Epeorus (Caucasiron?) suspicatus (Braasch, 2006)

Figs 15, 16

Iron suspicatus Braasch, 2006 .

Epeorus (Caucasiron) suspicatus (Braasch, 2006): Vasanth et al. 2021: 519.

Type locality.

Nepal: Tal, Marshyangdi River (orig. Marsyandi-Tal, Thangja) (2400 m a. s. l.).

Examined material

(deposited in SMNS). • 2 larvae: holotype and paratype from type locality. • 1 larva (paratype): Nepal: Marsyandi-Tal, Bagarchap, ca. 2100 m a. s. l., 21. 05. 1980, leg. Sivec .

Distribution, habitat, and biology.

Himalayas: Nepal and India (Fig. 1). The species inhabits rhithral zones of mountain streams. The altitude of the sampling sites ranged between 2000 and 2400 m a. s. l. Late-instar larvae were recorded in May (Braasch 2006 a).

Main morphological diagnostics of the larva.

i) abdominal sterna with a pair of oblique stripes and a posterio-median macula (Fig. 15 I), ii) coloration of abdominal terga as on Fig. 15 G, H, iii) posterior margin of abdominal terga with sparse larger denticles separated by shorter denticles (Fig. 16 F), iv) tergum X with a short posterolateral projection (Fig. 16 L, arrow), v) gill plates VII narrow (in natural position from ventral view) (Figs 15 K, L, 16 K), vi) projection on gill plates III well-developed (Fig. 16 H, arrow), vii) femora with a median spot (Fig. 15 F), viii) dorsal surface of femora with rounded spatulate setae (Fig. 16 D), ix) abdominal terga with elongated (oval) and rounded spatulate setae (Fig. 16 E, F).

Remarks.

Morphology. Adult stages undescribed.

Taxonomy. The attribution of the species to the subgenus E. (Caucasiron) by Vasanth et al. (2021) was not confirmed by male genitalia or molecular data and hence remains unclear.