Rhopalopsole horvati Sivec & Harper, 2008

Li, Wenliang, Zhang, Yao, Yang, Ding & Li, Weihai, 2022, Rhopalopsole magnispina sp. nov., a new species of Leuctridae (Plecoptera) from China, with notes on R. horvati Sivec & Harper, 2008, Zootaxa 5141 (1), pp. 94-100 : 95

Rhopalopsole horvati Sivec & Harper, 2008

( Fig. 1 )

Female. Forewing length 7.3–7.8 mm (n=2). Posterior margin of sternum 7 produced into an elongate, sclerotized subgenital plate, the plate generally triangular with nipple-like distal half, about one third width of the segment 7, and overhanging ½ length of sternum 9 ( Figs. 1a–1b ). Sternum 8 mostly brown except for pale lateral margins ( Fig. 1a ).

Examined material. 1 male and 1 female in copula ( HIST): China, Shaanxi Province, Ningshan County, Pinglianghe Forestry Station, Huoditang , 18.7070 N, 108.8247 E, 2012.VII.12, leg. Weihai Li. 2 males and 1 female, Gansu Province, Wen County, Baishuijiang Nature Reserve, Baima River , 2011.VII.27, leg. Sipei Liu.

Distribution. China: Gansu, Shaanxi, and Sichuan provinces.

Remarks. Three females were originally identified and described as the female of R. horvati because they were collected at the same province as the holotype. The present female is positively associated as mating pairs. The original female from Sichuan Province is superficially similar to this female, however, the subgenital plate of the former forms an isosceles triangle with wider base and an acute distal point (fig. 33.6, Sivec et al. 2008), whereas for what we consider as the true females of R. horvati the base is constricted and the distal half is nipple-like with an obtuse apex. The shape is consistent between the females of Gansu and Shaanxi. Therefore, we consider the differences of subgenital plate are interspecific. We conclude the three females originally associated with the holotype of R. horvati were erroneous and that those females were treated herein as an unidentified female in this species group.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Rhopalopsole horvati Sivec & Harper, 2008, female. a. terminalia, ventral view; b. terminalia, lateral view.