Corresponding author: Manpreet Singh Pandher (
Academic editor: R. Holzenthal
The genus
This genus is currently represented by 42 species, mostly confined to the Oriental and Palaearctic Regions (
Adults were collected by light traps (mercury vapour bulb and UV) placed near the edge of high altitude streams of the Himalayan belt of India. The species described here were mainly collected from Gangtok (Sikkim) in very dense humid forests at altitudes ranging from 1800 m to 2100 m. One species was collected from Himachal Pradesh. The specimens were preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol with a drop of glycerol added. Pertinent collection and locality data were recorded.
For species level identification it is essential to observe the lateral processes of the Xth tergite which are hidden below the preanal appendages in lateral view and are also not clearly visible even in dorsal view. For accomplishing this, the male genitalia were removed from the specimens and put in 10% KOH solution overnight. After this treatment the genitalia were put in 80% ethyl alcohol with a drop of glycerol and observed for morphological characters. The drawings of various aspects were done with the aid of zoom stereoscopic binocular microscope (with maximum magnification of 120×) fitted with an ocular grid in one eye piece. The final drawings were rendered in black ink. The illustrations were scanned at 600 dpi grayscale, and mounted onto plates in Adobe© Photoshop© 7.0. The genitalic terminology corresponds to
Spurs: 2, 4, 4; wings with primitive venation except fork I variable: it may be near or considerably beyond sectorial cross vein s, or R2 may be atrophied and 2A of forewing incomplete (
Oriental and Palaearctic Regions.
The genus
In superficial comparison, this species seems somewhat allied to
Adult. Color in alcohol entirely fulvous except mesoscutellum flavid; maxillary palp with pale annulations at the joints; head with golden and fulvous pubescence; antenna moderately long, scape:pedicel ratio = 1.66: 1; maxillary palp segments ratios 1: 2: 3: 4: 5 = 1: 2.4: 2.6 : 2.6: 5.3; labial palp segments ratios 1: 2: 3 = 1: 1.75: 3.1. Length of forewing 7 mm, sprinkled with white patches along the posterior margin and covered with moderate, sparse and brownish setae, pterostigma not prominent in both wings; discoidal cell very small in forewing; fork I absent in both wing.
Male Genitalia (
same data as holotype, 2 males (PUPM).
India: Sikkim.
Because of the club-like, (i.e., clavate) apex of preanal appendage, this species has been named
This species is allied to
Adult. Color in alcohol entirely fulvous excepting antenna with dark brown annulation at joints; body covered with moderate, sparse and fuscous setae excepting head with nigrescent pubescence. Antenna almost equal to length of forewing; scape:pedicel ratio = 1: 0.58; maxillary palp segments ratios 1: 2: 3: 4: 5 = 1: 2: 2.6: 1.6: 4.3 and labial palps segments ratios 1: 2: 3 = 1: 0.8: 1.8. Length of forewing 6 mm, sprinkled with yellow patches, in both wings pterostigma not prominent; discoidal cell almost triangular; apical fork I present in both wings, in forewing positioned considerably beyond sectorial cross-vein s.
Male Genitalia (
India: Sikkim.
This species name pertains to excessively long lateral spiniform process of segment X of male genitalia.
This species is close to
Adult. Color in alcohol entirely fulvous, except mesoscutellum flavid; maxillary palps with pale annulations at their joints. Body covered with dense and fuscous setae except head with fulvous pubescence. Antenna long, scape:pedicel ratio= 1: 0.6; maxillary palp segments ratios 1: 2: 3: 4: 5 = 1: 1.5: 2: 1.2: 2.5 and labial palp segments ratios 1: 2: 3 = 1: 0.75: 1.75. Length of forewing 7 mm; forewing with long discoidal cell; apical fork I absent in both fore- and hind wings.
Male Genitalia (
same data as holotype, 2 males (PUPM).
India: Sikkim.
This species name is based on an arbitrary combination of letters (i.e., Entomology Laboratory of Caddisfly Taxonomy - “
This species is close to
Adult.Color in alcohol entirely fulvous and covered with moderate, fuscous setae excepting head with golden and fulvous pubescence. Antenna long, scape: pedicel ratio = 1: 0.5; maxillary palp segments ratios 1: 2: 3: 4: 5 = 1: 1.3: 2.6: 2.1: 5; labial palp segments ratios 1: 2: 3= 1: 1.5: 2. Length of forewing 7.5 mm; discoidal cell small, apical fork I lacking in both wings.
Male genitalia (
same data as holotype, 1 male (PUPM).
India: Sikkim.
This species is named after the type locality, Gangtok.
In superficial comparison
Adult. Color in alcohol uniformly fulvous and body covered with inconspicuous, sparse and fulvous setae excepting mesoscutellum where is golden. Antenna long, scape:pedicel ratio = 1: 0.7; maxillary palp segments ratios 1: 2: 3: 4: 5 = 1: 1.5: 2.5: 2: 5; labial palp segments ratios 1: 2: 3= 1:1.2: 1.75. Forewing with golden irrorations; length of forewing 7 mm, dicoidal cell small, apical fork I lacking in both wings.
Male genitalia (
India, Himachal Pradesh.
This species is named after the state in which the holotype was found, Himachal Pradesh.
This species resembles
Adult. Color in alcohol entirely fulvous excepting fuscous mesoscutellum. Antenna almost 1.2 × longer than forewing, scape:pedicel ratio = 1: 0.46; maxillary palp segments ratios 1: 2: 3: 4: 5= 1: 2.6: 3.3: 2.6: 5.6; labial palp segments ratios 1: 2: 3= 1: 1: 2. Forewing with white spots and covered with moderate and short setae; length of forewing 9 mm; discoidal cell small, triangular; apical fork I absent in both wings.
Male genitalia (
India: Sikkim.
This species is named for the truncate posterolateral margin of segment IX.
The authors are indebted to Dr John Morse (Clemson University, USA) for providing important literature, valuable suggestions and guidance during the research. We greatly appreciate the support provided in the form of the relevant literature for the Oriental as well as Palaearctic Region by Dr Hans Malicky, Austria. Sincere thanks are due to Dr VV Ramamurthy, National Coordinator, Network Project on Insect Biosystematics (NPIB-21-17), Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Government of India, for providing financial support for this research. Thanks are also due to the parent institute, Punjabi University, Patiala, for providing necessary facilities for the present research. Last, but not least, authors are thankful to the PCCF's, CCF's DFO, and other forest authorities of Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim (especially Mrs Usha Lachungpa, Senior Research Officer, Government of Sikkim) for their help and cooperation during the expedition to these states. Timely support and many-fold assistance provided by laboratory colleagues is also acknowledged.
The authors also appreciate the effort of two anonymous reviewers and the subject editor for