Wellsomina thigi, 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 : 11

Wellsomina thigi sp. nov.

Figs 21–23

Diagnosis. Males of this species are characterised by very short, robust superior appendages and inferior appendages partly fused and relatively elongate.

Description. Head, body brown, abdomen paler ventrally, wings fawn; wings similar to those of W. stuarti ( Fig. 7 ), length of forewing: male 2.7–2.8 mm. Wing venation: forewing length about 3.3 times width, each with forks 2, 3, 4 and 5 present; fork 2 relatively short, fork 2 footstalk relatively long, length about 1.6– 2.1 times length of cross-vein r -m, length of fork 2 about 1.4–1.7 times length of fork 3; fork 3 short, length of fork 3 about 0.9–1.2 times length of footstalk, footstalk of fork 3 very long, length about 2.6–3.8 times length of cross-vein m. Hind wing length about 4 times width, each with forks 2, 3 and 5 present, all short; fork 2 footstalk relatively long, length about 2 times length of cross-vein r -m.

Male. Tergum X membranous ( Fig. 23 ). Superior appendages short, robust, laterally compressed, with spine-like setae mesally, and each with broad, truncate process dorsally ( Figs 21–23 ). Phallus simple, tubelike with single, long process situated dorsally ( Fig. 21 ). Inferior appendages depressed, in ventral view fused, with pair of digitiform processes distally, diverging to form V-shaped cleft ( Fig. 22 ); in lateral view, slender, tapered and upturned slightly in distal 1/3rd ( Fig. 21 ).

Female. Unknown.

Holotype male: Western Australia, Camp Ck, Mitchell Plateau (about 14°50'S, 125°50'E), lt tr., 31 Jan 1978, JEB ( NMV, T- 20778).

Paratypes: Western Australia. 1 male (specimen CT-475 figured), Lone Dingo Ck, trib. of Mitchell R., Mitchell Plateau, 17 Feb 1979, JEB; 3 males, Camp Ck at crusher, Mitchell Plateau, UV lt, 15 Feb 1979, JEB ( NMV).

Other material examined. Western Australia. 1 male, Charnley R., 2 km SW Rolly Hill, CALM site 25/ 2, 16–20 Jun 1988, I.D. Naumann ( ANIC).

Etymology. Thigi - Australian Aboriginal word for short (superior appendages).

Remarks. Wellsomina thigi has been collected from 4 sites in the Kimberley Region of northern Western Australia (latitudinal range 14°50'– 16°22'S).

Figures

FIGURES 21 – 26. Wellsomina spp. Male genitalia in left lateral, ventral and dorsal views. 21 – 23: Wellsomina thigi sp. nov. 24 – 26: Wellsomina saeta sp. nov.

FIGURES 7 – 11. Wellsomina spp. 7 – 8: Wellsomina stuarti sp. nov. 7: Forewing and hind wing. 8: Head and thorax, dorsal view. 9 – 11: Wellsomina baru sp. nov. male genitalia in left lateral, ventral and dorsal views.