Neoperla yiliangensis Mo, Li & Murányi, 2024

Mo, Raorao, Li, Weihai & Murányi, Dávid, 2024, One new species and one new provincial record of Neoperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Yunnan, China, Zootaxa 5543 (2), pp. 211-224 : 214-216

Neoperla yiliangensis Mo, Li & Murányi , sp. nov.

( Figs. 6–8 )

Adult habitus ( Figs. 6a–6c ). Body color generally brown, abdomen pale. Head pale, with a large oval dark brown spot interrupted by M-line; palpi and antennae brown; biocellate, the distance between ocelli ca. 2.0 X as wide as the diameter of the ocellus; head slightly wider than pronotum. Pronotum mostly dark brown except lateral margins lighter, rectangular, with scattered, dark rugosities; corners rounded. Wings brownish and transparent, veins dark brown; legs dark brown, femora paler ( Fig. 1e ); cerci pale.

Male ( Figs. 6 , 7 ). Forewing length ca 13.6 mm. Hindwing length ca. 11.5 mm. Tergum 7 with a rectangular process on posterior margin covered with sensilla basiconica. Tergum 8 with a recurved triangular process, with sensilla basiconica at apex. Tergum 9 with two paramedial patches of long hairs. Hemitergal process of tergum 10, finger-like, medial portion distinctly curved forward, with a blunt tip. Aedeagus mostly membranous, nearly straight ( Figs. 6d–6f , 7 ). Aedeagal tube plump, straight, sclerotized basally and dorsally, ventroapically with a pair of large nipple-like spinous projections (6d–6f, 7a). Aedeagal sac about as long as tube, membranous, gradually tapering to a blunt tip; dorsolaterally with a pair of small spinous basal lobe with a patch of scattered spines between them; ventromedially with a small spinous lobe; apex curved ventrally, dorsal surface armed with dense strong spines, while ventral surface covered by tiny spines with a line of strong spines on the median portion (6d–6f, 7).

Female ( Fig. 8 ). Forewing length ca 16.5 mm. Hindwing length ca. 14.6 mm. Generally similar to male. Posteromedial portion of sternum 8 produced into a small, rectangular subgenital plate with a shallow posterior notch.

Eggs. Available females were void of matured eggs.

Type Material. Holotype: male ( HIST, G50 ), China: Yunnan Province, Zhaotong City, Yiliang County, Xiaocaoba Town , 27.8266°N, 104.2864°E, 1761 m, 2023.VII.20, light trap, Zhang Aijun . Paratype: 1 female ( HIST, G51 ), same locality as holotype, 27.812º N, 104.283º E, 1942 m, 2023.VII.17, He Zhixin, Wang Luochong .

Etymology. The species name refers to Yiliang County, where the type locality is situated.

Distribution. China (Yunnan Province).

Remarks. The new species is a member of the Neoperla (Formosita) lushana -group, having a pair of spiny lobes of aedeagal tube ( Chen et al. 2024; Zwick 2023; Zwick & Sivec 1980). The new species shares similar terminalia and aedeagus tube with Neoperla caii Li, Wang & Wang, 2017 and Neoperla qinlingensis Du, 2005 of the species group ( Du & Sivec 2005). However, they may be easily separated by head pattern and details of aedeagal armature. In Neoperla yiliangensis Mo, Li & Murányi , sp. nov., the head pattern is large and oval, while the head pattern of other species is small and subtriangular. In addition, aedeagal sac of the new species has a pair of dorsobasal spiny lobe and a ventromedian spiny lobe. But in both aedeagal sac of N. caii and N. qinlingensis , dorsobasal lobe is lacking and the spiny lobe appears on the dorsal surface. In the present study, the female of the new species is associated with the male by molecular study.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Neoperla forcipataYang &Yang, 1992 (male from Henan; W125). a. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. b.Terminalia, dorsal view. c. Terminalia, lateral view. d. Terminalia, oblique lateral view. e. Aedeagus before eversion, lateral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 6. Neoperla yiliangensis Mo, Li & Murányi, sp. nov. (holotype male; G50). a. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. b. Terminalia, dorsal view. c. Terminalia, lateral view. d. Aedeagus, lateral view. e. Aedeagus, oblique lateral view. f. Aedeagus, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 7. Neoperla yiliangensis Mo, Li & Murányi, sp. nov. (holotype male; G50). a. Aedeagus, ventral view. d. Aedeagal sac, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 8. Neoperla yiliangensis Mo, Li & Murányi, sp. nov. (paratype female; G51) a. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. b. Terminalia, ventral view. c. Subgenital plates, ventral view. d. Subgenital plates, lateral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.