Triplectides tigrinus, 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 : 9-12

Triplectides tigrinus , new species

Figs 33–40 , 93 .

Diagnosis. This species is held apart from many other Triplectides species by the spur formula 2:2:2. Unlike australis it lacks fork 1 in the hind wings. It is separated from sasali and koghiensis , new species, by the shape of tergum X. In both genitalia and wings it shows great similarity to winstanleyi , mouiensis , minutus , and abnormalis , but is distinguished from winstanleyi by smaller size, and from the latter three by the size and direction of the basoventral process of the inferior appendages and the forewing hair patterns. It is most similar to noumeiensis from which it is distinguished by the shape of tergum X and the mesal lobe of the inferior appendages.

Male: Body colour light straw to light yellow (in alcohol). Tibial spur formula 2:2:2. Claws on all legs unmodified. Forewing ( Figs 33, 35 ) length 8.0–9.0 mm (N=4); colour straw to yellow (in alcohol) with darker setose bands; rugged, dark area present around junction of R and Sc; lighter area present around base of S4 and crossvein m-cu; forks 1, 2 and 5 present; fork 1 and branching of m with stalk lengths about 2/5 the fork lengths; Dc narrow, almost as long as Tc; distance between S4 and crossvein s about as long as length of S4, S4 meeting M close to crossvein m-cu. Hind wing ( Fig. 34 ) forks 2, 3 and 5 present; S4 arising at 1/2 – 2/3 into short, pentagonal Dc. Nygma present in all wings in fork 2.

Genitalia ( Figs 36–40 ): segment IX slightly narrowing ventrad, in ventral view ( Fig. 38 ) with central, posterad projection. Superior appendages ( Figs 36, 37 ) about half as long as length of tergum X; flattened dorsoventrally, broad; apically rounded in dorsal view. Tergum X with short, wide, dorsobasal projection ( Fig. 37 ); in ventral view ( Fig. 38 ) rectangular, except with slightly produced lateral corners; shallowly U-shaped mesal incision at apex; apical margin with minute setae; ventrally with low carinae, tangential apicomesally, forming a U, bearing few ventrolateral setae ( Fig. 38 ). Inferior appendages ( Figs 36, 38 ) moderately broad; apicodorsal lobes (in illustrated specimen somewhat shrunken) in length slightly exceeding harpagones; basoventral processes very short, slender, slightly club-shaped; directed laterad, not reaching posterior margins of mesal lobes; mesal lobes wide, bearing few ventral setae, apical margin nearly straight, (rugose), deeply diverging from major branch. Phallus ( Figs 39, 40 ) strongly bent posteroventrad before mid-length ( Fig. 39 ); apicoventrally with membrane covering lateral flanges.

Distribution. This species is found in the southern half of Grande Terre ( Fig. 93 ).

Etymology. From Latin, tigrinus – of tigers; named for the stripes on the forewings.

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: Monts des Koghis, ca 300 m S Koghi Restaurant, 22º18.288’S, 166º50.490’E, 457 m, 02–16.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#001 [KA Johanson] – 1 male; Monts des Koghis, ca 300 m S Koghi Restaurant, 22º18.288’S, 166º50.393’E, 447 m, 16–26.xi.2003, Malaise trap, loc#002 [KA Johanson] – 1 male; Tamoa River, 700 m S road RT1 between Noumea and La Foa, 22º04.518’S, 166º16.592’E, 19.xi.2003, light trap, loc #033 [KA Johanson] – 1 male; Sarraméa, Xwé Way, 1 km NE Hotel Evasion 130, 10– 19.x.2006, Malaise trap, Loc E [KA Johanson & M Espeland] – 1 male.

Figures

FIGURES 33 – 40. Triplectides tigrinus, new species, male holotype. 33, forewing; 34, hind wing; 35, forewing anastomosis detail; 36, genitalia, lateral; 37, genitalia, dorsal; 38, genitalia, ventral; 39, phallus, lateral; 40, phallus, ventral.

FIGURES 92 – 94. Maps of Grande Terre, New Caledonia, with male Triplectides specimen records plotted. 92, Triplectides noumeiensis, new species; 93, Triplectides tigrinus, new species; 94, Triplectides koghiensis, new species.