Neotrichia pierpointorum Armitage and Harris, 2020

Armitage, Brian J. & Harris, Steven C., 2020, The Trichoptera of Panama XIV. New species of microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from Omar Torrijos Herrera National Park, Insecta Mundi 763, pp. 1-19 : 6-7

Neotrichia pierpointorum Armitage and Harris , new species

Fig. 11

Diagnosis. Neotrichia pierpointorum is similar in some respects to N. bifurcata Harris in the presence of bifid inferior appendages and a phallus, which is divided apically. The new species is also reminiscent of N. negroensis Harris in the presence of a thin, elongate phallus and a median extension from the posterior margin of abdominal segment IX. However, the new species has a sclerotized process from the inner surface of segment IX, which is not seen in N. negroensis or N. bifurcata , and it lacks the medial paramere typical of Neotrichia .

Description. Length 1.2–1.4mm, 18 antennal segments, overall color brown (in alcohol). Abdominal segment VIII annular.

Male genitalia. Segment IX incomplete, narrow, posterior margin undulate, bearing a sword-like scelotized process dorsolaterally, medially with elongate, finger-like process, fused with tergite X dorsally, anteriorly rounded; in dorsal and ventral views, lateral processes elongate, narrowing distally, dorsally incised laterally, ventrally incised medially, anterior margin shallowly incised. Segment X lobate in lateral view, dorsally elongate, abruptly tapering distally to bi-lobed apex. Subgenital plate in lateral view thin and finger-like bearing an elongate apical seta, basally with thin, ventrally projecting process; in ventral view wide basally, tapering apically to truncate apex bearing pair of thick setae. Inferior appendages bifid, dorsal-most process about half the length of ventral process and truncate apically, ventral-most process narrowing distally to acute apex; in ventral view, inner process narrowing posteriorly with a small subapical tooth on inner margin, outer process about ½ length of inner process and finger-like, with elongate seta apically. Phallus thin and elongate in dorsal view, divided subapically into a short, thin tube twisting around the more elongate, narrow main shaft, which bears the ejaculatory duct.

Female and larva. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype male. Panama, Coclé Province, Cuenca 134, Omar Torrijos Herrera National Park , Quebrada Las Yayas , PSPSCB-PNGDOTH-C134-2017-004, 8.66168°N and 80.5952°W, 602 m, Malaise trap, 22-26 March 2017, E. Álvarez, E. Pérez, and T. Ríos (COZEM) . Paratypes. ibid., Veraguas Province, Cuenca 132, Santa Fe National Park, Río Mulaba , 2do Brazo , PSPSCB-PNSF- C132-2017-007, 8.52577°N and 81.13045°W, 623 m. Malaise trap, 19-23 April 2017, A. Cornejo, T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, and C. Nieto, 1 male (MIUP) ; ibid., Río Mulaba, 3er Brazo , PSPSCB-PNSF-C132-2017-010, 8.52906°N and 81.13943°W, 662 m, UV light trap, 19 April 2017, T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, and C. Nieto, 1 male (SCH) .

Etymology. We take great pleasure in naming this species for Donnie and the late Surse Pierpoint, for inviting many entomologists to conduct research at their estate in Santa Rita Arriba, Colon Province, Panama, in the 1970’s and 80’s, where many outstanding butterflies, moths, and other insects were found, including a new species of scarab beetle, Chrysina ratcliffei (Morón) ( Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae ).

Figures

Figure 11. Neotrichia pierpointorum, sp.n. Male genitalia. A) Lateral view. B) Ventral view. C) Dorsal view. D) Phallus apex, dorsal view.