Gracilipsodes robustus, Malm & Johanson, 2008

Malm, Tobias & Johanson, Kjell A., 2008, Revision of the New Caledonian endemic genus Gracilipsodes (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae: Grumichellini), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 153 (3), pp. 425-452 : 440-442

GRACILIPSODES ROBUSTUS SP. NOV. ( FIGS 8 , 13 )

Diagnosis: This species is distinguished from G. lanceolatus sp. nov., G. grandis sp. nov., G. psocopterus , and G. similis by the tibial spur formula 2, 2, 2, and by the presence of a pair of pre-apical lateral processes of tergum X, originating from the apical half of the segment. It is separated from G. aurorus sp. nov., G. koghiensis sp. nov., and G. aoupiniensis sp. nov., in the genitalia, by the shorter lateral processes of tergum X, and in the forewing, by the presence of a shorter crossvein m–cu, oriented at almost a right angle to M. It is distinguishable from G. aureus sp. nov. by being slightly larger, and, in the genitalia, by the shorter superior appendages, and the thicker, slightly clubshaped apical part of the inferior appendage.

Description, male: Body medium brown. Forewings brown. Tibial spur formula 2, 2, 2. Hind tibiae each with 18–20 small, black spines (N = 3). Forewing ( Fig. 8A ): length 7.4–7.7 mm (N = 3); apically rounded; forks 1 and 5 present; crossvein m–cu about as long as or slightly shorter than crossvein r–m, oriented at almost a right angle with M. Hindwing ( Fig. 8B ): length 5.5 mm (N = 3), apex narrowly rounded; forks 1, 3, and 5 present; crossvein r–m convex; costa with 20 hamuli.

Genitalia: Segment IX annular, laterally setose; tergite IX about as broad as sternite IX in lateral view ( Fig. 8C ), tergite IX posterior margin central part produced posteroventrad ( Fig. 8C, D ). Superior appendages setose, flattened dorsoventrally, about as long as tergum X, apices rounded in dorsal view ( Fig. 8D ). Tergum X membraneous; median process entire, basally wide, apex narrowly rounded, dorsal margin slightly concave to straight in lateral view ( Fig. 8C ); apex shallowly notched in dorsal and ventral views ( Fig. 8D, E ); pre-apical lateral processes shorter than median process, produced at apical half of tergite X, sclerotized, digitate, directed posterolaterally, and slightly curving dorsally ( Fig. 8C ). Inferior appendages each bipartite, setose; basal part broad in ventral view ( Fig. 8E ), mesally concave, produced posteromesad, apex rounded, and forming a broadly rounded lip, bearing small dorsal spines ( Fig. 8C, E ); apical part of each inferior appendage digitate, curving mesally; in lateral view, slightly club-shaped, apex rounded, bearing about 40 mesal spines ( Fig. 8C ); mesal process with four strong spines ( Fig. 8D ). Harpago: small, slender, weakly sclerotized ( Fig. 8C ). Phallic apparatus simple ( Fig. 8F, G ); phallicata basally tubular, fused with phallobase, apex truncate; bent about 45° ventrad near mid length; apex with pair of sclerotized, lateral, ventrally produced processes, being curved somewhat medially, with rounded apices ( Fig. 8F ); phallotremal sclerite U-shaped ( Fig. 8G ).

Holotype (male): New Caledonia, Province Sud, Mt Koghi, c. 300 m south of Koghi Restaurant , 22.18288°S, 166.50073°E, 407 m a.s.l., 2–16 November 2003, Malaise trap, loc#005 (Johanson).

Paratypes: Two males, same data as holotype, except 22.18288°S, 166.50245°E, 427 m a.s.l., 2–16 November 2003, Malaise trap, loc#003 ; one male, ditto, except 22.18288°S, 166.50167°E, 417 m a.s.l., 16–26 November 2003, Malaise trap, loc#004 .

Distribution: Province Sud, Mt Koghi.

Etymology: From Latin, robustus , solid, robust; referring to the first impression of the holotype genitalia as being robust and stout.

GRACILIPSODES PSOCOPTERUS SYKORA, 1967

( FIGS 9 , 13 )

Gracilipsodes psocopterus Sykora, 1967: 594 ; Ward, 2001: 73–81.

Diagnosis: This species is distinguished from other species in the genus, except from G. similis , in the tibial spur formula 0, 1, 1, and by the darker body and forewing colour. It is distinguishable from G. similis by the longer superior appendages, the deeper split between the tergum X processes, and the shape of the apical part of the inferior appendage.

