The micro-caddisflies (Trichoptera : Hydroptilidae) of north Sulawesi

Abstract

Twenty-two species of Hydroptilidae are described from North Sulawesi, comprising the first record of this family from Sulawesi and providing further insight into the nature of the Oriental fauna. The species fall into eight genera in three Hydroptilinae tribes: (I) Stactobiini: Chrysotrichia Schmid (3 spp.), Parastactobia Schmid (1 sp.), Scelotrichia Ulmer (1 sp.), Plethus Hagen (1 sp.); (2) Hydroptilini: Hydroptila Dalman (7 spp.), Oxyethira Eaton (1 sp.), Hellyethira Neboiss (1 sp.); (3) Orthotrichiini: Orthotrichia Eaton (7 spp.). Descriptions of 18 new species are based primarily on adult males, but females of many are described and some immatures, including the hitherto unknown 5th-instar larvae, pupae and cases of Chrysotrichia and Scelotrichia.

Keys to genera are provided for adults and cased larvae. In addition, keys are provided to males and females of Hydroptila and males of Chrysotrichia and Orthotrichia. A checklist of the Hydroptilidae of North Sulawesi is appended.

The considerable intra-specific variation across the wide Australasian-SE. Asian ranges of Hydroptila obscura Wells, H. incertula Mosely and Oxyethira incana Ulmer is discussed, and the New Guinean H. explicata Wells is synonymised with H. obscura. Asseseement of variability in several genera leads to a redefinition of Chrysotrichia and the synonymy of Madioxyethira Schmid and Pseudoxyethira Schmid with Scelotrichia Ulmer. Relationships of stactobiine genera are considered.