Smicridea (Smicridea) tregala Flint & Denning 1989

Smicridea (Smicridea) tregala

This distictive new species of the annulicornis species group is perhaps most easily confused with pucara, new species. The apex of the phallus offers the most distictive characteristics: the midventral keel at the apex of the phallus is distinct, as is the very large and well-defined ventrobasal lobe of the lateral plates. The female genitalia are less distinctive. The row of setae across the opening of the broad, deep clasper receptacle appears to be the best identifying characteristic.

ADULT.—Length of forewing, 9–10 mm. Color dark gray-brown, appendages paler, antennae annulate; forewing dark gray-brown, with a few scattered pale flecks. Eye of male in frontal aspect with diameter ⅖ that of interocular distance. Anterolateral process of fifth sternum slightly longer than sternum, with 2 pairs of internal sacs, each as long as segment in which it lies.

Male Genitalia: Ninth segment with anterior margin nearly vertical. Tenth tergum elongate; tergite rounded laterally in dorsal, bluntly upturned in lateral aspect. Clasper with basal segment slightly inflated apicad, parallel-sided basally; apical segment elongate, bluntly pointed. Phallus tubular, basal section at 110° angle to stem, basal opening 3 times diameter of narrowest part of stem; apex enlarged, produced into a narrow midventral keel, lateral surfaces produced over base of lateral plate (unless plates are fully everted); lateral plate elongate, with a well-marked ventrobasal lobe in lateral aspect and in ventral aspect cup-like, with ventral margin very concave, dorsal margin straight, mesobasal shoulder well developed; dorsolateral lobe well developed, elongate, lying dorsally over lateral plate.

Female Genitalia: Eighth sternite elongate, posteromesal angle rounded; anterolateral angle very broad, obliquely truncate. Ninth tergum produced almost directly ventrad, broad. Clasper receptacle with inner surface strongly reticulate, deep, pocket-like, produced ventromesally, broadly open dorsally with a row of setae from inner face; in lateral aspect with a broad ventral overhang. Vaginal sclerites lightly sclerotized with a transverse posterior sclerite bearing a darkened central area, and a transversly rectangular anterior sclerite slightly darkened posteromesally. Internal plate lightly sclerotized with lateral arms produced posteriad and with anterolateral thickening.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype, male: CHILE: PCIA. ARAUCO: Puente Trongol [∼12 km S Curanilahue], 15–16 Oct 1969, Flint & Barria. Type NMNH.

Paratypes: CHILE: PCIA. ARAUCO: Carámavida, 25–31 Dec 1953, L.E. Peña G., 2 (CNC); Chacay [Nahuelbuta Mountains, 37°48′S; 73°08′W], 11 Feb 1953, L.E. Peña G., 1 , 1 (CNC). PCIA. CAUQUENES: Alto Tregualemu, ∼20 km SE Chovellén, 500 m, 26–27 Jan 1979, Davis et al., 5 , 1 (NMNH); same, but 1–3 Dec 1981, D.R. Davis, 1 (NMNH). PCIA. MALLECO: Parque Nacional Contulmo, 19 Oct 1969, Flint & Barria, 1 (NMNH); Nahuelbuta National Park, “Los Gringos” Camp, 1300 m, 29 Jan–5 Feb 1979, Davis et al., 2 (NMNH). PCIA. VALDIVIA: Rincon de Piedra, ∼20 km SE Valdivia, 30 m, 24–25 Feb 1979, Davis et al., 1 , 5 (NMNH); same, but ∼23 km SE Valdivia, 200 m, 23 Feb 1979, 5 , 4 (NMNH).