Morphology of the male reproductive system and spermatozoa of Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) iguazu Flint, 1983 (Trichoptera, Hydropsychidae).

The Trichoptera, holometabolous aquatic insects found worldwide except in Antarctica, exhibit a unique feature in their sperm, which are solely nucleated (eupyrene). Current knowledge on Trichoptera sperm is limited to Old World species. To enhance our understanding of their reproductive biology and contribute to systematic discussions, we describe the male reproductive system and spermatozoa of Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) iguazu Flint, 1983 (Hydropsychidae). This species lacks seminal vesicles, possesses piriform to oval-shaped testes with spermatozoa grouped in apical bundles and dense filamentous material filling other areas. The vasa deferentia are long and a pair of elongated accessory glands displays distinct proximal and distal regions. The relatively short (∼40 µm) spermatozoa are nucleated, aflagellated, and immobile. Further research could explore variations and assess the taxonomic utility of these features for genus identification within Hydropsychidae.

Filling distribution gaps and honoring great taxonomist mentors: three new species of the microcaddisfly Ochrotrichia Mosely, 1934 (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado and a checklist from Brazil

ABSTRACT Sixteen species of the microcaddisfly Ochrotrichia Mosely, 1934 (Hydroptilidae) have been recorded so far in Brazil, mainly distributed in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. In order to reduce the Linnean and Wallacean shortfalls for the Ochrotrichia Brazilian fauna, we diagnose, describe, and illustrate three new species based on adult males from three protected and preserved areas of the Cerrado biome of Federal District (Central-West region), Minas Gerais (Southeast region) and Tocantins (North region) states; all of them named in honor of three great Brazilian entomologists viz., Ochrotrichia froehlichi sp. nov., Ochrotrichia machadoi sp. nov. and Ochrotrichia nessimiani sp. nov. They can be recognized mainly by the morphology of the tergum X, number, and position of the spine-like setae of the inferior appendages. This contribution represents the first record of Ochrotrichia for the Central-West region, increasing the number of species of this genus in Cerrado biome from one to four, and is the first report of a microcaddisfly for the Federal District. In addition, the genus is reported for the first time from Paraná, São Francisco, and Tocantins hydrographic basins. Finally, we provide a checklist of the Ochrotrichia species from Brazil.

LEAq - Laboratório de Entomologia Aquática "Prof. Claudio Gilberto Froehlich" and the task of facing the biodiversity knowledge deficits on Caddisflies (Trichoptera), Bahia, Brazil

ABSTRACT Insects are fundamental to biodiversity conservation in almost all ecosystems, and their population decline, and extinction directly result from environmental impacts. These facts are aggravated by the lack of knowledge of insect biodiversity, the so-called biodiversity deficits, especially the Linnean and Wallacean shortfalls. In freshwater ecosystems, biodiversity loss is higher among aquatic insects, and caddisflies comprise one of the most vulnerable orders. In this way, research focusing on describing new caddisfly species and understanding their distribution ranges will increase knowledge of caddisfly biodiversity. In the past 14 years, the team from the Laboratório de Entomologia Aquática "Prof. Dr. Claudio Gilberto Froehlich" (LEAq, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil) and collaborators have been addressing these issues, resulting in 55 described species of caddisflies. Taxa in other insect orders have also received attention and an additional 16 species have been described (eight mayflies, four stoneflies, four neuropteran spongillaflies, and antlions). Here, eight caddisfly species are described and illustrated (Atopsyche froehlichi sp. nov., Austrotinodes zeferina sp. nov., Cernotina kariri sp. nov., Neoathripsodes froehlichi sp. nov., Notalina claudiofroehlichi sp. nov., Oecetis marcus sp. nov., Phylloicus froehlichi sp. nov., and Polycentropus claudioi sp. nov.), five of them in honor of LEAq's patron. In addition, new distributional data are presented for 10 known species. A checklist of the caddisfly fauna of Bahia state is also presented, with 138 species, around 75% and 30% of them recorded and described by the LEAq team, respectively. Currently, for caddisflies, Bahia is the fifth most species-rich state in Brazil, and the first in the Brazilian Northeast region.

Notalina (Neonotalina) ralphi sp. nov. (Trichoptera, Leptoceridae), a new long-horned caddisfly from the Cerrado biome of Brazil, with new records for N. (Neonotalina) brasiliana Holzenthal, 1986 and an identification key.

The long-horned caddisfly genus Notalina Mosely, 1936 contains 27 species divided into two subgenera. The Neotropical N. (Neonotalina) Holzenthal, 1986 occurs exclusively in South America. Its species are organized into two species groups, brasiliana and roraima. Nine species have been recorded so far in Brazil, mainly distributed in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes of Southeast Region, and only one species has been recorded from the Central-West and Northeast Regions. In this paper a new species of N. (Neonotalina) is described and illustrated based on adult males from two protected and preserved areas in the Cerrado biome of Brazil. Notalina (Neonotalina) ralphisp. nov. belongs to the brasiliana species group and can be recognized mainly by the morphology of the preanal appendages and segment X. New distributional records are provided for N. (Neonotalina) brasiliana Holzenthal, 1986. Additionally, a key to identify males of the ten species in the brasiliana species group is provided.

