . The two species can be distinguished by the following characters: (1) There are two sclerites in the endotheca of T. tafo , the distal sclerite is stout, short, and spine-shaped and is also present in T. isalo ; the proximal sclerite is long, slightly curved, and finger-shaped, but is absent in T. isalo . (2) The phallic guide is long in T. tafo , extending anterad into abdominal segment VIII, but is reduced to a small setose plate in T. isalo . (3) The harpago has a small basoventral bump when viewed laterally in T. tafo , but this bump is absent in T. isalo . (4) The intermediate appendage branches of T. tafo are stronger, more curved, and tend to be asymmetrical.

Description. General color pale brown, with dorsal sclerites slightly darker, wings brown with few small hyaline areas (in alcohol). Length of each forewing 3.3–3.4 mm (n = 7) and of each hind wing 2.6–2.7 mm (n = 6). Forewing forks 2, 3, 4, and 5; crossveins r (R1–R2+3, hardly visible), r-m (R4+5–M1+2) and cu (Cu1–Cu2); and hyaline line along stem of M present. Hind wing forks 2, 3, and 5; two anal veins; and crossveins r (R1 –R2+3), and r-m (R4+5–M1+2) present.

Male genitalia ( Figs 1 A–1C): Sternite IX produced posteroventrad as rounded lobe, longitudinally shorter dorsal part on each side with anterodorsal tubercle, anterior and posterior margins moderately concave in lateral view; ventral part with transverse groove across middle; in ventral view lateral margins almost straight, slightly convergent posteriorly; anterior margin distinctly convex, posterior margin almost straight and with several ventrolateral setae. Tergite IX on each side composed of straight, narrow stalk, distally widening to subconical dorsal portion nearly two times longer than stalk, truncate apically in lateral view; in dorsal view almost rectangular, posterior margin very slightly concave and without setae. Tergite X indistinct. Preanal appendages longer than phallic apparatus, slender and nearly uniformly broad, only slightly sigmoid in lateral view; fine setae present along distal 2/3. Intermediate appendage arising anterolaterally at junctures of tergite and sternite IX, directed dorsad and curving posteromesad to median base, divided before mid-length into two long branches (almost reaching apices of inferior appendages), finger-shaped, branches slightly widening asymmetrically to apex; left branch arched above right one, each bearing three pointed spines: left branch with one spine inserted at 2/3 length, two others subapical and apical; right branch straight, directed posterad, with one apical and two subapical spines. Inferior appendages divided into two segments; bases of first segments fused ventrally, their resulting phallic guide apodeme directed anterad, clavate in lateral view, slender and acute apically in ventral view, posteriorly divided into pair of short processes, hook-shaped in lateral view, pointed outward in ventral view; each first segment irregularly ovoid with right-angled apicodorsal corner in lateral view; in ventral view, broad with rounded lateral margins; long, dense setae ventrally and along dorsoposterior angle; each second segment smaller than first; attached along posterior edge of first, long, finger-shaped, and with basoventral bump when viewed laterally, thin and sickle-shaped in ventral view with several thick setae along inner margin. Phallic apparatus long (longer than intermediate appendage branches but shorter than preanal appendages), curved ventrad, basal part well sclerotized, distal half greatly widened with large dorsal membranous lobe and apex with rounded excision in dorsal view; two internal phallic sclerites: proximal sclerite tubular, long, and curved slightly dorsad; distal one stout, short, and spine-shaped.

Our material has three distinct places of origin, the watershed of Lake Alaotra (province of Toamasina, east of Ambatodrazaka), the Mandrare watershed (province of Toliara), and the Betsiboka watershed (province of Antananarivo) ( Fig. 7 ). We consider them as conspecific, but they can be distinguished by small morphological differences in the male genitalia. In the southern populations, the phallic guide is more developed and larger, the basoventral bump of the harpago is more sclerotized, the dorsal branch of the intermediate appendage is slightly longer than the ventral one (slightly shorter in the northern population) ( Figs 1 D–1E). The type material is restricted to the specimens from the province of Toamasina.

Holotype: Male. MADAGASCAR: Toamasina Prov., brooklet 1.5 km S Amboditafonana , 17°27′43′′S, 48°44′44′′E, approx. 840 m a.s.l., 26.i.2000, swept along shallow slow-flowing brooklet in deforested area, P. Chvojka leg. ( NMPC).

Paratypes: 3 males, same data as holotype ( NMPC).

Other examined material. MADAGASCAR: Toliara Prov., Mandrare River watershed, tributary of the Sohitay River near Ankazomanga , 24°02′37′′S, 46°37′23′′E, 430 m a.s.l., 26.iv.1995, 2 males ; Sakamalio River, Andohahela , 24°32′07′′S, 46°40′56′′E, 750 m, 02.ii.1996, 1 male ; tributary of the Abetolo River near Esira , 24°18′00′′S, 46°41′07′′E, 400 m a.s.l., 28.iv.1995, 1 male . Antananarivo Prov., Tsiribihina River watershed, small tributary, 19°36′10′′S, 46°01′50′′E, 820 m a.s.l., 19.v.1996, 2 males; all F.- M. Gibon leg. (all CBGP).

Etymology. Malagasy " tafo ," meaning "roof," adapted from the name of the village closest to the type locality, to be treated as a noun in apposition to Tinodes .

Distribution. MADAGASCAR: endemic. Recorded from the headwaters of the Alaotra, Mandrare, and Tsiribihina watersheds and probably widely distributed ( Fig. 7 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Tinodes tafo n. sp., male genitalia: 1 A, left lateral; 1 B, dorsal, without inferior appendages; 1 C, segment IX and inferior appendages, ventral; 1 D, left lateral (specimen from Mandrare River watershed); 1 E, inferior appendages, ventral (specimen from Mandrare River watershed). Abbreviations: g. = phallic guide; g. ap. = phallic guide apodeme; inf. app. 1 = first segment of inferior appendage; inf. app. 2 = second segment of inferior appendage; int. app. = intermediate appendage; phall. = phallic apparatus; pre. app. = preanal appendage; st. IX = sternite IX; t. IX = tergite IX. Scale bar: 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 7. Schematic distribution maps of the Malagasy Tinodes.