The Trichoptera of Panama. III. Updated species list for caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) in the Republic of Panama

Authors

Brian J. Armitage, Gorgas Institute, PanamaFollow
Steven C. Harris, Clarion UniversityFollow
Tatiana I. Arefina-Armitage, Trichoptera, Inc., Columbus, OHFollow
Aydeé Cornejo, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la SaludFollow

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

Insecta Mundi 0442: 1–16

Comments

Published in 2015 by Center for Systematic Entomology, Inc. P. O. Box 141874 Gainesville, FL 32614-1874 USA http://centerforsystematicentomology.org/. Copyright held by the author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License

Abstract

The fauna of Panama is species-rich due to its location and topography, and the resulting diversity of microclimates and habitats. The last summary of information about the caddisfly fauna (Insecta: Trichoptera) of Panama in 1992 noted 168 taxa in 13 families and 39 genera. Since then, and through 2014, a large number of publications, based on work by a dedicated cadre of individuals, have recorded a net gain of 78 species and six genera. In 2015, 17 new species to science and 38 new country records were added, including one new family and two new genera for the country; and, two species were removed. Thus, 299 species of caddisflies are now known from the Republic of Panama and are distributed among 14 families and 47 genera. Given the higher diversity in neighboring Costa Rica (>500 species), we feel certain that there are many more species yet to be discovered.