Nemoura mesospina Li & Yang

Li, Weihai & Yang, Ding, 2008, New species of Nemoura (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from China, Zootaxa 1783, pp. 61-68 : 64-65

Nemoura mesospina Li & Yang , sp. nov.

( Figs. 11–15 )

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by the tenth tergum having a prominent median spine in lateral view. The dorsal sclerite of epiproct is blade-shaped, its sclerotized lateral arms bearing a row of spines along its ventral margin. The outer lobe of paraproct forms a slender hook that is directed laterally.

Male: Forewing length 6.2 mm, hindwing length 5.4 mm. Head, thorax and abdomen dark brown; antennae and mouthparts dark yellowish brown; compound eyes dark. Wings subhyaline; legs brown. Cerci brown- Terminalia ( Figs. 11–15 ): Terga nine and ten weakly sclerotized except anterior margins distinctly sclerotized, constricted medially with a large mid-anterior incisions. Sternum nine with claviform vesicle, shorter than half of dark brown hypoproct; hypoproct basally rectangular, distinctly tapering toward pointed tip. Tergum ten with large median spine forming a distinct projection in lateral view, preceded by an anterior membranous area surrounded by several rows of tiny spines. Cercus sclerotized, slightly constricted subapically, then swollen to a spherical apex. Epiproct short and elliptical in dorsal view; dorsal sclerite with a pair of blade-shaped, sclerotized lateral arms bearing a row of spines along its lateral margin and two median sclerotized bars bearing a sharp apical hook; ventral sclerite sclerotized, broad at base and abruptly narrowing toward tip, with a row of weak spines ventrally. Paraproct bilobed: outer lobe broad and rectangular at base, tapering into subquadrangular distal half that is protruding outward as a hook, with outer margin darkly sclerotized, longer than inner lobe; inner lobe weakly sclerotized, triangular with acute tip.

Female. Unknown.

Type Material. Holotype. male ( IZCAS), CHINA: Tibet, Nielamu, 28o19'N, 85o94'E, 1966. VI. 22, Sh. Wang.

Distribution. China (Tibet).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the large spine present medially in tergum ten.

Remarks. This species most closely resembles Nemoura mawlangi Aubert, 1967 in that it shares the following characteristics: the outer lobe of paraproct has large spines, the cercus has no spines or hooks and the epiproct has an apical hook. However, the presence of a large, median spine on the tenth tergum distinguishes this species from all other known Nemoura .

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 15. Nemoura mesospina sp. nov. (male). 11. Terminalia, dorsal view. 12. Terminalia, ventral view. 13. Epiproct, dorsal view. 14. Epiproct, lateral view. 15. Right paraproct, caudal view.