Protohermes changninganus Yang & Yang

Liu, Xingyue, Hayashi, Fumio & Yang, Ding, 2013, Taxonomic notes on the Protohermes changninganus species group (Megaloptera: Corydalidae), with description of two new species, Zootaxa 3722 (4), pp. 569-580 : 571-574

Protohermes changninganus Yang & Yang

( Figs. 1 , 6–10 )

Protohermes changninganus Yang & Yang, 1988:52 . Type locality: China (Yunnan: Changning). Protohermes changningensis Yang & Yang in Liu & Yang, 2005:168. An incorrect subsequent spelling of Protohermes changninganus Yang & Yang.

Diagnosis. In appearance, this species is characterized by the head with a pair of black markings, the pronotum with two pairs of broad black markings, the legs with tibia and tarsi largely blackish-brown. The forewings have distinct pale round markings at distal ⅓ ( Fig. 1 ). The male genitalia of P. changninganus has the ninth sternum shallowly incised posteriorly, forming a pair of short subtriangular posterolateral lobes ( Fig. 8 ).

Description. See Liu & Yang (2005).

Type material. Holotype ♂, CHINA: “Yunnan, Changning [24°50'N, 99°35'E], 1650 m, 24.VI.1979 ” (BAUC).

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Remarks. Known from a single male, P. changninganus is the most poorly known species of the group. Liu & Yang (2005) considered this species closely related to P. decemmaculatus . The male genitalia of these two species are similar, suggesting a possible conspecificity. However, based on the prothoracic and wing marking patterns as well as the widely separate geographical distribution, P. changninganus is recognized as a valid species. Further clarification will be possible when additional material becomes available.

Protohermes curvicornis sp. nov. ( Figs. 2 , 11–18 )

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by the head with a pair of long blade-like black markings on vertex, the mostly dark legs, and the relatively dark wings with distinct pale markings. The ninth sternum has a wide trapezoidal incision, forming a pair of slender digitiform and arcuately curved posterolateral lobes.

Description. Male. Body length 25–26 mm; forewing length 38–39 mm, hindwing length 35–36 mm.

Head ( Fig. 11 ) yellowish brown, vertex with a pair of long blade-like black markings; frons sometimes with a large black marking before ocellar triangle; postocular spine absent. Compound eyes brown; ocelli yellow, medially margined black, lateral ocelli slightly separated from median ocellus with distance between them shorter than distance between antennal bases. Antennae black except for scape and pedicel dark brown with yellowish tips. Mouthparts yellow; mandible with distal ½ blackish brown; maxillary and labial palpi dark brown.

Prothorax ( Fig. 11 ) yellowish brown; pronotum with two pairs of broad black markings near lateral margins, anterior pair of markings slightly connected to posterior pair. Meso- and meta thorax pale yellow, each notum with a pair of blackish brown markings on lateral margins. Thoracic pilosity yellow, much longer on meso- and metathorax. Legs blackish brown with short dense yellowish setae; trochanters and base of femora yellowish brown; tarsal claws reddish brown. Wings ( Fig. 2 ) smoky brown, with several creamy white markings. Forewing proximally with a subtriangular marking, medially with 2–4 irregular markings which is connected with each other sometimes, and with a round marking at distal ⅓; membrane between proximal and median markings darkened, forming a wide transverse band; proximal first costal cellule with a small brownish spot. Hindwing much paler than forewing, only with an indistinct round distal marking. Veins blackish brown, except for veins on white markings and proximal half of hindwings pale yellow. Rs 8 to 9-branched; MA bifurcate; anterior branch of MP 4- branched, posterior branch of MP 2-branched; 7–10 crossveins between R and Rs.

Abdomen brown with yellowish venter. Ninth tergum ( Fig. 12 ) subquadrate, with arcuately incised anterior and truncate posterior margins. Ninth sternum ( Fig. 13 ) subquadrate, nearly as long as ninth tergum, medially strongly inflated, posterior margin with a wide trapezoidal incision, forming a pair of slender digitiform and laterally curved posteroventral lobes. Ninth gonostylus ( Fig. 14 ) unguiform and feebly curved dorsomedially. Ectoproct ( Figs. 12–13 ) bifurcated proximally into dorsal and ventral lobes; dorsal lobe band-like, densely setose, ~1.5X as long as ninth tergum, bluntly tapering and curved ventromedially with tip slightly inflated; ventral lobe ~0.5X as long as dorsal lobe, produced medially, and slightly pointed distad. Tenth gonocoxite ( Figs. 15–16 ) narrowly arched, dorsomedial process moderately developed but not visible in ventral view, ventromedial process paired and distinctly prominent; lateral lobes digitiform and densely setose on ventral surface.

Female. Body length 35 mm; forewing length 43 mm, hindwing length 38 mm.

Eighth gonocoxite ( Figs. 17–18 ) subtriangular in both lateral and ventral view, posteriorly with a small Ushaped incision. Ninth segment laterally with a pair of ovoid lobes near anterolateral margin of ninth tergum. Ninth gonocoxite and ectoproct damaged posteriorly.

Type materials. Holotype ♂, “ CHINA: Yunnan, Yingjiang, Jinzhuzhai [1418 m, 24°36′N, 97°36′E, 5.IV.2008, Hongliang Shi” (BAUC). Paratypes 1♂, same as holotype (ZWIC); 1♂ 1♀, INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh, West Kameng, Nakhu [27°15′N, 92°22′E], 3.VII.1961, F. Schmid (CNC); 2♂, INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh, West Siang [28°24′N, 94°33′E], 1650 m, 16.VI.2012, T. Maeda (HFIC); 1♂ 1♀, INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh, West Siang, 1650 m, 20–30.VI.2012, T. Maeda (1♂ in BAUC, 1♀ in HFIC).

Distribution. China (Yunnan); India (Arunachal Pradesh).

Etymology. The specific epithet “ curvicornis ” refers to the male ninth sternum, which has distinctly protruding and curving posterolateral corners, in the new species.

Remarks. This new species is the most distinguishable species of the P. changninganus group by the generally dark body and wing coloration and by the male ninth sternum with a pair of digitiform and arcuately curved posteroventral lobes.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Adults of Protohermes spp. 1. P. changninganus Yang & Yang, male holotype; 2. P. curvicornis sp. nov., male holotype; 3. P. decemmaculatus (Walker), male holotype; 4. P. oh l i sp. nov., male holotype; 5. P. subnubilus Kimmins, male holotype. Scale bars: 5.0 mm.

FIGURES 6 – 10. Protohermes changninganus Yang & Yang. 6. Male head and prothorax, dorsal view; 7. Male genitalia, dorsal view; 8. Male genitalia, ventral view; 9. Male ninth gonostylus, ventral view; 10. Male tenth gonocoxite, ventral view. c: cercus; e: ectoproct; gs 9: gonostylus 9; l: lateral lobe; pdm: dorsomedial process; pvm: ventromedial process; S 9: ninth sternum; T 9: ninth tergum. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 11 – 18. Protohermes curvicornis sp. nov. 11. Male head and prothorax, dorsal view; 12. Male genitalia, dorsal view; 13. Male genitalia, ventral view; 14. Male ninth gonostylus, ventral view; 15. Male tenth gonocoxite, ventrocaudal view; 16. Male tenth gonocoxite, ventral view; 17. Female genitalia, lateral view; 18. Female eighth gonocoxite, ventral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.