On the Identity of Smicridea (Smicridea) aequalis Banks, 1920 (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae): Morphology of Adults and Immature Stages, Bionomics, Distribution, and Male Color Dimorphism.

After 100 years of its description, the morphological circumscription of Smicridea aequalis Banks, 1920 is provided in this study by the integration of morphological characters of adult, pupal, and larval stages. This fact facilitates its recognition in faunal inventory studies and allows its use in biomonitoring programs, mainly in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes, two biodiversity hotspots where this species is widely distributed. Adults of S. aequalis may have diurnal activity as they are found frequently and abundantly on the riparian vegetation of fast-flowing streams and rivers during the day. The remarkable color dimorphism observed in males of this species was not reported previously for caddisflies.

Two new species of Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) Müller 1879 (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) from Atlantic Forest, Brazil.

Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) Müller 1879 contains 106 species, 41 of which occur in Brazil, mainly in the Atlantic Forest biome. Despite its diversity, it is estimated that many undescribed species are believed to be housed in scientific collections, waiting to be described. Smicridea specimens housed in two Brazilian insect collections (Coleção Entomológica Professor José Alfredo Pinheiro Dutra, Rio de Janeiro and Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo) were examined and two new species of S. (Rhyacophylax) were detected. The objective of this study is to describe and illustrate these species. Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) boraceia sp. nov. and Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) dumasi sp. nov. inhabit the Atlantic forest biome and can be recognized mainly by the morphology of tergum X and the phallic apparatus. Six species groups are recognized in S. (Rhyacophylax); however, the two new species described here cannot be placed in any of these groups.

Updated checklist of caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the state of Piauí, Northeast Brazil, including a new species and new geographical records.

Some regions, such as the Northeast Region of Brazil, are still severely understudied and the trichopteran fauna of this region is not entirely known, mainly in areas from Cerrado and Caatinga biomes. Currently, 25 species have been reported from Piauí State, but most of these records are concentrated from one locality. This study aimed to update the knowledge of Trichoptera diversity in this state, including the description of a new species and new geographic records for the Northeast region and Brazil. The samples were collected in seven municipalities, using various traps. Specimens were also received from the municipality of Bom Jesus. Thirty-two species were added for Trichoptera fauna of Piauí, 14 of these represent new records for Northeast Brazil; furthermore, Neotrichia palma Flint 1982 is a new record for Brazil. Additionally, a new species, Cernotina longa sp. nov., is describe and illustrate, being the third nominal record of the genus for the Caatinga biome. Thus, with the contribution of this study, 57 species, 20 genera and seven families of caddisflies are known for Piauí State.

New species, records, and immature stages of Chimarra Stephens (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae) from Campos Amazônicos National Park, northern Brazil.

Campos Amazônicos National Park is a federal conservation unit that contains part of the largest Cerrado refuge in the southern part of Brazilian Amazonia. Recently, during a survey of aquatic insects in the park, specimens of the caddisfly genus Chimarra were collected. The primary objective of this paper, as a result of this effort, is to describe and illustrate the male adult of a new species in Chimarra (Chimarrita), Chimarra singularis sp. nov., and the immature stages of Chimarra usitatissima Flint 1971. Additionally, the distributions of C.(Chimarrita) akantha Blahnik 1997 and C. (Curgia) jugescens Flint 1998 are extended to the southern part of Amazonas state, and C. (Chimarrita) heppneri Blahnik 1997 is recorded for the first time in northern Brazil.

The immature stages of Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) gladiator Flint 1978 (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae), with notes on distribution and bionomics.

Immature stages of many Brazilian Smicridea species remains unknown, and efforts to describe all life stages are required. In this paper, the larva and pupa of Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) gladiator Flint 1978, associated with adults through the metamorphotype method, are described and illustrated. In addition, the known distribution of this species is extended in the Brazilian Amazon Basin with new records from Amazonas state and the first record in Pará state. Information about its bionomics is also provided.

A new species of Phylloicus Müller 1880 (Trichoptera: Calamoceratidae) from Espírito Santo State, southeastern Brazil.

The worldwide caddisfly family Calamoceratidae comprises about 175 extant species in eight genera (Holzenthal et al. 2007). Among these, two are exclusively recorded from the Neotropics: Banyallarga Navás with 18 described species (Prather 2004) and Phylloicus Müller with 57 described species (Prather 2003, Dumas & Nessimian 2010, Santos & Nessimian 2010, Quinteiro et al. 2011), both genera recently reviewed by Prather (2003, 2004).

Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from Maranhão State, Northeast Region, Brazil: A new species, checklist, and new geographical records.

In order to improve knowledge of Trichoptera diversity in Northeast Region, Brazil, we present here the first checklist of caddisflies from Maranhão State with a description of a new species and geographical records for the Northeast Region and for all of Brazil. Collections were made in 16 sites distributed in three municipalities of Maranhão State. A total of 54 caddisflies species, 26 genera and 10 families were recorded, including one new species of Leptoceridae, Triplectides maranhensis sp. nov., which is described and illustrated. All species listed here are recorded for the first time for the state, 23 of which are new records for the Northeast Region, as well as five new species for Brazil. These results increase the number of species reported from the Northeast Region from 167 to 221.