Megaleuctra flinti Baumann, 1973

Baumann, Richard W. & Stark, Bill P., 2013, The Genus Megaleuctra Neave (Plecoptera: Leuctridae) In North America, Illiesia 9 (6), pp. 65-93 : 73-77

Megaleuctra flinti Baumann

( Figs. 21-34 )

Megaleuctra flinti Baumann 1973:248 .

Holotype ♂ ( USNM). Type locality: Virginia (Madison Co.), Hogcamp Brook, Shenandoah National Park , examined

Material examined. MARYLAND: Garrett Co., Seep, north slope Black Lick Run, Savage River State Forest, 5 June 1994, S.A. Grubbs, R.E. Jacobson, 1♂, 3♀ (reared), ( SAGC). Seep, opposite Elk Lick Run, 1.7 mi. above junction Savage River , Savage River State Forest , 19 May 1995, S.A. Grubbs, 1♂, 1♀ (reared), ( SAGC). 3 km. S Sang Run, 23-25 June 1989, W.E. Steiner, J.M. Swearlingen, A. Landvoigt, L. Landvoigt, 1♀ ( USNM). PENNSYLVANIA: Somerset Co. , Spring, north side of Pennsylvania Turnpike, mile 85, 20 April 1974, R.A. Haick, 7 larvae ( BYUC, USNM). Westmoreland Co. , Maul Spring, Rector, Powder Mill Nature Reserve , 15 May 1976, J.S. Weaver, 1♂, 3♀ ( RFSC). Same site, 21 May 1977, J.S. Weaver, 3♀ ( BYUC, RFSC). VIRGINIA: Madison Co. , Hogcamp Brook, Shenandoah National Park , 23 May 1970, O.S. Flint, Jr., 1♂, Holotype ( USNM). Hogcamp Brook , Dark Hollow Falls , Shenandoah National Park , 3 June 1983, B.C. Kondratieff, 1♂, 4♀ ( CSUC, BYUC). Page Co. , Lewis Spring , 3300’, Shenandoah National Park , G.L. Daussin, 6 June 1979, 1♀ ( CSUC). WEST VIRGINIA: Greenbrier Co., Coats Run , small spring above Summit Lake , Monongahela National Forest , Rt. 39, 5 mi. E Richwood, R.F. Kirchner, B.C. Kondratieff, 15 May 1986, 1♂, 1♀ ( CSUC). Dogway Run, 14 May 1990, B.C. Kondratieff, J.L. Welch, R.F. Kirchner, 4♂, 2♀ ( CSUC, BYUC). Springs, Pheasant Hollow, Forest Rd. 77, Monongahela National Forest , near Summit Lake , R.W. Baumann, R.F. Kirchner, B.C. Kondratieff, 14 May 1990, 3♂, 4♀ ( BYUC, CSUC). Same site, 2 June 1992, B.C. Kondratieff, R.F. Kirchner, 2♂, 4♀ ( BYUC, CSUC). Same site, 24 May 1994, B.C. Kondratieff, R.F. Kirchner, 2♂, 3♀ ( BYUC, CSUC). Same site, 21 May 1999, B.P. Stark, R.F. Kirchner, 2♂, 1♀ ( BPSC). Pendleton Co., Spruce Knob, 27 June 1958, W.L. Peters, 1 larva ( BYUC). Pocahontas Co. , Hwy 150, near Cranberry Glades, S.M. Clark, 13 June 1992, 1♀ ( BYUC). Spring fed stream into Charles Creek , Cranberry Glades, B.C. Kondratieff, R.F. Kirchner, 24 May 1994, 1♂ ( CSUC). Tributary, Hills Creek , Hills Creek Falls Scenic Area, 2 June 1992, B.C. Kondratieff, R.F. Kirchner, 1♀ ( CSUC). Same site, 19 May 1995, S.A. Grubbs, 1♀ (reared), 1 larva ( SAGC) . Tucker Co., South Fork Red Run , 6.1 km. S Backwater Falls State Park, M.B. Griffith, 15 May 1991, 1♂ ( UWVC) .

