Culoptila aguilerai, Wichard, Wilfried, Solórzano, Mónica M., Kraemer & Luer, Claus, 2006

Wichard, Wilfried, Solórzano, Mónica M., Kraemer & Luer, Claus, 2006, First caddisfly species from Mexican amber (Insecta: Trichoptera), Zootaxa 1378, pp. 37-48 : 39-41

publication ID

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.175015

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6256831

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4449879B-FFAD-FFB4-B05E-FE92FCA0FF5D

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Culoptila aguilerai
status

sp. nov.

Culoptila aguilerai , new species

Figs. 1–2 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2

Compared with recent forms ( Blahnik & Holzenthal 2006), the first fossil species of the genus Culoptila is characterized by diagnostic male genitalic structures typical for the genus: the rounded posterodorsal apex of the phallobase enclosing 2 phallic spines and an additional spine, the apparent absence of sternum IX, the projecting tergum X, and the long spatulate inferior appendages. Considering all genitalic characters and their modifications, a close relationship to one of the described, extant species in difficult to establish.

Adult. Length of forewing 2.5 mm. General structure and forewing venation typical for genus ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 A, 2C). In the forewings the genus is characterized by the presence of fork I–IV, forks I and II sessile, forks III and IV petiolate; fork V absent. Tegulae enlarged and dorsally rounded. Sternum VI of male bears a compressed apicomesal knob. Tibial spurs 0,4,4.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 A, 2B). Segment IX rectangular in lateral aspect, sternum IX probably reduced. Segment X, in lateral aspect, long, with dorsal margin produced to a point, each lateral arm rounded apically, lightly sclerotized, together forming a ventral incomplete ring. Phallobase with dorsally rounded margin enclosing 1 pair of long, sinusoidal dorsal spines, their apices acuminate, dark colored; spines twisted ( holotype) or divergent ( paratype). [We think that the different position of the spines in the holotype and paratype do not indicate 2 species but rather show natural variation within a single species or is a result of the embedding process in the resin.] Phallobase ventrally with additional spine half as long as dorsal pair of spines, dorsally arched and pointed; ventrolaterally phallobase projected as a triangular hyaline lobe. Inferior appendages long, spatulate.

Holotype male: Embedded in Mexican amber in the amber collection of the Instituto de Historia Natural y Ecologia, Museum of Paleontology, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, collection no.: IHNFA 0 14.

Paratype: Embedded in Mexican amber in the amber collection of the Instituto de Historia Natural y Ecologia, Museum of Paleontology, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, collection-no.: IHNFA 0 88, male.

Etymology. Dedicated to Prof. Eliseo Palacios Aguilera ( 1896–1944), the driving force in the study of the fossils of Chiapas, Mexico

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