Panorpa fructa 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 fructa Cheng, 1949

Figs 10 , 11

Panorpa fructa Cheng, 1949: 144, figs 5-7. Type locality: "Wakiakeng, 50 miles west of Tachienlu, Sikang" [now Kangding, Sichuan], China; Cheng, 1957: 30, figs 29, 35 & 38; Wang & Hua, 2018: 339, figs 5-121-1-5-121-2.

Diagnosis.

This species can be readily recognized by the following characters: (1) pleura blackish brown to black (Figs 10B , 11C ); (2) wing markings reduced into series of scattered dark brown spots (Fig. 10B-C ); (3) meso- and metanotum black, without pale mesal stripe (Fig. 11A-B ); (4) inner apex of gonocoxites projected inwards, bearing cluster of long black setae (Fig. 11E ); (5) hypovalves gradually broadened towards rounded apexes, extending to apex of gonocoxites (Fig. 11F ); and in females, (6) medigynium with main plate broad, long; pair of lateral basal plates subbasally extended to three-quarters length of main plate (Fig. 11J-K ).

Material examined.

CHINA - Sichuan, Garze • 1♂ (Holotype); "Wakiakeng, 50 miles west of Tachienlu" [now Kangding ]; 9 Sep. 1939; Fung Ying Cheng, Io Chou & Tein Ho Hei leg. • 1♂; Kangding, Gongga Temple ; 3650-4000 m a.s.l.; 3 Sep. 1982; Shu-Yong Wang leg. • 1♂; Yajiang Military Station ; 3600 m a.s.l.; 28 Aug. 1982; Huai-Cheng Cai leg. • 1♀; Yajiang Military Station ; 3350 m a.s.l.; 25 Jul. 1982; Xue-Zhong Zhang leg. • 1♀; Yajiang Military Station ; 3380 m a.s.l.; 6 Aug. 2018; Ning Li & Lu Liu leg. • 2♀♀; same data as previous; 3 Jul. 2019 • 2♂♂; Luhuo, Zhuwo ; 3 Jun. 2009; Jiang-Li Tan leg. • 23♂♂, 28♀♀; Xinduqiao ; 30°03′28″N, 101°28′58″E; 3480 m a.s.l.; 29 Jun. 2019; Ning Li & Lu Liu leg. • 1♂; Tagong grassland; 30°19′13″N, 101°28′58″E; 3760 m a.s.l.; 3 Aug. 2018; Lu-Yao Yang leg.

Measurements.

Male: FL = 11.3-12.2 mm, FW = 2.8-3.2 mm; HL = 10.2-11.0 mm, HW = 2.7-3.0 mm. Female: FL = 12.0-12.5 mm, FW = 2.9-3.2 mm; HL = 10.4-11.3 mm, HW = 2.9-3.2 mm.

Description.

Female: Head (Figs 10C , 11B ): Frons and occiput reddish brown. Vertex with broad black transverse band passing through ocellar triangle and extending to inner margins of compound eyes. Rostrum reddish brown, with two blackish brown submedian stripes. Labrum black brown. Maxillary and labial palps dark brown, with distal segments black. Antennal scape, pedicel black brown; flagellum black, filiform. Thorax (Figs 10C , 11B ): Pronotum black, with 10-16 stout setae along anterior margin. Meso- and metanotum black, without pale mesal stripe; scutella black brown. Pleura black brown to black. Legs reddish brown, with distal tarsomere black. Wings (Figs 10C , 11B ): Wing membrane hyaline, with dark brown markings. Forewing with broad apical band split into large spot anteriorly and series of small spots posteriorly; pterostigmal band complete anteriorly, with discrete basal branch and faint apical branch posteriorly; marginal spot prominent; basal band split into two spots; basal spot small and faint. Hindwing similar to forewing, but with relatively reduced markings; marginal spot and basal band extremely faint or absent; basal spot absent. Abdomen (Fig. 11B ): T2-T6 black. A7-A10 reddish brown. Genitalia (Fig. 11I-K ): Subgenital plate ligulate, with V-shaped distal emargination, bearing long setae in distal half. Medigynium with broad, long main plate, lateral margin concaved; each lateral basal plate subbasally consisting of three pieces of sclerotized structure, extended to three-quarters length of main plate. Posterior arms slender, one-third as long as main plate; axis slightly extruded posteriorly, extending beyond main plate for half of its length anteriorly.

Distribution.

China: Sichuan.

Remarks.

Panorpa fructa was originally described based on a single male specimen. Over two dozen female specimens from Kangding, the type locality, are determined here as members of this species. The specimens were collected at high-altitude from 3300 to 4000 m in alpine shrub meadow (Fig. 10A ). The darker body may help absorb solar heating to adapt the cold environment. The adults hold wings roof-like at repose (Fig. 10B ), which may be adapted to the strong wind environment in the alpine region.

Figures

Figure 10. Live adult habitus and habitat of Panorpa fructa Cheng, 1949. A. Habitat in Xinduqiao, Sichuan. B. Male, lateral view. C. Female, dorsal view. Photos by Lu-Yao Yang (A) and by Ning Li (B-C).

Figure 11. Panorpa fructa Cheng, 1949 from Xinduqiao, Sichuan. 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, ventral and dorsal views. Scale bars: A-B = 5 mm; C = 2 mm; D-K = 0.2 mm.