Wormaldia nilssoni, Holzenthal & Blanhik & Ríos-Touma, 2025

Wormaldia nilssoni sp. nov.

Fig. 5 View Figure 5

Type material.

Holotype male: Ecuador: • Napo: Wildsumaco Lodge, small stream # 2, Benavides Trail , 0.67631°S, 77.59824°W, el. 1479 m, 13.xi.2023, Ríos, Holzenthal, Frandsen, Amigo ( UMSP 000551141 View Materials ) ( MECN). GoogleMaps

Diagnosis.

Wormaldia nilssoni most closely resembles W. machadorum Muñoz-Quesada & Holzenthal, 2015 , described from Costa Rica and known also from Panama ( Armitage et al. 2015). Similarities include the form of the inferior appendage, with a bulbous basal segment and apically narrowed apical segment, with a longitudinal arrangement of short spine-like setae on its mesal surface; and the narrow and lightly sclerotized posteromesal processes of tergum VIII. As compared to W. machadorum , the projections from tergum VIII are more V-shaped, closely situated basally and diverging apically. The anterior margin of segment IX is not as distinctly angular as it is in W. machadorum , or in other species mentioned as being close to that species in its original description. Other diagnostic features of W. nilssoni include the form of tergum X, with its apex slightly upturned and lateral margins broadly rounded, apparently with several scattered sensilla, and with a distinct short basomesal protuberance; and its phallic spines, one very short and curved, and the other lacking any noticeable projection (possibly as an aberration).

Description.

Adult. Forewing length male 4.5 mm. Color pale stramineous, denuded (specimen in alcohol). Male. Sternum VII without distinct posteromesal projection or process, very slightly convexly produced mesally. Tergum VIII with pair of posteromesal processes; processes weakly sclerotized, elongate, narrow, digitate, closely opposed basally, diverging apically, forming V-shaped configuration; sternum VIII unmodified, nearly straight. Segment IX, in lateral view, with anterolateral margin convexly rounded, very slightly angular in middle; posterior margin nearly straight (very slightly concave); dorsal margin abruptly narrowed from posterior margin, forming cleft extending almost to anterior margin, where continuous with tergum X and preanal appendage. Tergum X with apex sensillate, slightly enlarged and upturned, with small, subquadrate mesobasal protuberance; in dorsal view, with apex forming rounded projection, somewhat continuous anteromesally, lateral margins forming uniformly convex, but rather weakly projecting, lateral processes with several marginal sensilla. Preanal appendage apparently fused to base of tergum X basolaterally, simple in form, elongate, digitate, narrowed basally, shorter in length than tergum X. Inferior appendage with basal segment relatively elongate, bulbously enlarged at middle, narrowing apically; apical segment, in lateral view, distinctly shorter than basal segment, narrow, nearly uniform in width, narrowing apically; in ventral view, somewhat flattened on mesal surface, with patch of short, spine-like setae, extending longitudinally from apex. Phallus semimembranous, phallobase with bulbous basodorsal expansion, strongly narrowed apically, internally with very short, curved spine with enlarged base, and second basal small, sclerotized structure, lacking accompanying spine (possibly as aberration); phallotremal sclerite indistinct, apparently tubular, inflated at middle.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

This species is dedicated to Jonas Nilsson, founder of Wildsumaco Lodge and its surrounding preserved forest, for his efforts to protect this amazing habitat and its near pristine forest.