Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) helenae Albino, Pes & Hamada, 2011, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Albino, Jeyson Lazaro Duque
name: Pes, Ana Maria
name: Hamada, Neusa
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2011
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Trichoptera
Hydropsychidae
Smicridea
Smicridea helenae

description: Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) helenae sp. nov.
Figs 32–51
Adult male. Forewing length 3.14–4.01 mm (n = 9). Color in alcohol brown (old preserved specimens yellow), setae on frontal region of head brown, antennae and legs yellow. Forewings brown, each with costal and anal regions and the pterostigma dark brown; narrow, white, subapical band and 1 white spot at base of pterostigma; nigma and thyridial spots dark brown (Fig. 32). Anterolateral glandular processes of sternum V slender, with length (0.31 mm) 1.5 times length of this segment (Fig. 33).
Male genitalia. Segment IX with anterolateral margins convex and sclerotized, segment ending posterodorsally in protuberant lobe covered with small spikes distributed in transverse lines; in lateral view, dorsal margin higher than anterolateral margins (Fig. 34). Tergum X ventral and anterior margins sclerotized; in dorsal view, divided medially to base, each half with narrow apex, with moderately long setae at mid length and short setae apically (Fig. 35). Inferior appendages 2-segmented, basal segment long, distal region enlarged, covered with long setae, distal segment short, about 0.4 times as long as basal segment, covered with short setae, slightly enlarged at the apex (Fig. 35). Phallus with phallobase tubular; basal section enlarged, forming angle of about 85º with distal section. Internal sclerotized portion of ejaculatory duct long, 0.6 times as long as phallotheca, wider distally and reticulated at apex in lateral view (Fig. 34), divided in 2 parts and diverging apically and basally in dorsal and ventral views, 1 pair of small paramere spines present in apicodorsal region of phalotheca (Figs 36, 37); endothecal membranes with pair of elongated, sclerotized lateral paramere spines, each with distal region dark and apex of posterior region with short spines (Figs 35–37), appearing internal on retracted phallus (Fig. 36); dorsal periphalic membranes absent.
Female. Unknown.
Pupa. Body length, 4 mm (n = 4) (Fig. 38).
Pupal head. Labrum with basolateral lobes, each with 4 long setae in dorsal view; median region rounded, with 5 medium setae; lateral lobes slightly shorter than median lobe (Fig. 39). Mandibles asymmetrical, broad basally, right mandible with 4 teeth and left mandible with 5, each mandible with brush of long setae posterolaterally (Fig. 40). Thorax and abdomen covered with sparse setae.
Pupal abdomen. In dorsal view with pairs of hook plates anteriorly (a) on segments II–VIII, posteriorly (p) on segments III–IV; in hook-plate pair 2a each plate with 2 strong, straight hooks; in hook-plate pair 3a each plate with 4 strong and 4 small hooks; in hook-plate pair 3p each plate with 7 strong upward hooks distributed in a straight line; in hook-plate pair 4a each plate with 3 strong, straight hooks; in hook-plate pair 4p each plate with 5 upturned hooks; in hook-plate pair 5a each plate with 3 strong hooks and 5 small ones; in hook-plate pair 6a each plate with 2 strong hooks and 4 small ones; in hook-plate pair 7a each plate with 2 strong hooks and 6 small ones; in hookplate pair 8a each plate with 2 strong hooks and 2 small ones (Fig. 42). Abdominal apical processes of segments IX – X straight, widely separated, each with apical brush of setae (3 short and 7 long setae) (Fig. 41).
Larva (Figs 43–51). Length 4.5–6 mm (n = 5). Color in alcohol, yellow (recently collected larvae whitish, with brown setae) lateral habitus as in Figure 43; body covered with short, spatulate setae.