Male. Macropterous. Length of forewing 9-13 mm; body length 10-12 mm. General color brown. Wings hyaline, with dark pigment occupying about half the costal space beyond the cord. Radial sector of forewing usually with two branches. Tergum 9 divided by two large lateral lobes, located near posterior margin ( Fig. 22 , 26, 28 ). Subgenital plate large, narrowed to rounded apex ( Figs. 21, 23 , 28 ), vesicle at base of sternum 9 long, thin and of equal width, with apex rounded ( Fig. 23 ). Epiproct sclerotized, broad at base, narrow and triangleshaped towards apex when expanded ( Figs. 25, 29 ), apex with paired, rounded lobes and larger wingshaped projections apically when in midlength position ( Fig. 30 ); subanal probe long and narrow, broader at base, abruptly thinner towards apex, extending beyond tip of epiproct, often recurved over abdomen, thread-like at tip ( Figs. 21-22 , 25-29 ); cerci consist of an elongate single segment ( Figs. 21- 22 , 28, 30 ).

Female. Macropterous. Length of forewing 16-18 mm; body length 19-20 mm. Coloration similar to male. Radial sector of forewing with two branches. Sternum 8 with subgenital plate extending past tip of abdomen 1.5-2.0 mm, narrowing conspicuously beyond base to apex, round in cross section ( Figs. 24 , 31-32 ). Sternum 9 a long, narrow ovipositor; cerci inconspicuous ( Figs. 24 , 31 ).

Larva. Undescribed.

Egg. Outline globose with faint hexagonal follicle cell impressions covering the surface ( Fig. 33 ). Collar and anchor absent. Chorion with scattered, irregularly spaced pits which may be micropyles ( Fig. 34 ).

Diagnosis. The male of this species can be distinguished from M. williamsae , the only other eastern North American species, by the presence of a medial toothed process between the lateral lobes of tergum 9, and by differences in epiproct shape, elongate and triangular shaped in M. flinti and short and angular in M. williamsae (compare Figs. 22 , 29 with Figs. 75 , 82). Additionally, the subanal probe of M. flinti is expanded medially ( Figs. 21, 22 , 25, 27 ), and ends in a pointed tip ( Fig. 25 ), whereas in M. williamsae , it is essentially cylindrical throughout its length ( Figs.75 , 77), and has a tiny truncate tip ( Fig. 81 ). The female subgenital plate of M. flint i narrows conspicuously from beyond the base to the apex ( Figs. 24 , 31 ), whereas the female subgenital plate of M. williamsae is subequal in width beyond the base ( Figs. 76 , 84).

Figures

Figs. 21-24. Megaleuctra flinti, Hogcamp Brook, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Terminalia: 21. Male, dorsal. 22. Male, lateral. 23. Male, ventral. 24. Female, lateral.

Figs. 25-32. Megaleuctra flinti, Dogway Run, West Virginia. Male: 25. Genitalia, dorsal, epiproct, extended. 26. Genitalia, dorsal, epiproct, midlength. 27.Genitalia, lateral, epiproct, extended. 28.Genitalia, lateral, epiproct, midlength. 29. Epiproct, apical half, dorsal. 30. Genitalia, dorsolateral, epiproct, midlength. Female: Pheasant Hollow, West Virginia. 31. Genitalia, lateral. 32. Genitalia, ventral.

Figs. 33-34. Megaleuctra flinti, Hogcamp Brook, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Egg: 33. Entire, dorsal. 34. Chorionic detail, dorsal. (Photo courtesy of B.C. Kondratieff).

Figs. 74-76. Megaleuctra williamsae. 10 miles east of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Terminalia: 74. Male, dorsal. 75. Male, lateral. 76. Female, lateral.

Figs. 77-84. Megaleuctra williamsae. White Top Road, southwest of Elk Garden, Virginia. Male: 77. Genitalia, lateral, epiproct, terminal on subanal probe. 78. Genitalia, lateral, epiproct enclosing subanal probe at apex. 79. Subanal probe, base, dorsolateral. 80. Genitalia, dorsolateral, separated. 81. Subanal probe, apex, dorsal, close up. 82. Subanal probe and epiproct separated, dorsolateral. Female: 83. Genitalia, lateral. 84. Genitalia, terminal, lateral.