Wellsomina baru, Cartwright, David I., 2010

Cartwright, David I., 2010, Descriptions of 2 new genera and 13 new species of caddisflies from Australia (Trichoptera: Ecnomidae), Zootaxa 2415, pp. 1-21 : 8

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.194387
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6202144
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/AA598020-186A-FF90-9DE8-3AEBFBFB1F4B
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Wellsomina baru
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Wellsomina baru sp. nov.

Figs 9–11 View FIGURES 7 – 11 , 45 View FIGURES 45 – 53

Diagnosis. Wellsomina baru is unique within this genus in that males lack paired apical processes on the fused inferior appendages.

Description. Head, body and wings fawn; wings similar to those of W. stuarti ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 7 – 11 ), length of forewing: male 2.4–2.7 mm, female 2.9 mm. Wing venation: forewing length nearly 4 times width, each with forks 2, 3, 4 and 5 present; fork 2 relatively short, fork 2 footstalk relatively very long, length about 2.5–3.5 times length of cross-vein r -m, length of fork 2 about 1.7–2.5 times length of fork 3; fork 3 very short, length of fork 3 about 0.3–0.7 times length of footstalk, footstalk of fork 3 very long, length about 4.6–7.0 times length of cross-vein m; hind wing length about 4.5 times width, each with forks 2, 3 and 5 present, all short; fork 2 footstalk relatively very long, length about 4.2–5.0 times length of cross-vein r -m.

Male. Tergum X membranous with 2 lobes divided mesally ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 7 – 11 ). Superior appendages complex, basally with short segment having 2 short processes with apical spines, larger distal segment slightly laterally compressed, with spine-like setae apically and mesally ( Figs 9–11 View FIGURES 7 – 11 ). Phallus simple, tube-like, slightly depressed ( Fig. 9 View FIGURES 7 – 11 ). Inferior appendages apparently fused to form a single, slightly depressed appendage, in ventral view ‘flask-like’, broad-based, tapered gradually distally to truncate apex ( Fig. 10 View FIGURES 7 – 11 ); in lateral view, slender, length about 4 times width, tapered and upturned slightly distally ( Fig. 9 View FIGURES 7 – 11 ).

Female. Genitalia with abdominal sternite VIII relatively broad, basally with robust, broad mesal process, truncated and notched apically; segment IX relatively short, broad-based, tapered slightly distally, segment X relatively long, slender with 1 pair of small cerci ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 45 – 53 ).

Holotype male: Northern Territory, ARRS Radon Springs, 12°45'S, 132°55'E, 13–14 Apr 1988, 6V lt tr., PS and AW ( NMV, T- 20716).

Paratypes: Northern Territory. 20 males (specimen CT-484 figured), 10 females (specimen CT-487 figured), collected with holotype ( NMV).

Other material examined: Northern Territory. 1 male, collected with holotype; 2 males, same site and collectors, 18–19 May 1988; 2 males, ARRS Bowerbird Billabong outlet, 12°47'S, 133°02'E, lt, 1 Oct 1988, PD; 7 males, Graveside Ck, lt tr., 18 Jul 1988, PD; 12 males, ARRS Graveside Gorge, lt, 18 Jul 1988, PD; 5 males, 1 km below Twin Falls, Kakadu Nat. Pk, 30 Aug 1979, JB; 3 males, S Alligator R., UDP Falls, 7 Sep 1979, JB; 1 male, ARRS S Alligator R. above BHP camp, 25 May 1988, AW and PS; 1 male, LaBelle Downs Stn, 13°10'S, 130°14'E, 22 Aug 1996, I Edwards ( NMV).

Etymology. Baru - Aboriginal word for crocodile (locality- the Alligator Rivers Region).

Remarks. Wellsomina baru is a distinctive and relatively common species throughout the Alligator Rivers Region (ARR), northern Northern Territory (latitudinal range 12°45'– 13°47'S).