Dicerapanorpa Zhong and Hua, 2013

Zhong, Wen & Hua, Baozhen, 2013, Dicerapanorpa, a new genus of East Asian Panorpidae (Insecta: Mecoptera: Penorpidae) with descriptions of two new species, Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 47 (13 - 14), pp. 1019-1046 : 1021-1023

Dicerapanorpa Zhong and Hua , gen. nov.

Type species

Panorpa magna Chou in Chou et al., 1981.

Etymology

The generic name is derived from the Greek, dicer - (two-horned), and Panorpa (scorpionfly), referring to the two anal horns on the posterior margin of tergum VI in males and its relation to the genus Panorpa , from which it is separated.

Diagnosis

This new genus can be readily distinguished from Panorpa Linnaeus by the following combination of characters: (1) tergum VI of males with two anal horns; (2) rostrum normally with two lateral longitudinal stripes extending through the whole length; (3) dorsum of body with two black lateral longitudinal stripes extending from pronotum to tergum V; (4) abdominal segment VII of males much thinner at basal half, and abruptly thicker at apical half; (5) parameres in male genitalia trifurcate; (6) genital plate of female developed, with axis not extending beyond the anterior margin of the main plate.

Dicerapanorpa gen. nov. is very similar to Sinopanorpa Cai and Hua in the size and shape of abdominal segments VII and VIII of males, but can be readily differentiated from the latter by the following characters: males with a pair of anal horns on the sixth tergum (cf. lacking anal horn) and parameres trifurcate (cf. simple); axis of female genital plate short, concealed under the genital plate (cf. axis long, extending far beyond the genital plate); wings with vein R 2 usually bifurcate (cf. trifurcate).

Description

Body length 17–20 mm, usually yellow to yellowish brown. Rostrum slender, with two dark to black lateral longitudinal stripes. Ocellar triangle black. Dorsum with two black lateral longitudinal stripes extending from pronotum to tergum V. Pronotum with black thick setae along its anterior margin. Wings dusky hyaline to light yellow, with brown markings in some species; forewing length 15.5–18.0 mm, width 3.5–4.4 mm; hindwing smaller. Abdomen in both sexes not as long as wings. In males, notal organ on posterior margin of tergum III undeveloped, not reaching the middle of tergum IV; abdominal segment VI elongate, completely sclerotized into a cylindrical structure with two digitate anal horns on the posterior margin of tergite; segment VII much thinner at basal half, but abruptly thicker at apical half, almost twice as thick as basal part. Genital bulb oval; epandrium with a broad U-shaped emargination between two digitate lobes; hypandrium without distinct stalk, with elongate hypovalves divergent from base; gonostylus elongate, curved, with a distinct basal process and a triangular median process; parameres elongate and trifurcate. Females with a broad genital plate, under which the short axis is completely concealed.

Remarks

Dicerapanorpa gen. nov. currently comprises eight species. Six new combinations, D. magna (Chou in Chou et al., 1981), D. diceras ( MacLachlan, 1894) , D. stotzneri ( Esben-Petersen, 1934) , D. tjederi ( Carpenter, 1938) , D. kimminsi ( Carpenter, 1948) and D. triclada ( Qian and Zhou, 2001) are transferred from Panorpa Linnaeus. Two new species, D. baiyunshana sp. nov. from Henan and D. shennongensis sp. nov. from Hubei, are described and illustrated.

These eight species can be categorized into two groups. The first group comprises D. magna (Chou in Chou et al., 1981) and the two new species, and is characterized by distinct markings on yellowish wings and by lacking distinct longitudinal stripes on rostrum. The second group consists of D. diceras ( MacLachlan, 1894) , D. stotzneri ( Esben-Petersen, 1934) , D. tjederi ( Carpenter, 1938) , D. kimminsi ( Carpenter, 1948) and D. triclada ( Qian and Zhou, 2001) , and is distinguishable by hyaline wings lacking distinct markings and by rostrum with two distinct lateral stripes.

Distribution

The Oriental region ( China).

Key to species of Dicerapanorpa gen. nov. (male)

1. Wings yellowish with distinct markings, apical and pterostigmal bands complete; rostrum with a distinct black longitudinal stripe along each side... ......................................................................... 2 Wings hyaline without markings except the incomplete apical and pterostigmal bands; rostrum with longitudinal stripe greyish and indistinct......... 3

2. Basal band not complete, confined between veins Rs and CuP; marginal spot very reduced or absent; paramere with a straight mesal branch and a curved basal branch..................................... D. shennongensis sp. nov. Basal band complete; marginal spot present; mesal branch of paramere curved ......................................................................... 4

3. Basal branch of parameres short, mesal branch smoothly curved, reaching the basal process of gonostylus.............................. D. magna (Chou) Basal branch of parameres long, reaching the ventral valve of aedeagus, mesal branch straight, reaching the median process of gonostylus.................................................................... D. baiyunshana sp. nov.

4. Hypovalve markedly broadened toward apex............................. 5 Hypovalve not broadened toward apex................................... 6

5. Hypovalve rounded apically, paramere with the lateral branch greatly curved, densely covered with microsetae along inner margin.......................................................................... D. diceras (MacLachlan) Hypovalve truncated apically.................. D. stotzneri (Esben-Petersen)

6. Paramere with the lateral branch bifurcate apically, the basal branch very short, and the mesal branch extremely elongate and extending over the median process of gonostylus................................ D. tjederi (Carpenter) Main branch of paramere simple......................................... 7

7. Paramere with the basal branch short, the main branch reaching the mid process of gonostylus and without setae on inner margin; dorsal valve of aedeagus rounded apically.................................. D. kimminsi (Carpenter) Paramere with the basal branch elongate, hook-shaped; the main branch with setae on inner margin; dorsal valve of aedeagus acute apically.............................................................. D. triclada (Qian and Zhou)