Rhyacophila siparantum Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Kučinić, 2021

Bilalli, Astrit, Ibrahimi, Halil, Musliu, Milaim & Geci, Donard, 2024, Description of the hitherto unknown female of Rhyacophila siparantum Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Kučinić, 2021 (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae) from Kosovo, Ecologica Montenegrina 71, pp. 217-226 : 218-220

Description of female of Rhyacophila siparantum Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Kučinić, 2021

Material examined: Republic of Kosovo, Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains , Rugova Mountain , Pejë Municipality, spring area of the Bogë Stream , 42.763243˚N, 20.057842˚E, 1598 m asl ( Figure 1 ), 04.07.2023, 2 ♀♀, 21 ♂♂, leg. Astrit Bilalli and Milaim Musliu.

Specimens are deposited at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina,” Prishtinë, Kosovo, Collection “Halil Ibrahimi-Bjeshkët e Nemuna”.

Distribution. Kosovo, Bjeshkët e Nemuna.

Description. General morphology. Head and appendages brown. Thorax brown dorsally, and lighter ventrally. Legs yellowish brown, spurs brown, palpi light brown. Abdomen dark brown dorsally with irregular lines and patches and pale ventrally. Wings generally brown, with patches of dark brown along the wing venation. Forewing length 11.5 – 11.9 mm, spur formula 3-4-4. Antennae brown. There is a ventral tooth on the abdominal segment VII; triangularly shaped in lateral view, and considerably smaller than abdominal tooth on segment VII in males.

Female genitalia ( Figures 3 and 4 ). In lateral view, segment VIII with deep V-shaped indentation, making the segment appear almost two-lobed, with ventral valve longer than the dorsal one; apex of ventral valve sharply acuminate; apex of dorsal valve bluntly rounded; small setae present throughout ventral part of segment VIII. In ventral view, segment VIII wide on basal half and gradually narrowing towards the apex; apex long and rounded. In dorsal view, segment VIII wide along basal 2/3rds and narrowing through the apex, ending bipartite with a small V shaped indentation between.

Apodeme extending anterior to segment VI.

Vaginal apparatus simple, in lateral view the apex is composed by two rounded lobes, basally ending with two long triangularly shaped teeth encircling the membranous area.

Ecology and distribution. Several streams have been sampled during 2023 in Rugova Mountain and Rhyacophila siparantum was found only at the type locality. The sampling area has a width of 1.5 - 2 meters and a depth of approximately 20 - 30 cm. The substrate consists of boulders and gravels, indicating a rocky bottom. Along the stream banks, there are coniferous plants-pine. During this sampling the species was found in sympatry with the following species: Rhyacophila tristis Pictet, 1834 (4 ♂♂, 1 ♀), R. polonica McLachlan 1879 (1 ♂), R. laevis Pictet, 1834 (2 ♂♂, 1 ♀), R. loxias Schmid, 1970 (6 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀), Philopotamus montanus (Donovan, 1813) (13 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀), Hydropsyche saxonica McLachlan, 1884 (2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀), Plectrocnemia geniculata McLachlan, 1871 (2 ♂♂, 1 ♀), Tinodes pallidulus (McLachlan, 1878) (3 ♂♂, 1 ♀), Drusus discolor (Rambur, 1842) (2 ♂♂, 1 ♀) and Micropterna caesareica Schmid, 1959 (4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀).

Figures

Figure 1. Left: Type locality of Rhyacophila siparantum Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Kučinić, 2021: Bogë Stream, Rugovë Mountain, Kosovo; Right: Ultraviolet light trap deployed on site for adult caddisfly collection.

Figure 3. Photo of the female genitalia of Rhyacophila siparantum: A – lateral view; B – ventral view and C – dorsal view.

Figure 4. Female genitalia of Rhyacophila siparantum: A – lateral view; B – ventral view and C – dorsal view; D – vaginal apparatus, lateral view and E – vaginal apparatus, ventral view.