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Research Article
The Trichoptera of Panama. XXV. Eight new country records of caddisflies (Insecta, Trichoptera)
expand article infoBrian J. Armitage‡§, Yusseff P. Aguirre‡, Tomas A. Ríos Gonzalez‡, Viterbo Rodriguez‡|, Roger J. Blahnik‡, Steven C. Harris‡#
‡ Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, David, Panama
§ Sistema Nacional de Investigación de Panamá (SNI), Panama City, Panama
| Universidad de Panama – Veraguas, Santiago, Panama
¶ University of Minnesota, St. Paul, United States of America
# Pennsylvania Western University, Clarion, United States of America

Corresponding author: Brian J. Armitage ( tobikera89@gmail.com )

Academic editor: Tiago Belintani
© 2024 Brian J. Armitage, Yusseff P. Aguirre, Tomas A. Ríos Gonzalez, Viterbo Rodriguez, Roger J. Blahnik, Steven C. Harris.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Armitage BJ, Aguirre YP, Ríos Gonzalez TA, Rodriguez V, Blahnik RJ, Harris SC (2024) The Trichoptera of Panama. XXV. Eight new country records of caddisflies (Insecta, Trichoptera). Neotropical Biology and Conservation 19(1): 17-24. https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.19.e117513
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E9256564-BB92-485A-9B6A-3FBCEDD962F4
Open Access

Abstract

Herein we add eight new country records to Panama’s caddisfly fauna (Insecta, Trichoptera): Hydropsychidae – Leptonema turrialbum Flint, McAlpine & Ross, 1987; Polycentropodidae – Polyplectropus bravoae Bueno-Soria, 1990; Hydroptilidae – Mayatrichia ayama Mosely, 1937 and Bredinia selva Harris, Holzenthal & Flint, 2002; Glossosomatidae – Mortoniella stilula Blahnik & Holzenthal, 2008; Anomalopsychidae – Contulma talamanca Holzenthal & Flint, 1995; Helicopsychidae – Helicospyche planata Ross, 1956; and Odontoceridae – Marilia crea Mosely, 1949. The Republic of Panama now has 533 species of caddisflies distributed among 15 families and 56 genera.

Key words

Biodiversity, caddisfly, geographic distribution, Neotropics

Introduction

The Aquatic Invertebrate Research Group (AIRG) at the Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí (UNACHI) and its Museo de Peces de Agua Dulce e Invertebrados (MUPADI) is currently focused on increasing our knowledge of Trichoptera (caddisflies) and Plecoptera (stoneflies) in Panama. Toward that goal, it has secured registered projects for these two orders of aquatic insects.

A concentrated effort during the last eight years, in part by the AIRG, has more than doubled the known caddisfly fauna of Panama, from 257 to 525 species, distributed among 15 families and 56 genera. Concomitant with the increase in species was the additional gain of two families and 11 genera. These increases were made possible by adoption of an integrated sampling scheme involving multiple sampling methods (primarily UV light traps and Malaise traps, in combination) employed monthly for extended periods (usually January through June) at each collection site. In this paper we add eight new country records of caddisflies from Panama.

Materials and methods

Typically, single, overnight collections were made using UV light traps (Calor and Mariano 2012). Multiple-night collections were made employing Malaise traps over at least seven-day periods. Specimens were prepared and examined following standard methods outlined in Blahnik and Holzenthal (2004). Male genitalia were soaked in 5% KOH overnight, and washed in weakly acidified alcohol prior to examination under a dissecting scope. Altitude values are given in meters above sea level (m a.s.l.). Maps were created in QGIS software, version 3.28.5-Firenze.

Specimens listed in this publication are deposited in MUPADI. The information provided under “Materials examined” for each species reflects the specimen label data. The families, genera, and species listed below are in phylogenetic order Holzenthal et al. (2015).

Results

Eight species of caddisflies new to Panama are listed below. Locations for the respective collection sites are presented in Fig. 1.

Figure 1. 

