Thraulodes luisae Souto, Da-Silva & Nessimian, 2014

Raymundo, Thayna Da Silva, Almeida, Taís Barbosa, Do Nascimento, Jeane M. C. & Salles, Frederico Falcão, 2021, Thraulodes Ulmer 1920 (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from Espírito Santo state, Brazil, Zootaxa 5076 (1), pp. 7-20 : 12-14

Thraulodes luisae Souto, Da-Silva & Nessimian, 2014

( Figs. 11–15 and 26–27 )

Diagnosis. Male imago (adapted from Souto et al. 2014): 1) forewings with 2–3 cross veins basal to bulla; 2) costal and subcostal areas of forewing white on apical third; 2) femora of forelegs with an apical transversal brown band heavily marked and one submedian brown mark; 3) abdominal color pattern of terga I–VI translucent whitish, terga II–VI with a pair of submedian spots, a pair of midway spots and a pair of stigmatic dots, one each side; 5) styliger plate triangular possessing median projection short with narrow base and rounded apex; 6) penes short and wide, apicolateral area forming an “ear-like” projection and lateral pouch present, short spines on penes with base robust and tapering towards apex. Nymph: 1) abdominal color pattern of terga I–V with a pair of dark brown submedian spots and a pair of dark brown midway spots, one on each side ( Fig. 11 ); 2) legs light brown and femora with dark brown marks on dorsal surface ( Fig. 13 ); 3) tarsal claws with 7 denticles, apical denticle almost twice as long as the subapical denticle ( Fig. 14 ); 4) gills broad and tapering toward the apex, main trachea strongly pigmented and unbranched ( Fig. 15 ).

Description.

Nymph (putative). LENGTH (mm). Body: 5.1–6.0; caudal filaments: 7.5.

General coloration light brown. Head. Upper portion of male compound eye orangish, lower portion black; ocelli dark gray; small light brown spot between eyes, ocelli and base of antenna. Labrum three times wider than long; wider than clypeus; anterior margin with five subtle denticles ( Figs. 12a–b ). Mandibles with outer margin with long, thin setae on distal half and without setae on basal half ( Figs. 12c and 12e ). Maxilla light brown; segments I and II of maxillary palp with few, simple setae on outer margin (these setae are eventually absent in some specimens), segment III with short setae, more abundant apically on outer margin; segment II with few, short, stout setae on apical inner margin and segment III with stout setae on inner margin ( Fig. 12f and 12h ). Hypopharynx with light brown setae ( Fig. 12d ). Labium light brown; segment I of labial palp with both margins with long setae; segment II with few setae on outer margin and segment III with setae concentrated apically on outer margin ( Fig. 12g ). Thorax. Pro-, meso- and metanotum light brown. Wing-pads whitish brown. Pleura and thoracic sterna yellowish. Legs: light brown. Foreleg: fore femur with medium dark brown mark on dorsal surface; inner margin with short spines, outer margin with long spines and long, thin setae; tibia with row of short spines on outer and inner margins and with long setae on outer margin ( Fig. 13a ); tarsal claws with 7 denticles progressively larger towards apex, with apical denticle almost twice as long as subapical denticle ( Fig. 14 ). Mid and hind legs: similar to foreleg, except that basal mark on dorsal surface of femur is less visible on mid leg ( Fig. 13b and 13c ). Abdomen. Terga light brown. Terga I–V with pair of submedian dark brown spots near posterior margins and pair of midway, dark brown spots near anterior margins, one on each side ( Fig. 11 ). Sterna yellowish white. Caudal filaments yellowish with dark brown annulations. Gills gray, broad and tapering toward apex, with main trachea strongly pigmented and unbranched ( Fig. 15 ).

Life cycle associations. Nymphs were associated with the imagos because they were found in the same localities and share the same abdominal color pattern of the male imago, especially the submedial marks (see Figure 2 in Souto et al. 2014 and Figures 11 and 27 of the present study).

Biology. Thraulodes luisae has been found in sites between 50–2000 meters above sea level ( Souto et al. 2014 and present study). The nymphs were found in rivers with low to moderate currents and in different substrates, such as leaf litter, leaf litter accumulated in ponds, sand, gravel or under submerged stones and pebbles, and in riparian vegetation. This is the most common and widely distributed species of the genus in the state of Espírito Santo. Thraulodes luisae was found in sympatry with T. itatiajanus at sites in the Caparaó National Park.