Larval Head. Rounded in dorsal view; yellow; anterior margin of frontoclypeal apotome darker, almost straight, with 2 short lateral lobes; posterior region of frontoclypeus usually with triangular brown area (Fig. 44); frontoclypeal suture V-shaped, with constriction in middle and dorsal region covered with short, thin bristles, 1 pair of long setae over eye (pair #9); 2 pairs of long setae, 1 on clypeus margin (pair #1) and other on lateral margins of eyes (pair #14), coronal suture short, 1 pair of median setae near clypeus anterior margin (pair #3) (Fig. 44); strong and asymmetric mandibles, left mandible with 4 mesal teeth and 1 apical tooth and 1 submarginal brush of setae at mid length; right mandible with 2 mesal teeth, 1 apical tooth, no submarginal setae (Fig. 49); labrum covered with short, thick setae, with pair of long, thin setae on the medial region of the anterior margin; lateral base bearing brush of long thin setae (Fig. 50); ventral surfaces of genae with thin, barely discernible stridulation file (Figs 45, 47); ventral apotome triangular, with dark apical margin.
Larval thorax. In dorsal view, sclerites yellow, covered with short thin setae (setae brown, soon after collection); pronotum with longitudinal ecdysial line, darker than meso and metanota; mesonotum and metanotum without longitudinal ecdysial lines (Fig. 48). In ventral view, gills absent on prosternum, mesosternum with 1 pair of ventrolateral gills and metasternum with 1 pair of ventrolateral gills and 1 simple ventromesal gill, each with long stalk and few, irregularly distributed lateral filaments. Legs similar, although prothoracic legs somewhat shorter than meso- and metathoracic legs; foretrochantins simple.
Larval abdomen. One pair of simple gills ventrally on segments I, III and VII, 1 pair of double gills ventrally on segments II–VI; each gill with long stalk and few (4–6) irregularly distributed lateral filaments. Abdominal sternum VIII with 2 small plates each bordered posteriorly by 1 long, posterolateral seta and 4 medium, posteromesal setae (Fig. 51).
Diagnosis. The male of S. helenae sp. nov. differs from those of the other species described in the subgenus by having tergum X with its distal region narrow and truncated in lateral view. The phallus has the internal sclerotized region of the ejaculatory duct wide distally and reticulated apically, divided longitudinally in 2 parts and diverging at both apical and basal ends; the endothecal membranes have a pair of sclerotized lateral paramere spines that are dark distally and terminated apically with short spines.
The pupa of S. helenae sp. nov. differs from those of the other species described in the subgenus by having the basolateral regions of the labrum a little shorter than the central lobe. Furthermore, the lateral lobes of the labrum in the new species each has 4 long setae and the central lobe has 5 medium setae. The pupa of the new species also differs from those of the other species by having hook plates on segments as described below and by differences in the form and number of hook plates; for S. helenae, in hook-plate pair 2a each plate has 2 strong hooks, while for S. appendiculata in hook-plate pair 2a each plate bears 5 strong hooks; for S. dithyra, in hook-plate pair 2a each plate has 8 strong hooks and 5 small ones, and for S. pampeana, in hook-plate pair 2a each plate has 6 strong and 5 small hooks.
The larva can be distinguished from those of the other species in the subgenus by the rounded shape of the head, the dark triangular spot on the posterior region of the frontoclypeus, and the narrow stridulation files ventrally on the genae, each with thin striations that are lightly marked.
Biology. Adults of S. helenae sp. nov. were collected with light traps placed over streams and rivers (1 in Roraima; 1 in Amazonas; 7 in Mato Grosso) with widths ranging from 4.5 to 1500 m. Larvae and pupae were collected in the Rio Branco, 1200 m in width, white water, pH 7.8, with boulders and rubble in riffle areas with Podostemaceae plants, located in savanna and in transitional areas between savanna and Amazonian rain forest; larvae were also collected in the Rio Negro, 1500 m in width, black water, pH 4.5, with rubble in riffle areas with Podostemaceae plants, located in Amazon Forest. In the state of Mato Grosso this species was collected in preserved gallery forest in the Cerrado biome; in the state of Amazonas adults were collected in a tributary of the Rio Negro, with acidic black water.
Distribution. Brazil Roraima, Mato Grosso and Amazonas states.
