Neoperla forcipata Yang & Yang, 1992

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 : 212

Neoperla forcipata Yang & Yang, 1992

( Figs. 1–5 )

Neoperla forcipata Yang & Yang, 1992: 62 (original description); Du, Sivec & He, 1999: 62 (catalog); Wang, Wang & Li, 2013: 87 (remark); Li, Wang & Qin, 2013: 24 (re-illustration of aedeagal tube); Li, Li, Feng & Wang, 2014: 177 (first record from Henan Province); Yang & Li, 2018: 40 (catalog); Mo, Liu, Li & Shi, 2020: 375 (catalog); Zwick, 2023: 120 (catalog).

Supplementary description of male ( Figs. 1–4 ). Head pale, with a prominent dark brown subtriangular ocellar patch; in some specimens, the anterior part of the patch extends forward and forms a Y-shaped spot ( Figs. 1a , 3a , 4 ). Aedeagal tube straight, subapically with a Y-shaped ventral lobe; arm of Y-lobe without apical spines, about as long as stalk ( Figs. 3d–3h ); arms of specimen from Henan slightly constricted and curved upward ( Figs. 1e , 2 ). Aedeagal sac about as long as ventral lobe of tube, curved ventrad, gradually tapering to a blunt tip and mostly bare except for apical part armed with dense spinules ( Figs. 3d–3h ); subapical part of specimen from Henan with a pair of small lateral lobes ( Figs. 1e , 2 ).

Female ( Fig. 5 ). Forewing length 19.5– 17.5 mm. Hindwing length 21.5– 19.5 mm. Generally similar to male. Posteromedial portion of sternum 8 produced into a triangular subgenital plate with a blunt tip.

Material examined. 1 male ( HIST, W125 ), China: Henan Province, Henan Province, Luoyang City, Baiyunshan Mountain, Forest Oxygen Bar , 33.6618ºN, 111.8239ºE, 1502 m, 2020.VIII.10, light trap, Li Weihai, Yan Yanhua ; 2 males, 1 female and 3 females (G45–G47) ( HIST) , Yunnan Province, Zhaotong City, Daguan County, Tianxing Town , 27.863ºN, 104.057ºE, 1746 m, 2023.VII.20, He Zhixin, Wang Luochong ; 1 male (G48), 2 males, and 2 females ( HIST), Yunnan Province, Zhaotong City, Daguan County, Tianxing Town , Luohan Dam , 27.86382ºN, 104.05746ºE, 1746 m, 2023.VII.20, light trap, Yao Yao ; 1 male ( HIST, G49 ), Yunnan Province, Zhaotong City, Yiliang County, Lianghe Town , 27.815ºN, 104.359ºE, 1810 m, 2023.VII.16, He Zhixin, Wang Luochong .

Distribution. China (Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Yunnan provinces).

Remarks. The male of Neoperla forcipata Yang & Yang, 1992 has been described from Sangzhi County of Hunan Province, and the presumed female was recorded from Lichuan City of Hubei Province and was designated as the allotype lacking description ( Yang & Yang 1992). Unfortunately, the aedeagal sac of N. forcipata was not everted and described in the original description. The aedeagal tube of holotype male was re-illustrated by Li et al. (2013), but a fully everted aedeagal sac has not yet been described due to the aedeagal tube being damaged. The species was recently recorded from Baiyunshan Mountain of Henan Province ( Li et al. 2014), but the aedeagal sac was not everted and described. In the present work, specimens were collected from Henan and Yunnan provinces, the latter a first record for the province. The color pattern, terminalia and aedeagal tube of fresh male specimens agree with the type material in most characters ( Yang & Yang 1992). Our current study has resulted in fresh male specimens whose aedeagal sac is completely everted ( Figs. 2 , 3d–h ). In addition, the female, associated by molecular study, is described and illustrated for the first time ( Fig. 5 ). We provide color illustrations ( Figs. 1–5 ) to facilitate the identification of this apparently widespread species.

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 2. Neoperla forcipata Yang & Yang, 1992 (male from Henan; W125). a. Aedeagus, lateral view. b. Aedeagus, ventral view. c. Aedeagal sac, oblique dorsal view. d. Aedeagal sac, lateral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 3. Neoperla forcipata Yang & Yang, 1992 (male from Yunnan; d–h: G48). a. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. b. Terminalia, dorsal view. c. Terminalia, oblique lateral view. d. Aedeagus, lateral view. e. Aedeagus, dorsal view. f. Apical half of aedeagus, lateral view. g. Apical half of aedeagus, ventral view. h. Apical half of aedeagus, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 4. Neoperla forcipata Yang & Yang, 1992 (males from Yunnan; a: G48; b: G49). a, b. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 5. Neoperla forcipata Yang & Yang, 1992 (females from Yunnan; G45–G47). a. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. b. Terminalia, ventral view. c. Terminalia, lateral view. d, e. Subgenital plates, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.