Distribution. São Paulo. New records for Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais ( Fig. 23 ).

Material examined. Brazil, Minas Gerais, Espera Feliz, Caparaó National Park, Pedra Menina (Base), 20º 37’ 30.3’’ S / 41º 49’ 27.1’’ W, 4 m, 14.x.2011, nymphs; same locality, 14-15.ii.2016, 2 nymphs; Caparaó National Park, Cachoeira do Vale a Pena, 20º 32’ 19.6’’ S / 41º 51’ 25.2’’ W, 1053 m, 27.iii.2009, Ceunes leg., 1 nymph; Alto Caparaó, Caparaó National Park, Rio São Domingos, 20º 2 ’ 19.5” S / 41º 49’ 41.7” W, 1972 m, 28.iii.2018, lençol, 3 ♂ imagos; Araponga, Cachoeira do Boné, 20º 38’ 45” S / 42º 27’ 26” W, 950 m, 05.ix.2018, F.F. Salles, I. Pereira & J.L. Marulanda cols., 15 nymphs; same locality, 24.ix.201, F.F. Salles, I. Pereira, D.S. Belicchi & J.L. Marulanda cols., 3 nymphs; Same locality, 11.vii.2019, F.F. Salles, T.S. Raymundo, J.L. Marulanda & I.D. Oliveira cols., 60 nymphs; same data, 33 nymphs; same locality, 10.i.2020, 1 nymph; Espírito Santo, Ibitirama, Caparaó National Park, Santa Marta, Rio Santa Marta (Base), 20º 29’ 51.3’’ S / 41º 43’ 45.9’’ W, 935 m, 17-18.ii.2016, uv light pan trap, 4 ♀ imagos and 2 ♂ subimagos; same locality, 18-19.ii.2016, 2 ♂ imagos and 1 ♂ subimago; Caparaó National Park, Rio Pedra Roxa, 20º 23’ 48.1’’ S / 41º 44’ 08.1’’ W, 1063 m, 20.iv.200, Ceunes leg., 21 nymphs; same locality, 15.x.2011, 1 nymph; Caparaó National Park, Rio Pedra Roxa, 20º 24’ 20.7’’ S / 41º 43’ 35.6’’ W, 997 m, 21.iv.200, Ceunes leg., 2 nymphs; Caparaó National Park, Rio “Tecnotruta” between Pedra Roxa and Santa Marta, 20º 2 ’ 43.0’’ S / 41º 42’ 15. ’’ W, 33 m, 21.iv.200, 11 nymphs; Caparaó National Park, Rio “Tecnotruta” Sonho Meu, 1063 m, 21.iv.200, 7 nymphs; same locality, 959 m, 21.iv.200, 6 nymphs; Cariacica, Reserva Biológica Duas Bocas, Quase fim da Trilha, 20º 15’ 2.5’’ S / 40º 29’ 3.3’’ W, 211 m, 02.x.2013, 19 nymphs; Reserva Biológica Duas Bocas, Casa da Farinha, 20º 33’ 0.7’’ S / 40º 43’ 36.6’’ W, 01.x.2013, 3 nymphs; Santa Teresa, Nova Lombardia, Capitel de Santo Antônio, Pinguela, 19º 52’ 16.0’’ S / 40º 31’ 43.1’’ W, 718 m, 19.xi.2015, lençol, 1 ♂ imago and 1 ♂ subimago; same locality, 09.xii.2015, 1 ♂ imago and 4 ♂ subimagos; same locality, 26.x.2009, 3 ♂ and 1 ♀ imagos; same locality, 19.ii.2009, 1 nymph; same locality, 26.x.200, 31 nymphs; same locality, 09.xii.2015, nymphs; same locality, 0. ix.2015, 12 nymphs; Nova Lombardia, Capitel de Santo Antônio, Córrego Grande (Área Aberta), 19º 52’ 32.6’’ S / 40º 31’ 49. ’’ W, 721 m, 19.ii.2009, Ceunes leg., 3 nymphs; Nova Lombardia, Capitel de Santo Antônio, Córrego Grande (Área Aberta), 19º 52’ 32.6’’ S / 40º 31’ 49. ’’ W, 721 m, 19.i.200, nymphs; same locality, 20.i.200, Ceunes leg., 6 nymphs; same locality, 24.x.200, Ceunes leg., 19 nymphs; same locality, 25.x.200, Ceunes leg., 6 nymphs; same locality, 19.ii.2009, Ceunes leg., 3 nymphs; same locality, 20.ii.2009, Ceunes leg., 12 nymphs; same locality, 11-12.i.2016, 1 ♂ subimago; Nova Lombardia, Capitel de Santo Antônio, Cachoeira Grande, 19º 52’ 30. ’’ S / 40º 31’ 56.6’’ W, 712 m, 25.x.200, Ceunes leg., 15 nymphs; same locality, 24.x.200, 5 nymphs; same locality, 20.i.200, 13 nymphs; Nova Lombardia, Capitel de Santo Antônio, Córrego Escavado, 19º 52’ 31.7’’ S / 40º 31’ 47.3’’ W, 705 m, 16.xi.200, 5 nymphs; Nova Lombardia, Poção, 19º 52’ 30.9’’ S / 40º 32’ 07.4’’ W, 739 m, 26.x.200, Ceunes leg., 1 nymph; Nova Lombardia, Córrego do Filtro, 19º 52’ 32.6’’ S / 40º 31’ 49. ’’ W, 11.i.2016, 2 nymphs; Santa Teresa, Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi, Cachoeirinha, Estrada cima, 19º 53’ 20.9’’ S / 40º 32’ 43.9’’ W, 19.xi.2015, 1 nymph; Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi, Córrego da Estrada, 19º 53’ 20.6’’ S / 40º 32’ 41.5’’ W, 11.i.2016, lençol, 2 ♂ imagos and 2 ♀ subimagos; Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi, Córrego do Bragacho, 19º 52’ 25.3’’ S / 40º 33’ 34.2’’ W, 15.iv.201, 4 nymphs; Fundão, Rio Timbuí, Fazenda Camping, Capela, 19º 56’ 02.0’’ S / 40º 24’ 45.0’’ W, 57 m, 02.xii.2010, 1 nymph; same locality, 03.xii.2010, 2 nymphs.

