Leucotrichia gomezi Flint 1970

Leucotrichia gomezi

This species is related to the preceding, tubifex Flint, but differs in a number of ways both in the adult males and larvae. The eighth sternum of the male is almost squarely truncate and without specialized setae, the claspers are almost three times as long as broad, and the apical parts of the aedeagus are proportionately longer in gomezi.

The larvae of gomezi are quite different in appearance, lacking the submesal lobes of the anterior margin and reticulate region posteriorly on the frontoclypeus, but possessing a group of papillae mesad of the eyes.

ADULT.—Length of forewing, 4.5–6 mm. Body brownish black, legs yellowish brown; hairs of head, thorax, and wings bronze green. Ocelli 3; head dorsally wholly seta bearing; antennae simple. Male genitalia: Seventh sternum with a short, pointed apicomesal process. Eighth sternum with posterior margin straight. Ninth segment slightly longer than high, anterolateral angle not prolonged; dorsally with anterior margin straight; with a row of stout setae posterolaterally. Tenth tergite with posterior margin tridentate, dorsal point acutely produced; lateral penis sheath membranous. Subgenital plate extending from ventral angles of tenth tergites as a broad mesal plate into basal region of claspers and extending as a pointed structure within claspers. Clasper short, slightly less than three times as long as broad, slightly constricted subapically, with an apicodorsal seta. Aedeagus with an elongate apicoventral sclerite and usual midlength complex and basal loop.

LARVA.—Length to 7 mm. Head yellow brown, darker along anterior margin and posteriorly; several large papillae mesad of eyes, tentorial pits well marked; anterior margin of frontoclypeus slightly sinuate. Right mandible with a mesal tooth. Thoracic nota yellow brown, marked with fuscus marginally, muscle scars slightly darker; legs with tarsi distinctly darker than basal segments. Presternum without linear sclerites. Abdominal tergites dark brown. Dorsal seta of anal claw small, pale.

CASE.—Length to 8 mm. by 3 mm. Silken; elongate-oval, slightly domed; anterior and posterior openings, circular, slightly rimmed, but not tubelike.

MATERIAL.—Holotype, male. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: La Palma, 12 km. east of El Rio, 2–13 June 1969, Flint and Gomez. USNM Type 70897. Paratypes: Same data, 10 5 ; Convento, 12 km. south of Constanza, 6–13 June 1969, Flint and Gomez, 2 . Other: Same data as holotype, many larvae, pupae.