Homoplectra kimi, Nozaki, 2025

Homoplectra kimi sp. nov.

( Figs 9 View FIGURE 9 , 13 View FIGURE 13 )

Arctopsyche sp. AB: Kim 1974, pp 70–71, pupa, male and female genitalia.

Diplectrona sp. (af. japonica ): Morita 1995, p. 96.

Diplectroninae Gen. sp.: Morita 2008, pp 91–93.

Diagnosis. The male of this species is easily distinguishable from those of other congeneric Japanese species by the shape of the phallic apparatus:A pair of long ventral processes of the phallotheca are bent sharply in the middle, and each apical sinuated part is easily visible from the ventral or caudal sides ( Figs 9C, 9E View FIGURE 9 ). The female of this species is distinguishable from those of known Japanese species by the shape of the vaginal apparatus: A pair of dorsal ridges are broad anteriorly in dorsal and lateral aspects ( Fig. 9G View FIGURE 9 ).

Description

Adult. General appearance similar to that of H. japonica , but setae on dorsal warts of head and prothorax mostly brown; face of head, coxae and femora of all legs dark brown in both male and female. Forewings each 7.0– 8.8 mm long in male (n = 10), 8.2–10.0 mm long in female (n = 10), 7.5 mm in male holotype.

Male genitalia ( Figs 9A–9E View FIGURE 9 ). Ventrolateral sides of synsclerotized segment IX triangular anteriorly in lateral aspect ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ); posteroventral lobe broadly triangular in ventral aspect ( Fig. 9C View FIGURE 9 ); dorsal part of segment IX broadly subtriangular to semicircular in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 9B View FIGURE 9 ), broadly fused with segment X laterally ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ). Segment X bilobed posteriorly in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 9B View FIGURE 9 ), each posterolateral setose area protruding posterad ( Figs 9A, 9B View FIGURE 9 ), each ventrolateral margin weakly sclerotized, posterior processes lacking ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ). Genital chamber with pair of long inner processes, evenly curved downward, each with acute apex ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ); pair of lateral strips (l.s.) weakly sclerotized ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ). Inferior appendages each without distal segment, long-rectangular in lateral aspect, truncate apically, extending slightly beyond apex of segment X ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ); each bearing small process subapicomesally, with one or two spine-like setae ( Figs 9A View FIGURE 9 inset, 9C). Phallotheca arcuate, dorsal process short, bifurcated apically ( Fig. 9D View FIGURE 9 ); pair of lateral processes slightly shorter than dorsal process, each with acute apex ( Figs 9D, 9E View FIGURE 9 ); pair of ventral processes long, bent sharply in middle, like head and neck of flamingo in lateral aspect; ventral spine short ( Fig. 9E View FIGURE 9 ). Aedeagus curved slightly ventrad, stem half-pipe-like, head very short, less than 1/10 as long as stem ( Figs 9D, 9E View FIGURE 9 ).

Female genitalia ( Figs 9F–9H View FIGURE 9 ) Lateral lobes of sternum VIII cleft from base, widely separated from each other in ventral aspect ( Fig. 9H View FIGURE 9 ). Segment IX obliquely rectangular in lateral aspect ( Fig. 9F View FIGURE 9 ), broadly pentagonal in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 9G View FIGURE 9 ); pair of mesal lobes small, semimembranous. Vulvar scale large, trapezoidal in ventral aspect ( Fig. 9H View FIGURE 9 ), membranous apically, weakly ridged basolaterally by sclerotized ribs of segment IX. Vaginal apparatus in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 9G View FIGURE 9 ) bulb-shaped anteriorly, rectangular posteriorly, with posterodorsal part mostly semimembranous, complicated, and with pair of dorsal ridges broad anteriorly in dorsal ( Fig. 9G View FIGURE 9 ) and lateral aspects.

Larva. Unknown.

Pupa. General morphology very similar to that of H. albomarginata . Body length 7.0–8.0 mm (n = 3).

Holotype. Male (in alcohol): Iseji, Minamiise-cho , Mie, 34.3861°N, 136.6611°E, alt. 340 m, 28.iv–7.v.2008, H. Morita, Malaise trap ( KPM-NK TN00660 ). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. 17 males, 12 females, same data as holotype ( KPM-NK TN00670 , KPM-NKTN00680 ) GoogleMaps .

Other specimens examined. JAPAN: HONSHU: Mie: 8 males, 4 females, same locality as holotype, 7– 14.v.2008, H. Morita; 1 male, 3 pupae, same locality, 18.iv.2009, T. Torii ( TT); 2 males, Yamato-dani, Odai-cho, 3.v.1994, H. Morita ( KT).

Etymology. This species is named in honor of a Korean scientist, the late Mr Jae Won Kim, who described the male and female genitalia of this species for the first time. He was a pioneer in the taxonomic study of Korean caddisflies.

Distribution. Central Honshu.

Biology. Many adults of this species were collected in May using a Malaise trap from a small mountain flow at the type locality ( Morita 2008).

Japanese name. Kim-kimadara-shima-tobikera.

Remarks. Kim (1974) described a pupa as “ Arctopsyche sp. AB” from Nara, central Honshu, Japan, and also provided fine illustrations of male genitalia in the pupal skin. His description and illustrations agree well with those of H. kimi described here.