Neotrichia sona, 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 sona sp. nov.

Fig. 7

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.; 20 Jan – 5 Feb 2023; leg V. Rodriguez; Malaise trap ”; MUPADI . Paratypes • 3 ♂♂, in alcohol; same as holotype, except: UMSP (1 ♂), CMNH (1 ♂) and MUPADI (1 ♂) • 1 ♂; ibid., same as holotype, except 21 Jan 2023; UV light trap; MUPADI .

Other material examined.

4 ♂♂, in alcohol; ibid., Cuenca 116, Las Palmas District, Quebrada del Rosario ; 7.85826°N, 81.55764°W; 26 m a. s. l.; 3 Feb 2023; leg V. Rodriguez; Malaise trap; MUPADI • 1 ♂; ibid., 20 Jan – 21 Feb 2023; Malaise trap; MUPADI • 3 ♂♂; ibid., 20 Jan 2023; UV light trap; MUPADI • 1 ♂; ibid., Río Indio; 7.8710°N, 81.49459°W; 703 m a. s. l.; 3 Feb 2023; MUPADI • 4 ♂♂; ibid., Quebrada La Mina; 7.87443°N, 81.51004°W; 63 m a. s. l.; MUPADI • 3 ♂♂; ibid., Soná District, Quebrada Monita ; 7.81480°N, 81.55724°W; 26 m a. s. l.; 20 Jan – 4 Feb 2023; Malaise trap; MUPADI • 15 ♂♂; ibid., 21 Jan 2023, UV light trap; MUPADI • 17 ♂♂; ibid., 11 Apr 2023; UMSP (8 ♂♂), CMNH (9 ♂♂) .

Diagnosis.

Neotrichia sona sp. nov. appears to be a member of the Neotrichia vibrans group of Keth et al. (2015), based on the apicolateral extension of segment IX and the tapered margins of tergum X. The new species appears to be similar to N. helios Flint from Jamaica which also has a tapering inferior appendage and simple phallus. The new species is distinguished by the knob-like dorsal process of the inferior appendage, the serrate apical margin of the lateral process from segment IX and the small, rounded pre-apical sclerite of the phallus.

Description.

Male. Total length 1.6–1.8 mm (n = 30), 18 antennal segments, wings and body brown in alcohol. Genitalia (Fig. 7 ). Abdominal segment VIII annular. Segment IX narrow, rounded posteromesally and incomplete dorsally, posteriorly with truncate dorsolateral extension which is sclerotised and serrate distally, anteriorly rounded mesally; ventrally rectangular; dorsally with deep posteromesal incision, inner margins serrate, posterolateral margins rounded. Segment X narrowing posteriorly to truncate shelf; in dorsal view, reduced to a pair of rounded lateral knobs which taper mesally. Subgenital plate in lateral view, narrow basally, widening distally to acute, posteriorly projected spine; in ventral view, square, posterior margin truncate bearing pair of stout setae. Bracteole in lateral view narrow over length, widening slightly apically; in ventral and dorsal views, narrow over length and curving. Inferior appendage sclerotised, tapering distally to rounded apex, rugose on dorsal margin, anteriorly with sclerotised dorsal knob; in ventral view, wide basally, tapering distally to rounded apex, basally with short rectangular process. Phallus in dorsal view, tubular, constricted at mid-length and bearing thin paramere encircling shaft, apex narrowing distally, small rounded sclerite pre-apically; in lateral view, pre-apical sclerite projects downwards and narrows to a point.

Female and immature stages.

Unknown.

Etymology.

Named for the peninsula, district, corregimiento and town along the Pacific coast of Panama. One suggested derivation of the word " soná " is from a local indigenous language, in which sonáre means “ murmur of the waters ”. This refers to the numerous riverbeds that surround the region. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figure 7. Neotrichia sona sp. nov., male holotype, genitalia A left lateral B dorsal C ventral D phallus, dorsal E phallus apex, lateral.