Culoptila aguilerai, Wichard, Wilfried, Solórzano, Mónica M., Kraemer & Luer, Claus, 2006

Wichard, Wilfried, Solórzano, Mónica M., Kraemer & Luer, Claus, 2006, First caddisfly species from Mexican amber (Insecta: Trichoptera), Zootaxa 1378, pp. 37-48 : 39-41

Culoptila aguilerai , new species

Figs. 1–2

Compared with recent forms ( Blahnik & Holzenthal 2006), the first fossil species of the genus Culoptila is characterized by diagnostic male genitalic structures typical for the genus: the rounded posterodorsal apex of the phallobase enclosing 2 phallic spines and an additional spine, the apparent absence of sternum IX, the projecting tergum X, and the long spatulate inferior appendages. Considering all genitalic characters and their modifications, a close relationship to one of the described, extant species in difficult to establish.

Adult. Length of forewing 2.5 mm. General structure and forewing venation typical for genus ( Figs. 2 A, 2C). In the forewings the genus is characterized by the presence of fork I–IV, forks I and II sessile, forks III and IV petiolate; fork V absent. Tegulae enlarged and dorsally rounded. Sternum VI of male bears a compressed apicomesal knob. Tibial spurs 0,4,4.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 2 A, 2B). Segment IX rectangular in lateral aspect, sternum IX probably reduced. Segment X, in lateral aspect, long, with dorsal margin produced to a point, each lateral arm rounded apically, lightly sclerotized, together forming a ventral incomplete ring. Phallobase with dorsally rounded margin enclosing 1 pair of long, sinusoidal dorsal spines, their apices acuminate, dark colored; spines twisted (holotype) or divergent (paratype). [We think that the different position of the spines in the holotype and paratype do not indicate 2 species but rather show natural variation within a single species or is a result of the embedding process in the resin.] Phallobase ventrally with additional spine half as long as dorsal pair of spines, dorsally arched and pointed; ventrolaterally phallobase projected as a triangular hyaline lobe. Inferior appendages long, spatulate.

Holotype male: Embedded in Mexican amber in the amber collection of the Instituto de Historia Natural y Ecologia, Museum of Paleontology, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, collection no.: IHNFA 0 14.

Paratype: Embedded in Mexican amber in the amber collection of the Instituto de Historia Natural y Ecologia, Museum of Paleontology, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, collection-no.: IHNFA 0 88, male.

Etymology. Dedicated to Prof. Eliseo Palacios Aguilera (1896–1944), the driving force in the study of the fossils of Chiapas, Mexico

Figures

FIGURE 1. Culoptila aguilerai, new species. Male (holotype): fossil in Mexican amber.

FIGURE 2. Culoptila aguilerai, new species. 2 A, male (holotype): ventrolateral view; 2 B, male (paratype): genitalia in lateral view; 2 C, male (paratype): forewing.