Smicridea (Smicridea) blahniki Desiderio, Pes & Hamada 2021, sp. nov.

Smicridea (Smicridea) blahniki Desiderio, Pes & Hamada sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: FD50773D-473C-4AC6-979F-D3F9E3B410E0

Figs 1–3, 4A

Smicridea blahniki sp. nov. is similar to S. erecta and S. jeaneae Desiderio, Pes & Hamada sp. nov. based on the strong, pointed apicomesal lobes on tergum X. Of these species, the new species is most similar to S. erecta, because the apicomesal lobes in both species touch distally and each lobe bears one pair of short, thin apical setae in dorsal view, while in S. jeaneae sp. nov., the apicomesal lobes do not touch distally and each has three medium-sized, thin apical setae. Smicridea blahniki sp. nov. has one pair of long, stout subapical setae on the apicomesal lobe of tergum X, whereas S. erecta has one pair of mediumsized, thin setae (absent in S. jeaneae sp. nov.). The basal segment of the inferior appendage in the new species has five stout apical spine-like setae, one long seta on the dorsal surface and four medium-sized on the mesal margin, whereas S. erecta and S. jeaneae sp. nov. have three stout apical spine-like setae (one dorsal and two on the internal margin). Additionally, the apical segment of the inferior appendage in S. blahniki sp. nov. is thick, slightly curved medially, and has a rounded apex, while in S. erecta and S. jeaneae sp. nov., this segment is slender, strongly curved medially, and has a slightly acute apex. Furthermore, S. blahniki sp. nov. can be recognized by the stethoscope-shaped phallotremal sclerite of the phallic apparatus in dorsal view, while in S. erecta this sclerite is ribbon-shaped and in S. jeaneae sp. nov. it is U-shaped in the proximal region and hastate in the distal region.

The specific epithet is in honor of Dr Roger J. Blahnik (University of Minnesota, USA) in recognition of his contributions to the taxonomy and systematics of Neotropical caddisflies.

Holotype BRAZIL • ♂; Amazonas, Barcelos, Parque Estadual Serra do Aracá, 1 st order stream; 00°54′13.68″ N, 63°26′01.18″ W; 1112 m a.s.l.; 2 Aug. 2009; A.M.P. Santos, N. Ferreira Jr and F.F. Salles leg.; Malaise trap; INPA-TRI 000106.

Paratype BRAZIL • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; INPA-TRI 000107.

Adult male (Figs 1–2)

FOREWING LENGTH. 4.15, 4.67 mm (n = 2).

COLOR. General color brown (in alcohol) (Fig. 1A). Antennae yellowish brown (Fig. 1A). Head brown, denuded (Fig. 1B–C); dorsally with weakly-pronounced median suture; with five setal warts; anteromesal wart small, rounded; anterolateral pair undivided, weakly delimited; posterolateral pair large, ovoid (Fig. 1C). Maxillary palp with segments 1–4 increasing gradually about 0.8× in size toward more apical segments, segment 5 long, about 1.2× as long as all previous segments combined (Fig. 1B). Thorax pale brown, without setae (old specimens); legs brown, with mid leg tarsi yellowish (Fig. 1A). Wing venation typical for subgenus (Fig. 1D–E). Forewings, in alcohol, uniformly brown, with small white spot on apex of Cu2 (Fig. 1D). Sternum V with anterolateral glandular processes as long as sternum.Abdominal segments VI and VII with 2 pairs of internal glands, both pairs longer than their containing segments (Fig. 1F).

MALE GENITALIA (Fig. 2). Segment IX in lateral view with anterolateral margin nearly straight, strongly sclerotized (Fig. 2A); posterodorsal margin bearing small spicules, distributed in a subtriangular band (Fig. 2B). Tergum X elongate; in lateral view, ventrolateral margin strongly sclerotized, with four mediumsized, thin setae on apical third; apex with sharp notch, ending in slender, straight lobe (Fig. 2A); in dorsal view, lateral margin rounded; dorsomesal setose area bearing three medium-sized, thin setae; divided apicomesally by V-shaped incision about ¼ its length; apex of tergite rounded, with strong, pointed apicomesal lobe, touching distally, each bearing one pair of long, stout subapical setae and one pair of short, thin apical setae (Fig. 2B). Inferior appendages 2-segmented; basal segment long, slightly inflated distally, covered with long, thin setae, with a group of stout apical spine-like setae, one long seta dorsally and four medium-sized setae on mesal margin; apical segment short, about ⅓ as long as basal segment, thick, slightly curved medially, apex rounded with numerous short, thin setae on mesal margin (Fig. 2B). Phallic apparatus long and tubular; basal section, in lateral view, enlarged, 4× diameter of phallotheca at its narrowest point, forming an angle of about 93° with apical section; median section of phallotheca straight, with dorsal periphalic cap sclerotized, slender, and upturned (Fig. 2C); apex enlarged, without processes or plates; endothecal membranes without spines; phallotremal sclerite, in dorsal view, distinct, strongly sclerotized, stethoscope-shaped, proximal region slightly bifid and distal region with acute arms (Fig. 2D–E); in lateral view, slender, with dark brown comma-like median depression, distally arched, directed posterad (Fig. 2C). Ejaculatory duct of endophallus, in lateral view, distinct, sclerotized (Fig. 2C).

The males of S. blahniki sp. nov. were collected near a 1 st order stream, where the predominant vegetation is highland savanna with a minimum altitude of 1112 m a.s.l. (Fig 4A). This stream is located in the Serra do Aracá mountain range, northern Brazilian Amazon. The water in the stream was black and acidic (pH 4.6), with low conductivity (10 μScm-1), and a water temperature of 22°C. The stream was about 0.5 m wide, 0.30 m deep, with rocky bottoms characterized by boulders and slow-flowing water.

Distribution (Fig. 3)

Brazil: Amazon (Amazonas).