Zelandobius edwardsi, McLellan, 2008

McLellan, Ian D., 2008, Additions To Zelandobius (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae Antarctoperlinae) From New Zealand, Illiesia 4 (2), pp. 11-18 : 15-17

Zelandobius edwardsi sp. n.

( Figs. 16-19 )

Material examined. Holotype ♂, paratype ♀, NZCO, Hector Mts , Ben Nevis area, 1750-1800 m, 21 Feb 1994 B.H Patrick, NZAC03000777 ( NZAC); paratype ♂ and ♀, NZCO, Mt Benger , Timber Creek , 1050 m, 16 Sept 1999, E. Edwards, NZAC03000776 ( NZAC); paratype ♂ and ♀, NZCO, Hector Mts , Ben Nevis area, 1650-1800 m, 23 Feb 1994, B.H. Patrick ( Central Stories Museum & Art Gallery, Alexandra, New Zealand); 8♂, 4♀, 5 exuvia, NZCO, Hector Mts, Ben Nevis area, 1650-1800 m, 23 Feb 1994, B.H. Patrick, NZAC03000776 .

Dimensions.

Male: Body length 6-10 mm; antenna 6.5-10 mm; forewing 3.5-11 mm; hindleg 3.5-8.5 mm; pronotum length 0.88-1.2 mm, width 1.6-2.18 mm.

Female: Body length 9.512 mm; antenna 7-8 mm; forewing 4.75-12 mm; hindleg 6.75-7.5 mm; pronotum length 0.96-1.76 mm; width 1.6-2 mm.

Adult. Head with dark brown.Epicranium and frons almost black; ocelli prominent with a pair of tubercles directly in front of the medial ocellus. Antenna with first segment of flagellum longer than scape. Pronotum brown, slightly wider than long with angles not produced. Legs almost uniform brown. Wings vary in populations from full length ( Fig. 16A ) to about half body length ( Fig. 16B ). In forewings each distal crossvein is surrounded by a brown to light brown patch which usually coalesces with surrounding patches to form bars. In full winged specimens Rs fork 0.35x length of Rs and short winged 0.29x.

Male genitalia. ( Figs. 17, 18 ). Posterior margin of central sclerite concave. Membranous cone very short with almost straight sides. Posterior sclerite long, almost straight and slightly bulged at tip. Epiproct with tip short curved and pointed; 3 pairs of teeth on epiproct margins, the anterior 2 pairs minute, the posterior pair large. Paraproct with short curved apical spine without basal bulge. Cerci each with about 11 segments and downcurved.

Female genitalia. ( Fig. 19 ). Subgenital plate brown with broad lateral lobes. Medially from the medial emargination and as wide as it, a pale triangle extends a short distance anteriorly. Another pale triangle extends posteriorly from the middle of the plate’s anterior margin. Medially on the posterior margin of sternite 9 a pale membranous patch about two thirds as wide as the posterior margin extends forward for about a quarter of the sternites’s length. Remarks. This species appears closely related to Z. mariae . McLellan The male genitalia are similar but have decided differences. Z. mariae McLellan has a short bulged posterior sclerite; the epiproct has a longer sharper tip and the anterior teeth are not minute. In this as in other species the length of forewing determines the number of distal crossveins. In this species there are about 8 between Rs and M 1+ 2 in full winged specimens and about half that number in short winged specimens. The Rs fork is also affected by wing reduction and its relative length is shorter.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to Eric Edwards (Department of Conservation Invercargill, New Zealand). He has collected stoneflies extensively throughout the South Island adding greatly to the knowledge of this order.

Figures

Figs. 16-19. Zelandobius edwardsi. 16. Forewings for A) fully winged, and B) brachypterous individuals, 17. Male genitalia, dorsal, 18. Male genitalia, lateral, 19. Female genitalia, ventral.