Hydroptila argentinica Flint 1983

Hydroptila argentinica

This and the following new species, H. catamarcensis, are closely related, as attested by the close similarity in both the male and female genitalia, the most conspicuous difference between them in the male being the apical process of the aedeagus, which in H. catamarcensis is bent at right angles to the central tube but is spirally wound around the tube in H. argentinica.

ADULT.—Length of forewing, 2.5–3 mm. Color gray, hair of head and legs creamy; forewing mostly gray with scattered cream-colored maculae.

Male Genitalia: Ninth segment with anterior margin produced ventrolaterally; with posterolateral spur. Tenth tergum deeply divided dorsomesally, semimembranous; in lateral aspect rather broad, with ventral margin most strongly sclerotized. Subgenital plate broadly rounded and with apical margin sclerotized; with a pair of small apicomesal setae. Clasper widening evenly apicad, with a pair of apical dark points. Aedeagus with portion beyond neck slightly more than total length; with a well-developed spiral process; apical portion widest basally, tapering to a slender process spirally wound around the central tubule.

Female Genitalia: Eighth sternum with a well-developed mesal goblet-like structure; posterior margin with 3 well-developed ventral lobes, dorsal margin produced, especially laterally, with a small mesal excision.

MATERIAL.—Holotype (male): ARGENTINA, PCIA. TUCUMÁN, S Concepción, 19 Feb 1970, L.E. Peña G., USNM Type 100510.

Paratypes: Same data as holotype, 3, 76; Río Tipas, San Pedro de Colalao, 3500′, 17 Jan 1969, W.L. and J.G. Peters, 3; Río Calera, Asserradero, near Villa Padre Monti, 4 Feb 1969, W.L. and J.G. Peters, 1; Siambón, 10 Oct 1973, O.S. Flint, Jr., 5. PCIA. SALTA, Pocitos, 16 Feb 1969, Martinez and Woodruff, 2, 3; Río Caraparí, 8 km S Pocitos, 16 Feb 1969, Martinez and Woodruff, 1, 4 (FSCA); Cañada la Gotera, Rt. 59, km 23.5, 16–17 Oct, 1973, O.S. Flint, Jr., 5. PCIA. JUJUY, Aguas Calientes, 18–20 Oct 1968, L.E. Peña G., 4. PCIA. CATAMARCA, Río Sausemayo, near Dique Sumampa, 8 Sep 1975, D. Cook, 2, 2. PCIA. MISIONES, Arroyo Saura, 9 km N L.N. Alem, 20 Nov 1973, O.S. Flint, Jr., 4; Arroyo Coatí, 15 km E San José, 18–19 Nov 1973, O.S. Flint, Jr., 4; Arroyo Piray Mini, Rt. 17 W Dos Hermanas, 23 Nov 1973, O.S. Flint, Jr., 1, 6. BRAZIL, EDO. RIO DE JANEIRO, Nova Friburgo, municipal water supply, 950 m, 20 Apr 1977, C.M. and O.S. Flint, Jr., 2, 3 (USP). URUGUAY, DPTO. ARTIGAS, Río Cuareim, Sepulturas, 15 Dec 1952, C.S. Carbonell, 3, 14. DEPT. TACUAREMBó, Puntas Arroyo Laureles, 22 Dec 1953, C.S. Carbonell, 3, 67 (FHCU); same, but 10 Feb 1954, 1, 30.