Paracloeodes leptobranchus Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1996

Cruz, Paulo Vilela, Salles, Frederico Falcão & Hamada, Neusa, 2018, Contribution to the taxonomy of Paracloeode s Day 1955 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) from South America, Zootaxa 4403 (1), pp. 1-49 : 25-28

Paracloeodes leptobranchus Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty

( Figures 16–17 )

Paracloeodes leptobranchus Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996: 168 ; Domínguez et al. 2006: 172.

Diagnosis. Nymph. 1) frons with two keels; 2) distolateral margin of labrum with bifid setae ( Fig. 16A ); 3) right mandible incisors cleft ( Fig. 16B ); 4) distomedial projection of labial palp 2.1× width of segment III ( Fig. 16F ); 5) hind wing pads present; 6) anterior surface of forefemur with one row of blunt setae near dorsal margin, and one row of strong pectinate and stout setae near ventral margin ( Fig. 17A ); 7) anterior surface of foretibia with setae ( Fig. 17A ); 8) anterior margin of foretarsus without setae ( Fig. 17A ); 9) ventral margin of foretarsus with one row of pectinate and stout setae ( Fig. 17A ); 10) tarsal claw 0.56× length of tarsus; 11) cercus with long spines every two segments; 12) paracercus with spines on each segment; 13) body color pattern as in figure 17B.

Redescription. Nymph. Head. Frons with two keels. Antenna with scape and pedicel subcylindrical; flagellum with blunt spines and thin setae on apex of each segment. Labrum ( Fig. 16A ) rectangular, broader than long; length about 0.7× maximum width; sorsally with thin setae scattered over surface; subapical pair of setae near middle distinguishable from others; near anterolateral margin with two long setae distinguishable from others; ventrally with submarginal row of setae composed of bifid setae on distal and distolateral margin. Right mandible ( Fig. 16B ) incisors cleft. Inner and outer set of incisors respectively with 3 + 4 denticles. Prostheca slender, bifurcated at middle, inner lobe longer than outer. Margin between prostheca and mola convex; tuft of setae at apex of mola present, reduced to a single seta. Lateral margins slightly convex. Left mandible ( Fig. 16C ) incisors partially fused. Inner and outer set of incisors respectively with 3 + 5 denticles. Prostheca robust, apex with three small digitiform projection. Margin between prostheca and mola slightly convex; tuft of stout setae at base of mola present; tuft of setae at apex of mola absent. Lateral margins slightly convex. Hypopharynx ( Fig. 16E ) with lingua subequal in length to superlingua, distal margin convex; medial tuft of setae present. Superlingua rounded; thin setae scattered over distal margin; lateral margin with short spines. Maxilla ( Fig. 16D ) medially, on inner margin, with 1 stout setae. Maxillary palp long, 1.57× length of galea-lacinia. Labium ( Fig. 16F ) with glossa 0.9× length of paraglossa; inner margin ventrally bare; inner margin dorsally with 11 stout setae increasing in length apically; apex with three stout setae dorsally; outer margin ventrally bare, outer margin dorsally with eleven long and stout setae increasing in length distally; dorsal surface bare; ventral surface scattered with short and thin setae. Paraglossa on outer margin with one row of long and stout setae; dorsal surface with one longitudinal row of setae near inner margin; ventral surface with one row of six stout setae near inner margin. Labial palp with segment I 0.83× length of segments II and III combined; segment I with thin setae. Segment II with protuberance 2.12× width of base of segment III; inner margin with few short, simple setae; outer margin with many long and thin setae; dorsally covered with thin setae. Segment III inner margin with one row of stout setae dorsally; length 1.0× width; covered with short and thin setae. Thorax yellowish. Hind wing pads present. Foreleg ( Fig. 17A ) ratio 1.6:(1):1:0.56. forefemur with length about 3.47× maximum width; dorsal margin with row of blunt setae (in lateral view they look like stout setae); ventral margin with one row of strong pectinate and stout setae; length of setae on dorsal margin about 0.1× maximum width of femur; anterior surface with one row of stout and blunt setae near dorsal margin, and one row of strong pectinate and stout setae near ventral margin. Ventral margin of tibia with one row of stout setae; anterior surface with blunt and stout setae. Dorsal margin of tarsus with scarce short and thin setae; ventral margin with one row of pectinate and stout setae; anterior surface bare; tarsal claw 0.56× length of tarsus. Abdomen ( Fig. 17B ) yellowish. Gills ( Fig. 17C ) margins with spines intercalating short and thin setae; tracheae pigmented, restricted to main trunk. Gill I as long as length of segments II to half of III combined; lanceolated. Gill IV as long as length of segments IV to V combined. Paracercus with spines on all segments. Cercus with long spines every two segments.

Comments. See Comments under P. eurybranchus for discussion of similar species and its differentiation.

Material examined. One nymph on slides (holotype), BRAZIL, Rio Grande do Sul state, Campos Novas , Rio Leão , 800m, 27°19’B/51°18’L, v.1962, F. Plaumann col., PERC . One nymph in alcohol (paratype), BRAZIL, Santa Catarina state, Aparados da Serra, Rio Quatis , 1900m, 28°42’S / 50°27’W, iv.1967, F. Plaumann col., PERC .

Figures

FIGURE 16. Paracloeodes leptobranchus. Nymphs. A. labrum (left d.v., right v.v.); B. right mandible; C. left mandible; D. maxilla; E. hypopharynx; F. labium (left v.v., right d.v.).

FIGURE 17. Paracloeodes leptobranchus.Nymphs.A. foreleg; B. dorsal view of nymph; C. gill IV.