Neotrichia flennikeni, Harris & Armitage & Ríos González, 2024

Harris, Steven C., Armitage, Brian J. & Rios Gonzalez, Tomas A., 2024, The Trichoptera of Panama XXIV. Fifteen new species and two new country records of the caddisfly genus Neotrichia (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae), with a key to all known Panamanian species, ZooKeys 1188, pp. 47-90 : 47

Neotrichia flennikeni sp. nov.

Fig. 6

Type locality.

Panama: Chiriquí Province: Cuenca 108, David District, San Pablo Viejo, puente vía Interamericana antes de llegar a la entrada de Bagala, Río Platanal; 8.46416°N, 82.52030°W; 825 m a.s.l.

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, Panama: Chiriquí Province: Cuenca 108, David District, San Pablo Viejo, puente vía Interamericana antes de llegar a la entrada de Bagala, Río Platanal; 8.46416°N, 82.52030°W; 825 m a.s.l.; 12.iv.2021; T. Ríos, Y. Aguirre leg.; UV light trap; MUPADI-006-T-2023 (in alcohol).

Diagnosis.

Neotrichia flennikeni sp. nov. appears to be a member of the N. vibrans group of Keth et al. (2015) based on the posterolateral process of segment IX, and the tapered inferior appendage. The new species appears to be similar to N. angulata Flint, 1983 from Uruguay which also has an elongate, tapering inferior appendage and a phallus bearing a long, stout spine. The new species is distinguished by the knob-like posterolateral processes from segment IX and by the tapering, rather than angled, appearance of the inferior appendage.

Description.

Male. Total length 1.8 mm (n = 1), 18 antennal segments, wings and body brown in alcohol. Genitalia (Fig. 6 ). Abdominal segment VIII annular. Segment IX in lateral view narrow, tapering anteriorly, posteriorly with thin posterolateral process; ventrally with deep rounded posterior excision; dorsally with narrow posterior incision, posterolateral processes sclerotized and knobbed apically. Segment X narrowing posteriorly to thin shelf; in dorsal view wide basally, tapering distally to truncate apex. Subgenital plate in lateral view, narrow basally, widening distally, with acute, posteriorly projected dorsal spine, sclerotized knob posteroventrally; in ventral view narrowing basally, with pair of apical lobes each bearing stout seta. Bracteole in lateral view widening posteriorly to rounded apex; in ventral and dorsal views narrow over length. Inferior appendage in lateral view elongate and tapering, curving upward at midlength; in ventral view wide basally, sharply angled at midlength, then narrowing to acute apex which projects inward. Phallus tubular, constricted at midlength and bearing thin paramere encircling shaft, apex rectangular with elongate, stout medial spine.

Distribution.

Panama: Chiriquí Province (David District).

Etymology.

This species is named after Donald G. Flenniken of eastern Ohio, a teacher, naturalist, and part-time milkman who taught the second author (at age of 11) how to identify mammals from their skull bones/dentition and how to use taxonomic keys-a brief encounter that has led to a lifetime of taxonomic pursuits and pleasures. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figure 6. Neotrichia flennikeni sp. nov., male holotype, genitalia A left lateral B ventral C dorsal D phallus dorsal.