Panorpa stella Wang, 2021

Wang, Ji-Shen & Gong, You-Jing, 2021, Taxonomy of the Panorpaguttata group (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), withdescriptions of fourteen new species from China, Zootaxa 4981 (2), pp. 241-274 : 263-265

Panorpa stella Wang , sp. n.

( Fig. 16 )

Etymology. The new specific epithet is the Latin stēlla (star, star shape), referring to the star-shaped pattern enclosing the ocellar triangle. Noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to Panorpa kunmingensis Fu & Hua, 2009 in general appearance, but can be differentiated from the latter by the following characters: 1) head with star-shaped black pattern enclosing ocellar triangle, and another black patter on occiput; 2) wings with clear and dense markings (cf. scattered); in males, 3) A6 with pair of broad lobes greatly curled on ventral margin (cf. simple); 4) parameres bifurcated with ventral branch bifurcated subapically (cf. simple); and in females, 5) medigynium with main plate longer than axis (cf. shorter).

Type series. CHINA: Yunnan: Yongde: Holotype ♂ (CN20Pa00152), Mt. Daxue (Great Snow), near Mangzha village , 2200 m, 24°12’10’’ N 99°37’18’’ E, 25.vii.2020, leg. Ji-Shen Wang; paratypes 7♀ (CN20Pa00153–CN-20Pa00159), same data; paratype 1♂ (CN20Pa00160), Mt. Tangli , 2560 m, 24°02’56’’ N, 99°13’56’’ E, 29.vii.2020, leg. Ji-Shen Wang; Baoshan: paratypes 1♂ 1♀ (CN20Pa00161, CN20Pa00162), Gaoligong Mountains , Baihua (hundreds of flowers) Ridge, 2000 m, 25°18’00’’ N 98°47’14’’ E, 20.viii.2020, leg. Zhi-Wei Dong.

Measurements. Male: AtL 9.0– 9.8 mm, AbL 7.3–8.5 mm, BL 10.8–11.8 mm, FL 11.2–12.0 mm, FW 2.7–2.8 mm, HL 10.2–11.0 mm, HW 2.6–2.7 mm; Female: AbL 7.0–8.0 mm, BL 11.0– 11.8 mm, FL 11.0– 12.4 mm, FW 2.7–2.8 mm, HL 10.0– 11.3 mm, HW 2.6–2.7 mm.

Description-male. Head. Vertex yellow, rostrum yellowish brown. Star-shaped black patter enclosing ocellar triangle, and another black pattern on occiput.

Wings. Membrane hyaline, slightly tinged with grayish brown, markings blackish brown. Pterostigma reddish brown and conspicuous. Forewing apical band broad with oblique and irregular inner margin; pterostigma band with only anterior half present; basal band reduced to small spot above ending of 1A; marginal and basal spots absent; 1A ending beyond level of ORs; and two cross-veins between 1A and 2A. Hindwings similar to forewings, except for basal band absent.

Abdomen. T1–T5 brown with continuous pale median stripe extending from T1 to T6. A6 yellowish brown and gradually lightning towards apex, cylindrical, with deep U-shaped emargination on dorsal apex, and forming pair of triangular lobes greatly curling outwards on ventral margin. A7 and A8 yellowish brown; A7 cylindrical and greatly humped on dorsal apex, A8 constricted basally and beveled apically.

Male genitalia. Genital bulb yellowish brown, oval. Epandrium extending beyond middle of gonostylus, tapering towards apex, with U-shaped terminal emargination and forming two finger-like processes. Hypandrium Y-shaped and approximately 3/4 as long as gonocoxites, with basal stalk approximately 2/3 as long as hypovalves. Hypovalves slender, arcuate, with sparse long bristles along inner margin. Gonostyli shorter than half length of gonocoxites, with subacute earlobe-shaped basal lobe and rounded median tooth. Parameres bifurcated and covered with numerous stout microtrichia; ventral branch short, bifurcated subapically into two pointed thorns; dorsal branch stout, slightly convergent apically, almost extending to level of apex of gonocoxites. Ventral aedeagal valves membranous, semicircular, and covered with numerous microtrichia; dorsal processes stout, greatly elongated, nearly parallel, and slightly curved inward at subacute apex.

Description-female. Similar to males in general appearance, except for denser wing markings (some individual with detached apical branch of pterostigmal band in forewings).

Female genitalia. Subgenital plate subtrapezoidal with truncated apex, and sparse long setae marginally. Medigynium with broad main plate approximately 3/5 as long as axis; lateral margin of main plate thickened than median region; posterior arms slender, arcuate, and approximately 1/3 as long as main plate; apodemes divergent basally.

Distribution. CHINA: Yunnan: Baoshan (Gaoligong Mountains), Yongde (Mts Daxue and Tangli) ( Fig. 2 ).

Notes. This species coinhabits with Panorpa parallela Wang & Hua, 2016 and Panorpa reflexa Wang & Hua, 2016 in Mts Daxue and Tangli, Yunnan.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Distribution of 23 species in the Panorpa guttata group.

FIGURE 16. Panorpa stella Wang, sp. n. A, C–F. Male; B, H & I. Female.A & B. Habitus, dorsal view; C. Head, frontal view; D & E. A6–A8, dorsal and left-lateral views, respectively; F. Genital bulb, ventral view; G. Aedeagal complex, ventral view; H. Subgenital plate, ventral view; I. Medigynium, ventral view.