Neoperla baisha Kong & Li

Kong, Fanbin, Lv, Junfeng & Li, Weihai, 2014, Three new species of Neoperla in the montivaga group (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from China, Zootaxa 3841 (3), pp. 429-438 : 429-432

Neoperla baisha Kong & Li , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–2 )

Male. Forewing length 12.2–12.5 mm. Distance between ocelli about as wide as diameter of the ocellus. Head slightly wider than pronotum, mostly dark brown with occiput area pale brown ( Fig. 1 a); compound eyes black and antennae brown; maxillary palpi brownish. Pronotum brown with irregular light spots and obscure rugosities ( Fig. 1 a), meso- and metathorax mostly brown; wing membrane subhyaline, veins brown; legs brown.

Terminalia. The posterior margin of tergum 7 with a sclerotized triangular process in lateral view ( Fig. 1 c), truncate distal margin showing some variation, with several sensilla basiconica ( Figs. 1 b, 1e). Tergum 8 with two median weak humps covered by sensilla basiconica ( Figs. 1 b & c). Tergum 9 with two small patches of sensilla basiconica and hairs. Hemitergal processes of tergum 10 sclerotized, slightly curved with sharp apex ( Fig. 1 b). Aedeagal tube membranous with a triangular dorsal sclerite, apically with a pair of separate dorsolateral spinous lobes ( Figs. 1 d & 2a). Aedeagal sac ( Figs. 1 d & 2) about as long as tube, essentially straight along with tube and with spinulose dorsal surface ( Fig. 2 a), two additional spinulose basoventral patches and single mesoventral lobe without spines, distal portion swollen, with a pair of mesolateral patches of large spines extended toward the apex ( Fig. 1 d), and contacting a V-shaped ventroapical patch of large spines ( Fig. 2 b).

Female. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype: male ( HIST), Hainan Province, Baisha County, Yinggeling, 19.2334 N, 109.4411 E, 430 m, 2007. V.28–VI. 3, Jie Zeng. Paratype: 1 male ( CAU), China: Hainan Province, Ledong, Jianfengling, 18.7528 N, 109.1763 E. 800 m, 2006. V.19, Gang Yao.

Etymology. The species name refers to the Baisha County in which the type locality is located.

Distribution. China (Hainan Province).

Diagnosis and remarks. The new species is tentatively assigned to the N. oculata species complex sensu Zwick (1986) of the montivaga species group ( Zwick 1983) because of its broad T7 lobe and multiple lobes of the aedeagal sac. This species shares a similar head pattern with N. latispina Wang and Li, 2013 from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China (fig. 1 in Wang et al. 2013). However, the dorsolateral lobes of the aedeagal tube in the new species are small but those of N. latispina form enlarged dorsolateral projections. Additionally, the pair of mesolateral protrusions present on the aedeagal sac of N. latispina are rounded, whereas the corresponding patches of N. baisha are much larger and extended toward the apex (compare fig. 2 in Wang et al. 2013 and Figs. 1 d, 2).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Neoperla baisha Kong & Li, sp. nov., male. a. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. b. Terminalia, dorsal view. c. Terminalia, lateral view. d. Everted aedeagus, lateral view. e. Posterior process of tergum 7 showing some variation with fig. b, dorsal view.

FIGURE 2. Neoperla baisha Kong & Li, sp. nov., male. a. Everted aedeagus, dorsal view. b. Everted aedeagus, ventral view.