Chimarra circumverta, Wahlberg & Espeland & Johanson, 2014

Wahlberg, Emma, Espeland, Marianne & Johanson, Kjell Arne, 2014, Seven new species of Chimarra (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae) from Malawi, Zootaxa 3796 (3), pp. 579-593 : 588

Chimarra circumverta , new species

( Figs 10 , 33–38 )

Diagnosis. The male of this species is distinguished from those of other described Afrotropical species by the presence of strongly sclerotized lateral lobes of tergum X, forming a complex of sharply pointed structures curved dorsad and anterad. The inferior appendages are most similar to those of C. bertrandi Scott 1974 , from Zimbabwe, each with a prominent dorsomesal process, however the dorsomesal process of C. circumverta is blunt in contrast to the sharp process of C. bertrandi . The inferior appendages of C. circumverta each also possess a second mesal process, absent in C. bertrandi , partly covered by the dorsomoesal process.

Description, male: Colour (in alcohol): Head yellowish; antennae light brown; head setal warts light brown; thorax yellowish; thoracic setal warts light brown; terga light brown; wings pale yellow; foretibiae, -tarsi and -tibial spurs light brown, forefemora and –coxae and other legs yellowish; abdomen yellowish. Forewings each 6.5 mm (n=4) long, length over width ratio 3.2; barely visible opaque, hyaline spots distributed as in Fig. 10 , Y-shaped indentation present anteriorly; discoidal cell twice as long as wide, originating shortly before mid length of wing; median cell shorter than discoidal cell; fork I originating after crossvein r at distance equal to 1.5 times length of crossvein r; fork III twice as long as wide. Hind wings each 5.3 mm (n=4), length over width ratio 2.8; anterior margin slightly curved.

Genitalia: Segment IX with two posteroventral processes elongate, slightly sigmoid, distally robust. Preanal appendages each minute, ellipsoid, setose, partly concealed by tergum IX in lateral view. Tergum X divided into pair of heavily sclerotized, black lobes directed caudad and then curving dorsolaterad in dorsal and lateral views; complex of 2 pairs of basal branches curving laterad with sharp apices; posterodorsal margin of segment IX darkly sclerotized. Inferior appendages each triangular, broad basally, tapered to acute apicodorsal angle in lateral view; posteroventral margin with sharp, darkly pigmented teeth-like processes; in dorsal view large, thumblike dorsomesal process partly covering large, sharp, dark sclerotized second mesal process; in ventral view apicomesal corner of each inferior appendage sharply pointed and triangular, heavily sclerotized; scattered setae on apicoventral surface and apical margins. Phallic apparatus with anterior half bulbous, slightly sclerotized subapically, apical 1/3rd strongly sclerotized, especially apical 1/8th and pair of sharp apical phallothecal spines directed slightly ventrad; short and thick endothecal spine present at mid length of retracted phallic apparatus.

Male holotype: Malawi: Mulanje Mountains: stream near Minunu hut, S15.92481°, E35.63856°, 2014 m, light trap, 11 November 2012, Loc # Ma 41a, leg. M. Espeland, S. Dupont and R. Murphy ( Fig. 1 , locality #4) .

Paratypes: Same data as for holotype, except 10 November 2012: 10 males, 5 females .

Etymology. Circumverta from the Latin circum, around, and verta, turned, describing the elaborate and curved lobes of tergum X as well as the inward directed mesal process on each inferior appendage.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map of Malawi showing locations of collection. Basemap provided by Esri et al. (2013).

FIGURES 7–13. Right wing, dorsal. 7—C. zombaensis, new species, holotype; 8—C. flaviseta, new species, holotype; 9—C. chichewa, new species, holotype; 10—C. circumverta, new species, holotype; 11—C. mulanjae, new species, holotype; 12—C. psittacus, new species, holotype; 13—C. calidopectoris, new species, holotype.

FIGURES 26–38. Chimarra new species, male genitalia. 26–32, Chimarra chichewa, new species, holotype: 26—genitalia, left lateral; 27—left inferior appendage, left lateral; 28—genitalia, dorsal; 29 –phallic apparatus, left lateral; 30—phallic apparatus, dorsal; 31—right inferior appendage, dorsal; 32—right inferior appendage, ventral. 33–38, Chimarra circumverta, new species, holotype: 33—genitalia, left lateral; 34—phallic apparatus, left lateral; 35—phallic apparatus, dorsal; 36—genitalia, dorsal; 37—right inferior appendage, dorsal; 38—right inferior appendage, ventral.