Plectrocnemia verticalis Morse, Zhong & Yang

Morse, John C., Zhong, Hua & Yang, Lian-fang, 2012, New species of Plectrocnemia and Nyctiophylax (Trichoptera, Polycentropodidae) from China, ZooKeys 169, pp. 39-59 : 41

Plectrocnemia verticalis Morse, Zhong & Yang sp. n. Fig. 1

Plectrocnemia verticalis Li 1998: 51-52, figs 3.7-3.9, nomen nudum.

Type material.

Holotype male, PRC, Yun-nan Province, Ji-ping County, Kun-he Village, 10 km N of A-de-bo Township, 22.80°N, 103.30°E, 1350 m elevation, 19-vii-1990, collected by Li You-wen, Ke Xin; deposited in NAU.

Diagnosis.

The male genitalia of the species are somewhat similar to those of Plectrocnemia banksi Fischer, 1962, in that each preanal appendage has a dorsal process and the inferior appendages are concave on their subapicomesal margins. However, the preanal appendages are somewhat crescentic in lateral view and the apex of the lower arm of each preanal appendage is acute with a hairy wart on the ventral margin near the middle in the new species, characters which are unique in the genus.

Description of adult male:

Color of unique (holotype) specimen in alcohol generally yellowish brown. Length of body with folded wings: 7.0 mm.

Male genitalia: Tergum IX semi-membranous, with pair of setose patches posteriorly; sternum IX with anteromesal margin convex and posteromesal margin deeply excised except for small, median, triangular protrusion (Fig. 1B), posterolateral margins each with triangular incision at 1/3rd distance from dorsal margin (Fig. 1A). Tergum X semi-sclerotized, broadly trapezoidal, and with base covered by tergum IX in dorsal view (Fig. 1C). Intermediate appendages, set basolaterally from X, each slender, curved posterodorsad, forked in distal half, with longer ventral branch bearing long, apical seta (Figs 1A, 1C, 1D). Preanal appendages somewhat crescentic in lateral view (Fig. 1A); each with slender, setose dorsal process directed posterad and shorter than tergum X; lower branch longer than tergum X and shorter than inferior appendages, with hairy wart on ventral margin near middle and with apex acute; ventrobasal branch of each preanal appendage vertical, thick, and thumb-like. Subphallic sclerite absent. Inferior appendages sclerotized, each compressed, broadly foliaceous, tapering from middle to apex in lateral view (Fig. 1A); in ventral view (Fig. 1B) densely covered with short, stout setae and concave mesally on distal 1/3rd, each with small mound basomesally. Phallus (Fig. 1E) tube-like, with pair of lanciform projections arising subapicoventrally and exceeding apex of phallic tube, each with row of ventral hairs; without paramere spines or internal phallic sclerites..

Female and immature stages.

Unknown.

Etymology:

Verticalis, Latin adjective, “vertical,” referring to the vertical ventrobasal branch of each preanal appendage.

Distribution.

Oriental Biogeographic Region, China (Yun-nan). The species, known only from the holotype, has been found only at the type location in southern Yun-nan Province.