Klugephlebia Selvakumar, Subramanian & Sivaramakrishnan

Selvakumar, C., Sivaruban, T., Subramanian, K. A. & Sivaramakrishnan, K. G., 2016, A new genus and species of Atalophlebiinae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from Palni hills of the southern Western Ghats, India, Zootaxa 4208 (4), pp. 381-391 : 382-383

Klugephlebia Selvakumar, Subramanian & Sivaramakrishnan n. gen.

Figs. 1–26

Type species: Klugephlebia kodai Selvakumar, Subramanian & Sivaramakrishnan n. sp.

Description. Imago ( Fig. 1 ).

Eyes of male separated on meson of head by narrow space ( Fig. 2 ). Eyes of female separated on meson of head by length 3× as great as maximum width of eye. Wings ( Fig. 3 ): forewings with vein Rs forked less than 1/4 of distance from base to margin; vein MA forked slightly less than 1/3 of distance from base to margin, fork symmetrical; vein MP forked slightly less than 1/2 of distance from base to margin, MP2 attached at base to vein MP1 by crossvein; cubital area with 2 intercalaries, as in Fig. 3 ; few cross veins. Costal projection of hindwings well developed, bluntly convex; apex of projection located less than ½ of distance from base ( Fig. 4 ); few cross veins. Legs: ratios of segments in male forelegs, 0.52: 1.00 (2.9 mm): 0.04: 0.35: 0.3: 0.185: 0.07 ( Fig. 5 ). Claws dissimilar; one apically hooked, one obtuse, pad-like ( Fig. 8 ). Male genitalia ( Fig. 9–10 ): segments 2 and 3 of forceps short, apex of segment 3 rounded, base of forceps broad, inner margin forming smooth bend near middle of forceps; length of styliger plate along median line slightly more than 1/3 maximum width, apex of styliger plate entire; penis divided, tubular, broader at base and tapering towards apex as in Fig. 9 . Seventh sternum of female with small broad ovipositor ( Fig. 11 ). Ninth sternum of female moderately cleft apically. Terminal filament longer than cerci.

Larva ( Figs. 12–13 ).

Head prognathous. Mouthparts: Anteriormedian emargination of labrum deeply cleft, apparently with two denticles; both distal and proximal transverse setal rows regular; proximal transverse setal row laterally curved distally; scattered long setae on ventral side ( Figs. 14–15 ). Lingua of hypopharynx with well-developed lateral processes ( Fig. 16 ), anterior margin shallowly cleft; superlingua of hypopharynx as in Fig. 16 , with row of hair-like setae along anterior margin. Left mandible: incisor with three denticles and kinetodontium with three denticles; right mandible: incisor with three denticles and kinetodontium with two denticles; prostheca more developed on left mandible than right mandible; row of 6–7 long and thin setae below mola of right mandibles; outer edge of mandibles with tuft of long and thin setae ( Figs. 17–18 ). Maxilla ( Fig. 19 ) stout and robust; palp three-segmented and short, with long setae on second and third segment; inner apical angle of galea with one comb-shaped dentiseta. Labium ( Fig. 20 ): segment 2 of palp slightly shorter than segment 1; segment 3 shorter than segment 2; 5–6 thick, triangular, spine-like setae on dorsal surface, inner and outer margins with short thin setae; glossa small and rounded apically; paraglossa large, rounded laterally and inner margin slightly pointed.

