Hydroptila aviforma Rasmussen & Harris, 2025

Hydroptila aviforma Rasmussen & Harris sp. nov.

Fig. 5 View Figure 5

Type material.

Holotype male ( CMNH) • Florida, Washington County, Lucas Lake at boat landing, Lucas Lake Road, off County Road 279 , 30°32'37"N, 85°41'26"W, 17 April 2013, A. Rasmussen and N. Miller, UV pan trap GoogleMaps . Paratypes • Same data as holotype, 3 males ( FAMU) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Hydroptila aviforma sp. nov. shares a number of characters with several southeastern species notably, H. cretosa Harris , H. metteei , and H. wakulla . All have an elongate tenth segment and inferior appendages which are equal in length in lateral view; a tenth tergite which is split distally; segment IX completely enclosed within segment VIII, which is tapered and rounded distally in lateral aspect; and a phallus which is narrow over nearly the entire length with the ejaculatory duct protruding apically. Hydroptila aviforma sp. nov. differs from these species in the tenth segment being wide and bulbous at midlength in lateral aspect, with a setal-bearing sclerite; the tenth tergite being deeply divided with each side thin and truncate distally; the inferior appendages having elongate, thick setae subapically; and segment VII lacking a ventromesal process.

Description.

Male. Total length 2.8–3.0 mm (mean = 2.9 mm, n = 4). Antennae with 31 segments, brown in alcohol. Genitalia as in Fig. 5 View Figure 5 . Segment VII annular without a ventromesal process. Segment VIII wide anteriorly, rounded posteriorly in lateral view; dorsally incised on posteromesal margin; quadrate ventrally. Segment IX in lateral view short, incised posteroventrally, completely enclosed within segment VIII; dorsally divided mesally, posterolateral margins pointed distally; ventrally deeply incised on anterior margin. Segment X in lateral view widening at midlength, bulbous ventrally and bearing short, stout setae, tapering posteriorly to downturned pointed apex; dorsally deeply divided mesally, each lateral branch parallel-sided over length, truncate apically; ventrally with setal-bearing plate anterior of split. Inferior appendages thin and sickle-shaped in lateral aspect, bearing cluster of thickened, elongate setae posterodorsally, equal in length to segment X; in ventral view narrow and parallel-sided over much of length, sinuate posteriorly, pointed apically, with thickened setae subapically. Phallus elongate and thin over length, thin paramere encircling shaft below midlength, ejaculatory duct protruding apically.

Adult female, larva, and pupa. Unknown.

Distribution.

Known from only the type locality, a natural lake in the Florida panhandle.

Etymology.

Latin avis (bird) and forma (shape) referring to the bird-shape form of the apex of the tenth segment as seen in lateral view.

Remarks.

Hydroptila quinola (11 individuals) was the only other species of Hydroptila collected in the same sample as the new species. The addition of this new species brings the total number of Florida endemics in the microcaddisflies to 21, 14 of which are in the genus Hydroptila .