Zealeuctra fraxina Ricker & Ross

Grubbs, Scott A., Kondratieff, Boris C., Stark, Bill P. & DeWalt, R. Edward, 2013, A review of the Nearctic genus Zealeuctra Ricker (Plecoptera, Leuctridae), with the description of a new species from the Cumberland Plateau region of eastern North America, ZooKeys 344, pp. 17-47 : 28-30

Zealeuctra fraxina Ricker & Ross Figs 4, 11

Zealeuctra fraxina Ricker & Ross, 1969: 1117. Holotype ♂ (INHS), 5 mi S Hardinsburg, Breckinridge Co., Kentucky

Description.

Male - abdominal tergal cleft. Anterior portion wide and very broadly U-shaped, posterior portion also broadly rounded and bearing a slightly-concave serrated medial projection (Fig. 4A). Crenulations absent from inner margins of cleft.

Male - epiproct. Triangular base narrowing somewhat to an anteriorly-recurved and tapering terminal spine; a small accessory posterior spine is present but manifested only as a cusp-like projection on some specimens (Fig. 4B).

Female - 7th sternum. Seventh sternum with a large, convex lobe nested in a distinct, central notch. The notch is bordered laterally by large, convex “shoulders” (Fig. 4C).

Material examined.

USA, Alabama: Jackson Co., tributary to Larkin Fork, Paint Rock River, Possum Hollow, Rte. 65, 1 km SE Francisco, 34.9852, -86.2421, 18.II.2006, S.A. Grubbs, 4♂, 12♀ (WKUC); Lawrence Co., tributary to West Fork Flint Creek, CR 56, 18 km NNW Addison, 34.3679, -87.1794, 7.II.2009, S.A. Grubbs, 2♂ (WKUC). Illinois: Saline Co., Battle Ford Creek, 3.5 km NE Delwood, 37.6050, -88.5440, 20.I.1993, D.W. Webb and M.A. Harris, ♂ (INHS). Indiana: Brown Co., Spanker Branch, 14 km S Nashville, 39.0700, -86.2623, 7.IV.2001, S.A. Grubbs, ♂, 4♀ (WKUC); Skinner Creek, 8 km SSE Nashville, Brown County State Park, 39.1395, -86.2066, 7.IV.2001, S.A. Grubbs, ♂ (WKUC); Crawford Co., small spring-fed stream, Rich Cave Hollow, Saalman Hollow Nature Preserve, 2.5 km N Branchville, 38.1907, -86.5732, 12.III.2000, S.A. Grubbs and J.M. Ferguson, 4♂, 4♀, 1 nymph (WKUC); tributary to Otter Creek, 1 km SE Taswell, Yellow Birches Ravine Nature Preserve, 38.3255, -86.5491, 14.III.2000, S.A. Grubbs and J.M. Ferguson, ♂ (WKUC); Floyd Co., tributary to Knob Creek, 17 km E Corydon, Brock-Sampson Nature Preserve, 38.1975, -85.9040, 13.III.2000, S.A. Grubbs and J.M. Ferguson, ♂, 3♀ (WKUC); Franklin Co., Salt Creek, 2 km W Peppertown at Bull Fork Rd., 39.4033, -85.2061, 4.II.2010, R.E. DeWalt and M. Pessino, 2♂, ♀ (INHS); West Fork Whitewater River, 1.4 km W Metamora at U.S. 52, 39.4507, -85.1495, 4.II.2010, R.E. DeWalt and M. Pessino, ♂, 3♀ (INHS); Harrison Co., tributary to Potato Run, 6 km E Leavenworth, Harrison-Crawford State Forest, 38.1876, -86.2766, 12.III.2000, S.A. Grubbs and J.M. Ferguson, 11♂, 12♀ (WKUC); Jackson Co., Combs Branch, 2.5 km NW Maumee at Tower Ridge Rd., 39.0316, -86.2832, 12.III.2010, M. Pessino, ♂, 3♀ (INHS). Lawrence Co., Sipes Branch, 4.5 km ENE Bartlettsville at Martin Hollow Rd, 38.9825, -86.3914, 12.III.2010, M. Pessino, 2♂, ♀ (INHS). Martin Co., tributary to Lost River, U.S. 150, 4 km SE Shoals, 38.6315, -86.7691, 6.IV.2001, S.A. Grubbs, 2♂, 9♀ (WKUC). Monroe Co., Allens Creek, 8 km SE Smithville, 39.0210, -86.4375, 14.III.2010, R.E. DeWalt and M. Pessino, ♂ (INHS). Orange Co., spring into Young’s Creek, 8 km S Paoli, 38.4903, - 86.4459, 20.II.2006, S.A. Grubbs, 2♂ (WKUC); Perry Co., East Deer Creek, 13 km E Tell City, Hoosier National Forest, 37.9508, -86.6144, 12.III.2000, S.A. Grubbs and J.M. Ferguson, 2♂, ♀ (WKUC); Scott Co., tributary to Big Ox Creek, 14 km SW Scottsburg, Clark State Forest, 38.5787, -85.8703, 15.III.2000, S.A. Grubbs and J.M. Ferguson, ♂ (WKUC). Kentucky: Cumberland Co., tributary to Bear Creek, Rte. 90, 15 km NW Albany, 36.7680, -85.2847, 18.III.2001, S.A. Grubbs, 6♂, ♀ (WKUC); Metcalfe Co., East Fork Little Barren River, Delk Branch Road, 12 km N Marrowbone, 36.9387, -85.5075, 27.III.2013, S.A. Grubbs and J.M. Yates, 2♂, ♀ (WKUC); tributary to East Fork Little Barren River, Reese Hurt Road, 12.5 km N Marrowbone, 36.9457, -85.5188, 27.III.2013, S.A. Grubbs and J.M. Yates, ♂, 3♀ (WKUC). Ohio: Lawrence Co., tributary to Storms Creek, 12 km SW Waterloo, Wayne National Forest, 38.6313, -82.5810, 26.II.2011, S.A. Grubbs, ♀ (WKUC). Tennessee: Sumner Co., tributary to Bledsoe Creek, Leaths Hollow Church Rd., 36.5153, -86.2437, 23.II.1998, B.C. Kondratieff and R.F. Kirchner, ♂ (CSUC); tributary to Little Trammel Creek, Sugar Grove, 36.6239, -86.2679, 22.II.1999, B.C. Kondratieff and R.F. Kirchner, 8♂, 8♀ (BPSC, BYUC); Little Trammel Creek, Rte. 174, nr. Sugar Grove, 36.6239, -86.2679, 18.I.2010, S.A. Grubbs, 2♂ (WKUC). Virginia: Bedford Co., Peaks of Otter Lake, 37.4454, -79.6029, 12.III.2013, E.M. Malloy, ♂ (WKUC).

Distribution.

USA: AL ( Grubbs 2006), IL, IN, KY, NJ, OH, PA, TN, WV ( DeWalt et al. 2012), VA (new state record)

Remarks.

Only Zealeuctra claasseni is distributed more broadly across the central and eastern US than Zealeuctra fraxina (Fig. 11; DeWalt et al. 2012). Additionally, this is one of only two species, Zealeuctra talladega being the other, that occur in the Appalachian Mountains. The Virginia record noted above was collected along the margins of Peaks of Otter Lake, but surprisingly several hundred meters from the nearest inlet or the only outlet (Little Stony Creek). Zealeuctra fraxina and Zealeuctra arnoldi are the only two species that bear a small subterminal cusp posterior to the tapering epiproct spine. Ricker and Ross (1969, their fig. 28) speculated that these two species, plus Zealeuctra wachita , share a common ancestor.