Neoperla chebalinga, Chen, Zhi-Teng & Du, Yu-Zhou, 2016

Chen, Zhi-Teng & Du, Yu-Zhou, 2016, A new species of Neoperla from China, with a redescription of the female of N. mnong Stark, 1987 (Plecoptera, Perlidae), ZooKeys 616, pp. 103-113 : 104-105

Taxon classification Animalia Plecoptera Perlidae

Neoperla chebalinga sp. n. Figs 1, 2-3, 4-5, 6, 7, 8, 9-10

Type material.

Holotype male: China: Guangdong Province, Chebaling Nature Reserve, 114.1320E, 24.7128N, 17 June, 2009, leg. Hai-Yang Xue and Bo Yu. Paratypes: 4 males and 2 females, same data as holotype.

Diagnosis.

Distinguishing characteristics of this species include a slender aedeagal tube that has an upcurved, medial, finger-like, membranous lobe on the ventral surface, and a short, blunt, ventrally curved aedeagal sac with a dorsoapical patch of spines.

Adult habitus. General body color yellow patterned with brown. Head slightly wider than pronotum with a brown stigma on anterior frons and a subtriangular dark brown area covering ocelli; compound eyes dark and antennae brown (Figs 1, 9-10). Pronotum disc yellow with pale brown rugosities (Fig. 1). Wing membrane subhyaline, veins brown; legs yellow, femora grading to brown distally. Cerci pale (Figs 9-10).

Male (Figs 1-5, 9). Forewing length 13.5-14.0 mm, hindwing length 11.5-12.0 mm (n = 5). The posterior margin of tergum 7 with a raised process densely covered with sensilla basiconica. Tergum 8 bears a recurved oval process with small spines at the distal margin (Figs 2-3). Tergum 9 without sensilla basiconica. Hemitergal processes of tergum 10 slightly curved anteriorly (Fig. 2). Aedeagal tube slender, strongly sclerotized dorsally, weakly sclerotized ventrally except for the basal bulb and an upcurved, ventromedial, finger-like membranous lobe. Aedeagal sac short and gradually tapered to a blunt apex, curved ventrally with a dorsoapical patch of spines (Figs 4-5).

Female (Figs 6-7, 10). Forewing length 15.5-16.0 mm, hindwing length 13.0-13.5 mm (n = 2). General color and pattern similar to males. Subgenital plate of sternum 8 slightly produced and lightly sclerotized posteromedially (Figs 6, 10). Va gina elongate-oval, lined sparsely along lateral margins. Spermathecal stalk short, spermatheca oval and curled at tip (Fig. 7).

Eggs (Fig. 8). Outline oval. Collar short and surrounded by 1-2 irregular rows of follicle cell impressions. Primary striae join rim on sides of collar, narrow and widely spaced; each pair of primary striae enclose many secondary striae; sulci with dense pits. Lid small consisting of follicle cell impressions (Fig. 8).

Etymology.

The species is named after the type locality, Chebaling Nature Reserve.

Remarks.

The new species is a member of the Neoperla clymene group possessing a slender and mostly sclerotized aedeagal tube. The processes of terga 7-8 and aedeagus of the new species are similar to those of Neoperla furcostyla Li & Qin, 2013 (in: Li et al. 2013b) and Neoperla forcipata Yang & Yang, 1992 ( Yang and Yang 1992). However, in Neoperla furcostyla and Neoperla forcipata , the aedeagal tube has a subapical fork instead of the medial finger-like lobe as in Neoperla chebalinga . In addition, the aedeagal sacs of Neoperla furcostyla and Neoperla forcipata are not curved ventrally (see Figs 1-2 in: Li et al. 2013b and fig. 1 in Yang and Yang 1992).