Potamophylax coronavirus

Short description: Species of caddisfly

Potamophylax coronavirus

Male adult
Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Arthropoda
Class:  | Insecta
Order:  | Trichoptera
Family:  | Limnephilidae
Genus:  | Potamophylax
Species:  |

P. coronavirus

Binomial name
Potamophylax coronavirus

Ibrahimi, Bilalli, and Vitecek, 2021[1]

Potamophylax coronavirus is a species of caddisfly in the family Limnephilidae. It is endemic to Kosovo. It was named after the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Contents

* 1 Description
* 2 Habitat
* 3 Taxonomy
* 4 Etymology
* 5 References
* 6 See also
* 7 External links

## Description

The male's head and appendages are brown, with the prothorax, sclerites of mesothorax, metathorax and coxae dark brown to black, femora and tibiae brown, and the tarsi gradually darkening to the apex.[1]

The only known female resembles P. juliani and is lighter-coloured. Its head and appendages are brown, as well as the femora and tibiae, the prothorax, sclerites of mesothorax and metathorax light brown to brown, and the tarsi gradually darkening. The forewings, 8.5 mm long, are light brown and shorter than the abdomen, with very long setae. The genitalia remain undescribed, because the female has a slightly damaged terminalia.[1]

## Habitat

The type locality of the species is a tributary of the Krojet e Ali Pashë Gucisë springs of the Lumbardhi i Deçanit river in the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park, and probably microendemic to, a "caddisfly hotspot" about 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level and 120 kilometres (75 mi) west of the capital Pristina.[1] The river has been severed in recent years, due to the construction of a hydropower plant.[2] The river basin habitat of P. coronavirus has been described as a "battlefield between scientists and civil society on one side and the management of the hydropower plant operating on this river on the other."[3]

The type locality

## Taxonomy

It was described by a team of researchers, led by Halil Ibrahimi of the University of Pristina.[4] The species belongs to the Potamophylax winneguthi species group and is morphologically similar to P. juliani and P. winneguthi.[1] The type specimens were collected in 2014 a few years prior to description.[3][1]

## Etymology

The specific name coronavirus refers to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] The author states that he also named this species in this manner to raise awareness towards environmental pollution in Kosovo and the Balkan countries which he quotes as a "silent pandemic on freshwater organisms in Kosovo rivers".[1][5] It is the second organism to be named after the pandemic, following the curculionoid beetle (weevil) Stethantyx covida.[6]

## References

This article incorporates text by Halil Ibrahimi, Astrit Bilalli, Simon Vitecek, Steffen U. Pauls, Felicitas Erzinger, Agim Gashi, Linda Grapci Kotori, Donard Geci, Milaim Musliu, Edison Kasumaj available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Ibrahimi, Halil; Bilalli, Astrit; Vitecek, Simon; Pauls, Steffen; Erzinger, Felicitas; Gashi, Agim; Grapci Kotori, Linda; Geci, Donard et al. (7 April 2021). "Potamophylax coronavirus sp. n. (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae), a new species from Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park in the Republic of Kosovo, with molecular and ecological notes". Biodiversity Data Journal 9. doi:10.3897/BDJ.9.e64486. PMID 33867804.
2. ↑ "New species of insect discovered in Kosovo is named after coronavirus | Climate News | Sky News". 2021-12-03. https://news.sky.com/story/new-species-of-insect-discovered-in-kosovo-is-named-after-coronavirus-12281136.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "New Insect Species From Kosovo Has Been Named After the Coronavirus Pandemic" (in en). 2021-04-14. https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/new-insect-species-from-kosovo-has-been-named-after-the-coronavirus-pandemic-3638042.html.
4. ↑ Smith, Kiona N.. "New Insect Species Named For Coronavirus" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/kionasmith/2021/05/31/new-insect-species-named-for-coronavirus/.
5. ↑ "Kosovar biologist names newly discovered insect after coronavirus" (in en). 20 April 2021. https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/19245034.kosovar-biologist-names-newly-discovered-insect-coronavirus/.
6. ↑ "Trigonopterus corona, the new species of tiny beetle named after the coronavirus" (in en). https://www.newswise.com/articles/trigonopterus-corona-the-new-species-of-tiny-beetle-named-after-the-coronavirus.

## See also

* List of species named after the COVID-19 pandemic

## External links

* Press Association (20 April 2021). "Kosovar biologist names newly discovered insect after coronavirus". East London and West Essex Guardian. https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/national-news/19245034.kosovar-biologist-names-newly-discovered-insect-coronavirus/.
* "Pandemic-inspired discoveries: New insect species from Kosovo named after the Coronavirus". EurekAlert. 12 April 2021. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/862006. "Source: Ibrahimi et al, 2021"

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