Chimarra vermitergata, Blahnik & Andersen, 2022

Blahnik, Roger & Andersen, Trond, 2022, New species of the genus Chimarra Stephens from Africa (Trichoptera, Philopotamidae) and characterization of the African groups and subgroups of the genus, ZooKeys 1111, pp. 43-198 : 43

Chimarra vermitergata sp. nov.

Fig. 49A-E

Type material.

Holotype. Tanzania - Tanga Reg. ● ♂ (in alcohol); West Usambara Mts, Gologolo; 4°41'S, 38°13'E; 25 Nov. 1990; T Andersen leg.; sweep net; UMSP 000550049. Paratypes. Tanzania - Tanga Reg. ● 1♂; same data as for holotype; ZMBN ● 1♂; West Usambara Mts, Mazumbai, Kaputu Stream; 4°48'S, 38°30'E; 4-13 Jan. 1991; T Andersen leg.; Malaise trap; ZMBN ● 2♂♂; same collection data as for preceding except 5 Nov. 1990; sweep net; ZMBN.

Diagnosis.

Chimarra vermitergata has an overall similarity to both C. leptodactylus sp. nov. and C. latidentis sp. nov. It is most similar to C. latidentis ; only a direct comparison of the genitalia offers convincing evidence that they are different species. The most evident difference, as apparent from the accompanying illustrations, is in the more divided and less scabrous lateral lobe of tergum X in C. vermitergata . However, this is a relatively minor difference, and it is difficult to know how constant this character may be from the limited material available. A synopsis of the differences between C. vermitergata and C. latidentis include: a somewhat more elongate inferior appendage, with a shorter, less prominent cusp on the mesal surface; structural details of the lateral lobes of tergum X, which have the spine-like basal projections narrow and divided in C. vermitergata and with the apices less evidently scabrous than in C. latidentis ; and a phallic apparatus with a narrow, tube-like, and lightly sclerotized basal portion of the endotheca apical to the deflexed and paired ventral projections of the phallobase, rather than one that is short and bulbous. In combination, these differences provide sufficient evidence that the two should be considered different species.

Description.

Adult. Overall color (in alcohol) medium brown to yellowish brown, head slightly darker, setal warts of head not, or hardly, contrasting. Head short (postocular parietal sclerite relatively short, shorter than eye). Palps elongate; maxillary palp with 1st segment very short (approximately as long as wide), 2nd segment short (~ 2 × 1st), apex with cluster of ~ 8 stiff setae, 3rd segment very elongate (> 2 × 2nd), 4th segment short (shorter than 2nd), 5th segment elongate and narrow (slightly longer than 3rd). Forewing length: male, 7.0 mm. Fore- and hind wings with forks I, II, III, and V present. Forewing with R1 straight, stem of Rs straight, or nearly so, basal fork of discoidal cell slightly enlarged, evenly forked, discoidal cell slightly longer than 2 × width, forks I and II sessile, r crossvein diagonal, intersecting discoidal cell just before fork I, s, r-m, and m crossveins more or less linear and hyaline (m crossvein somewhat diagonal), both 2A and 3A looped to 1A (2A without apical fork). Hind wing with R1 evident basally, obsolete (or fused to subcosta) apically, fork I sessile, fork II slightly subsessile, fork III distal and relatively wide, anal loop small. Forelegs with apical tibial spur short; male with tarsal claws not enlarged, claws symmetrical, tarsal segments narrow.

Male genitalia. Segment VIII with sternum very short, tergum ~ 2 × as long, dorsal margin projecting, sternum without posteroventral projection. Segment IX, in lateral view, short, anteroventral margin only slightly expanded, anterodorsal margin without apodemes, posterior margin angularly projecting below preanal appendages, sternum with very short, subtriangular ventral process from posterior margin, inferior appendages inserted somewhat above ventral margin; as viewed dorsally, with tergum very narrow, but continuous (or nearly so), sternum very short, subtruncate. Tergum X with mesal lobe short and membranous, lateral lobes short and sclerotized, each modified into several narrow, upturned spine-like projections, dorsal ones longest, mesally curved and with two sensilla near apex. Preanal appendages short and rounded, slightly flattened, inserted membranously (not fused to segments IX or X). Inferior appendage with weak basal inflection; as viewed laterally, short, with apicodorsal margin somewhat angulate and laterally projecting; as viewed ventrally, subtruncate apically, with mesal margins of opposite appendages proximate, then sharply bent; mesal surface with sclerotized, anteriorly projecting, cusp-like projection, apparently articulating with sclerotized ventral projection of phallobase. Phallic apparatus with phallobase very short and strongly sclerotized, with usual basodorsal expansion, securely anchored within segment by sclerotized periphallic membrane (and apparently fused to it); apicoventral margin of phallobase (or projections from periphallic membrane) very distinctly sclerotized and produced, down-turned, apex divided mesally, apparently articulating with spine-like projections of mesal surface of inferior appendages; phallic apparatus distal to sclerotized ventral projection (possibly modified endotheca), forming narrow sclerotized tube, apparently as extension of phallobase; endotheca with pair of very short, symmetrically positioned spines; phallotremal sclerite complex composed of short rod and ring structure.

Etymology.

Chimarra vermitergata , used as an adjective, from the Latin vermis, a worm, and tergum, a back, for the narrow, irregular, and worm-like divisions of tergum X of this species.

Figures

Figure 49. Chimarra vermitergata sp. nov., ♂ genitalia A lateral B dorsal, segments IX and X C inferior appendage, ventral D inferior appendage, dorsal E phallus, lateral.