Metrichia escobilla, 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 escobilla sp. nov.

Fig. 12

Type locality.

Panama: Veraguas Province: Cuenca 097; Santa Fe District; Santa Fe NP; Río Calovébora; PSPSCB-PNSF-C097-2017-005; 8.54318°N, 81.16398°W; 536 m a.s.l.

Type specimen.

Holotype: male, Panama: Veraguas Province: Cuenca 097; Santa Fe District; Santa Fe NP; Río Calovébora; PSPSCB-PNSF-C097-2017-005; 8.54318°N, 81.16398°W; 536 m a.s.l.; UV light trap; T. Ríos, E. Álvarez, C. Nieto, leg.; 21.iv.2017; MIUP-010-T-2023 (in alcohol).

Diagnosis.

This species shares a number of character states with M. angulosa Bueno-Soria & Holzenthal, which occurs in Costa Rica and Panama. Both species have a similarly shaped inferior appendage, with dentate posterior margin, and both have apical spines on the phallus. However, while M. angulosa has prominent reniform pouches on the dorsum of abdominal segment V, the abdomen of M. escobilla sp. nov. lacks abdominal modifications. As well, the new species has both phallic spines pointed, rather than one truncate as in M. angulosa , the dentation on the posterior margin of the inferior appendage is more pronounced, and the brush-like apex of the dorsolateral hook is unique to M. escobilla sp. nov..

Description.

Male. Total length 1.6 mm, 18 antennal segments, wings and body brown in alcohol, abdominal terga without modifications. Genitalia. Abdominal segment VII annular without short ventromesal process. Segment VIII triangular, tapering ventrally; in ventral view deeply incised mesally; in dorsal view quadrate. Segment IX triangular, truncate posteriorly, tapering anteriorly into segment VII. Preanal appendage (cercus) oval in lateral and dorsal views. Dorsolateral hook in lateral view wide basally, converging near midlength, apex serrate ventrally; in dorsal view wide basally, tapering to serrate margins at apices. Segment X lobate; in dorsal view triangular, membranous apically. Inferior appendage in lateral view narrow at base then widening dorsally, rounded apically; in dorsal and ventral view quadrate, diverging basally, posterior margins dentate. Phallus very long, extending into segment V; in dorsal view wide basally, narrowing posteriorly, pair of spines apically, subapical spine longer than apical, lateral process originating at midlength; in lateral view, subapical spine slightly longer than apical, both nearly straight, phallus apex widening into plate-like structure.

Distribution.

Panama.

Etymology.

The species name escobillla (brush) derives from Spanish, referring to the brush-like apex of the dorsolateral hook in lateral view. The name is a noun in the nominative singular standing in apposition.

Figures

Figure 12. Metrichia escobilla sp. nov., male holotype, genitalia A left lateral B dorsal C ventral D phallus apex, left lateral E phallus, dorsal.