Caddisfly Species Culoptila cantha (Saddle-case Makers)

Source: Revision of the genus Culoptila (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae)

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.4 – 3 mm; female 2.5 – 3.2 mm. Color brown; wing chord evident, but scarcely paler in coloration. Mesothorax of male not noticeably modified; mesoscutal wart short, heart-­shaped; mesoscutal setae short. Mesothoracic tegulae of male flattened, only slightly enlarged; tegular setae short; tegular gland present, very small, minimally developed. Male genitalia. Sternum VI process very short, rounded. Tergum IX ventral margin subtruncately rounded, slightly produced posteroventrally. Inferior appendages not evident, apparently absent, but phallotremal sclerite complex forming a distinctive, sclerotized ventral plate with minute spines on its dorsal surface. Tergum X very short, length much less than width, apex in ventral view truncate to subtruncate; ventrolateral processes with apices incurved and posteriorly bent, bend very prominent, approximately right angle, mesal margin of apex bluntly rounded, not acute. Phallobase relatively short, widening from base, dorsal and ventral margins more or less straight in lateral view, apicodorsal projection moderately elongate, with slight upward inflection at base, apex subacute. Phallic apparatus with 1 phallic spine, nearly length of phallobase, straight, often slightly recurved at base, stout at base, strongly tapered apically.