Taeniopteryx nebulosa (Linnaeus, 1758)

Judson, Sarah W. & Nelson, C. Riley, 2012, 3541, Zootaxa 3541, pp. 1-118 : 53

Taeniopteryx nebulosa (Linnaeus, 1758)

SYNONYMY

Phryganea nebulosa Linnaeus, 1758

Nemoura nebulosa Olivier, 1811

Taeniopteryx nebulosa Claassen, 1940

TYPE LOCALITY: Sweden .

DIAGNOSIS: Body coloration of adult Taeniopteryx nebulosa is two-toned with head and thorax being dark brown and abdomen being much lighter. The pronotum lacks the patterned reticulations which are present in Taenionema japnoicum ( Fig. 368). The male epiproct is short and stout ( Fig. 374). Tergum 10 of males has four shallow lobes on the posterior margin and closely borders the anterior side of the epiproct. Sternum 10 of male ( Fig. 374) is not as dorsally extended as in Taenionema japonicum ( Fig. 369). Tergum 10 also bears a ventral vesicle ( Fig. 375). The cerci of males have only a single segment which appears inflated and nearly touching either side of the epiproct ( Fig. 374), whereas Taenionema japonicum has multiple, narrow cercal segments ( Fig. 369). The female subgenital plate is barely produced and broadly rounded ( Fig. 376), in stark contrast to Taenionema japonicum whose plate extends nearly to the tip of the abdomen. Nymphs have 3-segmented coxal gills that are telescopic ( Fig. 362). Each segment of the nymphal abdomen has a prominent dorsal process ( Fig. 363), causing the nymph to appear serrate from the lateral view. Nymphs lack the ventral triangular plate present in Taenionema japonicum .

DISTRIBUTION—Global: Trans-Palaearctic— Regional: AOB*— Aimag: KhG*.

DISCUSSION: This species has only been documented historically in the nymphal stage at Lake Khovsgol (Zhiltzova & Varykhanova 1984). Adult records and additional nymph collecting are needed to confirm its occurrence in Mongolia, though the nymph is quite distinctive. It should be noted that this species has historically been placed in Nemouridae because of its striking resemblance in terms of coloration, body shape, size, reduced cerci, and the presence of a ventral vesicle in males ( Fig. 375, 174). The species can be distinguished by its bulbous cerci, head shape, and epiproct structure.