Neoperla leigongshana Du & Wang, 2007

Mo, Raorao, Wang, Ying, Wang, Guoquan, Li, Weihai & Murányi, Dávid, 2021, Two new species and three new provincial records of Neoperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Nanling Mountains, China, Zootaxa 5040 (2), pp. 195-214 : 202-206

Neoperla leigongshana Du & Wang, 2007

( Figs. 6–8 )

Neoperla leigongshana Du & Wang, 2007: 87 ; Li, Wang & Lu, 2011: 57; Yang & Li, 2018: 41.

Material examined. 1 male ( HIST), China: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin City , Xing’an County, Maoershan National Nature Reserve , Grand Canyon , N 25°51’ 27’’, E 110°28’0”, 523 m, 2020. VI.20, light trap, Mo, Lai et al .; 1 male ( HIST), Guangxi, Guilin City, Multinational Autonomous County of Longsheng, Huaping National Nature Reserve , Cujiang Station , N 25°37’37’’, E 109°54’42’’, 732 m, 2020.VII.26, Malaise trap, Tan ; 1 male ( HIST), 2020. V.18, same locality and collector as above ; 1 male ( HIST), Hunan Province, Chenzhou City, Yizhang County, Mangshan National Forest Park, N 24°58’48”, E 112°54’36”, 643–1769 m, 2020.IX.5, Mo .

Distribution and ecology. China: Guangxi, Guizhou and Hunan, widespread in southern China ( Fig. 15 ). The locality in the Maoershan is the same as for N. chebalinga . The Malaise trap in Huaping, Cujiang Station was set up in a forest, and the insects may have come from nearby forest stream or brook or from a great distance. The Mangshan locality is a small brook with stony substrate, flowing in wet coniferous forest.

Remarks. This species was originally described from Guizhou Province ( Du & Wang 2007), and is first record- ed from Guangxi and Hunan provinces in the present study. The color pattern, terminalia and aedeagus of fresh male specimens agree with the type material in most characters ( Du & Wang 2007). However, the aedeagus of the specimen from Maoershan of Guangxi ( Fig. 8 ) seems most similar to original illustrations in size of aedeagal spinules, while the aedeagal spinules of the specimen from Mangshan are smaller and shorter ( Fig. 7 ). Our male specimens have a smaller posteromedial patch of sensilla basiconica on tergum 6, which can be regarded as intraspecific variation. We provide additional illustrations ( Figs. 6–8 ) to aid in the recognition of this apparently widespread southern China species.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Neoperla leigongshana Du & Wang, 2007 (male from Mangshan). a. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. b. Terminalia, dorsal view. c. Terminalia, oblique lateral view. d. Terminalia, lateral view.

FIGURE 7. Neoperla leigongshana Du & Wang, 2007 (Aedeagus from Mangshan). a. Aedeagus before eversion, lateral view. b. Aedeagus before eversion, ventral view. c. Aedeagus, lateral view. d. Aedeagus, oblique ventral view. e. Aedeagus, oblique dorsal view. f. Aedeagal sac, oblique dorsal view. g. Apical half of aedeagal sac, dorsal view.

FIGURE 8. Neoperla leigongshana Du & Wang, 2007 (male from Maoershan). a. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. b. Terga 6-7, dorsal view. c. Terga 8-10, dorsal view. d. Aedeagus, lateral view. e. Aedeagus, ventral view. f. Aedeagus, oblique dorsal view.

FIGURE 15. Distribution of the Neoperla species discussed in this paper. Black: localities out of Nanling Mountains. Red: Huaping National Nature Reserve. Blue: Maoershan National Nature Reserve. Green: Mangshan National Nature Reserve. Yellow: Chebaling National Nature Reserve.