Oxyethira (Pacificotrichia) ouenghi, 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 : 59

Taxon classification Animalia Trichoptera Hydroptilidae

Oxyethira (Pacificotrichia) ouenghi sp. n. Figs 50-52, 75, 103

Diagnosis.

Males resemble Oxyethira nehoue sp. n., Oxyethira melasma , and Oxyethira spicula sp. n. in having more or less triangular median ventral processes in the male genitalia. However, males of Oxyethira ouenghi differ from other New Caledonian species, having gonopods in form of slender curved spines adjacent to the narrow midventral process.

Description

male. Antennae with 23-25 flagellomeres, each flagellomere length greater than width, without sensilla placodea; Anterior wing length 1.7-1.8 mm (n=2); tibial spurs 0,3,4; abdominal sternite VII with mid apical spine.

Male, genitalia (Figs 50-52). Abdominal segment VIII tapered slightly towards apex, only slightly longer than wide, with small cleft apico-ventrally and short apico-lateral lobes; in ventral view abdominal segment IX broadest mid length, tapered sharply proximally and distally, with gonopods forming a pair of narrow curved spines closely adpressed to an elongate triangular ventral process that terminates with a pair of tiny setae; phallic apparatus elongate, slender, with a long fine sinuous subapical process.

Material examined.

Holotype. Male (on slide), New Caledonia, Province Nord, Bouérabate Stream, S Mont Ninndo, along road Barabache–Boulagoma, 20°17.409'S, 164°11.242'E, 60 m, 19.xii.2003-7.i.2004, Malaise trap, loc#089, leg. K.A. Johanson (MNHP).

Paratypes. 8 males, same data as for holotype; 1 male (on slide), Ouenghi River, nr Boulouparis, 14.xii.1983, A Wells (ANIC); 1 male, Province Sud, Monts Kwa Ne Mwa, on road between Noumea and Yaté, 2.0 km E Pic Mouirange, 22°12.356'S, 166°40.798'E, 220 m, 7-16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#014, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 1 male (on slide), Province Sud, Monts des Koghis, ca 800 m S Koghi Restaurant, 22.18311°S, 166.50564°E, 460 m, 10-26.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#019, leg. K.A. Johanson (NHRS); 3 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).

Etymology.

Named for the Ouenghi River beside which the first specimen was collected.

Remarks.

The apparent distribution of this very distinctive species is very odd, with one sample being taken in the extreme north of the island, the rest at sites in the south-west (Fig. 103). A photograph of the type locality with the trap is rendered in Fig. 75.