Panorpa sexspinosa Cheng, 1949

Li, Ning, Wang, Ji-Shen & Hua, Bao-Zhen, 2021, Morphological phylogenetic analyses and taxonomic revision of the Panorpa davidi group (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79, pp. 309-342 : 309

Panorpa sexspinosa Cheng, 1949

Figs 18 , 19

Panorpa sexspinosa Cheng, 1949: 145, figs 4, 8, 9, 15 & 16. Type locality: "Taipaishan, Shensi" [now Taibaishan, Shaanxi], China; Cheng, 1957: 49, figs 81, 87, 89, 123, 124 & 278; Chou et al. 1981: 5, figs 14-18; Wang & Hua, 2018: 396, figs 5-149-1-5-149-3.

Panorpa sexspinosa zhongnanensis Chou & Ran in Chou et al., 1981: 6. Type locality: Zhongnanshan, Shaanxi, China, syn. nov.

Panorpa shanyangensis Chou & Wang in Chou et al., 1981: 8, figs 28-29. Type locality: Cuipingshan, Shanyang, Shaanxi, China; Wang & Hua, 2018: 400, figs 5-151-1, syn. nov.

Diagnosis.

This species can be readily recognized by the following characters: (1) wing markings well-developed, forewing apical band broad with large hyaline spot posteriorly; pterostigmal band with broad basal branch, and thin or no apical branch; marginal spot slender or absent; basal band broad; basal spot absent (Figs 18B-C , 19A-B ); (2) meso- and metanotum blackish brown to black, with broad pale yellow mesal stripe (Fig. 19A-B ); in males, (3) gonocoxites bearing 4-8 (usually 6) long setae along beveled inner apex ventrally (Fig. 19E-F ); (4) parameres crossed mesally, twisted in S-shape, extending beyond gonocoxites (Fig. 19E, G ); in females, (5) medigynium with main plate broad, pair of lateral basal plates reaching two-thirds length of main plate, each basal plate formed by three sclerotized structures connected by membrane; axis extended beyond main plate for one-third of its length anteriorly (Fig. 19J-K ).

Material examined.

CHINA - Shaanxi Prov. • 1♂ (Holotype of P. sexspinosa ); Taibaishan ; Jul. 1942; Io Chou leg. • 1♀ (Holotype of P. shanyangensis ); Shanyang, Cuipingshan ; 14 Aug. 1973; Chou Tian, Tian-Yin Zeng & Man-Sheng Ruan leg. • 1♂ (Holotype of P. sexspinosa zhongnanensis ); Nanwutai ; 28 Aug. 1980; Su-Mei Wang leg. • 15 ♀♀ (Paratypes of P. sexspinosa zhongnanensis ); same data as previous; Su-Mei Wang et al. leg . • 2♂♂, 2♀♀ (Paratypes of P. sexspinosa zhongnanensis ); Nanwutai ; 8 Jul. 1979; Chou Tian & Tong Chen leg. • 1♂, 2♀♀; Taibaishan ; 5 Jul. 2020; Bao-Zhen Hua & Xiao-Yan Wang leg. • 1♂; Qinling Railway Station ; 18 Aug. 1965; Io Chou & Jin-Sheng Lu leg. • 32♂♂, 40♀♀; Ningshan, Huoditang ; 5 May-13 Jul. 2019; Xin Tong & Peng-Yang Wang leg. • 35♂♂, 42♀♀; Zhuque National Forest Park; 3 Sep. 2009; Yan-Kai Li & Jie Meng leg. • 1♂, 2♀♀; same data as previous; 8 Aug. 2020; Wan-Ruo Ma leg. • 3♂♂, 1♀; Tiantaishan Forest Park; 1500 m a.s.l.; 17 Jul. 2012; Qiong-Hua Gao & Yan-Yan Feng leg. • 3♀♀; Niubeiliang National Forest Park; 2200 m a.s.l.; 29 Jul. 2019; Kai Gao leg. - Gansu Prov. • 3♂♂, 2♀♀; Tianshui, Baihua Forest Farm; 7 Aug. 2011; Na Ma leg. • 1♂; Pingliang, Kongtongshan, Xiangshanding ; 2090 m a.s.l.; 19 Jul. 2019; Yan-Na Zhang leg. - Henan Prov. • 1♂; Pingdingshan, Lushan, Yaoshan ; 1200-1400 m a.s.l.; 20 Jul. 2012; Bao-Zhen Hua leg. - Hubei Prov. • 1♂; Shennongjia, Badong, Tiansanping .

Measurements.

Male: FL = 11.3-14.3 mm, FW = 3.0-3.5 mm; HL = 10.4-13.2 mm, HW = 2.8-3.3 mm. Female: FL = 11.6-14.7 mm, FW = 3.1-3.6 mm; HL = 10.5-13.6 mm, HW = 2.9-3.4 mm.

Distribution.

China: Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi.

Remarks.

Panorpa sexspinosa zhongnanensis was described from Nanwutai, Shaanxi. Based on our observations, no significant differences from the nominotypical subspecies have been found in morphological characters, including body colour, wing markings, and male and female genitalia. Therefore, P. sexspinosa zhongnanensis is here treated as a junior synonym of P. sexspinosa .

Panorpa shanyangensis was described from a single female specimen from Cuipingshan, Shanyang, Shaanxi. It resembles P. sexspinosa in gross morphology, although it can be distinguished from the latter by three pairs (cf. a pair) of lateral basal plates, three spots, and incomplete apical band with three separated small spots near the inner margin (cf. apical band broad with a large hyaline spot posteriorly). After dissecting series of female specimens of P. sexspinosa from the type locality and other localities, we found that each complete basal plate is formed by three sclerotized structures connected by membrane. After comparing the female genitalia of P. shanyangensis and P. sexspinosa , we found these two nominal species share highly similar lateral basal plates and outline of the main plate. It is reasonable to consider that the apical band with three separated small spots near the inner margin in P. shanyangensis is variation of wing markings, thus P. shanyangensis and P. sexspinosa are very likely conspecific. Consequently, P. shanyangensis is treated as a junior subjective synonym of P. sexspinosa . In addition, according to the collection records, Panorpa sexspinosa is very likely a bivoltine insect in Shaanxi.

Figures

Figure 18. Live adult habitus and habitat of Panorpa sexspinosa Cheng, 1949. A. Habitat in Tiantaishan Forest Park, Baoji, Shaanxi. B. Male, dorso-lateral view. C. Female, dorso-lateral view. Photos by Ning Li (A) and by Xin Tong (B-C).

Figure 19. Panorpa sexspinosa Cheng, 1949 from Ningshan, Shaanxi. A, C - H. Male. A. Habitus, dorsal view. C. Habitus, lateral view. D - F. Genital bulb, dorsal, ventral (removing hypandrium), and ventral views. G - H. Aedeagal complex, ventral and lateral views. B, I - K. Female. B. Habitus, dorsal view. I. Subgenital plate, ventral view. J - K. Medigynium, dorsal and ventral views. Scale bars: A-B = 5 mm; C = 2 mm; D-K = 0.2 mm.