Description, male: Body medium brown to dark greyish brown. Forewing brown to greyish brown. Tibial spur formula 0, 1, 1. Hind tibiae each with 13–18 spines (N = 5). Forewing ( Fig. 9A ): 5.3–6.6 mm (N = 5); apex broadly rounded; forks 1 and 5 present; crossvein m–cu shorter than crossvein r–m, and at a right angle to M. Hindwing ( Fig. 9B ): 3.9–4.8 mm (N = 5); apex rounded; forks 1 and 5 present; crossvein r–m straight; costa with 24 hamuli.

Genitalia: Generally strongly sclerotized and dark. Segment IX annular, laterally setose; in lateral view, sternite IX forming a parallelogram, tergite IX narrower than sternite IX ( Fig. 9C ), in ventral view, sternum IX median margin widely and deeply ellipsoid ( Fig. 9E ). Superior appendages setose, flattened dorsoventrally, longer than tergum X, apices nearly acute in dorsal view ( Fig. 9D ). Tergum X strongly sclerotized, divided into two lateral spines, connected with semipermeable membrane at basal half; in lateral view, basally wide, tapering towards truncate apex ( Fig. 9C ); in ventral and dorsal view, apices slightly curving laterad ( Fig. 9D, E ); pre-apical lateral processes absent. Inferior appendages each bipartite, setose; basal part broad in lateral and ventral view ( Figs 9C, E ), mesally concave, produced posteromesally into a broad, apically rounded lip, bearing small dorsal spines ( Fig. 9C, E ); apical part of each inferior appendage digitate, slightly curving mesally; in lateral view, rounded triangular, apex truncate, with 35–40 mesoventral spines ( Fig. 9C ); mesal process distinct, irregular, with 10–15 strong spherical spines ( Fig. 9D ). Harpago: small, strongly sclerotized, ovate ( Fig. 9C ). Phallic apparatus simple ( Fig. 9F, G ); phallicata basally tubular, fused with phallobase, apex narrow; bent strongly ventrally at midlength, distal half nearly straight, pair of sclerotized, lateral processes originate before apex, produced posteroventrad, curved slightly medially, apices narrowly rounded ( Fig. 9F, G ); phallotheca extended, phallotremal sclerite U-shaped ( Fig. 9G ).

Material examined: One male, New Caledonia, Province Sud, Sarraméa, 207 m a.s.l., 18–21 November 2001, Malaise trap, loc#12 (Johanson, Pape & Viklund); one male, New Caledonia, Province Sud, Col d’Amieu , 18–21 November 2001, Malaise trap, loc#13 (Johanson, Pape & Viklund) ; two males, New Caledonia, Province Sud, Col d’Amieu Fauna Reserve , 319 m a.s.l., 30 November–5 December 2001, Malaise trap, loc#23 (Johanson, Pape & Viklund) ; one male, New Caledonia, Province Sud, Col d’Amieu, Xwé Ko River, at bridge on road to St Forestière , 21°35.612′S, 165°48.241′E, 368 m a.s.l., 8 January 2004, light trap, loc#114 (Johanson) ; six males, New Caledonia, Province Sud, western part of Mt Ningua, Kwé Néco Stream, 3.9 km west of summit of Mt Ningua , on Bouloparis-Thio Road , about 50 m upstream of road, 21°44.359′S, 166°06.009′E, 117 m a.s.l., 20 November 2003 – 12 December 2003, Malaise trap, loc#035 (Johanson) ; one male, New Caledonia, Province Nord, northern slope of Mt Rembai, Xwé Méréxwana Stream , 21°33.804′S, 165°50.528′E, 309 m a.s.l., 20 November–12 December 2003, Malaise trap, loc#037 (Johanson) .

Distribution: Central area of Grande Terre.

Figures

Figure 8. Gracilipsodes robustus sp. nov. A, forewing. B, hindwing. C, genitalia, lateral. D, genitalia, dorsal. E, genitalia, ventral. F, phallus, lateral. G, phallus, ventral.

Figure 9. Gracilipsodes psocopterus Sykora (1967). A, forewing. B, hindwing. C, genitalia, lateral. D, genitalia, dorsal. E, genitalia, ventral. F, phallus, lateral. G, phallus, ventral.

Figure 13. Maps of New Caledonian Grande Terre with plotted distributions of the different species. A, Gracilipsodes aoupiniensis sp. nov. (triangles), Gracilipsodes aureus sp. nov. (white circles), Gracilipsodes grandis sp. nov. (squares), Gracilipsodes koghiensis sp. nov. (diamond), Gracilipsodes lanceolatus sp. nov. (black circle). B, Gracilipsodes aurorus sp. nov. (triangle), Gracilipsodes robustus sp. nov. (black diamond), Gracilipsodes psocopterus Sykora, 1967 (circles), Gracilipsodes similis Ward (2001) (squares).