Abstract
The male and female of a new species of long-horned caddisfly, Nectopsyche paramo, are described from the high Andes of Ecuador. The new species was found above 4,000 m, representing the highest recorded elevation for a species in the genus. The larval stage of the species is also described. Only a total of 13 larvae were collected during a 17-month sampling program and 11 adults, suggesting that the species is rare. Larvae were found mainly in leaf packs. A male and female were observed in a mating swarm ca. 3 m above a stream during late afternoon. In addition, we redescribe the adult male of Nectopsyche spiloma (Ross), previously known from Ecuador from unsubstantiated literature records.
Highlights
The long-horned caddifly genus Nectopsyche is restricted to the New World, with species occurring from southern and western Canada, throughout the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, including Chile
Forty-eight of the 58 described species of Nectopsyche occur in the Neotropics, but there are many new species in existing collections waiting to be described, and probably many more to be discovered in nature (Holzenthal & Calor, 2017)
With yellow-white hairs and scale-like hairs on dorsum; antennae light brown with white hairs on basal flagellomeres, scape covered with yellow-white hairs; labial and maxillary palps brown; legs light brown; forewings light brown with slightly darker brown hairs and white hairs arranged in diffuse round and irregular spots, imparting irregular reticulate pattern; more discrete, circular patches of light brown hairs below vein R4+5, with distinctly lighter hairs above this vein; arculus with darker patch of hairs; anal edge of wing from humerus until about midway to arculus with irregular row of white hairs
Summary
The long-horned caddifly genus Nectopsyche is restricted to the New World, with species occurring from southern and western Canada, throughout the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, including Chile. While some species are somber colored like most caddisflies, many members of the genus are brightly patterned due to the presence of colored hairs and scales on the wings, often with iridescent or metallic tones (Holzenthal, 1995). Forty-eight of the 58 described species of Nectopsyche occur in the Neotropics, but there are many new species in existing collections waiting to be described, and probably many more to be discovered in nature (Holzenthal & Calor, 2017). How to cite this article Holzenthal and Rios-Touma (2018), Nectopsyche of Ecuador: a new species from the high Andean páramo and redescription of Nectopsyche spiloma (Ross) (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae).
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