Neotrichia afuera, Armitage & Harris & Rodriguez, 2025

Armitage, Brian J., Harris, Steven C. & Rodriguez, Viterbo, 2025, The Trichoptera of Panama XXVIII. Nine new species of microcaddisflies (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae), Neotropical Biology and Conservation 20 (2), pp. 125-147 : 125-147

Neotrichia afuera sp. nov.

Fig. 3

Type locality.

Panama: Veraguas Province, Soná District, Canales de Afuera Island off the Soná Peninsula nr. Pixvae; 7.69494°N, 81.62649°W; 29 m a. s. l.

Type specimen.

Holotype • ♂, in alcohol. Original label: “ Panama: Veraguas Province, Soná District, Canales de Afuera Island off the Soná Peninsula nr Pixvae ; 7.69494°N, 81.62649°W; 29 m a. s. l.; 6–22 Mar 2023; leg V. Rodriguez; Malaise trap ”; MUPADI .

Diagnosis.

Neotrichia afuera sp. nov. does not fit well within the species groups established by Keth et al. (2015). The apicolateral process of segment IX and the tubular phallus without sclerotised projections would place the new species in the N. okopa group, but the short inferior appendages with dorsal process is more similar to species in the N. caxima group, which typically have sclerotised hooks on the phallus. The new species is easily recognised by the structure of the sclerotised inferior appendages as seen in ventral view.

Description.

Male. Total length 1.4 mm (n = 1), 18 antennal segments, wings and body brown in alcohol. G enitalia (Fig. 3 ). Abdominal segment VIII annular. Segment IX tapering anteriorly, posteriorly rounded, sclerotised on margin, giving rise to short sclerotised rod which projects ventrad and widens distally; in ventral view, incised anteriorly and posteriorly; in dorsal view, incised anteriorly, posteriorly fused with segment X, dense setation mesally. Segment X in lateral view elongate and shelf-like, rounded apically; in dorsal view rectangular, fused with segment IX anteriorly and sclerotised on lateral margins. Subgenital plate in lateral view wide basally, tapering distally to acute, downturned apex with stout seta; in ventral view, rectangular, tapering apically into downturned tip, pair of stout setae apicolaterally, and sclerotised on lateral margins. Bracteole in lateral view narrow basally, widening distally; in dorsal and ventral views, narrow basally, widening distally to rounded apex. Inferior appendage in lateral view rectangular, tapering distally to downturned apex, sclerotised on ventral margin, basally with narrow, divided sclerotised process, wider dorsally than ventrally; in ventral view, divided into several processes, anterior processes with mesal and lateral lobes, rounded sclerotised knobs apically, posteriorly with several thin processes, posterior processes narrow, projecting mesally with sclerotised knob apically bearing stout seta. Phallus in dorsal view tubular, constricted at mid-length and bearing thin paramere encircling ejaculatory duct sclerotised, basal portion widening, apical portion parallel-sided, lateral margins slightly sclerotised.

Female and immature stages.

Unknown.

Etymology.

Named for the isle in Panama where the species was collected.

Figures

Figure 3. Neotrichia afuera sp. nov., male holotype, genitalia A left lateral B dorsal C ventral D phallus, dorsal.