New species of caddisflies (Trichoptera, Ecnomidae, Polycentropodidae, Psychomyiidae) from Mekong tributaries, Laos

Abstract

Four new species of caddisflies are added to the fauna of Mekong River, Laos. Described and illustrated are Ecnomus petchanaae sp. nov. and E. boonsawaengae sp. nov. (Ecnomidae), Polyplectropus proukaewi sp. nov. (Polycentropodidae), and Psychomyia srichanai sp. nov. (Psychomyiidae) from tributaries of the Mekong River, Laos. Ecnomus petchanaae sp. nov. can be distinguished by the characters of the superior appendages, which are slender and club-shaped in lateral view. In E. boonsawaengae sp. nov., the inferior appendages are tubular with a concave incision subapically and truncated apex. Polyplectropus proukaewi sp. nov. has the distal process of the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage close to the base of the inferior appendages and the length of the process is half of inferior appendages. Psychomyia srichanai sp. nov. can be distinguished by the structure of the dorsal branches of the harpagones and apical sclerite. The outer branches of the harpago in the latter species are bifurcated and bent 90° degrees outward, and the inner dorsal branches of harpago are curved outward. The apical sclerite is indiscernible.