Flavoperla separata Liu, Li & Shali, 2021

Liu, Ruijun, Li, Wenliang, Li, Weihai & Shali, Yasen, 2021, Two new species of Flavoperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from China, Zoological Systematics 46 (2), pp. 182-186 : 182-183

Flavoperla separata Liu, Li & Shali , sp. nov. ( Figs 1–2 )

Diagnosis. The new species is characteristic by: General colour yellowish brown, head with a wide Y-shaped dark brown patch, and bearing a small triangular brown marking forward of M-line; hammer drop-like, with rounded base and triangular tip in ventral view and the rectangular epiproct sclerites separated by a wide membranous band.

Description. Adult. Body length (n = 4) 11.5–13.2 mm, forewing length 9.7–10.8 mm, hindwing length 8.0– 8.9 mm. Body color yellowish brown. Head mostly pale with a wide Y-shaped dark brown patch, and bearing a small triangular brown marking forward of M-line ( Figs 1A , 2B ), anterolateral part of Y-shaped patch obscure in a teneral male ( Fig. 2A ); slightly wider than pronotum. Compound eyes black. Biocellate; antennae brown. Pronotum brownish with pale rugosities, rectangular, corners obtuse ( Fig. 1A ). Wings transparent, veins brownish. Cerci brown.

Tergum 10 with a pair of dark brown subtriangular spines on posterior margin, obviously sclerotized, set far from each other, located close to paraprocts. Epiproct rectangular, medially interrupted by a wide membranous band. Paraprocts hookshaped, dark brown, curved forward; finger-shaped in lateral view ( Figs 1B, 1D ). Hammer basal half brown, anteriorly with brown extensions; generally drop-like, with rounded base and triangular tip in ventral view, apex pale and parallel-sided in lateral view ( Figs 1C–D , 2F–G ). Everted aedeagus mostly membranous and unpigmented, ventrally with two oval lobes at base connected by a thin transverse brown strip, medially constricted, apex trilobed ( Figs 2C–E ).

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype ♂ ( CAU), China, Shaanxi Province, Yuling Town , Jiefang Village , light trap, 1133 m, 110°43'07"N, 33°87'47"E, 11 July 2014, Chufei Tang. Paratypes. 3♂ ( CAU & HIST), China, Hubei Province, Yingshan County, Taohuachong forest park, light trap, 694 m, 116°02'30"N, 30°98'42"E, 25 June 2014, Mengchao Tan.

Distribution. China (Shaanxi, Hubei). Elevation of habitats ranges from ca. 700–1100 m.

Etymology. The name separata (from the Latin word separatus, means divided, separated) refers to the epiproct sclerites being separated medially.

Remarks. The new species is similar to F. galerispina Mo, Wang & Li, 2020 from Guangxi, by having similar epiproct. However, the hammer and the shapes of the everted aedeagi of both species are distinctive. In F. galerispina , the hammer has a swollen apex in lateral aspect, and the aedeagus bears a cap-shaped patch of brown triangular spines ( Mo et al., 2020: figs. 2b–c, 3a–c), while the new species has the hammer parallel-sided in lateral aspect and the aedeagus lack distinct spines ( Figs 1C–D , 2C–E ).

Figures

Figure 1. Flavoperla separata Liu, Li & Shali, sp. nov., holotype. A. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. B. Terminalia, dorsal view. C. Terminalia, ventral view. D. Terminalia, lateral view. Scale bars: A =1.0mm; B=0.2 mm; C–D=0.5mm.

Figure 2. Flavoperla separata Liu, Li & Shali, sp. nov. A–B. Head showing variations of colour pattern, dorsal view. C. Aedeagus, dorsal view. D. Aedeagus, ventral view. E. Aedeagus, caudal view. F. Hammer, ventral view. G. Hammer, lateral view.