Culoptila cantha (Ross)

Blahnik, Roger J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2006, Revision of the genus Culoptila (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae), Zootaxa 1233, pp. 1-52 : 20-22

Culoptila cantha (Ross)

Figs. 7 , 18 A, B

Protoptila cantha Ross 1938: 113 .

Culoptila cantha — Flint 1974b; Schmid 1982; Houghton & Stewart 1998a, b.

This species is similar only to C. plummerensis , n. sp. and together comprise a distinctive species pair. In both species the phallobase is relatively short and bears a single stout phallic spine. Both species are also unusual in that the inferior appendages are apparently absent (or possibly reduced and fused to the phallotremal sclerite). Also, in both species the tegulae of the males are only minimally modified, and the associated glandular structures tiny. Culoptila cantha differs from C. plummerensis by the possession of numerous minute spines on the dorsal surface of the ventral plate of the phallotremal sclerite. Other diagnostic genitalic differences include the structure of tergum X, which is short and truncate in C. cantha and short, but apically acute in C. plummerensis , and the shape of the apex of the apicolateral process of tergum X, which is more distinctly and prominently bent in C. cantha . In addition to their structural differences, the species can be diagnosed by their distributions, eastern United States for C. plummerensis and west and southwestern United States for C. cantha .

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.4–3 mm; female 2.5–3.2 mm. Color brown; wing chord evident, but scarcely paler in coloration. Mesothorax of male not noticeably modified; mesoscutal wart short, heart­shaped; mesoscutal setae short. Mesothoracic tegulae of male flattened, only slightly enlarged; tegular setae short; tegular gland present, very small, minimally developed.

Male genitalia. Sternum VI process very short, rounded. Tergum IX ventral margin subtruncately rounded, slightly produced posteroventrally. Inferior appendages not evident, apparently absent, but phallotremal sclerite complex forming a distinctive, sclerotized ventral plate with minute spines on its dorsal surface. Tergum X very short, length much less than width, apex in ventral view truncate to subtruncate; ventrolateral processes with apices incurved and posteriorly bent, bend very prominent, approximately right angle, mesal margin of apex bluntly rounded, not acute. Phallobase relatively short, widening from base, dorsal and ventral margins more or less straight in lateral view, apicodorsal projection moderately elongate, with slight upward inflection at base, apex subacute. Phallic apparatus with 1 phallic spine, nearly length of phallobase, straight, often slightly recurved at base, stout at base, strongly tapered apically.

Material examined

UNITED STATES: Arizona: Clear Cr. Cmp., SE Camp Verde, 17.vi.1968 (Flint & Menke) — 1 male, 4 females ( NMHH); Greenlee Co., Lower Blue River, F.R. 475, 33°17’00"N, 109°11’00"W, 1280 m, 21.vi.1999 (D.C. Houghton,) — 12 males ( UMSP); Mohave Co., Hackberry, 14.vii.1975 (Cross) — 1 male, 12 females ( NMNH); Colorado: Mesa Co., Colorado River, Hwy 6 nr. DeBeque, 11.viii.1973 (Baumann & Stark) — 1 male ( NMNH); Moffat Co., Yampa River, below Maybell, 3.viii.1973 (Baumann & Stark) — 7 males, 2 females ( NMNH); Yampa R., Maybell (Baumann & Stark) — 1 male, 1 female ( NMNH); New Mexico: Grant Co., Grapevine Cmgd., Gila N.F., Rt. 15, 33°10’42"N, 108°12’18"W, 26.vii.2001 (C. & O. Flint,) — 1 male, 2 females ( NMNH); Taos Co., Rio Grande, 6.vii.1953 (W.W. Wirth,) — 1 male ( NMNH); Texas: Medina R., above Riomedina, 10.v.1960 (Flint & Collette) — 1 male ( NMNH); Wyoming: Teton Co. Yellowstone National Park, Madison R., 23.v.1992 (G. Roemhild) — 33 males, 9 females ( NMNH); same, except T135 R5E S36, 29.vi.1964 (J.R. Heaton) — 2 males, 12 females ( NMNH).

Distribution

CANADA (Saskatchewan); UNITED STATES (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming).

Figures

FIGURES 4 – 8. Head, mesothorax, and tegular structures, dorsal. 4 — Culoptila hamata, new species. 5 — Culoptila thoracica (Ross). 6 — Culoptila aluca Mosely. 7 — Culoptila cantha (Ross). 8 — Culoptila moselyi Denning.

FIGURES 17 – 19. Male genitalia. 17. Culoptila buenoi, new species: 17 A—lateral; 17 B—ventral. 18. Culoptila cantha (Ross): 18 A—lateral; 18 B—ventral. 19. Culoptila cascada, new species: 19 A—lateral; 19 B—ventral.