Oxyethira (Trichoglene) houailou, Wells, Alice & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2015

Wells, Alice & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2015, Review of New Caledonian species of Oxyethira Eaton, with description of 17 new species, and new records for Hydroptila Dalman and Hellyethira Neboiss (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae), ZooKeys 530, pp. 37-90 : 47-48

Taxon classification Animalia Trichoptera Hydroptilidae

Oxyethira (Trichoglene) houailou sp. n. Figs 25-27, 94

Diagnosis.

Males of Oxyethira houailou sp. n. resemble those of Oxyethira amieu and Oxyethira arok , but are distinguished by having gonopods quadrate in ventral view and separated by mid-ventral V-shaped excision, by having mesally directed apices on ventral processes, and spine on the phallic apparatus subapical and short compared with longer spines of the other two species

Description.

Male antennae with 21-27 flagellomeres; flagellomeres subquadrate in profile, without sensilla placodea, but with dense sensilla auricillica; anterior wing length, male 1.4-1.9 mm (n=10); tibial spurs 0,3,4; abdominal sternite VII with a short sharp mesal spur.

Male, genitalia (Figs 25-27). Abdominal segment IX in ventral view subtriangular in proximal half, with proximal margin truncate to broadly rounded, distally tapered to about half maximum width at distal margin; in lateral view triangular. Subgenital processes in form of stout sclerotised rods, their apices blunt, and short setose lobes, in ventral view almost at right angles to length of body. Phallic apparatus elongate, slender, with fine titillator, and subapically a short curved spine. Abdominal tergite X only slightly longer than rods of ventral processes, membranous.

Female unknown.

Material examined.

Holotype. Male (on slide), New Caledonia, Province Nord, small fall ~10 km SW Houaïlou, on Bourail road, 16.xii.1998, A. Wells (MNHP).

Paratypes. New Caledonia: 1 male (on slide), data as for holotype, (ANIC); 1 male, Province Sud, Col d’Amieu, 323 m, small stony river, loc 24, 21°34.844'S, 165°49.677'E, Malaise trap, 30. xi– 5.xii.2001, leg. K.A. Johanson, T. Pape & B. Viklund (NHRS); 6 males, Province Sud, Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road between Noumea and Yaté, Rivière des Pirogues, 22°11.225'S, 166°43.338'E, 100 m, 7.xi.2003, light trap, loc#016, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 1 male, Province Sud, Mt Dzumac, source stream of Ouinne River, near crosspoint to mountain track, 22°02.439'S, 166°28.646'E, 805 m, 18. xi– 4.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#029, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 2 males, Province Sud, Mt Dzumac, source stream of Ouinne River, near crosspoint to mountain track, 22°02.073'S, 166°28.460'E, 810 m, 18. xi– 4.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#030, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 1 male, Province Sud, Platou de Dogny, source of Dogny River, about 1.2km SE summit of Platou, about 200 m from waterfall, 21.62067°S, 165.88290°E, 915 m, 25. xi– 16.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc#048, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 1 male (on slide), Province Nord, Wé Caot Stream, draining NNE side of Mt Panié, 0.9 km NW Cascade de Tao, 20°33.311'S, 164°48.064'E, 18.xii.2003, light trap, loc#084, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS).

Etymology.

Named for the settlement of Houaïlou, near the type locality.

Remarks.

This species was collected from widespread localities along the length of the island (Fig. 94).