26. Neoperla caeleps n. sp.

(Figs. 150–153)

Type material. ♂ holotype: Republic of Guinea, Loffa (aff. Diani) W de Boola [8.19°N, 8.67°W], 8.3.88 (SMNS, gift Élouard; NEOP068, slide Z17.020) . ♂ paratype, mis-associated paralectotype of N. africana Klapálek: N. Kamerun Joh.-Albrechtshöhe III. 96 L. Conradt S. \ africana Klapálek \ CYTYPE [sic! print, red paper] \ COTYPUS [print, white paper] \ det.P. Zwick 1980 Neoperla sp. T [handwritten on photoprint] (pinned, genitalia on pinned plastic-slide; NMCZ). ♂ paratype: S. O. Kamerun, Lolodorf L.Conradt S. (NMCZ, Klapálek det. africana; penis slide Z19.109, abdomen in microvial). ♂ paratype: Republic of Cameroon, Kumba, Loaiasis Res. Cent. VIII–XII_1952 coll. Nicholas (USNM _142). ♂ paratype: Republic of Ghana,Western region, Ankasa game prod. Reserve 10–16.12.93 St. 12 J. Kjaerendsen & T. Andersen light trap; NUFU-project ZMBN Ref. No. 3 (NEOP 067).

♂ paratype: Republic of Liberia, 8 mi NW Belefuanai [7.26N, 9.43W], S fork S.Paul R., 11.8.66, Ross & Lorenzen (CASENT 8413048) .

Habitus. WL 10.0– 12.2mm. Yellow, separate black ocellar rings (the holotype) or ocelli on a common brown spot. Flagellum brownish, tibiae and tarsi infuscate. Cercus (distal part missing) yellow.

Male (Figs. 150–153). Pale caudal half of T7 with well delimited triangular sclerite, tip narrow and triangular, projecting over flat T8. Some SB along sides and at tip of process. Sclerite on T8 tongue-shaped, SB in a longitudinal line have forward-directed tips, like a saw. T9 as usual, with pale median area behind the divided antecosta, low pilose lateral humps and a sclerotised median furrow behind which lies the flat heart-shaped epiproct. Mediobasal callus of HT10 tongue-shaped, tip of HT10 slender, slightly curved, moderately pointed. HT-tips bent down, almost concealed by lateral humps of T 9 in lateral view (Fig. 150).

Penis a slender firm tube curved dorsad, several sharp backward-pointing spines on a small membranous cushion at dorsodistal tip (Figs. 151–153). Endophallus little longer than tube, curved into the opposite direction (Fig. 153), ventrally protruding base with two paramedian patches of sharp spines (Figs. 151–152). Distally from a short bare area the dorsal face of endophallus has a loose cover of large sharp spines, those near tip smaller.

Female. Unknown.

DNA (Figs. 491–492, 494). The male holotype from Guinea and a male paratype from Ghana were sequenced for the COX1 DNA barcode fragment and with the genome-skimming approach, respectively. They cluster together with maximum support (100/100/100) and the species is very strongly supported (75.4/99/99) as sister to N. plicata n. sp..

Etymology. The Latin noun caeleps designates a man without wife.