Neoperla cf. bicornua Wu, 1973

Li, Weihai, Wang, Ying & Wang, Rongfeng, 2017, Taxonomic notes on Neoperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Sichuan Province of China with the description of two new species, Zootaxa 4221 (2), pp. 191-204 : 197-199

Neoperla cf. bicornua Wu, 1973

( Fig. 5 )

Neoperla bicornua Wu, 1973: 109 . Type locality: China: Sichuan (Emeishan, Baoguosi Temple).

Material examined. Paratype of Neoperla quadrata Wu & Claassen : 1 male ( USNM), China: Szechuan, Mt. Omei, ShinKaiSi (Sichuan Province, Emeishan Mountain, XinKai Temple ), 4400 feet, 1921. VII.1–30, D.C. Graham.

Distribution. China (Sichuan Province).

Diagnosis and remarks. The head pattern of the above specimen is obscure but the aedeagal sac is still in good condition after eversion. Clearly, this specimen is not conspecific with N. quadrata . We tentatively identify the above paratype of N. quadrata as N. bicornua because of the apparent sympatry and similar terminalia both in dorsal and dorsolateral views ( Figs. 5 a–5d). However, the specific aedeagal details are still unknown for N. bicornua . The sac armature appears similar to that of N. henana Li & Wu, 2011 with an entire basoventral patch of spines whereas the corresponding area in N. henana is without spines with two lateral spinous areas (fig. 3, Qin et al. 2013). The armature is nearly identical to a specimen deposited in California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, U.S.A. that may be part of the same series of Wu & Claassen (1934) identified as N. chui Wu & Claassen 1934 but not mentioned in the original description. The male and female of this species were determined as N. chui possibly based solely on external terminalia morphology at that time, not using aedeagal characters. As the aedeagus of only known specimen of N. chui , the holotype, is missing, the identity of N. chui and other sympatric specimens will require additional study (personal communication Ignac Sivec unpublished data).

However, N. chui is known only from the holotype and the aedeagus was discovered to be missing in 1982, as noted below under N. chui . The shape and distinctive armature of the uneverted aedeagus of the holotype specimen was shown in the original illustration (fig. 17, Wu & Claassen 1934). This figure shows N. chui does not belong to the N. lushana subgroup of the N. montivaga group due to the absence of ventroapical projections of the aedeagal tube. Therefore, the California Academy specimen labelled as “ N. chui ” is apparently misidentified. Consequently, study of the uneverted aedeagus should be done when additional sympatric specimens become available.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Neoperla cf. bicornua Wu, 1973, male. a. Terminalia, dorsolateral view. b. Aedeagus, lateral view. c. Aedeagus, dorsal view, arrow showing armatures. d. Aedeagal sac, lateral view, arrow showing ventral armatures.