Limnephilus transcaucasicus Martynov 1909

Sipahiler, Füsun, 2024, The Limnephilus bipunctatus Species Group in Turkey with the descriptions of two new species (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae), Zootaxa 5406 (1), pp. 105-122 : 107

Limnephilus transcaucasicus Martynov 1909

( Figs 9–15 )

Material examined. Turkey, Artvin, Şavşat, 25 km South, Karaköy , 1900 m, 41º14´N, 42º28´E, 31.vii.1995, 6 males, 2 females (CD: R-629), leg. and coll. Sipahiler.

General description. As for L. bipunctatus except antennae, palps, legs dark brown, head and thorax dorsally dark brown, forewings dark brown, apically spotted, pterostigma spotted, cubitus and post-costal area strongly spotted ( Fig. 1B ). Length of each anterior wing of male 11–12 mm, of females 12–15 mm (mean: 13.6 mm. n = 3).

Male genitalia ( Figures 9–12 ). In dorsal view, spinulose zone of tergite VIII trapezoidal, about half as long as broad, posteromesal edge nearly straight, sides rounded. Segment IX very short dorsally and ventrally, four times as long laterally at 2/3 height as ventrally. Preanal appendages oval in lateral view, twice as long as tall. Intermediate appendages directed posterad, strongly sclerotized, triangular in lateral view, with apices curved dorsad; in dorsal view nearly straight, rather narrow, tapering toward apices. Supra-anal plate narrow, quadrangular. Inferior appendages in lateral view about half as broad as longest lateral portion of segment IX, each rounded on posterior edge, dorsal apex pointed and strongly sclerotized. Parameres of phallic apparatus longer than phallicata.

Female genitalia ( Figs 13–15 ). Tergite IX in dorsal view twice as broad as long, trapezoidal. Tubular pieces of segment X rather long, triangular in dorsal and lateral views, separate from base in dorsal view, shorter than side lobes. Side lobes long, digitate. Median lobe of vulvar scale 4/5 as broad basally as long, rounded at apex; side lobes of vulvar scale evenly convex laterally, nearly straight mesally, apically pointed.

Remarks. Martynov (1909) described this species from Madatapin Göl near Tiflis in Georgia and wrote that he did not compare it with specimens of L. bipunctatus ( Malicky 2005) which made the species somewhat uncertain. It resembles L. bipunctatus but can be distinguished by diagnostic characters discussed in the Remarks for that species (above).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Right forewings of Limnephilus spp., dorsal. 1A, L. bipunctatus Curtis 1834; 1B, L. transcaucasicus Martynov 1909; 1C, L. bayburt sp. n.; 1D, L. bercalan sp. n.; 1E, L. malickyi Sipahiler 1992; 1F, L. caucasicus Schmid 1955.

FIGURES 9–12. Male genitalia of Limnephilus transcaucasicus Martynov 1909. 9, left lateral; 10, dorsal; 11, caudal; 12, phallicata and left paramere (paired), left lateral. Abbreviations: ia = intermediate appendage (paired); inf = inferior appendage (paired); pa = preanal appendage (paired); par = paramere (paired); sap = supra-anal plate; sz = spinulose zone of tergite VIII.

FIGURES 13–15. Female genitalia of Limnephilus transcaucasicus Martynov 1909. 13, left lateral; 14, dorsal; 15, ventral. Abbreviations: ml = median lobe; tp = tubular pieces; vs = vulvar scale (paired).