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Presented at the NABS Annual meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2002
in Systematics and Taxonomy
AN UNUSUAL NEW SPECIES OF SMICRIDEA (TRICHOPTERA: HYDROPSYCHIDAE) FROM VENEZUELA AND ITS HABITAT.
R.W. Holzenthal1, H. Paprocki1, and C. Cressa2. 1Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, 55108, 2Instituto de Zoologia Tropical, Caracas, Venezuela, 1041-A
A new species of Smicridea (Smicridea) was collected recently from two sites in Venezuela. One of them, Rio El Charo, flowed over extensive, terraced, calcareous formations of travertine. These formations were covered with caddisfly cases and retreats. The same species was collected from a second site, Quebrada del Toro. Interestingly, this second stream was flowing out of a calcareous cave, but it did not have travertine formations. There were no apparent signs of siltation at either site. The new species is close to S. riita Flint. Characteristics of the retreat, gut contents and biology are provided. The new Smicridea was the most abundant caddisfly colonizing the travertine. The retreat consists of an aperture in the travertine with a capture net. The head of the larvae is round and flattened fitting in this aperture; probably it is used as a way to control the flow of water through the net or to protect the larvae in some way. Illustrations, photos and descriptions of larval and adult stages, retreat, travertine formations, and capture net are provided.
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