Capnia khubsugulica Zhiltzova and Varykhanova, 1987

Judson, Sarah W. & Nelson, C. Riley, 2012, 3541, Zootaxa 3541, pp. 1-118 : 18

Capnia khubsugulica Zhiltzova and Varykhanova, 1987

SYNONYMY

Capnia khubsugulica Zhiltzova and Varykhanova, 1987

TYPE LOCALITY: Mongolia: Lake Khovsgol .

DIAGNOSIS: Males and females are apterous ( Fig. 36) with no wing remnants causing them to superficially appear nymph-like. This is in stark contrast to C. nigra which is macropterous ( Fig. 38). The male epiproct of C. khubsugulica ( Fig. 33) is composed of two portions ( Fig. 34) that appear to be fused, whereas in C. nigra they are clearly separate ( Fig. 40). The ventral portion of the epiproct in C. khubsugulica gradually tapers to a point and the upper portion has an indentation with dark scelerotization medially leading up to a broadly rounded tip. The female subgenital plate is truncate posteriorly and is strongly scelerotized medially, often forming a distinct dark rectangle ( Fig. 35). The sclerotized region is more rounded anteriorly than in C. nigra ( Fig. 41), and also more gradually fades from black to brown. The nymph of C. khubsugulica is unknown.

DISTRIBUTION—Global: Endemic to Mongolia — Regional: AOB— Aimag: KhG.

DISCUSSION: This species is endemic to Mongolia (Zhiltzova & Varykhanova 1987) and only known from the Lake Khovsgol region ( Fig. 37) in the northern part of the country (Teslenko & Bazova 2009). Capnia khubsugulica is the only completely apterous stonefly species in Mongolia. Mesocapnia altaica and Isocapnia guentheri (Joost, 1970) should not be confused with C. khubsugulica , because although both are often markedly brachypterous, males have at least hardened wing remnants approximately 1 mm in length.