Panorpa difficilis Carpenter, 1938

Li, Ning, Wang, Ji-Shen & Hua, Bao-Zhen, 2021, Morphological phylogenetic analyses and taxonomic revision of the Panorpa davidi group (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79, pp. 309-342 : 309

Panorpa difficilis Carpenter, 1938

Figs 6 , 7

Panorpa difficilis Carpenter, 1938: 269, figs 4 & 6. Type locality: "Chengtu, Szechwan" [now Chengdu, Sichuan], China; Cheng, 1957: 29, figs 42 & 46.

Diagnosis.

This species can be readily recognized by the following characters: (1) wings with well-developed variable markings (Figs 6A-B , 7A-B ); (2) meso- and metanotum black, with prominent pale yellow mesal stripe (Figs 6A-B , 7A-B ); in males, (3) gonocoxites with a row of long setae along slightly beveled inner apex (Fig. 7E ); (4) parameres crossed subapically, twisted in S-shape (Fig. 7G ); (5) dorsal valves slender, stalked, each with an intensively enlarged dorsal process on apical portion dorsally (Fig. 7F-G ); and in females, (6) medigynium bearing a pair of auricular lateral basal plates on middle portion (Fig. 7I-J ).

Material examined.

CHINA - Chongqing • 1♀; Beibei, Longfengxi ; 27 Oct. 1984; Xin Yue leg. ; • 18♂♂, 21♀♀; Beibei, Xiema, Damotan ; 230 m a.s.l.; 5 Apr. 2013; Jian-Yue Qiu & Hao Xu leg. - Shaanxi Prov. • 2♀♀; Nanzheng, Liping ; 32°54′09″N, 106°36′36″E; 1530 m a.s.l.; 11 Jul. 2019; Ying Miao & Yue Pan leg. • 2♂♂; Liping ; 2018; Zheng Wei. - Sichuan Prov. • 6♂♂, 8♀♀; Maoxian, Tudiling ; 2050 m a.s.l.; 31 May 2019 ; Kai Gao.

Measurements.

Male: FL = 10.9-12.8 mm, FW = 2.9-3.1 mm; HL = 10.0-11.8 mm, HW = 2.7-3.0 mm. Female: FL = 11.3-12.9 mm, FW = 2.9-3.2 mm; HL = 10.3-12.1 mm, HW = 2.9-3.1 mm.

Description.

Female: Head (Figs 6B , 7B ): Frons, vertex, and occiput yellowish brown. Broad black band passing through ocellar triangle to inner margins of compound eyes. Rostrum yellow, slender, with labrum dark brown. Maxillary and labial palps mostly pale brown with distal segments dark brown. Antennal scape dark brown; pedicel blackish brown; flagellum black, filiform. Thorax (Figs 6B , 7B ): Pronotum black, with 10-16 setae along anterior margin. Meso- and metanotum black, with pale yellow mesal stripe; scutella totally pale yellow. Pleura and legs yellowish brown, with distal tarsomere blackish. Wings (Figs 6B , 7B ): Wing membrane hyaline, with markings black brown. In forewing, broad apical band scattered on posterior margin, several small hyaline spots along apical crossveins; pterostigmal band with broad basal branch, apical branch usually detached and thin; marginal spot as one or two small spots; basal band generally split into two large spots, complete in a few individuals; basal spot prominent. Hindwing similar to forewing, with relatively reduced markings; marginal spot usually faint and basal spot absent. Abdomen (Figs 6B , 7B ): T2-T6 black. A7-A10 yellowish brown. Genitalia (Fig. 7H-J ): Subgenital plate ligulate, with V-shaped distal emargination, bearing long setae on distal half. Medigynium with broad, long main plate, lateral margin emarginate medially, distal portion broader than base; pair of auricular lateral basal plates on middle part, each basal plate consisting of sclerotized middle structure enclosing very small one; axis slightly extruded posteriorly, extending beyond main plate for half of its length anteriorly.

Distribution.

China: Chongqing, Shaanxi, Sichuan.

Remarks.

Panorpa difficilis was previously known only by the male holotype. A series of male and female specimens were captured recently from Chongqing and Shaanxi. This species should be a bivoltine insect in Chongqing at low elevations.

Figures

Figure 6. Live adult habitus and habitat of Panorpa difficilis Carpenter, 1938. A. Male, dorsal view. B. Female, dorsal view. C. Habitat in Maoxian, Tudiling, Sichuan. Photos by Kai Gao.

Figure 7. Panorpa difficilis Carpenter, 1938 from Maoxian, Sichuan. A, C - G. Male. A. Habitus, dorsal view. C. Habitus, lateral view. D - E. Genital bulb, dorsal and ventral views. F - G. Aedeagal complex, lateral and ventral views. B, H - J. Female. B. Habitus, dorsal view. H. Subgenital plate, ventral view. I - J. Medigynium, ventral and dorsal views. Scale bars: A-B = 5 mm; C = 2 mm; D-J = 0.2 mm.