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

Wormaldia insolita sp. nov.

Fig. 6 View Figure 6

Type material.

Holotype male: Ecuador: • Pichincha: small forest stream, Milpe Bird Sanctuary , 0.03249°N, 78.86681°W, el. 1125 m, 20.xi.2023, Ríos, Holzenthal, Frandsen, Amigo ( UMSP 000507032 View Materials ) ( UMSP) GoogleMaps . Paratype: Ecuador: • Pichincha: small trickle, Milpe Garden, Mindo Cloud Forest Foundation , 0.03739°N, 78.87086°W, el. 1114 m, 21.xi.2023, Ríos, Holzenthal, Frandsen, Amigo, 1 male ( UMSP 000551499 View Materials ) ( MECN) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Wormaldia insolita , because of the very distinctive and unusual development of its inferior appendage, is readily identified and unlikely to be confused with any other described species. Particularly diagnostic is the apical segment of the inferior appendage, which has its apex strongly deflexed and narrowed, and has a longitudinal tract of very dense and minute, spine-like setae on its mesal surface, not quite extending to the apex. The basal segment of the inferior appendage is very bulbously enlarged. Like W. milpe sp. nov. and related species, it has a distinctive mesal notch on the posterior margin of tergum VIII. However, we are uncertain about the closest affinity of this new species.

Description.

Adult. Forewing length male 4.5 mm ( n = 2). Color fuscous. Male. Sternum VII without distinct posteromesal projection or process, very slightly convexly produced mesally. Tergum VIII with posterior margin modified to form broad mesal notch, bordered laterally by short rounded sclerotized projections, margin of notch also sclerotized; sternum VIII unmodified, only weakly notched mesally. Segment IX, in lateral view, with anterolateral margin broadly and convexly rounded, posterior margin nearly straight, narrowing dorsally. Tergum X, in lateral view, with apex rounded, sensillate; preapically, on dorsal margin, with concavely rounded excavation; tergum, as viewed dorsally, subtriangular, narrow apically, widened basally, with small, subtriangular lateral projections at approximately midlength. Preanal appendage elongate, digitate, somewhat irregular in shape, extending to preapical excavation of tergum X, apparently fused to posterior margin of segment IX, lateral to base of tergum X. Inferior appendage, in lateral view, with basal segment short and very wide, length subequal to width, wide at apex; apical segment, in lateral view, subequal in length to basal segment, basally as wide as apex of basal segment, extending short distance and then abruptly ventrally flexed from dorsal margin, narrowed, acute apically, with apex projecting downward; posterior and apical margins of apical segment with elongate setae, pad of very dense, minute, spine-like setae on mesal surface, though not exposed in lateral view, distinctly visible along posterior margin, visible in dorsal view, but not directly visible, though apparent, in ventral view; in ventral view, both segments of inferior appendage much narrower and more uniform in width, basal segment wider than apical segment, apical segment subacute apically. Phallus with phallobase expanded basodorsally, very short ventrally, sclerotization extending laterally into endotheca; endotheca moderately elongate, with two elongate, narrow spines, one very strongly curved, with enlarged base, other very narrow and sinuous, with base narrow and nearly as elongate as spine. Phallotremal sclerite indistinct, apparently widened or flared apically.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

From the Latin insolita meaning unusual, uncommon or strange, and attributed to the unusual development of its inferior appendage, which are unique for this species in the genus.