New species and records of the most diverse caddisfly genus in Brazil, Smicridea McLachlan, 1871 (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae): solving a species delimitation through an integrative taxonomic approach

Abstract

AbstractSmicridea is the only genus recorded in the New World for the Gondwanan subfamily Smicrideinae (Hydropsychidae). The genus comprises two subgenera, Smicridea (Smicridea) and Smicridea (Rhyacophylax). In Brazil, Smicridea numbers 55 species, of which 16 are referred to subgenus Smicridea and 39 to subgenus Rhyacophylax. Here, we describe two new species in Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) and one in Smicridea (Smicridea), both from Brazil. Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) scalprum sp. nov. belongs to the Smicridea dispar group and is diagnosed mainly by the truncate apex of segment X that has a concave notch apically. Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) sororis sp. nov. belongs to the Smicridea argentina group and is similar to Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) froehlichi, possibly representing a recent speciation process; Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) sororis sp. nov. is differentiated mainly by the papilla‐like lateral lobes on the phallus. DNA barcode sequences (577 bp of the mitochondrial gene COI) of Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) sororis sp. nov. and Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) froehlichi were integrated to evaluate species delimitations. Smicridea (Smicridea) capao sp. nov. belongs to the Smicridea fasciatella group and appears to be morphologically similar to some Smicridea (Smicridea) from Colombia. Smicridea capao sp. nov. is diagnosed by the strong subapical constriction on the phallus and the rounded apex. Additionally, we provide new distributional records of Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) froehlichi, Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) abrupta, Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) roraimense and Smicridea (Smicridea) franciscana.