Comprehensive Description
provided by Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology
Smicridea (R.) dithyra
This species is a member of the dispar group, closely related to S. dispar (Banks). In coloration the two species are inseparable; however, they are distinguishable on the basis of genital characteristics. In the male, the apex of the aedeagus in S. dithyra possesses a pair of small eversible plates ventrolaterally which are lacking in S. dispar. In the female the anterior bar of the vagina possesses a simple dark ring centrally, and laterally it is slightly produced laterad. The internal plate is V-shaped, but with small anterior knobs.
ADULT.—Length of forewing 5–6.5 mm. Color brown; forewing brown of several shades, marked with irregular, lighter and darker transverse bands (cf. Figure 37). Fifth sternum with anterolateral process length of sternum in male, half length of sternum in female. Male genitalia: Ninth segment with anterolateral margin broadly rounded. Tenth tergite in lateral aspect with tip elongate and slightly upturned; in dorsal aspect with tip produced as a narrowly elongate, rounded lobe. Clasper with basal segment long, slightly inflated apicad; apical segment with tip pointed in dorsal aspect. Aedeagus tubular, with basal and apical sections meeting at about 120°; apical section slightly sinuate, tip enlarged; internally with a slender mesal structure and a pair of ventrolateral plates which open laterally when the mesal structure is everted. Female genitatia: Internal plate in posterodorsal aspect roughly V-shaped, with small anterolateral knobs. Vagina with anterior bar bearing short lateral processes which are directed primarily laterad; centrally with a small ringlike pore.
IMMATURE STAGES.—Unknown.
MATERIAL.—Holotype, male: MEXICO, VERACRUZ, near Huatusco, 25–26 July 1965, Flint and Ortiz. USNM Type 72712. Paratypes: Same data, l 9 . Fortin de las Flores, 24 July 1966, Flint and Ortiz, 1 ; same, but 17 May 1964, Blanton et al., 5 . Cordoba, 7 June 1966, Flint and Ortiz I . Near El Encero, route 140, km 347, 22 July 1965, Flint and Ortiz, 29 . TABASCO: Rió Puyacatengo, E of Teapa, 28–29 July 1966, Flint and Ortiz, 7 12 . CHIAPAS: Tecpatán, 2–3 September 1946, A. Dampf, 7 (INHS and USNM). Copainala, 4 September 1946, A. Dampf, 1 (INHS). 7.8 miles E of Pichucalco, 27–28 July 1966, Flint and Ortiz, l 3 . El Chorreadero, near Chiapa de Corzo, 11 August 1967, O. S. Flint, Jr., 11 3. Soyalo, route 195, km 24, 10 August 1967, O. S. Flint, Jr., l 33 . San Cristobal, 19 December 1937, A. Dampf, 1 (INHS). Finca Vergel, 27 October 1945, A. Dampf, 5 (INHS and USNM). San Geronimo, 11 March 1938, A. Dampf, 1 (INHS). Finca Esperanza, 8 March 1938, A. Dampf, 23 (INHS and USNM); same, but 26 April 1938, 1 (INHS); same, but 30 April 1938, 2 (USNM); same, but 4 May 1938, 1 (INHS); same, but 5 May 1938, 3 (INHS); same, but 6 May 1938, 2 (USNM); same, but 30 May 1938, 1 (INHS); same, but 16 June 1938, 4 (INHS); same, but 30 June 1938, 1 (INHS); same, but 12 September 1938, 1 (USNM); same, but 20 September 1938, 1 (INHS); same, but 13–26 March 1939, 3 (INHS); same, but 26–31 March 1939, 2 2 (USNM); same, but 13 April 1939, 1 (INHS); same, but 26–30 April 1939, 5 (INHS); same, but 28 May 1939, 1 (INHS); same, but 10 June 1939, 1 (USNM). Finca Fortuna, 9 May 1938, A. Dampf, 25 (INHS and USNM); same, but 12 May 1938, 1 (INHS). Finca Victoria, 15 May 1938, A. Dampf, 1 (INHS).
GUATEMALA: SOLOLA: Panajachel, 20 July 1965, P. J. Spangler, 1 . CHIMALTENANGO: Chimaltenango, 19 July 1965, P. J. Spangler, 14 5. BAJA VERA PAZ: Puente Las Burras, route 5, km 156, 22–24 June 1966, Flint and Ortiz, 2 3 . ALTA VERA PAZ: Cacao, Trece Aguas, September 4, Schwartz and Barber, 1 . Finca Holandia, near Santa Cruz, 23–24 June 1966, Flint and Ortiz, 1 .
HONDURAS: FRANCISCO MORAZAN: Tegucigalpa, 24 July 1918, F. J. Dyer, 1 . COMAYAGUA: Rancho Chiquito, SE of Flores, 2–3 August 1967, O. S. Flint, Jr., 11 .
BIOLOGY.—Adults have been taken almost exclusively at lights. Most of these localities have been adjacent to rather small streams of 5–10 meters in width, with shallow riffles. Many of the streams are rather fully shaded by marginal forests, whereas others are open to the full sun.
- bibliographic citation
- Flint, Oliver S., Jr. 1974. "Studies of Neotropical Caddisflies XVII: The Genus Smicridea from North and Central America (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae)." Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-65. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.167