ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Insects are fundamental to biodiversity conservation in almost all ecosystems, and their population decline, and extinction directly result from environmental impacts. These facts are aggravated by the lack of knowledge of insect biodiversity, the so-called biodiversity deficits, especially the Linnean and Wallacean shortfalls. In freshwater ecosystems, biodiversity loss is higher among aquatic insects, and caddisflies comprise one of the most vulnerable orders. In this way, research focusing on describing new caddisfly species and understanding their distribution ranges will increase knowledge of caddisfly biodiversity. In the past 14 years, the team from the Laboratório de Entomologia Aquática "Prof. Dr. Claudio Gilberto Froehlich" (LEAq, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil) and collaborators have been addressing these issues, resulting in 55 described species of caddisflies. Taxa in other insect orders have also received attention and an additional 16 species have been described (eight mayflies, four stoneflies, four neuropteran spongillaflies, and antlions). Here, eight caddisfly species are described and illustrated (Atopsyche froehlichi sp. nov., Austrotinodes zeferina sp. nov., Cernotina kariri sp. nov., Neoathripsodes froehlichi sp. nov., Notalina claudiofroehlichi sp. nov., Oecetis marcus sp. nov., Phylloicus froehlichi sp. nov., and Polycentropus claudioi sp. nov.), five of them in honor of LEAq's patron. In addition, new distributional data are presented for 10 known species. A checklist of the caddisfly fauna of Bahia state is also presented, with 138 species, around 75% and 30% of them recorded and described by the LEAq team, respectively. Currently, for caddisflies, Bahia is the fifth most species-rich state in Brazil, and the first in the Brazilian Northeast region.
ABSTRACT
In Brazil, about 900 species of Trichoptera have been recorded, with some species in all Brazilian states. Nevertheless, the collection effort is unequal, with several under-sampled regions. Despite being located entirely within the Atlantic Forest ecoregion, a hotspot of biodiversity, Esprito Santo State has a low known caddisfly richness when compared to nearby areas in the same ecoregion, especially for the infraorder Brevitentoria. This suggests the existence of a Trichoptera biodiversity knowledge gap. Aiming to overcome these taxonomic and distributional shortfalls, we performed a comprehensive inventory of the Brevitentoria species in the state. The sampled sites were distributed from North to South of the state covering 22 locations. In total, 3,420 adult specimens of Brevitentoria were analyzed, leading to a total of 40 species. Two families and 27 species are recorded for the first time from the state. Additionally, we describe three new species of the genera Phylloicus, Helicopsyche (Feropsyche), and Marilia. As a result of this survey, we increase by 100% the number of species of Brevitentoria known from the state, and by 30% for the number of known Trichoptera species. Based on incidence data from this inventory and from the literature, the Brevitentoria species richness was estimated to be about 72 species in Esprito Santo State.
Subject(s)
Holometabola , Insecta , Humans , Animals , Brazil , Forests , BiodiversityABSTRACT
Three new species of the genus Xiphocentron (Trichoptera, Xiphocentronidae) are described from Nearctic and Neotropical regions of Mexico. Xiphocentron (Glyphocentron) flinti sp. nov. has a very unique morphology distinguished by the presence of long spines on the preapical and apical margin of tergum X. Xiphocentron (Antillotrichia) holzenthali sp. nov. is diagnosed by tergum IX, with the apical margin bearing a narrow, rounded, mesal emargination and by a spiny projection near the basal plate. These species are the first records of the family in northwestern Mexico. Xiphocentron (Antillotrichia) pineroi sp. nov. is recognized, when observed in lateral view, by its less elongate genitalia and the sinuous mesal sclerite of the inferior appendage. Additionally, we provide detailed illustrations of Xiphocentron (Antillotrichia) rhamnes Schmid, and an updated list of the distribution of the genus Xiphocentron in Mexico.
ABSTRACT
Xiphocentron is the most species-rich genus of the pantropical family Xiphocentronidae. Among its five subgenera, Antillotrichia is the most diverse and the only one to occur in South America and Antilles. In the present study, two new species of Xiphocentron (Antillotrichia) are described from southern Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Xiphocentron gwarakeraba sp. nov. is diagnosed by the very elongate inferior appendage not bearing spines and with a simple mesal sclerite; X. muelleri sp. nov. is diagnosed by the inferior appendage with its ventral margin produced posterad and distinctly truncate. New distributional records are provided for X. acqualume, X. jaguare, X. kamakan, and X. maracanan. Additional non-genital diagnostic characters are presented for X. jaguare, and intraspecific morphological variations of forewing fork II (R3 and R4) and male genitalia are described for X. maracanan.
Subject(s)
Holometabola , Insecta , Animals , Brazil , Forests , MaleABSTRACT
Three new species of Polycentropodidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Northeast Region of Brazil are diagnosed, described, and illustrated. Polycentropus brevicornutus n. sp. of the Polycentropus gertschi Group can be diagnosed mainly by its much reduced, almost vestigial intermediate appendages, and by the inferior appendages, which are deltoid and very linear in lateral aspect. The two new species of Polyplectropus are P. anchorus n. sp. and P. auriplicatus n. sp. in the P. annulicornis and P. bredini Groups, respectively. Polyplectropus anchorus n. sp. is very similar to P. annulicornis Ulmer 1905, but can be distinguished from its congener mainly by the endothecal spines without setae and with their apices directed dorsolaterad. Polyplectropus auriplicatus n. sp. resembles P. brasilensis but can be distinguished mainly by the shorter and deltoid intermediate appendages, the straighter dorsolateral processes of the preanal appendages, and the inferior appendages each with its mesoventral branch more developed and rounded.
Subject(s)
Insecta/classification , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Brazil , Female , Insecta/anatomy & histology , Insecta/growth & development , Male , Organ SizeABSTRACT
Two new species of Chimarra (Chimarrita) are described and illustrated, Chimarra (Chimarrita) mesodontasp. n. and Chimarra (Chimarrita) anticheirasp. n. from the Chimarra (Chimarrita) rosalesi and Chimarra (Chimarrita) simpliciforma species groups, respectively. The morphological variation of Chimarra (Curgia) morio is also illustrated. Chimarra (Otarrha) odonta and Chimarra (Chimarrita) kontilos are reported to occur in the northeast region of Brazil for the first time. An updated key is provided for males and females of the all species in the subgenus Chimarrita.
ABSTRACT
Two new species of Xiphocentron (Trichoptera: Xiphocentronidae) from Northeastern Brazil are diagnosed, described, and illustrated. Xiphocentron (Antillotrichia) kamakan n. sp. has inferior appendages each with a shape discontinuity (twist) between the first and second articles of inferior appendage, similar to that found in X. (Antillotrichia) rhamnes Schmid 1982, X. (Antillotrichia) serestus Schmid 1982, and X. (Antillotrichia) mnesteus Schmid 1982; however, it can be distinguished from these species by each inferior appendage having two darkly sclerotized spinulous regions ventrally on the basomesal and midmesal margins. Xiphocentron (Antillotrichia) maiteae n. sp. can be differentiated from all other congeners by having the basoventral margin of each inferior appendage strongly produced posterad. A key to males of Brazilian species of Xiphocentron is provided.
