Anacroneuria varilla Stark, 1998

Gutiérrez-Fonseca, Pablo E. & Springer, Monika, 2011, Description of the final instar nymphs of seven species from Anacroneuria Klapálek (Plecoptera: Perlidae) in Costa Rica, and first record for an additional genus in Central America, Zootaxa 2965, pp. 16-38 : 33-34

Anacroneuria varilla Stark, 1998

Figs. 22–23

Description. Body length: 10 mm. Head ( Fig. 22 ): brown forward of ocelli; pale m- line and pale anterior frontoclypeus. Pronotum: oval, widest anteriorly, as wide as mesonotum; brown with pale well defined rugosities forming an indistinct median stripe. Margins completely fringed with short, thick bristles, somewhat variable in length.

Meso- and Metanotum: pale midline; wing pads dark but with teardrop shaped pale areas distally. Dorsal surfaces covered with fine short setae, and scattered thick bristles; well-defined anterior and lateral lines of thick bristles. Margins completely fringed with thick bristles, somewhat variable in length. Foreleg ( Fig. 23 ): dorsal surfaces covered with fine short setae, except for hairless median bar and basal posterior triangle-shaped area on femur. Femur dorsally with well-defined transverse row of six long, thick spines; scattered short and medium-sized spines on dorsal surface; basal posterior patch of very small spines along margin, reaching transverse row of long spines.

Distribution. Costa Rica, Panamá.

Local distribution ( Fig. 24 ): A single specimen was collected from a river in the northern lowlands.

Reared specimens. Alajuela : Tributary Río Pizote, Upala, 250 m, 3.xii.2006, Gutiérrez, 13.

Habitat and substratum. Submerged leaf litter packs in strong current; in a medium sized river with dense forest cover.

Diagnosis. Anacroneuria varilla is very similar in color pattern on head and thorax ( Fig. 22 ) to A. lineata , but presents fewer spines on the foreleg ( Fig. 23 ). Unfortunately only one specimen was reared to adulthood; therefore, the diagnostic characteristic for this species requires confirmation through the association of additional specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 24. Map of Costa Rica showing distribution of Anacroneuria varilla.

FIGURES 22 − 23. Anacroneuria varilla, 22. Head and thorax (pro, meso and meta notum); 23. Foreleg.