Diura

Judson, Sarah W. & Nelson, C. Riley, 2012, 3541, Zootaxa 3541, pp. 1-118 : 41-42

Diura

DIAGNOSIS: The tength tergum of male is not deeply cleft and lacks accessory hemitergal processes ( Fig. 269), characters shared with Filchneria ( Fig. 274). The male also lacks an external epiproct, as do Filchneria and Skwala . However, the terminalia are not completely devoid of genitalic structures and have paraprocts which are modified into dorsally or posteriorly directed subanal lobes ( Fig. 265). The female subgenitial plate is broad, extending to cover sternum 9 ( Fig. 270) and is similar to those of Skwala ( Fig. 293). Nymphs have long galea relative to the lacinial teeth ( Fig. 241). General coloration of nymphs ( Fig. 261) is most similar to Arycnopteryx and Skwala , but Diura exhibits a mesosternal ridge pattern with the arms meeting at the posterior corner of the furcal pits ( Fig. 231), whereas those of Arycnopteryx and Skwala meet at the anterior corners.

DISTRIBUTION—Global: Holarctic— Regional: AOB, IDB— Aimag: AR, BO, KhD, KhG, SE*, TO^, UB*, ZA^.

DISCUSSION: Due to morphological and geographical overlap of D. majuscula with the highly similar D. nanseni (not recorded from Mongolia), a complete revision of this genus and especially the Palearctic species, is warranted. Dr. C. H. Nelson (personal communication) is currently investigating species validity with an emphasis on egg morphology.