Gripopteryx japi n. sp.

(Figs. 7–8)

Type material. Holotype male: BRAZIL, São Paulo, Jundiaí. Parque Florestal Serra do Japi, Riacho da Cachoeira do Paraíso (23°14’33”S / 46°57’03”W, 1025m a.s.l.), 22.ii.2007, light trap, Lecci, L.S. and Nascimento, E. Paratypes. 1 female, same data as holotype; 1 male, same data as holotype except for: 26–27.iii.2007, Calor, A.R., Mariano, R. and Lecci, L.S.; 1 male, 3 females, 2 exuviae, same data as holotype except for: 27–29.viii.2007, light trap and entomological net, Lecci, L.S., Moretto, R.A. and Nascimento, E. Additional Material. São Paulo, Jundiaí. Parque Florestal Serra do Japi, Riacho da Cachoeira do Paraíso (23°14’33”S / 46°57’03”W, 1025m: a.l.s.), 5 nymphs, 29.iv.2007, Lecci, L.S. and Nascimento, E.; 3 nymphs, 2 exuviae, same data except for: 27–29.viii.2007, Lecci, L.S., Moretto, R.A. and Nascimento, E.

Diagnostic characters. This new species differ from their congeners by the male having sternum 9 forming a broad subgenital plate, its apex extending halfway across sternum 10; paraproct relatively thin, simple, apex rounded; female with a subgenital plate with a small, apical indentation and apex of paraprocts broadly rounded; nymphal pronotum with a pair of short spines, meso– and metanotum with paired anterolateral and unpaired posterior small spines; abdominal terga 1–9 with small spines and tergum 10 with a long ventrally curved spine that is longer than the gills.

Description. General color light brown. Parietalia brown, a little granulose; strip along border of eyes smooth, light brown; scape and pedicel of antennae brown, flagellum mostly light brown. Epicranial line light brown (Fig. 7 a).

Pronotum light brown, margins and rugosities darker. A pair of small elevations on disc. Meso– and metanotum light brown, with a longitudinal yellowish median band, pleura brownish. Femora with a light brown band ventrally. Anterior and posterior ends of tibiae with brown bands. Tarsi light brown. Forewing a little spotted, venation light brown, pterostigmatic crossveins absent. Hindwings pale brown.

Male. Abdominal segments 2–7 membranous, 8–10 with weakly sclerotized terga. Sternum 9 forms a broad subgenital plate, apex extending on half of sternum 10 (fig. 7d). Tergum 10 triangular, (Fig. 7 b). Paraproct relatively thin, simple, apex rounded (Fig. 7 c and 7d); epiproct with small teeth (Fig. 7 e). Cerci brownish. Width of head, 1.01–1.08mm; length of forewing, 13.0– 14.4 mm; number of cercomeres 24–25.

Female. Abdominal terga and sterna 1–7 membranous. Sternum 8 forms a broad subgenital plate with a small, apical indentation (Fig. 8 a, 8b and 8c). Apex of paraprocts broadly rounded (Fig. 7 b and 8c). Sternum 9 sclerotized. Tergum 10 with a small, apical projection (Fig. 8 a). Width of head, 1.10–1.27 mm; length of forewing 15.6–17.8 mm; cerci damaged.

Nymph. General color dark brown. Antennae light brown. Pronotum brown, irregular, with a pair of discal elevations and a pair of small spines at the posterior corners. Meso– and metanotum with paired anterolateral and unpaired posterolateral small spines (Fig. 8 d). Abdominal terga 1–9 with small spines; tergum 10 with a long ventrally curved spine (Fig. 8 d). Measurements: last instar, male, width of head 0.7–0.8 mm, length of body 8.9–9.0 mm, length of antennae 11.4–12.3 mm, length of cerci 10.7–13.0 mm; females: width of head 1.4–1.5 mm, length of body 12.1–12.3 mm, length of antennae 12.1–12.3 mm, length of cerci 8.8–9.3 mm.

Remarks. G. j a p i n. sp. is a medium sized, light brown species. Nymphs are found in running water, living on rocks covered with aquatic mosses. The distribution of thoracic and abdominal spines is similar to those of G. l i a n a Froehlich. In G. j a p i, however, the tergum 10 spine is longer than the gills; the other abdominal spines are also slightly longer. The paraprocts of the adult male are similar to those of G. c o r u j a Froehlich 1993, but the paraprocts of G. japi n. sp. are more slender apically and slightly wider basally; the subgenital plate does not touch the paraproct bases.

Etymology. The name japi refers to Serra do Japi, the locality where this species was collected. The name is a noun in apposition.