Neoperla shangsiensis, Mo & Wang & Li & Murányi, 2021

Mo, Raorao, Wang, Guoquan, Li, Weihai & Muranyi, David, 2021, Two new species and one new record of Neoperla (Plecoptera, Perlidae) from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, ZooKeys 1056, pp. 191-206 : 191

Neoperla shangsiensis sp. nov.

Figs 7 , 8 , 9

Type Material.

Holotype: male (NMP), China: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Shangsi County, Shiwandashan National Forest Park, forested river valley, 290-360m, 21°54.4'N, 107°54.2'E, 5-9.IV.2013, light trap, leg. M. Fikáček, J. Hájek and J. Růžička.

Diagnosis.

This species is characterized by head with a median dark-brown rectangular marking covering the posterior ocelli, with a pair of posterior wing-like extensions. In the male, the aedeagus is characterized by a short ventral spinulose lobe, a pair of small dorsal spinulose lobes, and a low ventroapical lobe fully armed with spines.

Description.

Adult habitus (Fig. 7A, B ). Body color brown. Head brown, with a dark brown fishtail stigma on anterior part of frons and a distinct median dark-brown rectangular marking covering posterior ocelli, with a pair of posterior wing-like extensions; mouthparts brown, palpi paler, antennae dark brown; biocellate, the distance between ocelli slightly wider than the diameter of one ocellus; head slightly wider than pronotum. Pronotum trapezoidal, brown, with scattered darker rugosities; anterior corners sharp, posterior corners rounded. Wings brownish and transparent, veins dark brown; legs brown except femora yellow-brown at base; cerci brown.

Male (Figs 7 - 9 ). Forewing length ca. 12.0 mm. Hindwing length ca. 10.4 mm. Posterior process of tergum 7 small, triangular, covered with many marginal basiconic sensilla. Tergum 8 without a process but covered by a small median spine patch. Tergum 9 with a pair of patches of basiconic sensilla and long hairs. Hemitergal processes of tergum 10 sclerotized, finger-like, bent ventrally in basal half, apical half slightly outcurved, tapering to an acute tip and nearly extending over tergum 9 (Figs 7C , 8A, B ). Aedeagus mostly membranous, nearly straight (Figs 8C-F , 9 ). Aedeagal tube plump, straight, sclerotized basally and dorsally, with a pair of dorsoapical spinose lobes (Figs 8E, F , 9 ). Aedeagal sac about as long as tube, membranous, with a blunt trumpet-shaped tip; basoventral lobe distinctly shorter than corresponding width of sac, cylindrical, nearly parallel with aedeagus, with spinose apex; apical dorsal lobe small, triangular in lateral view, covered with a group of long spines; most of surface armed with dense spinules; apical portion covered with large spines, ventral spines smaller (Figs 8C-F , 9 ).

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

The species name refers to the Shangsi County, where the type locality is located.

Distribution.

China (Guangxi).

Ecology.

See ecology of Neoperla falcatata sp. nov.

Remarks.

The new species belongs to the Neoperla oculata species complex of the Neoperla montivaga species group as defined by Zwick (1983, 1986), because of the wide lobe of tergum 7 and the four lobes of the aedeagus. The new species seems closely related to N. furcomaculata Kong & Li, 2016 from Hainan Province in having similar terminalia and aedeagal structures. However, the new species is easily distinguishable from the latter by the distinctively pigmented head pattern. Additionally, both species can be distinguished by the details of the aedeagal structure (see Kong et al. 2014: figs. 5d, 6). In N. shangsiensis , the paired dorsoapical spinose lobes of the aedeagal tube are higher and larger, and the ventroapical lobe of the aedeagal sac is distinctly enlarged. In N. furcomaculata , the paired dorsoapical spinose lobes of the aedeagal tube are obviously lower and smaller, and the ventroapical part of the aedeagal sac is not enlarged and is without a lobe. In addition, the basoventral lobe of aedeagal sac of the new species is nearly parallel with the aedeagal tube and distinctly shorter than the corresponding width of the sac, whereas in N. furcomaculata the basoventral lobe of the aedeagal sac is perpendicular to the aedeagal tube and subequal in length to the width of the corresponding portion of the sac.

Figures

Figure 7. Neoperla shangsiensis sp. nov. (male) A adult habitus, dorsal view B head and pronotum, dorsal view C terminalia, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 8. Neoperla shangsiensis sp. nov. (male) A terminalia after being cleared, lateral view B terminalia after being cleared, oblique lateral view C tip of aedeagal sac, dorsal view D tip of aedeagal sac, ventral view E aedeagus, oblique lateral view F aedeagus, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A, B); 0.1 mm (C-F).

Figure 9. Neoperla shangsiensis sp. nov. (male) A aedeagus, dorsal view B aedeagus, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.