Agapetus flinti Parker, Etnier, and Baxter, 2010

Etnier, David A., Parker, Charles R., John T. Baxter, Jr., Long, Todd M. & Drive, News Sentinel, 2010, A review of the genus Agapetus Curtis (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae) in eastern and central North America, with description of 12 new species, Insecta Mundi 2010 (149), pp. 1-77 : 14-16

Agapetus flinti Parker, Etnier, and Baxter new species

Fig. 8a, 8b, 8c . Map 8

Type material. Holotype, male, EX UT 1.1129 , Scotsman Cr. at Bullpen Road (SR 1100) 4.1 rd mi w of NC 107 , 27.0 air mi wsw of Brevard, 35.02124 o N, 83.11340 o W, Jackson Co., NC, 4 June 2008, Jason L. Robinson, black light. ( NMNH)

Paratopotype, INHS, l male, taken with holotype.

Additional paratypes. NMNH (2 males), French Broad R. at boat launch area just below Wilson Road bridge, 3.7 air km ne of jct. US 64 and US 276 in Brevard, 35 o 15.1' N, 82 o 42.0’ W, Transylvania Co., NC, 17 May 1994.

Diagnosis. The very elongate inferior appendages (length> 4.5 times depth) separate A. flinti from all North American Agapetus except A. baueri , A. iridis , A. jocassee , and A. pinatus . Differs from A. baueri and A. jocassee in having 3 denticles per inferior appendage (versus 2 per appendage). Differs from A. pinatus in having the median terminal denticle on X with a single point (2 or more points in A. pinatus ), and in having the 3 denticles on the inferior appendage well separated (2 proximal denticles in A. pinatus close together, one dorsal to the other). Most similar to A. iridis , from which it differs in having inferior appendages with both non-terminal denticles near mid-depth (proximal denticle on ventral margin, subterminal denticle near dorsal margin in A. iridis ). Also, tip of inferior appendage tapering, smoothly rounded in A. flinti , versus non-tapering, truncate in A. iridis . In A. flinti the 2-5 small denticles associated with the terminal denticle on the ventral arms of X are separated from that denticle, while in A. iridis the denticle itself is multi-cusped, with 1-4 points.

Description. Male. Length 5.5-5.9 mm (n = 3). Male genitalia: Lateral view ( Fig. 8a ), anterior margin of IX slopes down and forward at 35 o to midline, then down and back at 65 o to convex ventral margin; dorsal portion of IX very narrow, its anterior margin not apparent; posterior margin of IX straight, sloped down and back (50 o) to horizontal shoulder extending anteriad from base of preanal appendage, then down and forward at 80 o, thickened, and straight to ventral margin. Preanal appendage linear, horizontal, 1/2 length of X, length = 8-10 times depth, basal 1/8 covered by posteriodorsal shoulder of IX, 10-12 long, erect setae on distal 3/4 of exposed portion. Ventral margin of X sclerotized, smoothly decurved from base of preanal appendage, then slightly convex to 3/4 length, concave to nearly straight on distal 1/4; ventral sclerotized area of nearly uniform depth, slightly more slender than preanal appendage; length of segment X = 1.1 times that of inferior appendage, terminating in a dark, sharp denticle. At the ventrolateral base of this denticle is a linear array of 2-5 smaller dark denticles extending anteriad. Dorsal to the anterior base of this row of denticles is an additional dark, curved denticle subequal to the terminal denticle and directed posteriad (this denticle and terminal denticle are bifid on right side in holotype, and there are only 2 lateral denticles). Inferior appendage parallel-sided, linear, length = 6 times depth; dorsal margin slightly convex, tip blunt, decurved; ventral margin slightly concave; outer edge visible as a dark line extending from near dorsal margin at base to near ventral margin toward tip. Each inferior appendage with 3 denticles on inner margin, visible as dark dots. Terminal denticle on ventral margin, denticle at middle of inferior appendage at mid-depth, intervening denticle slightly closer to terminal denticle and slightly dorsal to midline.

Dorsal view ( Fig. 8b ). Anterior margin of IX deeply concave, posterior margin poorly differentiated from X. Preanal appendages with concave outer margin, slightly constricted at base, tip pointed. Segment X membranous dorsally between lateral margins on basal 2/3; lightly sclerotized lateral margins of X converge from base of preanal appendages to 1/4 length of X, then diverge to tips, with denticles near tip slightly more divergent from body axis than are arms of X. Sclerotized ventral arms of X, not conspicuous in dorsal or ventral view, converge from base to nearly meet at 1/3 length, then diverge to tips.

Ventral view ( Fig. 8c ). Anterior margin of IX concave; posterior margin poorly differentiated, forming 120 o angle between inferior appendage bases, area between inferior appendage bases not noticeably more transparent than rest of segment. Inferior appendages nearly straight, with a slight concavity at basal 1/3 and near incurved tip; inner margins in contact at base, then divergent at about 20 o from each other and convergent with outer margins to tips. All three pairs of denticles transverse and approximately the same size. Ventral arms of X as in dorsal view.

Larva. Unknown.

Emergence dates. 17 May-4 June.

Distribution. NC, Jackson and Transylvania counties. Known only from the 4 male types mentioned above.

Discussion. Taken with A. jocassee , A. pinatus , and A. walkeri . This species appears at present to be very rare (2 collections in a 14-year time span, during which we and Jason Robinson made about 10 visits to areas around the 2 known localities in search of pupae). In spring of 2009 we reared 13 male Agapetus pupae from the type locality and an additional 10 males from two creeks within 1.2 rd mi east of the type locality; all were A. jocassee . The two known localities where A. flinti adults were taken (in light traps) are both rather close to much larger creeks/rivers (Chattooga River and French Broad River), and Agapetus collected with A. flinti were A. pinatus and A. walkeri , both of which we associate with larger streams than those in which we find A. jocassee . It may be that A. flinti is a species of larger streams than we have sampled in that area.

Etymology. Named in honor of Oliver S. Flint, Jr., colleague, friend, curator of neuropteroid insects at NMNH, and incredibly productive trichopterist for five decades and counting.

Figures

Figure 7-9. Agapetus spp. male genitalia. 7) Agapetus diacanthus Edwards. 7a, lateral view; 7b, dorsal view; 7c, ventral view of IX and inferior appendages. 8) Agapetus flinti Parker, Etnier, and Baxter. 8a, lateral view; 8b, dorsal view; 8c, ventral view, segment X not shown. 9) Agapetus gelbae Ross. 9a, lateral view; 9b, dorsal view; 9c,