Fourteen new species ofOecetisMcLachlan, 1877 (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) from the Neotropical region

Abstract

BackgroundThe caddisfly genusOecetiscurrently contains 534 valid species. Its larval stages are found in freshwaters around the world. The adults can be distinguished from other Leptoceridae by the unbranched forewing M vein and the exceptionally long maxillary palps. In the Neotropical region, 55 species ofOecetishave been recorded and most of them can be placed in one of the six species groups known from this biogeographical region: theavara-,falicia-,inconspicua-,punctata-,punctipennis-, andtestacea-groups. More than 50% of the known diversity of NeotropicalOecetishas been described in the past 40 years. Here, we describe an additional 14 new species ofOecetisto further document the diversity of this genus in the Neotropical region.MethodsThe descriptions and illustrations presented here are based on male specimens. Specimens were collected with Malaise traps or ultraviolet light traps. They were preserved in alcohol or pinned as stated in material examined section. Specimens had their genitalia prepared in 85% lactic acid to better observe internal characters and illustrations were aided by the use of a microscope with drawing tube attached.Results and DiscussionThis study raises the number of species ofOecetisin the Neotropics from 55 to 69. Eight of the new species presented here could not be reliably placed in one of the known species groups (Oecetis acuticlaspern. sp.,Oecetis flintin. sp.,Oecetis carinatan. sp.,Oecetis cassicoleatan. sp.,Oecetis blahnikin. sp.,Oecetis gibbosan. sp.,Oecetis licinan. sp., andOecetis pertican. sp.). The others are placed in thepunctata-group (Oecetis bidigitatan. sp.,Oecetis quasipunctatan. sp.),testacea-group (Oecetis plenuspinosan. sp.), andfalicia-group (Oecetis calorin. sp.,Oecetis hastapullan. sp.,Oecetis machaeran. sp.). Most of the diagnostic characters rely on structures of the inferior appendages and phallic apparatus, and the shape of tergum X.