Rhopalopsole ningxiana Li & Yang

Li, Weihai & Yang, Ding, 2010, Two new species of Rhopalopsole vietnamica group (Plecoptera: Leuctridae: Rhopalopsole) from China, Zootaxa 2614, pp. 59-64 : 61-62

Rhopalopsole ningxiana Li & Yang , sp. nov.

( Figs. 7–11 )

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by a weakly developed lower spine on the bifurcate process of the lateral plate. The epiproct of this species is narrow, coming to a rounded tip in dorsal view. In lateral view the apical portion is nearly as long as the base, curved forward and slightly incised ventrally.

Male. Forewing length 4.0– 4.2 mm, hindwing length 3.2–3.5 mm. Head dark brown, slightly wider than pronotum; both antennal flagellum missing, scape dark brown; mouthparts brown, compound eyes dark. Thorax brown, bearing darker rugosities on pronotum; wings pale brown; legs brown but tibia dark brown. Abdomen brown; hypopygium and cerci dark brown.

Terminalia ( Figures 7–10 ). Tergum 9 weakly sclerotized, with a narrow dark anterior band and a large pale area medially, distinctly wider than long, its anterior margin deeply incised but posterior margin nearly straight, with a dark mid-posterior transverse field of knobs. Vesicle tongue-like, bearing dense hairs. Sternum 9 with distinct subgenital plate, wider than long and rounded apically. Central plate of tergum 10 heavily sclerotized, with large semicircular medial lobe that bears a darker scaled distal part and two fingerlike lateral lobes; lateral projections and adjacent proximal bar strongly sclerotized with bifurcate apex consisting of a distinct, sharp, apical point and weak subapical denticle in dorsal view. The subapical denticle is curved downward in lateral view and arising from a slightly convex bulged. Cercus long and cylindrical, with a small apical spine. Epiproct simple and fingerlike dorsally, bent dorsally at midlength, equal width throughout with slightly incised tip ventrally in lateral view. Paraproct wide basally, with well defined ventral furrows, and a subapical lateral pair of membranous bulges, rounded apically ( Fig. 11 ).

Female. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype: male, China: Ningxia, Jingyuan, Longtan, 35.3893 N, 106.3432 E, 1880 m, 2008. V.5, Jingxian Liu. Paratype: 1 male, same data as holotype.

Etymology. The species is named for the province from which it was collected, Ningxia.

Distribution. China, Ningxia.

Remarks. The new species is certainly a member of Rhopalopsole vietnamica group, west assemblage of Sivec et al. (2008). It seems closely related to R. vietnamica Sivec & Harper, 2008 and R. sipirokana Sivec & Harper, 2008 in having similar lateral projections on tergum 10, but it can be distinguished from the others mainly by the outlines of the epiproct which is nearly parallel-sided at length in lateral view.

Figures

FIGURE 11. SEM photograph of Rhopalopsole ningxiana sp. nov. (male). 11. Paraproct, caudal view, arrow showing the subapical bulge.

FIGURES 7 – 10. Rhopalopsole ningxiana sp. nov. (male). 7. Terminalia, dorsal view. 8. Terminalia, ventral view. 9. Terminalia, lateral view. 10. Lateral projection of tergum 10, lateral view.