Atanatolica botosaneanui Flint 1981

Atanatolica botosaneanui

This, the third species described in the genus, is very similar to its congeners in form of the male genitalia. The most distinctive characters are on the claspers of the male. The small ventral process of the basal area of the clasper is diagnostic. The rather uniform coloration lacking the white markings of the other species is also characteristic. The venation agrees with A. dominicana, in that fork 1 in the forewing is petiolate, and there is no crossvein in the hind wing between R2+3 and R4+5.

ADULT.—Length of forewing, 9.5–10.5 mm (male), 7.5–8.5 (female). Color generally stramineous (male), or light greyish-brown (female), antennae distinctly annulate basally, brown apically; forewing obscurely mottled with patches of hair slightly darker than ground color, in female these darker patches are nearly contiguous. Male genitalia: Ninth segment, annular, slightly produced posterodorsally. Cercus elongate, narrowing posteriad. Tenth tergum with paired apicodorsal digitate lobes flanked laterally by slightly shorter lobes. Clasper with basal section enlarged, with a distinct apicoventral process, with inner margin evenly rounded, bearing a small lobe apicoventrally appressed to ventral face of apical section; apical section elongate, terete with inner surface bearing many short spinelike setae. Aedeagus tubular, with apicoventral margin produced and convex. Female genitalia: Cercus produced into a small apicomesal point. A thin, ventrally directed plate below cerci, slightly bilobed apically. Ninth sternum bearing a pair of narrow rounded plates apically. Vagina with a single apicomesal support, with a central keyhole-like opening.

MATERIAL.—Holotype, male: VENEZUELA, ARAGUA, Dos Riitos, 6 km N Rancho Grande, 4 Feb 1976, C.M. and O.S. Flint, Jr. USNM Type 76629.

Paratypes: Same data as holotype, 3 5. 1 km S Rancho Grande, 5 Feb 1976, C.M. and O.S. Flint, Jr., 2 3. Maracay, Río Limón, Estacion Piscicultura, 8–9 Oct 1974, F.H. Weibezahn, 1; 4–5 Dec 1974, 1 1. BARINAS: 22 km N Barinitas, 19 Feb 1976, C.M. and O.S. Flint, Jr. 1.

This is another genus of worldwide distribution, both in tropical and temperate climes, and continental and insular sites. Some species are very widely distributed, covering most of the Holarctic Region or most of New World, for examples. There are other species known from Venezuela.

The larvae make portable cases of sand or plant matter. Some species are primarily inhabitants of lentic sites, while others are typically inhabitants of fast-flowing small rivers, such as the Río Limón. Larvae of many species from various areas of the world are known (Flint, 1968; Ross, 1944; Wiggins, 1977).