Capnia qilianshana Li & Yang

Li, Weihai & Yang, Ding, 2009, Synopsis of the genus Capnia (Plecoptera: Capniidae) from China, Zootaxa 2112, pp. 47-52 : 48-51

Capnia qilianshana Li & Yang , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–7 )

Diagnosis. Tergum 9 is slightly produced posteriorly in lateral view and bears a darkly sclerotized V–shaped marking extended from its sclerotized midline in dorsal view. Sternum 9 bears a quadrate vesicle that is covered with numerous hairs. Additionally, the epiproct has heavily sclerotized lateral margins that are separated medially and converged toward the apex in dorsal view; additionally, the epiproct is nearly parallelsided for most part, then distinctly tapering apically in lateral view.

Male. Body length 3.5 - 3.8 mm. Wings macropterous. Forewing length 3.7 - 4.0 mm, hindwing length 3.3 - 3.5 mm. Body generally brown. Head ( Fig. 1 ) rounded, slightly wider than pronotum, with three ocelli, each accompanied by a small, internally-situated, dark stigma; compound eyes dark; epicranial suture distinct, but the coronal suture indistinct; dorsal callosities dark brown, situated anteromedial to compound eyes. Pronotum quadrangular, somewhat wider than long, corners obtusely angled, with a narrow darkly sclerotized bar along both anterior and posterior margins, forming right angles with distinct midline. Wings ( Fig. 7 ) hyaline with brownish veins, R vein straight at its divergence with Rs. Abdominal pigmentation dark brown, each tergum with anterior margin heavily sclerotized.

Terminalia. Terga 8 and 9 moderately produced posteromedially, each with shallow indentation and band at anterior margin ( Fig. 3 ). Tergum 9 posteromedial lobe slightly elevated medially, with a distinct longitudinal line partly beneath the epiproct, forming a darkly sclerotized V-shaped marking extended from the sclerotized midline in dorsal view. Sternum 9 with vesicle quadrate except for constricted stalk-like base ( Fig. 4 ), covered by numerous hairs, slightly longer than half of subgenital plate; subgenital plate trapezoidal, wide basally and gradually tapering toward tip, with lateral margin darkly sclerotized and fringed by several rows of hairs. subanal plate sinuous laterally, inner margin darkly sclerotized, a median bar extended from behind tip of subgenital plate and curved upward to an acute tip. Tergum 10 divided into two rounded lobes which bear strongly sclerotized lateral bands along their margins. Cercus slender, incomplete, 10-11 segmented, each gradually dilated toward apex ( Fig. 6 ). Epiproct apex rounded in dorsal view, broad and bifurcate at base, the remainder nearly elliptical, its heavily sclerotized lateral margins separated medially and converged toward apex; epiproct nearly parallel-sided for most part, then distinctly tapering apically in lateral view.

Female. Unknown.

Type Material. Holotype: male, China: Gansu province, Zhangye, main road to Mt. Qilianshan, 1993. VI.24, Fasheng Li. Paratype: 1 male, same data as holotype.

Etymology. The specific name refers to its type locality, Mt. Qilianshan.

Distribution. China (Guansu Province).

Remarks. The new species is a member of C. cordata species group sensu Zhiltzova (2003). It seems to most resemble the Tibetan species C. cordata in having a similar epiproct and subanal plate, but may be separated from the latter by its rounded epiproct tip and slightly swollen subapical area, by terga 8 and 9 having shallow indentations and sclerotized bands at the anterior margins, and by a distinct midline preceding the sclerotized V-shaped marking on tergum 9. In C. cordata , the epiproct is pointed and hooked apically, terga 8 and 9 lack sclerotized bands and the cordate marking on tergum 9 is surrounded by tiny spines ( Kimmins 1947). The straight R vein of the front wing allies this species more closely with Capnopsis (Figs. 647 – 648 in Zhiltzova 2003), Eucapnopis and Isocapnia (Fig. 58 in Baumann et al. 1977), Nemocapnia (Fig. 14.151 in Stewart and Stark 2008) and Paracapnia (Fig. 658 in Zhiltzova 2003) than most Capnia . A careful study of this character will be necessary when the entire family is revised.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Capnia qilianshana sp. nov. (male). 7. Wing.

FIGURES 1 – 2. Capnia qilianshana sp. nov. (male). 1. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. 2. Terminalia, lateral view.

FIGURES 3 – 6. Capnia qilianshana sp. nov. (male). 3. Terminalia, dorsal view. 4. Terminalia, ventral view. 5. Epiproct, dorsal view. 6. Cercus, lateral view.