Polycentropus neblinensis Hamilton and Holzenthal

Hamilton, Steven W. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2005, Five new species of Polycentropodidae (Trichoptera) from Ecuador and Venezuela, Zootaxa 810, pp. 1-14 : 5-7

Polycentropus neblinensis Hamilton and Holzenthal , new species

Fig. 2

Polycentropus new species 11, Hamilton 1986: 130 –131, 231, fig. 6.37.

Similar to Polycentropus cressa , n. sp., P. aztecus and P. gertschi in the possession of a single pair of anterior spines in the phallic membranes, P. n e b l i n e n s i s n. sp. differs from all 3 in the large number and small size of the mesal group of spines in the phallic membrane ( Fig. 2 E). It is similar to P. cressa and further distinguished from P. a z t e c u s and P. gertschi in the large, bull’s­horn appearance of the anterior pair of phallic spines ( Fig. 2 E). The prominent emargination of the shorter apicoventral process of the phallobase ( Fig. 2 G) is unique. In addition, the shape of the inferior appendage in lateral ( Fig. 2 A) and ventral views ( Fig. 2 C) and the lateral view of the preanal appendage ( Fig. 2 A) distinguishes P. neblinensis from these and the other species of the picana species complex.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 7.0–9.0 mm (n=9), female 9.5–11.0 mm (n=3). Body pale brown to yellow, legs stramineous, dorsum of head and thorax brown, clothed with long, dark setae; general vestiture of forewing with fine, brown to dark brown setae, with many small, scattered areas of golden setae, base of forewing with long, erect setae.

Male. Genitalia as in Fig. 2 . Sternum IX in lateral view subtriangular, in ventral view quadrate; anterior margin shallowly concave, posterior margin slightly concave. Tergum IX and X membranous. Intermediate appendage slightly curved mesad, short, exceeding preanal appendage by less than 1/4th its length; basal region simple, not expanded; apex digitate, with apical setae. Preanal appendage short, densely setose, triangular, broad basally; mesoventral process broadly triangular, directed ventrally, apex bluntly triangular. Inferior appendage densely setose, short, oval, dorsoventral height greater than length; dorsolateral flange broadly rounded; ventrally with dorsally­directed caudomesal point, exposed in lateral view; in ventral view, inferior appendage subquadrate, caudomesal point prominent, rounded; in caudal view, inferior appendage quadrate, caudomesal point triangular. Phallobase moderately short; apicoventral projection long, broad, with pair of points; phallic membranes with anterior and mesal groups of spines (although probably reversed in evaginated phallus), anterior group consisting of long, paired, sigmoid spines, mesal group of many (>50) very small spines; phallic sclerite oval (difficult to discern, especially apically). Subphallic sclerite U­shaped in caudal view.

Holotype male: VENEZUELA: Amazonas: Cerro de la Neblina, Camp II, 00º49'N, 65º59'W, el. 2100 m, 16–18.iii.1984, J.A. Louton ( NMNH).

Paratypes: Same data as holotype, except 00º50'N, 29.i.1985, at blacklight at edge of open bog and Bonnetia scrub, W.E. Steiner— 2 males ( NMNH); same as holotype, except Camp III, 00º56'10"N, 66º03'53"W, el. 1820 m, 15–17.ii.1984, D. Davis— 2 males, 1 female ( UMSP); same as holotype, except Camp VII, 00º51'N, 65º58'W, el. 1850 m, 30.i– 10.ii.1985, P.J. and P.M. Spangler, R.A. Faitoute, at blacklight— 2 males NMNH); same as last, except 2–4.xii.1984, R.L. Brown— 1 female; same as holotype, except Camp X, 00º54'N, 60º02'W, el. 1690m, 13.ii.1985, W.E. Steiner, at blacklight, mixed scrub forest near stream and canyon rim— 2 males ( NMNH); same as last, except 12.ii.1985 — 1 female ( NMNH).

Etymology. The species epithet is derived from Cerro de la Neblina, the tepui from where this species was collected.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Polycentropus neblinensis, new species. Male genitalia: A—lateral; B—dorsal; Cventral; D—caudal; E—phallus, lateral; F—phallic sclerite, dorsal; G—phallobase, caudal.