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Comprehensive Description

provided by Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology
Smicridea (R.) radula

This is a small species, colored much like S. signata, except that the terminal area of the forewing is usually dark. The male genitalia, however, are very distinctive and like no other known species of the genus. The short, broad apex of the tenth tergite with projecting ventral margin is distinctive, and the structure of the apex of the aedeagus is not only distinctive, but unique.

The female is quite distinctive, although the internal genitalia are suggestive of the signata group. The dorsum of the ninth segment is proportionately very short, and in dorsal aspect broad with lateral shoulder-like lobes and the shape of the internal plate is quite distinctive.

ADULT.—Length of forewing 3–4.5 mm. Color pale yellowish brown; forewing marked much as in S. signata, but with terminal area dark (Figure 31), female occasionally with entire wing dark. Fifth sternum in male and female with anterolateral process about one and one-half times the length of sternum. Male genitalia: Ninth segment with anterolateral margin produced as a narrow, upturned lobe; sternum with a narrow, pointed process between clasper bases. Tenth tergite in lateral aspect with apex rounded, with ventral margin produced into a point beneath apex; in dorsal aspect with apex broadly rounded, and flanked laterally by a pointed projection. Clasper with basal segment long, inflated subapically; apical segment with apex pointed in dorsal aspect. Aedeagus tubular, with basal and apical sections meeting at about 90°; apex with dorsum produced as a broad, rounded lobe bearing basolaterally a spiculate patch, with a ventrolateral plate bearing a series of short, dark teeth, internally with a long, paired, eversible structure. Female genitalia: Ninth tergum short posterodorsally, nearly truncate, with broad, lateral shoulders; anterolateral angle broadly rounded. Internal plate with narrow arms, U-shaped in posterodorsal aspect with a small anteromesal process, in lateral aspect with anterior portion borne at about right angles to lateral arms. Vagina with anterior bar bearing short, posteriorly directed processes laterally; mesally with a pair of lightly sclerotized plates which are sharply angled at midlength when seen in lateral aspect.

IMMATURE STAGES.—Unknown.

MATERIAL.—Holotype, male: COSTA RICA, SAN JOSE, Rió General, Pacuare, 1 July 1967, Flint, Spangler and Ortiz. USNM Type 72708. Paratypes: MEXICO: VERACRUZ: Puente Nacional, 15 June 1964, F. S. Blanton, 1 . OAXACA: Chiltepec, 12 December 1937, A. Dampf, at light, 1 (INHS). CHIAPAS: Copainala, 5 September 1946, A. Dampf, 4 (INHS). Tecpatan, 2 September 1946, A. Dampf, 105 (INHS); same, but 29 August 1946, 21; same, but 3 September 1946, 205 ; same, but 1 September 1946, 13 ; same, but 30 August 1946, 6. Finca Vergel, 22 May 1935, A. Dampf, 1 (INHS); same, but 23 May 1935, l. Finca Fortuna, 11 May 1938, A. Dampf, l (INHS). Huixtla, Sierra Madre, 9 November 1932, A Dampf, 1 (INHS). Puente Arroyo Viejo, route 200, km 141, 9 June 1967, Flint and Ortiz, 4 27 .

GUATEMALA: SUCHITEPEQUEZ: Cuyotenango, 10–20 June 1966, Flint and Ortiz, 1. Puente Ixtacapa, near San Antonio, 18–;19 June 1966, Flint and Ortiz, 2 40 . CHIMALTENANGO: Chimaltenango, 19–;20 August 1965, P. J. Spangler, 5 6 . ESCUINTLA: Escuintla, Grutas de San Pedro Martir, 10 August 1965, P. J. Spangler, 1 . Rió; Metapa, 10 km SE of Escuintla, 275 m, 5–6 March 1970, E. J. Fee, 9 15 .

EL SALVADOR: LA LIBERTAD: Quezaltepeque, 11 February 1965, S. S. and W. D. Duckworth, 3 9 . USULUTAN: San Nicholas Lempa, 31 July 1965, P. J. Spangler, 1 .

HONDURAS: ATLANTIDA: La Ceiba, 27–29 March 1920, W. M. Mann, 2 . COMAYAGUA: Rió Humuya, NW of Comayagua, 3 August 1967, O. S. Flint, Jr., 1 .

COSTA RICA: GUANACASTE: Las Canas, 13 July 1965, P. J. Spangler, 1 . Rió Corobici, Las Canas, 26 July 1967, O. S. Flint, Jr., 1 2 . Quebrada Tronadorcita, Arenal, 24 July 1967, O. S. Flint, Jr., 1 1 . PUNTARENAS: 9 miles NW of Esparta, 22 July 1965, P. J. Spangler, 1 1 . Rió La Vieja, near Lagarto, 2–3 July 1967, Flint and Ortiz, 3 3 . SAN JOSE: Same data as holotype, 55 31. CARTAGO: 3 miles W of Turrialba, 18–21 June 1967, Flint and Ortiz, 1 . La Suiza, 17 June 1967, Flint and Ortiz, 3 15 . La Cruzada, Quebrada Relleno, 20 June 1967, Flint and Ortiz, 2 .

PANAMA: CHIRIQUI: Dolega, 17 July 1967, O. S. Flint, Jr., 1 1 . David, Rovira, 2200′, 13 July 1964, A. Broce, 1 1 . CANAL ZONE: Pipeline Road, Rió Agua Salud, 8–12 July 1967, Flint and Ortiz, 16 9 ; same, but 30 March 1965, S. S. and W. D. Duckworth, 4 3 .

BIOLOGY.—The adults of this species are commonly attracted to lights, usually in company with those of S. signala. The streams adjacent to adult collecting sites vary in size from a few meters in width to larger rivers 20–30 meters wide. As in the case in streams occupied by most species of the subgenus, rather shallow, sunny riffle areas are common, even though the stream may be broad and deep in intervening pools.
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bibliographic citation
Flint, Oliver S., Jr. 1974. "Studies of Neotropical Caddisflies XVII: The Genus Smicridea from North and Central America (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae)." Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-65. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.167