Nectopsyche gemma (Mueller 1880)

Nectopsyche gemma (Müller)

Setodes gemma Müller, 1880:110–111, 130.

Leptocella gemma (Müller).—Fischer, 1966:56.

Leptocella festiva Navás, 1913:76–77 [new synonymy].

This species, the type of Nectopsyche, has never been adequately defined. Although the name has been used many times (see Fischer for a complete bibliography), it is clear that a number of species have been mixed under this name. Extensive collections from many regions of South America show that there is a large number of very similar species contained in this group. The species I figured and described as N. gemma from Surinam (Flint, 1974d:129) is another of these undescribed species. To help stabilize the nomenclature, I am here designating and figuring a neotype of this species. Banks (1920) mentions that the MCZ contains a set of Miiller’s species sent by him to Dr. Hagen, and I am selecting the male in this series as the neotype.

The basic color is a pale, yellowy-orange, marked with longitudinal silvery bands basally, 2 obliquely transverse silver bands, a cluster of 4 black spots at the posteroapical angle which are set in white and silver hairs and scales; the cells along the chord are variably filled with white hair and with some black marks; apically there are 2 crossbands (inner of which may be broken into spots) of silver hair. The mesothorax laterally bears 2 pairs of silvery bands, and the head has silver hair along the eye and mesally on the vertex. The eye of the male is quite small, being only about ½ the width of the interocular distance in ventral aspect. The genitalia of the neotype is here figured.

The distribution of the species is somewhat perplexing. I only know the species in Brazil from the type series. What appears to be an identical form in nearby Argentina (Misiones) and Paraguay, differs genitalically in lacking the cluster of spines in the phallus. The type form reappears again in the Andes. I have examples of this from the Andes of northwestern Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and northern Panama. I have compared the types of Leptocella festiva Navás to the female from Quebrada Potreros, Antioquia. The type is almost wholly denuded, but the remaining scales and marks are a perfect match with the Colombian specimens. I am therefore synonymizing L. festiva with L. gemma.

Neotype, Male. “Brazil. [Sta. Catarina], Itajahy, F. Müller.” “Type 11112 [MCZ].” “Neotype Setodes gemma Müller, O.S. Flint, Jr. [19]88.”

MATERIAL.—COLOMBIA. DPTO. ANTIOQUIA: Quebrada Potreros, W La Fé, 26 Feb 1984, C.M. & O.S. Flint, Jr., 1, 1. Quebrada La Mosca, 2 km W Guame, 2 Mar 1984, C.M. & O.S. Flint, Jr., 2. Río Medellín, 6 km S Caldas, 24 Feb 1984, C.M. & O.S. Flint, Jr., 1. I also have seen examples from the Department of Cauca in Colombia, and Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.

Nectopsyche species

This material, taken in the emergence traps, is apparently a third species of the gemma group to be found in Antioquia. It is immediately recognized by the males having very large eyes; in ventral aspect each eye is as wide as the interocular distance. I am unable to find any other males of the group with such large eyes. All the material is in alcohol and thus the color pattern cannot be described in detail. The dark marks in the membrane of the one well-marked male are apparently the same as found in either of the two other regional species. However, the smaller basal and other marks do not produce these dark membrane marks, and so the pattern is unknown in detail. The male genitalia also differ from that of the other two species. However, lacking a pinned male in good condition, I prefer to leave the species unnamed.

MATERIAL.—COLOMBIA. DPTO. ANTIOQUIA: Quebrada La Cebolla, El Retira (trap A), 21 May-1 Dec 1983, U. Matthias, 1, 4. Quebrada La Ayurá, Envigado (trap B), 6 Aug 1983, U. Matthias, 1.

As presently constituted the genus is world-wide in distribution. In the Neotropical Region the genus is quite uncommon and limited in distribution to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. A single species was described from Colombia (Ulmer, 1909b), but has never been found again. It is believed (K. Manuel, pers. comm.) that the type was mislabelled, as the genitalia appear more like species in the Old World species groups than anything known from the New World. All the other species (mostly undescribed) from the Nootropics belong to a very distinctive species group, limited to the region.

The larvae of many species from the northern hemisphere and Africa have been described (Corallini-Sorcctti and Moretti, 1984; Hickin, 1967; Wiggins, 1977) but none of the Neotropical species are known in their immature stages. Food studies indicate that most larvae ingest living plant tissues (Manuel and Braatz, 1984; Wiggins, 1977). The larval cases are constructed of small pieces of plant arranged in a spiral. They are also noted for using their fringed hind legs to swim with their cases. They inhabit lakes and slowly flowing stretches of streams and rivers, generally areas with abundant rooted vegetation. Adults of Neotropical species are found near small spring-fed streams and may differ significantly in habits and case construction from species in other regions.