Dicerapanorpa shennongensis 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 : 1031-1033

Dicerapanorpa shennongensis Zhong and Hua , sp. nov.

( Figure 5 )

Holotype

Male. CHINA: HUBEI: Hongping (31 ◦ 20 ′ N, 110 ◦ 22 ′ E, 1600 m), Shennongjia, 1 July 2007, leg. JL Tan and BZ Hua.

Paratypes

CHINA: HUBEI: 3♀♀, same data as holotype .

Etymology

The specific name refers to the type locality, Shennongjia.

Diagnosis

The new species is similar to D. magna (Chou) in ground colour and wing markings, but can be separated from the latter by the following characters: basal band of wing limited between veins Rs and CuP (cf. across the wing); parameres with the basal branch much longer (cf. very short) and the mesal branch straight (cf. smoothly curved); the genital plate of female with the two posterior arms slender (cf. broad and short).

The new species also resembles D. baiyunshana sp. nov. in general appearance, especially wing markings, but can be differentiated from the latter by the following characters: basal band of wing markings narrow and not across wing (cf. broad, across wing); paramere with the basal branch curved (cf. straight) and the mesal branch straight (cf. smoothly curved); female with the subgenital plate oval (cf. subtriangular) and the genital plate slender (cf. broad).

Description – male

Body light yellowish brown. Vertex yellowish brown. Ocellar triangle black. Rostrum with two indistinct yellowish brown lateral longitudinal stripes; antennal scape light yellow, pedicel reddish brown, flagellum black.

Thorax. Nota light to yellowish brown, with two black lateral longitudinal stripes. Legs light yellowish brown, tarsomeres darkening toward apex; apical tarsomere entirely black ( Figure 5A ).

Wings. Forewing length 16.5 mm, width 4.4 mm; hindwing length 14.6 mm, width 4.0 mm. Wings greyish yellow, with brown markings; apical band enclosing a large hyaline window, with basal margin light-coloured; pterostigmal band complete, with a broad basal branch and a separated narrow distal branch; marginal spot very indistinct; basal band extending from vein Rs to CuP; basal spot extremely

reduced. Hindwing similar to forewing, but the markings reduced, basal band absent ( Figure 5A ).

Abdomen. Terga I–V yellowish brown, with two black lateral longitudinal stripes along each side; notal organ of third tergum not prominent. Tergum VI with two anal horns

at posterior margin. Segment VII greatly thinner at basal half, and much thicker at distal half ( Figure 5A ).

Male genitalia. Genital bulb oval. Hypovalves elongate, somewhat divergent basally and slightly convergent distally, with long bristles along the inner margin ( Figure 5C ). Epandrium broad at base and gradually narrowing toward apex, with a broad deep squared emargination ( Figure 5D ). Gonostylus slightly shorter than gonocoxite, with a small sharp median process; the basal process trapezoid basally, and pointed apically ( Figure 5C, E ). Parameres trifurcate, with the basal branch very long and smoothly curved; lateral branch slightly shorter than the basal branch, extending over the ventral valves of aedeagus; the mesal branch straight, extending over the basal process of gonostylus. Aedeagus with the ventral valves rounded at apex, the dorsal valves bearing blackish setae and separated apically ( Figure 5E ).

Description – female

Body similar to the male ( Figure 5B ). Forewing length 17.0– 17.5 mm, width 4.7–5.0 mm; hindwing length 15.2–15.7 mm, width 4.2–4.6 mm. Markings similar to the male.

Female genitalia. Subgenital plate oval, produced posteriorly into a broad process, with long bristles along the posterior margin ( Figure 5F ). Genital plate slender, slightly broadening caudally; posterior arms slender, slightly convergent distally. Axis short, not protruding beyond the plate ( Figure 5 G–I).

Distribution

China (Hubei Province).

Figures

Figure 5. Dicerapanorpa shennongensis sp. nov., from Shennongjia, Hubei. (A) Male, holotype, dorsal view; (B) female, paratype, dorsal view; (C, D) genital bulb, ventral and dorsal views; (E) aedeagus complex, ventral view, a main branch is broken; (F) subgenital plate of female, ventral view; (G–I) genital plate, ventral, lateral and dorsal views. Scale bars: A and B = 3.0 mm; C and D = 0.5 mm; E–I = 0.2 mm.