Leucotrichia adela Wells & Wichard, 1989 †

Thomson, Robin E. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2015, A revision of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Leucotrichia Mosely, 1934 (Hydroptilidae, Leucotrichiinae), ZooKeys 499, pp. 1-100 : 8

Taxon classification Animalia Trichoptera Hydroptilidae

Leucotrichia adela Wells & Wichard, 1989 † Fig. 5

† adela Wells & Wichard, 1989: 42 [Type locality: Dominican Republic NMNH; male; in amber].

Diagnosis.

This species is known only from the male fossil holotype preserved in Dominican amber. While some characteristics of Leucotrichia adela were originally described as difficult to examine and understand, Wells and Wichard (1989) did remark that the species shared similarities in the shape and form of abdominal segment IX and the genitalia with those of Leucotrichia chiriquiensis and Leucotrichia tubifex . It seems appropriate to place it in the melleopicta species group, due to the presence of 3 ocelli, an unmodified head, and a mesoventral process on sternum VII.

Description.

Redescribed from Wells and Wichard (1989). Male. Length of forewing 1.4 mm (n=1). Head unmodified, with 3 ocelli; antennae unmodified. Tibial spur count 1, 3, 4. Genitalia. Genitalia obscured and difficult to interpret. Abdominal sternum VII with slender, elongate mesoventral process. Sternum VIII in ventral view with posterior margin concave. Posterior margin of segment IX concave in dorsal view. Membranous apex of tergum × rounded. Inferior appendage bract-like.

Material examined.

Holotype male: Fossil holotype deposited at NMNH, but unable to be located.

Etymology.

Unknown.