Zumatrichia marica Flint 1981

Zumatrichia marica

Zumatrichia marica is clearly a member of the galtena group closest to Z. saluda Flint. From this and other closely related species it may be distinguished by the bilobed apex of the basodorsal process of the clasper, and the structure of the apex of the aedeagus, especially the very heavy dorsomesal hook.

ADULT.—Length of forewing, 3 mm. Color fuscous, marked with patches of greenish hair. Male genitalia: Eight sternum without processes, truncate apically, without midventral cleft. Ninth segment with anterolateral angle slightly produced, posterolateral process slender, short, with a single apical seta. Lateral penis-sheath broad, tapering to apicoventral angle; with a basoventral tooth. Clasper with basodorsal process long, slightly sinuate, subapically with a large ventral process; ventral lobe with apicolateral, finger-like processes. Aedeagus with typical midlength complex; apically with a midventral rodlike process, a cluster of spines of various lengths, and a heavy middorsal process whose tip is hooked dorsad.

MATERIAL.—Holotype, male: VENEZUELA, ARAGUA, Maracay, Río Limón, Estacion Piscicultura, 23 Apr 1975, F.H. Weibezhan. USNM Type 76624.

Paratype: Ocumure [de la Costa], 19–20 Feb 1969, P. and P. Spangler, 1.

This is a small genus known primarily from the West Indies and Mesoamerica (Flint, 1970). Its presence along the southern rim of the Caribbean is hardly surprising, therefore. It is possible that other species may be found in Venezuela, but the adults must be sought on rocks in the stream during bright sun.

Larvae of several Antillean species of the genus are known (Flint, 1964, 1968). The larvae are free-living on boulders kept wet by the adjacent stream until pupation time when they construct a silken closure beneath which they pupate.