Maps of collection sites for new country records A map of Panama’s major watersheds (cuencas), with those sampled shaded in blue and identified by cuenca number B map of sample locations. [A–Río Candela; B– Río Güigala; C– Río Chirigagua; D– Río Platanal; E– Quebrada del Tejar; F– Río Majagua; G–afluente Quebrada Arenal; H– Quebrada Monita; I– Río Beteguí].

Taxonomy

Order Trichoptera Kirby, 1813

Suborder Annulipalpia Martynov, 1924

Superfamily Hydropsychoidea Curtis, 1835

Family Hydropsychidae Curtis, 1835

Subfamily Macronematinae Ulmer, 1905

The family Hydropsychidae is one of the largest families in the Neotropics, with almost 500 species distributed among 15 genera (Holzenthal and Calor 2017). The Neotropical Region hosts four of the five subfamilies in this family (Diplectroninae, Hydropsychinae, Smicrideinae, and Macronematinae). The Macronematinae, one of the most diverse of these subfamilies, is represented by larger caddisflies, commonly seen on walls at night near light sources. The genus Leptonema Guerin-Meneville, 1843 in this subfamily is represented in Panama by 17 species (Holzenthal and Calor 2017). Herein we add one new country record to that genus.

Leptonema turrialbum Flint, McAlpine & Ross, 1987

Material examined

Panama: Chiriquí Province • ♂; in alcohol; Cuenca 108, Dolega District, Río Majagua, Potrerillos, Banquito de Palmira; 8.68093°N, 82.53276°W; 840 m a.s.l.; Malaise trap; 10–25 Jan. 2020; T. Ríos, Y. Aguirre leg; MUPADI.

Distribution

Costa Rica, Panama. New country record.

Superfamily Psychomyioidea Ivanov, 2002

Famly Polycentropodidae Ulmer, 1903

The Polycentropodidae consists of more than 650 species in 15 genera found in most biogeographic regions (Chamorro and Holzenthal 2011). The genus Polyplectropus Ulmer, 1905, with more than 150 species, is most common in tropical and subtropical regions. In the Neotropical Region, approximately 98 species are known, with 13 species previously recorded from Panama (Holzenthal and Calor 2017). Herein we add one new country record.

Polyplectropus bravoae Bueno-Soria, 1990

Material examined

Panama, Veraguas Province • 2 ♂; in alcohol; Cuenca 132, San Francisco District, nr La Perdiz, N of San Francisco, Río Betegui; 8.36047°N, 80.99481°W; 144 m a.s.l.; LED UV light trap; 28 Jan. 2023; V. Rodriguez leg.; MUPADI.

Distribution

Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama. New country record.

Suborder Integripalpia Martynov, 1924

Superfamily Hydroptiloidea Stephens, 1836

Family Hydroptilidae Stephens, 1836

The microcaddisflies (Hydroptilidae) represent the largest of the 50 families of Trichoptera, with almost 2,700 species distributed in six subfamilies and 76 genera (Thomson 2023). By our internal count, Panama now has more than 250 species distributed in 21 genera, representing the highest country-level diversity in the Neotropics. In Panama, the genus Bredinia Flint, 1968 is represented by five species, three of which were added since 2015. The genus Mayatrichia Mosley, 1937 was added to Panama’s fauna by Armitage et al. (2020), by recording the presence of Mayatrichia illobia Harris & Holzenthal, 1990. Herein we add one new country record for each of these genera.

