Protoptila chipolensis Rasmussen & Harris, 2025

Protoptila chipolensis Rasmussen & Harris sp. nov.

Fig. 4 View Figure 4

Protoptila sp. nov.; collection records, Denson et al. (2016).

Type material.

Holotype male ( CMNH) • Florida, Jackson County, Chipola River at Caverns Road (State Road 166) , 30°39'43"N, 85°13'21"W, 6 May 2010, D. Denson, E. Denson, UV pan trap GoogleMaps . Paratypes • Same data as holotype, 20 males and 10 females ( CMNH) GoogleMaps • 20 males and 10 Females ( CUAC) GoogleMaps • 20 males and 10 females ( FAMU) GoogleMaps • 20 males and 10 females ( NMNH) GoogleMaps • 20 males and 10 females ( UMSP) GoogleMaps ; Florida, Jackson County • Rocky Creek at Highway 71 , 18 May 1994, M. Pescador, S. Harris, 3 males and 1 female ( FAMU) • Chipola River at State Road 167 near Marianna , 30°47'36"N, 85°13'18"W, 4 October 2006, D. Denson, UV pan trap, 10 males ( CMNH) GoogleMaps • Chipola River at State Road 162 , 30°52'12"N, 85°15'32"W, 2 October 2010, D. Denson, E. Denson, UV pan trap, 14 males and 18 females ( CUAC) GoogleMaps • same as previous, except 6 August 2011, D. Denson, 19 males and 22 females ( UMSP) GoogleMaps • Chipola River at Peacock Bridge ramp , 30°37'36"N, 85°09'56"W, 21 May 2010, D. Denson, A. Rasmussen, UV pan trap, 25 males and 44 females ( FAMU) GoogleMaps • Pelt Creek at State Road 73 , 30°39'43"N, 85°13'21"W, D. Denson, UV pan trap, 12 males and 20 females ( NMNH) GoogleMaps • Hollis Branch upstream of Chipola River , 30°33'13"N, 85°10'14"W, 21 May 2010, D. Denson, A. Rasmussen, UV pan trap, 8 males, 13 females ( UMSP) GoogleMaps • Bridge Creek at State Road 71 , 30°39'05"N, 85°09'45"W, 7 May 2011, D. Denson, UV pan trap, 1 male ( FAMU) GoogleMaps • Waddell’s Mill Creek upstream of Chipola River , 30°51'03"N, 85°16'44"W, D. Denson, E. Denson, UV pan trap, 18 males and 108 females ( CMNH) GoogleMaps ; Calhoun County • Chipola River at Highway 20 , 27 September 1972, P. Carlson 2 males 3 females ( CUAC) • Chipola River at Highway 274 , 30°32'03"N, 85°09'54"W, 17 May 1994, M. Pescador, S. Harris, R. Flowers, UV pan trap, 78 males and 27 females ( FAMU) GoogleMaps • Chipola River at boat ramp 5 km SW of Altha , 30°33'05"N, 85°10'17"W, 28 March 1998, M. Pescador, A. Rasmussen, UV pan trap, 4 males and 1 female ( FAMU) GoogleMaps • Chipola River at Laramore Landing , 30°30'44"N, 85°09'31"W, 20 May 2010, A. Rasmussen, D. Denson, D. Ray, R. Abad, L. Brooks, Mercury vapor sheet, 29 males and 12 females ( UMSP) GoogleMaps • same as previous, except 6 May 2011, D. Denson, UV pan trap, 7 males and 137 females ( CUAC) GoogleMaps • Chipola River at Look and Tremble Rapids , 30°31'29"N, 85°09'42"W, 6 May 2011, D. Denson, UV pan trap, 4 males and 37 females ( CMNM) GoogleMaps • same as previous, except 28 October 2011, D. Denson, E. Denson, 9 males and 22 females ( FAMU) GoogleMaps .

Other material examined.

