Metrichia leahae, Harris & Armitage, 2023

Harris, Steven C. & Armitage, Brian J., 2023, The Trichoptera of Panama XXII. Sixteen new microcaddisfly species (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae), ZooKeys 1174, pp. 35-74 : 35

Metrichia leahae sp. nov.

Fig. 13

Type locality.

Panama: Veraguas Province: Cuenca 097; Santa Fe District; Santa Fe NP; Quebrada sin nombre; PSPSCB-PNSF-C-097-2017-006; 8.55038°N, 81.16486°W; 515 m a.s.l.

Type specimen.

Holotype: male, Panama: Veraguas Province: Cuenca 097; Santa Fe District; Santa Fe NP; Quebrada sin nombre; PSPSCB-PNSF-C-097-2017-006; 8.55038°N, 81.16486°W; 515 m a.s.l.; UV light trap; A. Cornejo,T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, C. Nieto, leg.; 20.iv.2017; MIUP-011-T-2023 (in alcohol). Paratypes: Same data as for the holotype, 10 males; MIUP-5, MUPADI-5 (in alcohol).

Other material examined.

Panama: Veraguas Province • 1 male, Cuenca 097; Santa Fe District; Santa Fe NP; Rio Calovebora ; PSPSCB-NPSF-C-097-2017-005; 8.54318°N, 81.16398°W; 536 m a.s.l.; Malaise trap; T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, C. Nieto, leg.; 19-23.iv.2017 • ibid ., 1 male, UV light trap; 19-21.iv.2017 • ibid ., 1 male, Quebrada sin nombre; PSPSCB-NPSF-C-097-2017-011; 8.55343°N, 81.17675°W; 395 m a.s.l.; UV light trap; A. Cornejo, T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, C. Nieto, leg.; 20.iv.2017; • ibid ., 1 male, Cuenca 132; Santa Fe District; Santa Fe NP; Quebrada Primer Brazo Mulaba ; PSPSCB-PNSF-C132-2017-007; 8.52577°N, 81.13045°W; 623 m a.s.l.; Malaise trap; A. Cornejo, T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, C. Nieto, leg.; 19-23.iv.2017 • 1 male, Quebrada Segundo Brazo Mulabá; Santa Fe NP; PSPSCB-PNSF-C132-2017-010; 8.52906°N, 81.13943°W; 662 m a.s.l.; UV light trap; T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, C. Nieto, leg.; 19.iv.2017 • ibid ., 2 males, Quebrada Tercer Brazo Mulabá; Santa Fe NP; PSPSCB-PNSF-C132-2017-014; antes de caseta MiAmbiente ; 8.53143°N, 81.14975°W; 746 m a.s.l.; UV light trap; T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, C. Nieto, leg.; 21.iv.2017 • ibid ., 64 males, Cuenca 097; Rio Piedra de Moler ; PSPSCB-PNSF-C097-2017-012; 8.56553°N, 81.18817°W; 340 m a.s.l.; UV light trap; A. Cornejo, T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, C. Nieto, leg.; 20.iv.2017 .

Diagnosis.

This species has a number of features in common with other Metrichia , but the combination of character states renders it unique. The triangular inferior appendage with a rounded apex, in lateral view, resembles those of M. bracui Santos,Takiya & Nessimian and several members of the Metrichia neotropicalis group (Flint 1983), such as M. patagonica Flint. However, the phallus of M. leahae sp. nov. has a pair of apical spines, absent in those species with a triangular inferior appendage, but similar to those seen in M. longitudinis Bueno-Soria, M. gombosa Oláh & Johanson, and M. kocka Oláh & Johanson all of which have a differently shaped inferior appendage.

Description.

Male. Total length 1.8-2.2 mm, antenna broken, forewings with white band at midlength, body brown in alcohol. Abdominal segment V with pair of setose glands on dorsum. Segment VI with pair of medial sacs on dorsum, lateral finger-like glands which telescope. Genitalia. Segment VII with pair of setose glands on dorsum, laterally wide dorsally tapering ventrad; in ventral view narrow, with broad incision on posterior margin. Segment IX in lateral view triangular, narrow, and truncate posteriorly, tapering anteriorly into segment VI. Preanal appendage (cercus) short and rounded distally in lateral view; in dorsal view oval in shape. Dorsolateral hook in lateral view thin, slightly downturned apically; in dorsal view narrow over length, preapical spine on outer margin. Segment X thin and shelf-like in lateral view; in dorsal view rectanguloid. Inferior appendage triangular in lateral view, tapering distally to rounded apex; in ventral and dorsal views oval in shape with lateral margins lightly sclerotized. Phallus in dorsal view thin and elongate, pair of apical spines, lowermost spine curving outward, upper spine short and straight; in lateral view, subapical spine curving upward and apical spine, separated and curving downward.

Distribution.

Panama.

Etymology.

This species is named for Leah Keth, who completed many of the illustrations in this paper and in many others in previous manuscripts for the authors.

Figures

Figure 13. Metrichia leahae sp. nov., male holotype, genitalia A left lateral B ventral C dorsal D abdominal tergites V-VII, dorsal E phallus, dorsal F phallus apex, left lateral.