Setae on anterolateral margins of prothorax. Metathoracic wing pads present. Legs ( Figs. 21–24 ): Fore and mid femora each with regular row of long thin setae on outer margin; outer margin of hind femur with row of short setae; inner margin of all femora with scattered short setae; patellar-tibial sutures absent in all legs; inner margin of fore tibia with two rows of stout and feathered setae, outer margin with row of thin setae; inner margin of mid tibia with row of stout and pointed setae, outer margin with row of thin setae; inner margin of hind tibia with row of stout and pointed setae and irregular row of thin setae and outer margin with row of stout and pointed setae. Each tarsus with row of pointed setae on inner side. Apex of claws not hooked, denticles on claws progressively larger apically. Gills present on abdominal segment 1–7; dorsal and ventral portions of lamellae of gill 1 slender and lanceolate with branched tracheae ( Fig. 25 ), dorsal and ventral portions of lamellae of gills 2–7 wider and lanceolate, long and suddenly tapering at apex ( Fig. 26 ). Posterolateral spines on abdominal segments 6–9, progressively larger posteriorly.

Etymology. The new genus name is in honour of Dr. N. J. Kluge, recognizing his substantial contribution to mayfly systematics and phylogeny. The gender is masculine.

Diagnosis. Klugephlebia gen. n. shares all features of the subfamily Atalophlebiinae of Leptophlebiidae ; in the imago by the possession of square facets in the dorsal portion of the eyes of adult males ( Peters & Gillies 1995) and in the larvae: (i) dorsal surface of labrum with a well-defined row of setae ( Fig. 15 ); (ii) hypopharynx with superlinguae laterally developed ( Fig. 16 ); (iii) galea with the proximal dentiseta comb-shaped ( Fig. 19 ) ( Kluge 1994). Klugephlebia gen. n. can be differentiated from all other genera of Atalophlebiinae by the following combination of characters: In the imago: (i) vein MP forked slightly less than half of distance from base to margin, MP2 attached at base to vein MP1 by a crossvein ( Fig. 3 ); (ii) costal margin of hindwings with bluntly convex projection; apex of costal projection located less than half distance from base ( Fig. 4 ); (iii) claws of a pair dissimilar, one apically hooked, the other obtuse, pad-like ( Fig. 8 ) and (iv) segments 2 and 3 of forceps short, apex of segment 3 rounded, base of forceps broad, inner margin forming a smooth bend near middle of forceps; penis divided, tubular, broader at base and tapering towards apex as Fig. 9 . In the larvae: (i) gills present on abdominal segments 1–7; dorsal and ventral portions of lamellae of gill 1 slender and lanceolate with branched tracheae ( Fig. 25 ), dorsal and ventral portions of lamellae of gills 2–7 wider and lanceolate, long and suddenly tapering at apex ( Fig. 26 ); (ii) Fore and mid femora with a regular row of long, thin setae on outer margin; denticles on claws progressively larger apically ( Figs. 21–24 ); (iii) length of the labrum more than half of the width, lateral lobes rounded, anteriomedian emargination deeply cleft, apparently with 2 denticles; proximal transverse setal row laterally curved distally ( Figs. 14–15 ); (iv) maxillary palp short, with long setae on third segment ( Fig. 19 ) and third segment of labial palp with 5–6 thick, spine-like setae on dorsal surface, inner and outer margins with short, thin setae ( Fig. 20 ).

Distribution. India (known only from hill streams of type locality).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Imago of Klugephlebia kodai sp. n. 1. Lateral view of male; 2. Dorso-lateral view of male head 3. Forewing; 4. Hindwing.

FIGURES 5 – 11. Imago of Klugephlebia kodai sp. n. 5. Foreleg; 6. Midleg; 7. Hindleg; 8. Claw; 9. Genitalia; 10. Lateral view of genitalia; 11. Lateral view of female sternum.

FIGURES 12 – 20. Larva of Klugephlebia kodai sp. n. 12. Dorsal view of male; 13. Dorsal view of female; 14. Ventral view of labrum; 15. Dorsal view of labrum; 16. Hypopharynx; 17. Left mandible; 18. Right mandible; 19. Maxillae; 20. Labium.

FIGURES 21 – 26. Larva of Klugephlebia kodai sp. n. 21. Foreleg; 22. Midleg; 23. Hindleg; 24, Claw; 25, Gill I; 26, Gill IV.