Phylloicus major Müller

PRATHER, AYSHA L., 2003, Revision of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Phylloicus (Trichoptera: Calamoceratidae), Zootaxa 275 (1), pp. 1-214 : 69-71

Phylloicus major Müller

Figs. 68 , 69

Phylloicus major Müller, 1880a:113 , 131 [Type locality: Brazil, Santa Catarina; no type nor type depository designated; case]. — Ulmer 1905a:77, 78 [as synonym of assimilis ]. — Flint 1964:65 [type species of genus]; 1966:11 [discussion].

Phylloicus assimilis ( Ulmer, 1905b:36) [Type locality: Brazil, Santa Catarina; PAN; male; in Homoeoplectron ]. — Flint 1966:11 [male, lectotype, to synonymy] .

The type material of Phylloicus major is a mixed series, as discussed above under P. abdominalis . The types of neither P. major nor P. assimilis are in good condition, but a wing pattern similar to that of P. abdominalis is visible, although, in addition to the differences in the male abdominal morphology, in P. major the white spot marking the nygma is absent. These type specimens are the only material with an evident wing pattern. An ethanol­preserved male from Rio de Janeiro and two teneral males from São Paulo appear to have the wing pattern, but it is obviously difficult to be sure. I also examined specimens from Paraguay and Nova Teutonia, which have male genitalia identical to those of the type material, but are larger and, although the wings are badly rubbed, do not appear to have any pattern on the forewings. I am treating these as specimens of P. major , but additional collections from those localities should clarify their status. The description is based on the type material of P. major and assimilis .

Phylloicus major is distinguished by a wing pattern similar to that illustrated for P. abdominalis ( Fig. 1 ), but lacking the white spot on the nygma, by unmodified proximal abdominal segments, and by a very short harpago ( Fig. 68C ).

Adult. Forewing length 9.5­ 11 mm, n = 22.

Head chestnut brown. Maxillary palps dark brown. Antenna twice forewing length; chestnut brown, with narrow patches of pale sensilla on anteromesal surface of each flagellomere. Dorsal pterothorax chestnut brown; ventrolateral thorax golden brown. Femora golden brown; foretibiae dark brown; mesotibiae dark brown; metatibiae dark brown; foretarsi dark brown; mesotarsi chestnut brown; 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. Hind wing basal brush present in male and female; male brush dark brown; female brush short and pale.

Male. Preterminalic abdominal terga with anteromesal notch. Corematic structures absent, terga III­V unmodified, without membranous lobes or sclerotized processes. 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. 68A, C ). Tergum IX deeply notched anteriorly, margins of notch ridged; posterior margin with round narrow mesal projection ( Fig. 68B ); lateral ridge present; dorsal pleural setae approximately 6, ventral pleural setae absent ( Fig. 68A ). Preanal appendage longer than tergum X, but less than 11/2 times length, of uniform diameter throughout length, setae filamentous, longer than appendage ( Fig. 68A, B ). Tergum X without basal lobes; basodorsal process broad and setose; basolateral processes long, length at least twice diameter; apex, in lateral view, rounded, in dorsal view, notched, notch square; lateral margin bearing short fine setae ( Fig. 68A, B ). Harpago short, rounded; peglike setae many, apical ( Fig. 68A, C ). Phallic endotheca with paired basolateral lobes, basolateral lobes large and round; phallotremal sclerites average size, longest dimension less than diameter of phallobase; dorsal sclerite ovoid, in dorsal view horseshoe­shaped ( Fig. 68D, 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; sternum VIII ( Fig. 69C ). Tergum IX without mesal ridge ( Fig. 69B ). Sternum IX anterior and posterior lobes darkly sclerotized and striate, with patch of lightly sclerotized cuticle lateral to vaginal opening ( Fig. 69A ). Tergum X appendage shorter than mesal lobe, base indistinct, apex rounded; mesal lobe lightly sclerotized; digitate lateral processes very short, length less than diameter ( Fig. 69B ). Sternum X with patches of short fine setae posterolaterally to anal opening ( Fig. 69A ). Vaginal apparatus anterior and posterior sclerites equal in length; anterior sclerite truncate anteriorly, posterolateral projections absent; posterior sclerite triangular; posterior end of spermatheca a sclerotized sphere ( Fig. 69A ).

Material examined. Pucha Blanca, Apr, Smith — 1 female ( MCZ); BRAZIL: Rio de Janeiro: Angra dos Reis, Fazenda Japuhyba, 23°00'00”N, 44°18'00"W, 15­31.vii.1945, L T F — 1 male ( NMNH) ; Santa Catarina: Lüderwaldt — P. assimilis lectotype male, 1 female paralectotype ( PAN) ; Itajaí , 26°53'00”S, 48°39'00"W, iv.1879, Müller — P. major lectotype male, 1 male, 1 female, 1 adult paralectotype ( MCZ) ; Joinville , 26°18'00”S, 48°50'00"W, Schade — 1 male ( NMNH) ; Seara ( Nova Teutônia ), 27°11'00”S, 52°23'00"W, 300­500 m, 11.x.1936, Plaumann — 1 male ( BMNH) ; 20.viii.1937, Plaumann — 1 male ( BMNH) ; 14.xii.1938, Plaumann — 1 female ( BMNH) ; Sao Paulo: Serra do Japi, Córrego da Ermida and small dam, 23°14'S 46°56'W, 9­10.xii.1997, Froehlich — 2 males ( UMSP) ; PARAGUAY: Mbovevo , 1.xi.1937, Schade — 3 males, 1 female, 2 adults ( MCZ) ; Itapua: Pirapo , 28­31.xii.1971, Peña G. — 1 male ( NMNH) ; 1.i.1972, Peña G. — 1 male ( NMNH) .

Distribution. Brazil, Paraguay.

Figures

FIGURE 68. Phylloicus major. Male (A­C, holotype; D­E, UMSP000066753): A—lateral view; B—dorsal view; C—sterna VIII, IX, and inferior appendages, ventral view; D—phallus, lateral view; E—phallus, ventral view.

FIGURE 69. Phylloicus major. Female (MCZ111107): A—sterna IX, X and vaginal apparatus, ventral view; B—terga IX and X, dorsal view; C—sternum VIII, ventral view.

FIGURES 1­3. —1, Phylloicus aeneus (UMSP000034901). Head, lateral. —2, Phylloicus mexicanus (UMSP000041378). Head, dorsal; — 3, Phylloicus mexicanus (UMSP000041378) Pro­ and mesothorax, dorsal.