Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) talamanca Flint 1974

Smicridea (R.) talamanca

This species of the peruana group is easily told apart from the only other species of the group herein treated by the lack of the mesal point from the ninth sternum in the male. In addition, the apex of the aedeagus is totally different in the two species.

The females of S. talamanca are colored the same as the males, rather than being darker, as is the case with S. acuminata. The dorsomesal lobe of the internal plate in S. acuminata is also quite distinctive.

ADULT.—Length of forewing 6–7 mm. Color pale yellowish; forewing yellowish, with dark markings on crossveins and in a subterminal band (cf. Figure 34). Fifth sternum with anterolateral process almost twice length of sternum in male and female. Male genitalia: Ninth segment with anterolateral angle produced, rounded, no midventral process. Tenth tergite in lateral aspect with ventral margin straight and strongly sclerotized, with tip narrowly produced posteriad; in dorsal aspect with tip narrowly produced and rounded. Clasper with basal segment long and inflated apicad; apical segment with tip rounded in dorsal aspect. Aedeagus tubular, with basal and apical sections angled at about 90°; apical section slightly arched, with a lightly sclerotized middorsal, hoodlike structure; tip with a transverse, dark, dorsal band, with a pointed, serrate, ventrolateral process, and a rounded midventral lobe; internally with a long, probably eversible, structure. Female genitalia: Ninth tergum with anterolateral margin angled at about 90°. Internal plate with long, slender lateral arms, with a large mesal lobe directed anteriorly from anterior bridge. Vagina with anterior bar bearing lateral, twisted processes, with an irregular, U-shaped plate posteriad, and a small, lightly sclerotized plate over anterior bar.

IMMATURE STAGES.—Unknown.

MATERIAL.—Holotype, male: COSTA RICA, CARTAGO, Chitaria, 19 June 1967, Flint and Ortiz. USNM Type 72710. Paratypes: same data, 1 1 . 3 miles W of Turrialba, 18–21 June 1967, Flint and Ortiz, l 2 . PUNTARENAS: 14.1 miles E of Esparta, 23 July 1967, O. S. Flint, Jr., 4. GUANACASTE: Quebrada Tronadorcita, Arenal, 24 July 1967, O. S. Flint, Jr., I .

BIOLOGY.—The adults have been collected sparingly, both at lights and beaten from foliage. The four males from near Esparta were beaten from foliage overhanging a stream only 2–3 meters wide that was cascading rapidly down a forested mountainside. Similar habitats were nearby most of the other sites, leading me to believe that this species may be limited to waterfalls or other restricted habitats.