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

Wormaldia milpe sp. nov.

Fig. 7 View Figure 7

Type material.

Holotype male: 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 ( UMSP 000551500 View Materials ) ( MECN). GoogleMaps

Diagnosis.

Wormaldia milpe most closely resembles W. gallardoi Muñoz-Quesada & Holzenthal, 2015 , and several related species, including W. andrea, Muñoz-Quesada & Holzenthal, 2015 ; W. prolixa Flint, 1991 ; and W. francovilla Muñoz-Quesada & Holzenthal, 2015 . These species have the apical segment of the inferior appendage approximately subequal in length to the basal segment, only moderately narrower in width, with the apex slightly enlarged in lateral view, and with the apicomesal spine-like setae somewhat longitudinally arranged. The species also have a similar posteromesal notch on tergum VIII, though variably developed, and a tergum X with a distinctly enlarged apex and modified lateral margins. Distributions of the species range from Costa Rica through Colombia. Wormaldia milpe has the posteromesal notch of tergum VIII relatively wide and shallow, with short rounded lateral projections and the mesal notch bordered posteriorly with short angular projections. Tergum X has an apex that is sensillate and very sharply upturned; basally it has a distinctly rounded and flattened projection, with its posterior margin slightly projecting; the lateral margins of tergum X have a uniformly rounded lateral projection in the basal half, with several scattered sensilla. The phallic spines are very unequal in size, one very short and curved, the other much longer and slightly curved; both spines have their bases enlarged, that of the longer spine forming an elongate sclerotized curl. The above characters, considered collectively, adequately diagnosis this new species.

Description.

Adult. Forewing length male 3.5 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 posterior margin modified mesally to form broad and shallow notch, bordered laterally by short, rounded projections, margin of notch with acute sclerotized projections; sternum VIII unmodified, only shallowly indentate mesally. 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, in lateral view, with apex sensillate, distinctly upturned and enlarged, with dorsally flattened mesobasal protuberance, with posterior margin distinctly projecting; mesobasal protuberance, in dorsal view, rounded, with narrowed base; tergum X, in dorsal view, with apex rounded, narrowing to form continuous narrow mesal sclerotization, lateral margins more membranous, widened anterior to sensillate mesal lobe, subparallel, in basal half forming uniformly convex, but weakly projecting, lateral processes with several marginal sensilla. Preanal appendage apparently fused to base of tergum X basolaterally, digitate, slightly irregular in shape, distinctly shorter in length than tergum X. Inferior appendage with basal segment wide, slightly elongate, enlarged at middle, narrowing apically; apical segment, in lateral view, slightly shorter than basal segment, narrower basally than apex of basal segment, slightly widened and rounded apically; in ventral view, with apex rounded, with tract of short, spine-like setae, extending longitudinally from apex. Phallus semi-membranous, phallobase with bulbous basodorsal expansion, strongly narrowed apically, internally with very short, curved spine with enlarged base, and second much longer, curved, apically acute spine, with elongate, curled basal sclerotization; phallotremal sclerite indistinct, apparently short and tubular.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

Named after the type locality, the town of Milpe and the nearby preserved cloud forest, managed by the laudable work of the Mindo Cloud Forest Foundation.