Etymology. The name helenae is in honor of Dr Helena Soares Ramos Cabette (UNEMAT), for her great contributions to the study of aquatic insects.
Material examined. Holotype male: BRAZIL, Roraima, Caracaraí municipality, Rio Branco, Cachoeira do Bem Querer, N 01º55’42” W 61º00’09”, 18–21.ii.2002, A.M.O. Pes, Pennsylvania trap, UV light, 1 male [alcohol] (INPA). Paratypes: BRAZIL, Roraima, Caracaraí municipality, Rio Branco, Cachoeira do Bem Querer, N 01º55’42” W 61º00’09”, 18–21.ii.2002, A.M.O. Pes, Pennsylvania trap, UV light, 39 males [alcohol] (INPA); 19– 23.viii.2002, C.A.S. de Azevêdo, Pennsylvania trap, UV light, 22 males [alcohol] (INPA); 2 males [alcohol] (UNE- MAT); 2 males [alcohol] (MZUSP); Amazonas, São Gabriel da Cachoeira municipality, Igarapé Cachoei-rinha, Quartel 6o BIS, xi.1999, Hamada, N., Pennsylvania trap, UV light, 10 males (INPA). Mato Grosso, Cocalinho, Fazenda Ellus, Rio Araguaia, S 13º00'29,2” W 50º35'48,0”, 17.x.2000, H.S.R. Cabette, white light trap with mercury lamp over white cloth, 4 males [alcohol] (INPA); 2 males [alcohol] (UNEMAT); (MZUSP); Lagoão, 16.x.2000, H.S.R. Cabette, white light trap with mercury lamp over white cloth, 3 males [alcohol] (INPA); 2 males [alcohol] (UNEMAT); 17.x.2000, Cabette, H.S.R. et al., white light trap with mercury lamp over white cloth, 2 males [alcohol] (INPA); Fazenda Tracajá, Corixo Sta. Cruz, S 13º05'07.0” W 51º05'53.4” 15.v.2001, H.S.R. Cabette, light trap with mixed light over white cloth, 2 males [alcohol] (INPA); 15.v.2001, H.S.R. Cabette, white light trap with mercury lamp over white cloth, 1 male [alcohol] (INPA); Nova Xavantina municipality, Córrego da Mata (4th order stretch), S 15º01'32" W 52º26' 29, 17.ix.2005, H.S.R. Cabette, light trap with mixed light over white cloth, 4 males [alcohol] (INPA); UNEMAT Campus, S 14°42'0.36" W 52°21'3.85", 05.x.2003, H.S.R. Cabette, light trap with mercury lamp over white cloth, 2 males [alcohol] (INPA); Barra do Garças, Rio Pindaíba (6th order stretch), S 14º54'10" W 52º00'21", 15.xi.2005, H.S.R. Cabette, light trap with mercury lamp over white cloth, 4 males [alcohol] (INPA).
Additional material. BRAZIL, Roraima, Caracaraí municipality, Rio Branco, Cachoeira do Bem Querer, N 01º55’42” W 61º00’09”, 21.i.2001, C.A.S. Azevêdo, 16 larvae [alcohol] (INPA); 1 larva [alcohol] (MZUSP); 19.ii.2002, C.A.S. Azevêdo, 8 larvae, 2 pupae [alcohol] (INPA); 17.iii.2007, A. M. O. Pes, 2 larvae [alcohol] (UNEMT); Amazonas, São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Rio Negro, S 00º10'29.20" W 067º00’39.8’’ (55 m altitude, 1500 m in width) 29.x.2010, A. M. O. Pes & N. Hamada, em Podostemaceae, 3 larvae [alcohol] (INPA).
description: Published as part of Albino, Jeyson Lazaro Duque, Pes, Ana Maria & Hamada, Neusa, 2011, Smicridea (Trichoptera, Hydropsychidae) from 3 Brazilian Amazonian States: New species, larval taxonomy and bionomics, pp. 1-35 in Zootaxa 3113 on pages 13-18, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.279309