Cryptoperla uchidai, Stark & Sivec, 2007

Stark, Bill P. & Sivec, Ignac, 2007, Taiwanese Species Of Cryptoperla (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae), Illiesia 3 (14), pp. 150-156 : 154-156

Cryptoperla uchidai sp. n.

( Figs. 13 -18)

Material examined. Holotype ♂ and ♀ paratype from Taiwan, Taipei Co., Wulai Shinoi , 350 m, 8 April 1996, I. Sivec ( PMSL). Additional paratypes: Taipei-hsien, Wulai, 11 April 1982, S. Uchida, 3 ♀ ( PMSL). Same site, 18 April 1982, 1 ♂, S. Uchida (reared, PMSL) . Additional material: Type locality, 8 April 1996, I. Sivec, 1 nymph, 1 exuvium ( PMSL). Taipei-hsien, Wulai, 2 April 1982, S. Uchida, nymphs ( PMSL) .

Adult habitus. Biocellate. General color yellow brown. Head with dark brown spot forward of ocelli, paler in interocellar area ( Fig. 13 ). Pronotum pale brown with numerous small pale rugosities scattered over disc. Wing membrane and veins pale. Femora pale, tibiae brown.

Male. Forewing length 12.5 mm. Posterior margin of tergum 10 parabolic; epiproct a membranous bulb with small recurved mesal projection ( Fig. 14 ). Basal cercal segment ca. 6X long as basal width and with a dense inner marginal hair fringe; apex of basal segment armed with a transparent thumb shaped spur. Vesicle ca. 0.7X long as wide. Aedeagus complexly lobed; major ventral lobes armed along either side of mesal cleft with patches of ca. 25 long setae ( Fig. 15 ); major apical lobe armed with dense patch of short dark setae; microtrichia scattered over much of ventral surface form patches basolateral to major ventral lobes; dorsum of mesal aedeagal lobe armed with scattered fine ridges, microtrichia and microscales.

Female. Forewing length 14.0 mm. Subgenital plate parabolic and reaching near posterior margin of sternum 9 ( Fig. 16 ). Sternum 9 bare except laterally and along posterior margin.

Egg. Outline broadly oval to almost circular in outline. Length ca. 0.21 mm, width ca. 0.20 mm. Collar sessile, but surrounded by triangular follicle cell impressions and an irregular ring of stalked micropyles (Figs. 17-18). Chorion covered throughout by square to hexagonal follicle cell impressions; walls narrow and raised above flat, impunctate floors.

Larva. Pre-emergent body length 9-10 mm. General color brown patterned with pale areas on dorsum of thorax and abdomen. A single supracoxal gill occurs laterally under mesonotal and metanotal wing pads, gills absent from prothorax; each paraproct with a single long slender dorsal gill and ventral apex of tergum 10 with a similar, ventrally directed gill. Posterior metasternal margin truncate and completely fringed by a row of close set, erect, clavate setae; lateral row of clavate setae around coxa continues onto sternal plate as a short row approaching furcal pit. Mesosternal plate with a short, subapical clavate setal row near posterolateral angles; lateral row around coxa continues onto sternal plate as a short row near midlength of plate. Prosternum with a complete anterior marginal row of clavate setae and a subapical row near posterolateral angles of plate. Abdominal sterna with posterior fringes of close set, erect clavate setae similar to thoracic sternal fringes. Cerci long with ca. 40 segments; ventral segmental bristle whorls include 4-5 large, erect, close set, blade shaped setae on most segments; apical segments also with a ventral fringe of fine long setae.

Etymology. We take great pleasure in naming this species for our colleague and friend, S. Uchida. Dr. Uchida generously shared his notes and an egg sample taken from the holotype of Klapálek’s (1913) P. formosana specimen, and he also provided the first specimens of this species for our study.

Diagnosis. Among known Taiwanese Cryptoperla , males of this species are most similar to C. formosana in having a prominent cercal spur. In C. formosana the spur is straight to slightly curved, more acute, and amber in color and the forewing length is less than 10 mm. The distinctive eggs should permit identification for gravid specimens.

Figures

Figs. 13-16. Cryptoperla uchidai structures. 13. Head and pronotum, 14. Male terminalia, 15. Aedeagus, ventral aspect, 16. Female sterna 8-9.