Cerapanorpa liupanshana, Gao, Chao, Ma, Na & Hua, Bao-Zhen, 2016

Gao, Chao, Ma, Na & Hua, Bao-Zhen, 2016, Cerapanorpa, a new genus of Panorpidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 4158 (1), pp. 93-104 : 99-100

Cerapanorpa liupanshana sp. nov.

( Fig. 3 )

Material examined. Holotype male: China, Ningxia, Liupan Mountain (elev. 2380 m), 5.VII.2008, Qiulei Men . Paratypes: 3♂ 5♀, Ningxia, Liupan Mountain (elev. 2100–2380 m), 26.VI.–12.VII.2008, Qiulei Men & Shuyu Liu. Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Liupanshan.

Diagnosis. Cerapanorpa liupanshana sp. nov. is closely allied to C. dubia (Chou & Wang) comb. nov. in appearance and male genitalia, but can be distinguished from the latter by the following characters: (1) rostrum reddish brown or darker (mostly yellow, rarely black in C. dubia ); (2) paramere shorter, not exceeding beyond gonocoxite, with spines on dorso-mesal line (extending well beyond gonocoxite, with spines along medial margin in C. dubia ); (3) female genital plate small, squat (larger, slender in C. dubia ).

Description. Male: Head brownish black on frons, vertex and occiput. Rostrum reddish brown anteriorly, pale yellow laterally. Antenna yellowish brown. Pronotum brownish black, with 10–12 black setae along anterior margin. Meso- and metanotum brownish black; pleurites and sternites pale yellow. Legs pale yellow, with tarsi yellowish brown. Wings hyaline, immaculate, or with only faint indication of pterostigmal band and apical band ( Fig. 3 A). Forewing length 12.0–13.0 mm, width 3.0– 3.1 mm. Abdominal segments I–V brownish black on terga and sterna, ivory on pleural membrane; hind margin of tergum III produced into a semicircular notal organ; postnotal organ on tergum IV very small, hook-shaped and projecting forward. Segment VI entirely brownish black, with yellowish brown digitate anal horn on its postero-dorsal part ( Fig. 3 I). Segments VII–IX yellowish brown; basal half of segment VII very thin, with a longitudinal groove on dorsal surface, fitting anal horn on tergum VI.

Male genitalia: Genital bulb oval. Epandrium subquadrate, with a shallow apical emargination ( Fig. 3 D). Hypovalves of hypandrium broad, nearly extending to apex of gonocoxite, each with long bristles along medial margin ( Fig. 3 C). Gonocoxite approximately twice as long as gonostylus, bearing 4–5 black setae on ventro-distal area. Gonostylus with a large basal process and an indistinct middle tooth on medial margin ( Fig. 3 C). Parameres thin, reaching apex of gonocoxite, with a row of short spines on dorsal surface; apex of paramere slightly curved medially, pointed apically. Dorsal valves of aedeagus elongate, slightly tapering toward the apex; ventral valves short, membranous; lateral process auriform ( Fig. 3 E).

Female: Coloration and wing patterns ( Fig. 3 B) similar to males. Forewing length 12.5–13.5 mm, width 3.4– 3.6 mm. Subgenital plate lingulate, with long setae on lateral and caudal margins ( Fig. 3 H). Genital plate small, yellowish brown, weakly sclerotized. Main plate narrow at basal half, broadened distally ( Fig. 3 F). Posterior arms tapering toward the apex, paler tinged. Paired dorsal basal plates small, sclerotized. Ventral basal plates fused into a thin membrane. Axis elongate, its basal bifurcated part extending beyond main plate.

Remarks. Variation mainly concerns the rostrum coloration, wing markings, and female genital plate. Most individuals have a reddish brown rostrum, others a yellowish brown rostrum. The main plate is distinctly thinner basally, and broaden distally, or constricted at the middle in some specimens.

Distribution. China (Ningxia).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Cerapanorpa liupanshana sp. nov. (A) Male habitus; (B) female habitus; (C) and (D) genital bulb, ventral and dorsal views; (E) aedeagus, ventral view; (F) genital plate of female, ventral view; (G) genital bulb of male in ventral view with hypandrium removed; (H) subgenital plate of female, ventral view; (I) abdominal segments VI – IX of male, lateral view. Scale bars: C, D & G = 0.20 mm, E, F & H = 0.10 mm, I = 0.50 mm.