Phylloicus abdominalis (Ulmer)

PRATHER, AYSHA L., 2003, Revision of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Phylloicus (Trichoptera: Calamoceratidae), Zootaxa 275 (1), pp. 1-214 : 15-17

Phylloicus abdominalis (Ulmer)

Figs. 4, 5 , 9 , 10 , 117

Phylloicus abdominalis ( Ulmer, 1905b:34) [Original type locality: “Are­as,” probably in Santa Catarina, Brazil; type destroyed; male; in Homoeoplectron ]. — Ulmer 1913: 398 [distribution].

NEOTYPE: BRAZIL, Santa Catarina, Itajai, Müller, male, (MCZ; UMSP000067339) The type of P. abdominalis , stated by Ulmer to be deposited at Halle, was, according to the curator there, destroyed during or shortly after World War II. Ulmer’s description and illustration refer to a specimen from “Are­as.” This name is likely a variant spelling of “Areis,” which is a common place­name in Brazil. The specimen likely came to Ulmer from Müller, who collected in the state of Santa Catarina. The only other reference to this species is in Ulmer’s 1913 paper, where he mentions a male specimen in his collection from the province of Misiones, Argentina. I was not able to find this specimen in any of the European collections that received Ulmer’s personal collection; I have not seen anything from Argentina that is conspecific with P. abdominalis , and the specimen from Misiones is likely to have been P. pirapo , new species. Ulmer’s illustration of P. abdominalis is very poor, but does show modifications to abdominal tergum IV that include posterior processes and mesal coremata. His description clearly describes these structures. The description is sufficient to eliminate most known forms of Phylloicus , but several species still fit his description. The only specimen from Santa Catarina that fits this description was found among the paralectotypes of P. major , which lacks any abdominal modifications or coremata. The specimen with the abdominal structures also differs from the lectotype and the other male paralectotype of P. major in having a white spot on the forewing, marking the nygma. In addition to this male specimen, among the P. major paralectotypes are two females and a specimen lacking its abdomen, all with the white spot on the forewing. The specimen missing its abdomen is labeled “ Phylloicus abdominalis Ulmer ” in what appears to be Ulmer’s own handwriting. As P. abdominalis cannot be discriminated on the basis of Ulmer’s description alone, to ensure taxonomic stability I am designating a neotype here.

Phylloicus abdominalis is distinguished by the following characteristics: a small patch of white setae on the forewing marks the location of the nygma; the mesal coremata are bifurcate, the more mesal lobe long and bare except for a small patch of setae basally, the lateral lobe short and setose; the lateral coremata are three­lobed, the dorsal­most lobe with spicules, anterior lobe short, and the posterior lobe long and cylindrical; the lateral sclerite of tergum IV is a simple, straight flattened process ( Fig. 9F ).

Adult. Forewing length 10.9­13.7 mm, n = 26.

Head golden brown, setal warts pale. Maxillary palps golden brown, covered with dark brown setae. Antennae twice forewing length; dark brown, with narrow patches of pale sensilla on anteromesal surface of each flagellomere. Dorsal pterothorax golden brown; ventrolateral thorax golden. Femora golden; tibiae dark brown; foretarsi white proximally, dark distally; mesotarsi white proximally, dark distally; metatarsi dark brown. Metathoracic leg of male with posterior fringe of long setae, setae dark. Tibial spur formula 2,4,4. Forewing flat; dark brown; with two transverse bands; proximal band white, extending from anterior to posterior wing margin; distal band white, beginning at anterior wing margin, at least 1/2 width of wing; with two basal stripes, golden; with small white spot marking nygma ( Fig. 117 ). Hind wing basal brush present in male.

