32. Neoperla aethiopica n. sp.

(Figs. 177–178)

Type material studied: ♂ Holotype (NEOP074), 1 ♂ paratype: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, 15km NW of Chora, Illubabor prov., 1600m, vii.1973, G.de Rougemont (slides Z16.166 & 166A; SMNS).

Habitus. WL 12.0– 12.3mm. Ochre colour, legs a little darker, brownish, wings infuscate. A black ring around each ocellus.

Male (Figs. 177–178). Hind tibiae unmodified. T7 with rather long triangular projection. T8 flat, front of median sclerite band as wide as the T7 process above it, narrowing caudally, with some SB. T9 unmodified, the paramedian pilose humps not much raised. Callus of HT10 inconspicuous, tongue-shaped. Tip of HT10 sinuous, short, the sharp apex points cephalad.

Penis tubular, slender, smooth except one or two single spinelets on sides, about one third from tip (bl in Fig. 177). Distally, is a rough dorsal patch of spines, plus a smaller spine patch on each side (dd and dl, respectively in Fig. 177). Endophallus almost straight, long base bare, distal half narrowing. Sides bare, the armature begins dorsolaterally as band of large hooks, distal hooks smaller, more numerous. Conical apex with many dorsal spines and a short ventral row of single spines (Figs. 177–178).

Female. Unknown.

DNA (Figs. 491–492, 494). Only the male holotype from Ethiopia was sequenced with the genome skimming approach, resulting in 10,983bp of mitochondrial, protein-coding genes. The species is very strongly supported (98.2/99/99) as sister to N. pilulifera n. sp ..

Etymology. The name was derived from the patria of the species.