Mesocapnia daxingana Chen & Du

Chen, Zhi-Teng & Du, Yu-Zhou, 2016, The first records of Mesocapnia (Plecoptera: Capniidae) from China with description of a new species, Zootaxa 4139 (2), pp. 285-293 : 287

Mesocapnia daxingana Chen & Du , sp. nov.

Figs. 7–14 .

Male ( Figs. 7–14 ). Body length 4.5–4.6 mm. Wings slightly brachypterous and subhyaline, veins brown. Forewing length 3.2–3.4 mm, hindwing length 2.6–2.7 mm. Body generally dark brown. Antennae slender, approximately same length as forewing. Pronotum with dark rugosities, mesometanota with pair of depressions posteromedially ( Fig. 7 ). Mesothoracic postfurcasternal plates separated from spinasternum. Terga 1–9 with a pale longitudinal stripe, terga 4–9 with sclerotized anterior margins, tergum 10 with a medial membranous area and a posteromedial indentation ( Figs. 8 , 13 ). Main epiproct sclerite reflexed, reaching middle of tergum 9, broad and nearly parallel sided in dorsal view; posterior portion slightly narrowed from broad base, gradually narrowed to anterior 1/6 then abruptly tapering to a sharp, apicomedian spine; spine with distinct dorsomedial groove ( Figs. 8–9 , 11–12 , 14 ). In lateral aspect, main epiproct sclerite curved, tubular but slightly constricted at 1/3 distance from base to apex ( Fig. 9 , 14 ). Subgenital plate semi-elliptical with sclerotized margins ( Fig. 10 ). Cerci slender with long hairs, approaching forewing length.

Female. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype male: China: Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Genhe City, Hanma National Nature Reserve, Daxingan Mountain Range, Monitoring Station, 30 July, 2014, leg. Zhi-Teng Chen. Paratypes: 5 males, same locality and data as holotype.

Etymology. The species is named after the Daxingan Mountains.

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by tergum 10 with a medial membranous area and a posteromedial indentation; main epiproct sclerite broad and nearly parallel sided in dorsal view; main epiproct sclerite curved, tubular but slightly constricted at ⅓ distance from base to apex in lateral view; apicomedian spine of main epiproct sclerite with distinct dorsomedial groove.

Remarks. Adults of Mesocapnia are very similar in general habitus ( Baumann & Gaufin 1970). The epiproct of males are always apically constricted as a narrow spina. Often slight differences in epiproct form are used for specific identifications. Females are often difficult to distinguish. Use of molecular methods will assist in future identifications, especially of females of this genus.

Figures

FIGURE 13. Mesocapnia daxingana, sp. nov. Male habitus, dorsal view.

FIGURES 14. Comparison between epiprocts of M. variabilis, M. gorodkovi and M. daxingana sp. nov. (upper three in dorsal view, lower three in lateral view).

FIGURES 7 – 10. Mesocapnia daxingana, sp. nov. 7. Male head and pronotum, dorsal view; 8. Male terminalia, dorsal view; 9. Male terminalia, lateral view; 10. Male terminalia, ventral view.

FIGURES 11 – 12. Mesocapnia daxingana, sp. nov. 11. Main epiproct sclerite, dorsal view; 12. Main epiproct sclerite apex, dorsal view.