Subfamily Hydroptilinae Botosaneanu, 1956

Tribe Neotrichiini Ross, 1956

Mayatrichia ayama Mosely, 1937

Material examined

Panama, Chiriquí Province • ♂; in alcohol; Cuenca 108, Boquerón District, Río Chirigagua, Puente antes de llegar al Hotel Los Delfines; 8.48139°N, 82.54788°W; 128 m a.s.l.; UV light trap; 12 Feb. 2021; T. Ríos, Y. Aguirre leg.; MUPADI; • 7 ♂; in alcohol; ibid., 13 Mar. 2021; MUPADI; • 16 ♂; in alcohol; ibid., 12 Apr. 2021; MUPADI; • ♂; in alcohol; ibid., 18 Apr. 2021; MUPADI; • ♂; in alcohol; ibid., Cuenca 104, Bugaba District, Río Güigala, La Concepción; 8.51845°N, 82.64280°W; 209 m a.s.l.; UV light trap; 12 Feb. 2021; leg. T. Ríos, Y. Aguirre leg.; MUPADI; • 12 ♂; in alcohol; ibid., 12 Mar. 2021; MUPADI; • 17 ♂; in alcohol; ibid., 12 Apr. 2021; MUPADI; • 10 ♂; in alcohol; ibid., Cuenca 108, David District, Río Platanal, San Pablo Viejo, puente vía Interamericana antes de llegar a la entrada de Bagala; 8.46416°N, 82.52030°W; 84 m a.s.l.; UV light trap; 6 Oct. 2021; leg. T. Ríos, Y. Aguirre leg.; MUPADI; • 6 ♂; in alcohol; ibid., David, Via a Mantilla cerca del cementera de San Pablo Viejo, Quebrada del Tejar; 8.463110°N, 82.469554°W; UV light trap; 4 Mar. 2022; leg. T. Ríos; MUPADI.

Distribution

Canada, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, U.S.A. New country record.

Remark

In Panama, this species was most commonly collected in large, lowland rivers.

Subfamily Stactobiinae Botosaneanu, 1956

Tribe Stactobiini Botosaneanu, 1956

Bredinia selva Harris, Holzenthal & Flint, 2002

Material examined

Panama, Veraguas Province • ♂; in alcohol; Cuenca 116, Las Palmas District, nr Pixvae, Quebrada Monita, nr Pixvae; 7.8158°N, 81.55674°W; 26 m a.s.l.; Malaise trap; 28 Jan. 2023; V. Rodriguez leg.; MUPADI.

Distribution

Costa Rica, Panama.

Superfamily Glossosomatoidea Wallengren, 1891

Family Glossosomatidae Wallengren, 1891

This family is represented in the Neotropics by 11 genera and more than 270 species (Holzenthal and Calor 2017; Blahnik and Armitage 2019). In Panama, three genera are known (Culoptila Mosley, 1954, Mortoniella Ulmer, 1906, and Protoptila Banks, 1904), and 31 total species. The genus Mortoniella has been treated comprehensively for the neotropics in a series of revisions by Blahnik and Holzenthal (2008, 2011, 2017). This genus is represented in Panama by 16 species (Flint 1974; Blahnik and Holzenthal 2008; Blahnik and Armitage 2019). Herein we add one new country record for this genus.

Mortoniella stilula Blahnik & Holzenthal, 2008

Material examined

Panama, Veraguas Province • ♂; in alcohol; Cuenca 132, San Francisco District, nr La Perdiz, N of San Francisco, Río Betegui; 8.36047°N, 80.99481°W; 144 m a.s.l.; LED UV light trap; 28 Jan. 2023; V. Rodriguez leg.; MUPADI.

Distribution

Costa Rica, Panama. New country record.

Infraorder Brevitentoria Weaver, 1984

Family Anomalopsychidae Flint, 1981

The Anomalopsychidae Flint, 1981 was created to contain two genera, Anomalopsyche Flint, 1967 and Contulma Flint, 1969, and species of caddisflies formerly assigned to the Sericostomatidae. To date, Anomalopsyche minuta (Schmid, 1957) remains the sole representative of its genus. Contulma cranifer Flint, 1969 has been joined by several dozens of new species, most recently by Holzenthal et al. (2017; three new species from the Andes of Ecuador) and by Dumas (2018; one new species from the Atlantic Forest area of Rio de Janeiro State in southeastern Brazil). A total of 31 species are now assigned to this genus (Dumas 2018). In Panama, we have previously recorded the genus (Armitage et al. 2016), but the new species that supports that record is as yet undescribed. Herein we record a described species, C. talamanca Holzenthal & Flint, 1995, as a new country record for Panama.

Contulma talamanca Holzenthal & Flint, 1995

Material examined

Panama, Chiriquí Province • ♂; in alcohol; Cuenca 093, Gualaca District, afluente Quebrada Arenal, Bosque Protector Palo Seco; 8.77650°N, 82.20897°W; 1044 m a.s.l.; UV light trap; 8 Oct. 2019; T. Ríos, Y. Aguirre leg.; MUPADI.

