Neoperla similidella Li & Wang

Wei-Hai, Li, Guo-Quan, Wang & Xue-Feng, Qin, 2013, Two new species of Neoperla (Plecoptera, Perlidae) from China, ZooKeys 290, pp. 21-30 : 24

Neoperla similidella Li & Wang sp. n. Figs 34

Type material.

Holotype: male, China: Fujian Province, Mt. Wuyishan, Kekao Station, 735 m, 27.7478N, 117.6831E, light trap, 12 Jul. 2009, Shi Li and Liu Xiao-Yan. Paratypes: 2 males, same data as holotype.

Description.

Male. Forewing length 12.6-12.8. General body color dark brown. Distance between ocelli ca. 1.5X as wide as diameter of ocellus. Head slightly wider than pronotum, with a large black ocellar patch barely touching the compound eyes and a black trapezoidal patch on frons (Fig. 3A); compound eyes dark; antennae dark brown. Pronotum dark brown with pale brown to brown lateral margins (Fig. 3A); wing membrane pale brown, veins dark; legs yellow, basal third of tibiae darker. Abdomen dark brown, terminalia darker. Cerci dark except 1st segment brown.

Terminalia.

Process of tergum 7 large, rounded and upraised, mostly covered with sparse sensilla basiconica but margined with denser sensilla basiconica patches (Fig. 3B). Tergum 8 with an upcurved tongue-shaped process, fringed with small distal spines. Tergum 9 without sensilla patches. Hemitergal processes of tergum 10 slightly curved medially (Figs 3B, 4D). Aedeagal tube darkly sclerotized, slender and mostly straight but with a gradual dorsoapical curve, dorsal surface heavily sclerotized, with many spinules on dorsal surface (Fig. 3C). Aedeagal sac about half as long as tube and gradually curved ventrad; along dorsoapical surface with a patch of small and median sized spines, and two rows of large stout spines apically (ca. 7 spines) (Figs 3E, 4A); mostly ventral and lateral surfaces of apical half of sac with small spines (Figs 3D, 4C); apex of the sac with several medium sized spines (Figs 4B).

Female.

Unknown.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the great similarity to the species Neoperla idella Stark & Sivec, 2008.

Distribution.

China (Fujian Province).

Diagnosis.

This species is characterized by its dark body color and the head with a large black ocellar patch barely touching the compound eyes and a black trapezoidal patch on frons. The aedeagal sac has a patch of small and medium sized spines, and two rows of large stout spines that range from mid length to the apex of the dorsal surface (ca. 7); ventral and lateral surfaces of the apical half of the sac have small spines and the apex of the sac has several medium-sized spines. The aedeagus of the new species is very similar to that of Neoperla idella , however in that species the aedeagal tube lacks a subtle dorsoapical curve and the sac is more strongly curved ventrad ( Stark and Sivec 2008, figs 36-37). In addition, the aedeagal sac of Neoperla idella lacks a ventroapical patch of small spines and also lacks medium sized spines. Both species bear similar patches of large spines on the dorsoapical margin of the sac but in the new species the ventrolateral patch of small and medium spines is located nearer the sac apex than in Neoperla idella .