Male. Preterminalic abdominal terga with anteromesal notch. Corematic structures present. Tergum IV with paired posterior processes and paired lateral sclerites, mesal coremata and lateral coremata; posterior process short, rounded; lateral sclerite narrowed apically; lateral coremata with basal globose lobes and long tubular posterior lobe; mesal coremata bilobed, mesal lobe setose basally, lateral lobe covered with setae. Tergum V without sclerotized modifications ( Fig. 9F ). Sternum VII with short, acute anteromesal process. Sternum VIII enclosing base of elongate sternum IX; posteromesal process notched, notch deep and round or narrow and parallel­sided ( Fig. 9A, C ). Tergum IX without mesal ridge; posterior margin with round narrow mesal projection ( Fig. 9B ); lateral ridge absent; dorsal pleural setae approximately 6, ventral pleural setae absent ( Fig. 9A ). Preanal appendage at least 11/2 times length of tergum X, widest apically, setae filamentous, longer than appendage ( Fig. 9A, B ). Tergum X without basal lobes; basodorsal process short and digitate; basolateral processes of varying length and often asymmetrical, or absent; apex, in lateral view, rounded, in dorsal view, notched, notch shallow ( Fig. 9A, B ). Harpago short, rounded; peglike setae many, apical ( Fig. 9A, C ). Phallic endotheca with paired basolateral lobes, basolateral lobes tapered apically; phallotremal sclerites average size, longest dimension less than diameter of phallobase; dorsal sclerite ovoid, in dorsal view horseshoe­shaped ( Fig. 9D, E ).

Female. Preterminal abdominal terga with anteromesal notch. Sternum VII with short pointed anteromesal process. Tergum VIII without posterolateral brush; sternum VIII with shallow posteromesal notch, or posterior margin entire; sternum VIII ( Fig. 10C ). Tergum IX without mesal ridge ( Fig. 10B ). Sternum IX anterior and posterior lobes darkly sclerotized and striate, with patch of lightly sclerotized cuticle lateral to vaginal opening ( Fig. 10A ). Tergum X appendage shorter than mesal lobe, base indistinct, apex oblique; mesal lobe lightly sclerotized; digitate lateral processes length approximately equal diameter ( Fig. 10B ). Sternum X with patches of short fine setae posterolaterally to anal opening ( Fig. 10A ). Vaginal apparatus anterior and posterior sclerites equal in length; anterior sclerite truncate anteriorly, posterolateral projections absent; posterior sclerite ovoid; posterior end of spermatheca a sclerotized cone ( Fig. 10A ).

Material examined. BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: Ibitipoca, Sitio of Anestis Papadopolous , 21°43'14”S, 43°54'33"W, 1200 m, 23.x.2000, Paprocki — 1 female ( UMSP) ; Parana: Rio Mãe Catira , 10 km N Porto de Cima, 25°21'49”S, 48°52'28"W, 200 m, 8­ 9.xii.1997, Holzenthal & Huisman — 1 male ( UMSP) ; trib. to Rio Mãe Catira, 10.5 km. N Porto de Cima , 25°21'47”S, 48°52'35"W, 200 m, 10.xii.1997, Holzenthal & Huisman — 2 males ( UMSP) ; Rio de Janeiro: Gua., Parque de Cidade , 11.viii.1964, Mather — 2 males ( NMNH) ; km 54, 26 km E of Nova Friburgo , 410 m, 19.iv.1977, C & O Flint — 1 male ( NMNH) ; 25.iv.1977, C & O Flint — 1 male ( NMNH) ; Nova Friburgo , 800 m, 22.i.1993, Becker — 1 female ( NMNH) ; Santa Catarina: Müller — 1 female ( BMNH) ; Itajaí , 26°53'00”S, 48°39'00"W, Müller — neotype male, 2 females, 1 adult ( MCZ) ; Sao Paulo: Estacion Biological Paranapiacaba , 17.i.1964, Froehlich — 2 males ( NMNH) ; Parque Estadual de Campos do Jordão, Rio Galharada , 22°41'40”S, 45°27'47"W, 1530 m, 4­ 5.iii.1996, Holzenthal & Guahyba — 1 female ( UMSP) .

Distribution. Argentina (but see discussion above), Brazil.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Phylloicus adominalis. Male (UMSP000067344): A—lateral view; B—dorsal view; C —sterna VIII, IX, and inferior appendages, ventral view; D—phallus, lateral view; E—phallus, caudoventral view; F—segment IV, dorsal view.

FIGURE 10. Phylloicus adominalis. Female (UMSP000000285): A—sterna IX, X and vaginal apparatus, ventral view; B—terga IX and X, dorsal view; C—sternum VIII, ventral view.

FIGURES 4­5. Phylloicus adominalis (UMSP000027441). Wings. —4, forewing; —5, hind wing.

FIGURES 117-118. — 117. Phylloicus abdominalis (UMSP000000285). A— male habitus, lateral; B— antenna, scape and basal flagellomeres, anterior view. — 118. Phylloicus aeneus (composite of UMSP000068398, UMSP000068399, UMSP000068400). Habitus, dorsal.