Oecetis papposa, Wells, 2004

Wells, Alice, 2004, The long-horned caddisfly genus Oecetis (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) in Australia: two new species groups and 17 new species, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 61 (1), pp. 85-110 : 101-103

Oecetis papposa sp. nov.

Figures 70–73, 123

Material examined. Holotype, male, NT, South Alligator River , UDP Falls [Gunlom], 13°24.9'S 132°26.0'E, J. Blyth ( NMV T-18517).

Paratypes. NT: male, Jim Jim Creek , 3 km below falls, Kakadu National Park, 1 Sep 1979, J. Blyth ( NMV) ; male, Katherine River Gorge National Park , 13 Aug 1979, J. Blyth ( NMV) ; male, ARRS Creek 5 km W of OSS South Alligator field station, 19 Apr 1989, Wells and Suter ( NMV) ; 6 males, ARRS, Radon Springs , 13–14 Apr 1989, Suter and Wells ( NTM) ; 1 male, 12°42'S 132°57'E, Kakadu National Park , Magela Creek, OSS Site 009, 15 Mar 1991, Wells and Webber ( NTM) ; male, 12°48'S 132°49'E, Baroalba Springs , 4 Apr 1991, Wells and Webber ( NTM) ; male, 12°48'S 132°49'E, Baroalba Springs , 16 Aug 1991, Wells and Webber ( NTM) ; 4 males, 2 females, 12°48'S 132°49'E, Baroalba Springs , 25 Apr 1991, Wells and Webber ( NTM) ; 2 males, female, 12°48'S 132°49'E, Baroalba Springs , 4 Oct 1991, Wells and Webber ( NTM) .

Other material. NT: male, Litchfield National Park , Florence Falls, 13°03'S 130°47'E, 9 Apr 1991, Wells and Horak ( NMV) ; 4 males, 12°48'S 132°49'E, Baroalba Springs, 16 Jan 1992, Wells, Webber and Bickel ( NTM) ; male, Litchfield National Park , Walker Creek, 18–19 Apr 1992, A. Wells ( NTM) . WA: 4 males, Drysdale River headwaters, 30 km NW Mt Elizabeth H.S., 30 Sep 1979, J. Blyth ( NMV) ; 9 males, King Edward River , 14°54'S 126°12'E, 3 Sep 1996, I. Edwards ( NMV) ; 6 males, Pearson’s Creek S edge of Prince Regent Res., 16°01'S 125°35'E, 5 Sep 1996, I. Edwards ( NMV) ; males, females, Drysdale River upper reaches, 16°09’S 125°58’E, 7 Sep 1996, I. Edwards ( NMV) ; males, females, Manning River nr Mt Barnett, 16°40'S 125°56'E, 8 Sep 1996, I. Edwards ( NMV) .

Diagnosis. Hindwing vein M unbranched; in male genitalia, short, straight phallus and elongate inferior appendages with a strong medial constriction.

Description. Spurs 0, 2, 2. Wings (Fig. 73) narrow, length over 4 times maximum width,with downy hair (readily lost in preserved specimens). Male forewing length 4.2–5.4 mm. Forewing with footstalk on fork 1 of variable length, less than or equal to length of fork; posterior anastomosis in part obliquely linear, t3 more proximal than t1 and t2. Hind wing with venation strongly reduced, M unbranched. Maxillary palps very long, all segments of equal length. Male genitalia, Figs 70–72. Segment IX excavated midventrally, preanal appendages elongate-ovate, separated. Segment X in form of a pair of stout, membranous lobes, with setate, digitiform mesal process. Inferior appendages in ventral view broad-based, slender distally, slightly dilated towards apices, in lateral view, slender but constricted medially. Phallus short, straight, with only a slight apicoventral lip.

Distribution. Northern NT and northern WA (Fig. 123).

Etymology. From Latin, pappus — hair, for the hairy wings.