Protoptila chitaria, Holzenthal & Blahnik, 2006

Holzenthal, Ralph W. & Blahnik, Roger J., 2006, The caddisfly genus Protoptila in Costa Rica (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae), Zootaxa 1197, pp. 1-37 : 13-18

Protoptila chitaria , new species

Fig. 8

This species is very similar to P. cana . They differ in the shape of the apex of the ventral margin of segment IX, which is divided, with each branch partially fused to the lateral margin of sternum VIII. In P. chitaria this apex is shorter than the ventral apices of sternum VIII and curved apically, whereas in P. cana it is more elongate and nearly straight. The shapes of the apices of the apical sections of tergum X of the two species are also slightly different, as shown in the illustrations.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 3.2–3.9 mm; female 3.5–4.2 mm. Color brown (in alcohol), wing markings indistinct.

Male genitalia. Sternum VI process prominent, slightly curved, longer than wide, apex subacute. Tergum VIII posterior margin with row of elongate setae; sternum VIII produced ventrally, distinctly bifurcate apically, branches acute apically, broad basally, relatively short. Segment IX with anterior margin broadly rounded; sternum IX laterally produced posteriorly, forming paired sinuous processes, partially fused to lateral margin of sternum VIII, processes not extending beyond posterior margin of sternum VIII; posterolateral margin of segment IX without processes. Preanal appendages absent. Tergum X divided mesally to form sclerotized lateral parts with basal and apical sections; basal section subquadrate, about as long as wide, apical section longer than basal section, apically divided to form broadly rounded ventral lobe and acute dorsal and mesal lobes. Phallobase dorsally with large, semicircular, laterally compressed apodeme; ventrally with short, rodlike, articulated appendages with apical setae, appendages fitting into sclerotized pockets on ventral margin of phallobase; posteroventral margin of phallobase with short, paired, upturned, apically acute basal processes and also dorsolateral processes; dorsolateral processes very short, straight, acute; paramere absent; phallicata short, narrowest basally, apex enlarged, membranous laterally, sclerotized ventrolaterally to form paired, acute, ventrally curved projection; endophallus membranous, enlarged when everted, with small apical and subapical spines; phallotremal sclerite spine­like, sinuous, sclerotized apically, somewhat divided basally.

Holotype male: COSTA RICA: Cartago: Río Chitaría , rt 10, 10 km NW Río Reventazón, 09°55’12”N, 083°36’14”W, el. 740 m, 21.iii.1991, Holzenthal, Muñoz, Huisman (in alcohol) (UMSP000208545) (UMSP).

Paratypes: Same data as holotype — 5 males, 66 females (in alcohol) ( UMSP) , 2 males, 4 females (in alcohol) ( NMNH) , 1 male, 3 females (in alcohol) ( INBIO) .

Etymology. This species is named for Chitaría, the town and river in Costa Rica near which the type material for this species was collected.

Protoptila cristula , new species

Fig. 9

This species is closely related to P. rota , and both are similar to P. bicornuta . All three have horn­like processes or “ cornuti ” projecting from the phallicata. In P. cristula , these structures are more upright and the spine­like structures at the base of these horns are much more elongate than in either P. rota or P. bicornuta . In both P. cristula and P. rota the ventral margin of sternum VIII is much more elongate and upcurved apically than P. bicornuta , as well as more deeply bifurcate apicomesally. Protoptila cristula differs from P. rota in that the lateral processes of tergum X are also much more elongate and projecting.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.6–2.9 mm; female 2.6–3.2 mm. Color light brown (in alcohol), with distinct transverse bar of whitish setae along cord.

Male genitalia. Sternum VI process prominent, slightly curved, longer than wide, apex subacute. Tergum VIII posterior margin with row of elongate setae; sternum VIII strongly produced ventrally, distinctly bifurcate apically, branches acute apically, narrow, digitate, very elongate and strongly upturned. Segment IX with anterior margin broadly rounded; sternum IX medially produced posteriorly, in ventral view, narrow basally, broad apically, apically emarginate; posterolateral margin of segment IX without processes. Preanal appendages small, round. Tergum X divided mesally to form sclerotized lateral parts with basal and apical sections; basal section subquadrate, about as long as wide, apical section elongate, narrow, with rounded basodorsal protuberance. Phallobase dorsally with large, semicircular, laterally compressed apodeme; ventrally with short, rod­like, articulated appendages with apical setae, appendages fitting into sclerotized pockets on ventral margin of phallobase; posteroventral margin of phallobase with very short, paired, upturned, apically acute basal processes and also dorsolateral processes; dorsolateral processes prominent, slender, acute, angularly upturned near base; paramere very short, membranous, apparently vestigial; phallicata short, narrow and angularly bent near middle, with large, paired upright horn­like dorsolateral processes and very elongate, sinuous, narrow, apically acute ventral processes; endophallus membranous, enlarged when everted; phallotremal sclerite lightly sclerotized, indistinct.

Holotype male: COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Río Pizote , ca. 5 km (air) S Brasilia, 10°58’19”N, 085°20’42”W, el. 390 m, 12.iii.1986, Holzenthal & Fasth ( UMSP000019033 ) (in alcohol) ( UMSP).

Paratypes: COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Río Pizote , ca. 5 km N Dos Ríos, 10°56’53”N, 085°17’28”W, el. 470 m, Holzenthal & Fasth — 2 males (in alcohol) ( UMSP) . NICARAGUA: Granada: Reserva Silvestre Privada Domitila , río cerca manantial, 11°42.162’N, 85°57.118’W, el. 63 m, Chamorro & López — 60 males, 110 females (in alcohol) ( UMSP) , 3 males, 3 females (in alcohol) ( NMNH) .

Etymology. This species is named cristula , a diminutive of the Latin crista, meaning “crest,” and referring to the crest­like processes of the phallicata of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Protoptila chitaria, new species. Male genitalia: A—lateral (inset: apex of segment X, caudal, enlarged); B—segment VIII, ventral; C—phallic complex, lateral.

FIGURE 9. Protoptila cristula, new species. Male genitalia: A—lateral; B—segment VIII, ventral; C—phallic complex, lateral.