Wellsomina saeta, Cartwright, David I., 2010

Cartwright, David I., 2010, Descriptions of 2 new genera and 13 new species of caddisflies from Australia (Trichoptera: Ecnomidae), Zootaxa 2415, pp. 1-21 : 12-13

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.194387
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6202156
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/AA598020-1866-FF9B-9DE8-3CD7FE911E48
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Wellsomina saeta
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Wellsomina saeta sp. nov.

Figs 24–26 View FIGURES 21 – 26 , 47 View FIGURES 45 – 53

Diagnosis. This species of Wellsomina can be separated by the following characters: fused inferior appendages each with a prominent shoulder and superior appendages with long apical setae.

Description. Head, body and wings pale brown; wings similar to those of W. stuarti ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 7 – 11 ), length of forewing: male 2.5–2.8 mm, female 2.7–2.9 mm. Wing venation: forewing length about 3.5 times width, each with forks 2, 3, 4 and 5 present; fork 2 relatively short, fork 2 footstalk relatively long, length about 2.0–2.3 times length of cross-vein r -m, length of fork 2 about 1.6–2.0 times length of fork 3; fork 3 very short, length of fork 3 about 0.5–0.8 times length of footstalk, footstalk of fork 3 very long, length about 3.6–5.0 times length of cross-vein m. Hind wing length about 4 times width, each with forks 2, 3 and 5 present; short, fork 2 footstalk relatively long, length about 2.3 times length of cross-vein r -m.

Male. Tergum X membranous ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 21 – 26 ). Superior appendages complex, short, in lateral view robust ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 21 – 26 ), in dorsal view, each with dorso-mesal lobe with spine-like setae mesally, outer lobe with 2 long spine-like setae directed mesad; ventral lobe tapering slightly distally ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 21 – 26 ). Phallus simple, robust, tube-like ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 21 – 26 ). Inferior appendages strongly depressed, in ventral view fused in basal 2/3rds, with prominent shoulders disto-laterally, with pair of narrowly separated digitiform processes apically, diverging slightly distally ( Fig. 25 View FIGURES 21 – 26 ); in lateral view, slender, tapering and upturned slightly in distal 1/3rd ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 21 – 26 ).

Female. Genitalia with abdominal sternite VIII relatively broad, basally with slender digitiform mesal process; segment IX relatively short, broad-based, tapered slightly in distal quarter, segment X relatively long, slender with 1 pair of small cerci ( Fig. 47 View FIGURES 45 – 53 ).

Holotype male: Western Australia. Wittenoom Gorge, 10 km E of Roebourne Rd, Pilbara, 24 Oct 1979, JB; ( NMV, T- 20783).

Paratypes. Western Australia. 4 males, 1 female, collected with holotype; 2 males, 1 female, Wittenoom Gorge, 5 km S of Wittenoom, 26 Oct 1979, JB; 1 male, 1 female (specimen CT-516 figured), Wittenoom Gorge, Hamersley Range, 20 Feb 1977, M.S. and B.J. Moulds. Northern Territory. 2 males (specimen PT- 1086 figured), Katherine R. Gorge Nat. Pk (about 14°29'S, 132°26'E), 13 Aug 1979, JB ( NMV).

Other material examined. Western Australia. 5 males, 23 females, Morgan R., Theda H.S., Kimberley, 28 Sep 1979, JB; 1 male, Drysdale R., 15°02'S, 126°54'E, 3–8 Aug 1975, I.F.B. Common and M.S. Upton ( ANIC); Charnley R., 2 km SW Rolly Hill, CALM site 25/2, 16°22'S, 125°12'E, 16–20 Jun 1988, I.D. Naumann ( ANIC); 2 males, Blue Holes, Ord R., Purnululu Nat. Pk, 17°33'S, 128°15'E, 7 Oct 1996, I. Edwards ( NMV).

Etymology. Saeta - Latin word for bristle (long spiny setae on superior appendages).

Remarks. This is a relatively uncommon but widespread species across northern Australia, recorded from the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of northern Western Australia, into the Northern Territory (latitudinal range 14°29'– 22°17'S).