Florida, Calhoun County • Chipola River at boat ramp 5 km SW of Altha , 30°33'05"N, 85°10'17"W, 26 March 2010, A. Rasmussen, D. Denson, dipnet, 1 larva ( FAMU) GoogleMaps • Chipola River at Highway 274 , 30°32'03"N, 85°09'54"W, 3 September 2010, A. Rasmussen, C. Zhou, dipnet, 3 larvae and 1 pupa ( FAMU) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

The male of Protoptila chipolensis sp. nov. is most similar to P. maculata (Hagen) in the narrow, elongate similarly-shaped sternum VIII and the thick phallic parameres that are sharply turned apically; the parameres of P. chipolensis sp. nov., however, are less thick than those of P. maculata . The new species is most easily distinguished from all other Nearctic Protoptila by the shape of Segment X, the arms of which are stout and strongly decurved in lateral view and terminate in a distinctive cuspidate apex; in P. maculata the segment X arms are straighter and more slender. The female of P. chipolensis sp. nov. is similar to P. maculata and P. lega Ross in that all three species possess broad circular ventral plates on sternum VIII, but appears to be distinguishable by the shape and sclerotization of the internal structures of the vaginal apparatus. Additionally, P. chipolensis sp. nov. lacks a sclerotized dome-like band above the vaginal apparatus that is found in the other species [see Morse (1988: fig. 2 A)].

Description.

Total length male 3.3–3.8 mm (mean = 3.6 mm, n = 10), female 3.2–4.0 mm (mean = 3.6 mm, n = 10). General structure typical of genus, as described by Robertson and Holzenthal (2013). In alcohol, head and thorax reddish brown; antennae, wings, and legs tawny; abdomen pale brown. Forewings with transverse translucent line at mid-length. Abdominal sterna clothed with long hairs; sternum VI with midventral keel-like projection.

Male genitalia. Fig. 4 A – C View Figure 4 . Segment VIII tergum with darkened narrow band with long setae along posterior margin; in lateral view sternum dark brown basally, ventral margin straight, posterior projection elongate, slightly upturned apically; in ventral view sternum elongate, apex with rounded V-shaped mesal incision. Segment IX sclerotized, mostly enclosed within segments VII and VIII, sternum apically divided into pair of setal bearing processes. Segment X posteriorly divided into pair of curved arms; in lateral view bulbous basally with broad setal-bearing lobe, distally arm wide, decurved, cuspidate apically. Phallic apparatus nested within Segment IX attached to rounded apodeme; basoventrally with paired digitate rods, apically setose, appressible into pockets on underside of phallus; in lateral view pair of intertwined processes form ventral cup near midlength; pair of stout parameres attached to phallus dorsolaterally, in lateral view each paramere usually tucked underneath phallus, abruptly curved dorsomesally near apex, lightly spinous at tips; phallus in lateral view terminating in rounded head (phallicata) with posteroventral projection.

Female genitalia. Fig. 4 D, E View Figure 4 . Segment VII unmodified, tergal and sternal plates rectangular. Segment VIII in lateral view dorsally rounded, constricted laterally, ventrally ovate with sharply pointed posteroventral projection; in ventral view ventral plates broadly rounded with erect black setae. Venter with vulvar lip slightly bilobed, posterior membranous area terminating in paired slender projections similar to cerci. Segment IX + X fused, posterolateral lobes broad; in lateral view lobes rectangular, slender cercus extending from apex; in ventral view lobes broadly conical with sinuous posterior margin. Internal apodeme “ whip ” attached ventrally near vulvar lip, extended cephlad far into Segment VII. Internal vaginal apparatus box-like in ventral view with circular spermathecal duct, paired elliptical structures, two pairs sclerotized lateral bands, in lateral view outermost band dorsal to inner band.

Larva and pupa. Undescribed. Larvae and a pupa of P. chipolensis sp. nov. have been collected and preserved for future study (see above material examined).

Distribution.

Known from only the Chipola River and tributaries in Jackson and Calhoun counties in the western panhandle of Florida. Collection records of the species from 14 sites were presented by Denson et al. (2016) as part of a faunal survey of the basin, which documented 143 species of Trichoptera .

Etymology.

This species is named after the Chipola River basin where the species was collected.

Remarks.

The Chipola River flows nearly 100 miles through northwest Florida emptying into the Apalachicola River. In many ways the Chipola River is atypical of most Florida rivers as it is fed by 63 freshwater springs which prevents water temperatures from becoming inhospitably warm in the summer. Portions of the river flow over limestone outcroppings, which is the primary larval habitat of the new species ( Pescador et al. 2004) and Setodes chipolanus ( Rasmussen et al. 2008 b) , which is also endemic to the Chipola River basin.