Discussion. Nymphs of T. luisae resemble those of T. bonito and T. borun due to the general abdominal color pattern, mainly the marks of the terga. Both species have a pair of dark brown spots on the sublateral region of the terga, one on each side, distributed as follow: T. luisae on terga I–V; T. bonito on terga I–VII and T. borun on terga II–VI. The gills of these species have the main trachea strongly pigmented and unbranched. Nevertheless, the nymph of T. luisae can be distinguished from the others two species by the terga I–V with a pair of submedian, dark brown spots close to posterior margin; in T. borun the terga II–VI has single posteromedial dark mark, while in T. bonito the terga II–VII have diffuse and poorly defined median mark. Moreover, the number of denticles on the tarsal claw differs among the three species: T. luisae has 7; T. borun has –9; and T. bonito has 11.

Figures

FIGURE 23. Map of South America, with the eastern portion of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo in detail showing the distribution of the genus Thraulodes analyzed in this study. Thraulodes itatiajanus (yellow dot); Thraulodes luisae (purple dot); and Thraulodes alegre sp. nov. (red dot).

FIGURES 11–12. Thraulodes luisae, nymph: 11) habitus, dorsal view; 12) mouthparts (a- labrum; b- details of the distal margin of the labrum; c- left mandible; d- hypopharynx; e- right mandible; f- left maxilla; g- labium; h- right maxilla).

FIGURES 13–15. Thraulodes luisae, nymph: 13) legs (a- foreleg; b- mid leg; c- hind leg); 14) tarsal claw of foreleg showing the denticles; 15) gill.

FIGURES 24–27. Living specimens of Thraulodes: 24) Thraulodes itatiajanus, female imago; 25) Thraulodes itatiajanus, male nymph; 26 and 27) Thraulodes luisae, male imago. All photographs are by FFS.

FIGURES 1–3. Thraulodes itatiajanus, female imago: 1) habitus, lateral view; 2) habitus, dorsal view; 3) legs (a- foreleg; bmid leg; c- hind leg).