Distribution

Costa Rica, Panama. New country record.

Infraorder Brevitentoria Weaver, 1984

Family Helicopsychidae Ulmer, 1906

There are approximately 300 species in this family, found primarily in tropical habitats, with well over a third of these found in the Neotropical Region (Holzenthal and Calor 2017; Moreno et al. 2023). In Panama, 14 species have been recorded. Herein we register one new country record.

Helicospyche planata Ross, 1956

Material examined

Panama, Chiriquí Province • ♂; in alcohol; Cuenca 108, Dolega District, Río Majagua, Potrerillos, Banquito de Palmira; 8.68093°N, 82.53276°W; 840 m a.s.l.; Malaise trap; 15 Apr. 2019; T. Ríos, Y. Aguirre leg.; MUPADI.

Distribution

Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama. New country record.

Infraorder Brevitentoria Weaver, 1984

Family Odontoceridae Wallengren, 1891

This small family of caddisflies (14 genera and ~120 species) are found in all faunal regions, but the greatest diversity in the Neotropics is represented by the genus Marilia Mueller, 1880 (Holzenthal and Calor 2017; Bueno-Soria and Rojas-Ascencio 2004). Panama currently has two species in its fauna (M. flexuosa Mosely, 1939 and M. kingsolveri Bueno-Soria & Rojas-Ascencio, 2004). Herein we register one new country record.

Marilia crea Mosely, 1949

Material examined

Panama, Chiriquí Province • ♂; in alcohol; Cuenca 104, Bugaba District, Río Guigala, La Concepción; 8.51845°N, 82.64280°W; 209 m a.s.l.; UV light trap; 12 Feb. 2021; T. Ríos, Y. Aguirre leg.; MUPADI • ♂; in alcohol; ibid., Cuenca 102, Renacimiento District, Santa Clara, Río Candela; C102S27; 8.823561°N, 82.841127°W; 886 m a.s.l. LED UV light trap; 22 Feb. 2023; T. Ríos, Y. Aguirre leg.; MUPADI.

Distribution

Costa Rica, Panama. New country record.

Discussion

This is the seventh publication since 2015 solely devoted to recording new country records for Panama. It presages the production of a new checklist for the Trichoptera of this country, with the last such benchmark paper published in 2015 when Panama’s fauna totaled 236 fewer species. The new paper (Armitage et al. in press) will provide graphics and analyses to further demonstrate the progress that has been accomplished for the period 2015–2024.

Current and future projects that sample completely new locations in Panama will no doubt necessitate future publications like this. In addition to placing these species “on the record” for other researchers as occurring in Panama, these publications also serve to assist us in organizing and tracking what has proven to be a burgeoning and highly biodiverse fauna. The caddisfly fauna of Panama now totals 533 species in 15 families and 56 genera.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Panamanian Ministry of Environment for providing collecting permits for all the species included herein. Thanks to Prof. Viterbo Rodriguez for collections made in central Panama. We are grateful to Deborah Eisberg of Boquete, Panama, for her support for our research program. We are indebted to Albert Thurman for his collecting effort, logistical help, and friendship. This work and report were made possible thanks to support to the first author by the Sistema Nacional de Investigación (SNI) of SENACYT, Panama. Finally, we thank the anonymous reviewers, as well as the Neotropical Biology and Conservation editorial staff, for evaluating and improving this manuscript.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

We acknowledge support for this work and report made to the first author by the Sistema Nacional de Investigación (SNI) of SENACYT, Republic of Panama.

Author contributions

Conceptualization: BJA. Data curation: BJA, YPA, TARG. Formal analysis: BJA. YPA, TARG, VR, RJB, SCH. Writing and editing (BJA). Funding acquisition: BJA.

Author ORCIDs

Brian J. Armitage https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3182-1533

Yusseff P. Aguirre https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5222-7563

Tomás A. Ríos Gonzalez https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0590-6488

Viterbo Rodríguez https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1592-4479

Roger J. Blahnik https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0648-454X

Steven C. Harris https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6432-7462

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

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