Leucotrichia chiriquiensis Flint 1970

Leucotrichia chiriquiensis

This is the most highly specialized species of the melleopicta group so far found. The greatly modified head of the male is unique among the species of this group. The long rods attaching the basal loop to the midlength complex of the aedeagus is very suggestive of limpia, but the lateral lobes of the eighth sternum, narrow claspers, and apparent coloration are more suggestive of viridis.

The species is only known from one collection of larvae and pharate males and females. It is thus impossible to give a precise indication of the length of the forewing and coloration.

ADULT.—Length of forewing, probably about 2 mm. Color apparently mostly fuscus; antenna with apical segment and 2 segments at three-fourths the length pale; forewing with basal region green, fuscus apically. Ocelli 3; head with a broad anterior shelf bearing short, black, flattened and contiguous setae (leaving polygonal bases when removed as in type), shelf giving rise to a pair of internal, circular pouches in head, also filled with similar setae; antenna with basal segment slightly flattened and greatly elongate, indented on anterior face with this groove filled with modified setae, remaining segments terete. Male genitalia: Seventh sternum with a long, spatulate apicomesal process. Eighth sternum with apicolateral angles produced into short rounded lobes. Ninth segment open ventrally, dorsally with anterior margin nearly straight; posteroventral angle but slightly prolonged, with a row of long setae. Tenth tergites and lateral penis sheaths, typical. Subgenital plate typical, ventral arm longer than dorsal, with a small, ovoid basal opening. Claspers fused basally, in ventral aspect narrow with tips directed mesad, in lateral aspect with dorsal margin produced into a tooth at midlength. Aedeagus with apex bearing a lightly sclerotized apical tubule and small, membranous lateral processes, midlength complex with long basal rods supporting basal loop.

LARVA.—Length to 3 mm. All sclerites blackish brown, pale around eyes; head without rugose areas, posterior portion of f rontoclypeal region depressed; anterior margin of frontoclypeus truncate. Presternum with a pair of elongate sclerites. Anal claw with dorsal seta enlarged and black.

CASE.—Length 4 mm. by 2 mm. Silken; oval in outline, slightly convex; anterior and posterior openings slightly rimmed.

MATERIAL.—Holotype, pharate male. PANAMA: CHIRIQUI: Alto Lino above Boquete, 16–17 July 1967, Flint and Ortiz. USNM Type 70896. Paratypes: Same data, 2 1 . Other: Same data, many larvae and pupae.