Neotrichia armitagei Harris

(Figs 7, 8)

Harris (1991): 15, 3

Neotrichia armitagei was originally described by Harris (1991) from Florida and is mainly distributed in the southeast, with a seemingly disjunct population in Texas (Keth 2002). The male is separated from the closely related N. rasmusseni on the basis of the inferior appendages which are rounded distally in ventral view (Fig. 7 B).

Female. Length 1.8–2.0 mm, 18 antennal segments, brown in alcohol. Abdominal segments VII – X typical for genus, sternum VIII with large mesal plate which is divided anteriorly (Fig. 8 A). Bursa copulatrix as in Fig. 8 B with posterior copulatory channel elongate and narrow, about same length as genital chamber, this chamber with thin lateral bands which extend anterolaterally as narrow feet; bell-shaped mesal sclerite with shallow anterior excision.

Females appear to be most similar to N. mentonensis and N. rasmusseni. All three species have a large, rectanguloid sternal plate on segment VIII. Females of N. armitagei differ in that the posterior margin is not sinuate, as in the other two species, and the anterior margin is deeply incised.

Material examined. Alabama, Baldwin County, Rains Creek @ AL Hwy 225, 14 May 2003, Shepard/ O’Neil, 33. Florida, Clay County, Gold Head Branch, Gold Head Branch State Park, near old mill trail crossing, N29°49’56’’, W81°56’45’’, 6 March 1999, Rasmussen, 73, 12Ƥ; same but, 3 October 1998, 313; Putnam County, Little Orange Creek @ SR 21, 2.6 mi. N Orange Springs, N29°32’29’’, W81°57’14’’, 16 May 2003, Rasmussen/Denson, 693, 3Ƥ. Georgia, Thomas County, Titi Branch, vic. jct. Springhill and Metcalf Rds., N30°42’49”, W84°04’16”, 1 November 1997, Kovarik/Rasmussen, 13. Mississippi, Franklin County, Middleton Creek, T5N, R4E, S31S, 2-8 June 1992, Schiefer/Fontenot, malaise trap, 23. Texas, Hardin County, Beech Creek, ca 4 mi, W FM 92, N Kountze, 31 July 1993, Moulton/Kennedy, 93; Turkey Creek, ca 4 mi. E US Hwy 287/69, ca 8 mi. N Kountze, 31 July 1993, Moulton/Kennedy, 13; Polk County, Big Sandy Creek @ FM 1276 nr jct FM 943, 4 mi. S Dallardsville, 23 April 1994, Chirhart,13.

Distribution. AL, FL, GA, MS, TX.