Triplectides mouiensis, Malm, Tobias & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2008

Malm, Tobias & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2008, Description of eleven new Triplectides species (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) from New Caledonia, Zootaxa 1816, pp. 1-34 : 3-5

Triplectides mouiensis , new species

Figs 1–8 , 89 .

Diagnosis. This species is separated from many other Triplectides species by the spur formula 2:2:2. Unlike australis it lacks fork 1 in the hind wings, and is separated from sasali and koghiensis , new species, in several wing characters and by the shape of tergum X. There is a great similarity in the genitalia and the wings between this species and winstanleyi , tigrinus , new species, and noumeiensis , new species, but it is distinguished from the former by its much smaller body size, and from the latter two by the size and direction of the basoventral process of the inferior appendages, the width of tergum X and the forewing hair patterns. It is most similar to minutus , new species, and abnormalis , new species, but is readily separated from these by the shorter apicodorsal lobe of the inferior appendages relative to the overall length of the inferior appendages and the presence of the discoidal cell in the hind wings, respectively.

Male: Body colour light straw (in alcohol). Tibial spur formula 2:2:2. Claws on all legs unmodified. Forewing ( Figs 1, 3 ) lengths 7.5–8.5 mm (N=16); straw coloured (in alcohol); diffuse, dark areas present around base of fork 1, extending anteriorly to R; lighter area around S4 and crossvein m-cu; forks 1, 2 and 5 present; fork 1 and branching of m with short stalks; Dc narrow, about half length of Tc; distance between crossveins s and S4 shorter than length of S4, S4 meeting M close to crossvein m-cu. Hind wing ( Fig. 2 ) forks 2, 3 and 5 present; S4 arising between apical 1/3–1/4 of Dc. Nygma present in all wings in fork 2.

Genitalia ( Figs 4–8 ): segment IX narrow, widest dorsally, in ventral view ( Fig. 6 ) with small central posterior extension. Superior appendages ( Figs 4, 5 ) about half length of tergum X; broad; apices slightly pointing in dorsal view. Tergum X with small, bilobed dorsobasal projection ( Fig. 5 ); widening laterad ( Fig. 6 ), apical lobes rounded; bearing minute marginal setae; ventrally with lateral, setae-bearing, prominent carinae, readily seen in lateral view ( Fig. 4 ). Inferior appendages ( Figs 4, 6 ) slender; apicodorsal lobes slightly exceeding robust harpagones; each basoventral process short, rounded, directed posterolaterad, not exceeding mesal lobes ( Fig. 6 ); mesal lobes wide, plate-like, laterally nearly completely fused with major branches. Phallus ( Figs 7, 8 ) bent shortly after 1/3 its length; apex with 2 protruding, lateral flanges; narrowest at anterior 1/ 3 in ventral view ( Fig. 8 ).

Distribution. This species is found in two quite separated locality areas on the southern half of Grande Terre ( Fig. 89 ), but no morphological variation was found between the two populations.

Legends figures 1–3: A = anal veins; arc = arculus; Cu = cubitus; Dc = discoidal cell; E = empusal vein; JB = jugal bar; M = media; MA = media anterior branch; MP = media posterior branch; m-cu = crossvein media-cubitus; P = plical vein; R = radius; S = sectoral vein; s = sectoral crossvein; Sc = subcosta; Tc = thyridial cell; 1 = fork 1; 2 = fork 2; 5 = fork 5.

Legends figures 4–8: AdL = inferior appendage apicodorsal lobe; BvP = inferior appendage basoventral process; H = harpago; IX – segment IX; ML = inferior appendage mesal lobe; Sapp = superior appendage; TX = tergum X.

Etymology. Name derived from the type locality, Mt Mou.

Holotype male: New Caledonia: Province Sud: Mt Mou, stream crossing way to Sanatorium 2.3 km E St. Laurent, ca 30 m downstream bridge, 22º04.484’S, 166º19.900’E, 15.xi.2003, light trap, loc #028 [KA Johanson].

Paratypes: Province Sud: same data as holotype – 5 males; Monts des Koghis, ca 300m S Koghi Restaurant, 22º18.288’S, 166º50.490’E, 457 m, 2–16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#001 [KA Johanson] – 8 males; same data as holotype except ca 150 m upstream bridge, 22º04.484’S, 166º19.910’E, 15–30.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc #027 – 1 male.

Province Nord: N slope of Mt Rembai, Xwé Méréxwana stream, 21º33.804’S, 165º50.528’E, 309 m, 20.xi–12.xii.2003, Malaise trap, loc #037 [KA Johanson] – 1 male.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Triplectides mouiensis, new species, male holotype. 1, forewing; 2, hind wing; 3, forewing anastomosis detail; 4, genitalia, lateral; 5, genitalia, dorsal; 6, genitalia, ventral; 7, phallus, lateral; 8, phallus, ventral.

FIGURES 89 – 91. Maps of Grande Terre, New Caledonia, with male Triplectides specimen records plotted. 89, Triplectides mouiensis, new species; 90, Triplectides abnormalis, new species; 91, Triplectides minutus, new species.