Isoperla sandbergi Szczytko and Kondratieff, 2015

Cheaha Stripetail

(Figs. 7‒12)

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Plecoptera .speciesfile.org: TaxonName:468960

Isoperla sandbergi Szczytko & Kondratieff, 2015:229 .

Holotype ♂ (USNM), Dry Creek, above Cheaha Lake, Cheaha State Park, Cleburne Co., Alabama

Egg. General shape oblong, cross-section concave (Figs. 7‒8); anterior and posterior poles broadly-rounded (Figs. 9‒10). Color pale yellow. Collar absent (Fig. 9). Hexagonal follicle cell impressions not visible; chorionic surface covered with small pits; eclosion line absent; micropyles with thickened openings, arranged in a row of 3 near anterior 1/3 of egg (Figs. 11‒12).

Material examined. Alabama, Calhoun Co., spring into Cottaquilla Creek, 33.7656, -85.7166, 9 April 2010, S.A. Grubbs, 10♂, 8♀ (WKUC) ; same but 7 March 2012, S.A. Grubbs, 1♂ (WKUC); Jones Branch, 33.8570, -85.6187, 13 April 2012, A.L. Sheldon, 2♂, 1♀ (WKUC) ; Jones Branch, 33.8454, -85.6273, 13 April 2012, A.L. Sheldon, 1♂, 2♀ (WKUC) ; tributary to Jones Branch, 33.8457, -85.6280, 13 April 2012, A.L. Sheldon, 1♀ (WKUC) ; tributary to Jones Branch, 33.8572, -85.6184, 13 April 2012, A.L. Sheldon, 1♀ (WKUC) ; Clay Co., tributary to West Fork Hatchett Creek, 33.2945, -86.0615, 8 May 2005, A.L. Sheldon, 2♂, 1♀ (WKUC) ; tributary to Talladega Creek, 33.3971, -85.8653, 9 May 2005, A.L. Sheldon, 1♂ (WKUC) ; Talladega Creek, 33.4023, -85.8572; 9 May 2005, A.L. Sheldon, 3♂, 1♀ (WKUC) ; same but 8 April 2008, A.L. Sheldon, 5♂, 10♀ (WKUC); Talladega Creek, 33.4061, -85.8502; 9 May 2005, A.L. Sheldon, 1♂, 1♀ (WKUC) ; same but 8 April 2008, A.L. Sheldon, 3♂ (WKUC); tributary to Talladega Creek, 33.4009, -85.8559, 9 May 2005, A.L. Sheldon, 1♂ (WKUC) ; tributary to Cheaha Creek, 33.4065, -85.8496, 8 April 2008, A.L. Sheldon, 1♂, 1♀ (WKUC) ; tributary to Cheaha Creek, 33.4401, -85.8382, 8 April 2008, A.L. Sheldon, 4♂, 6♀ (WKUC) ; tributary to Cheaha Creek, 33.4402, -85.8328, 12 April 2012, A.L. Sheldon, 1♂ (WKUC) ; tributary to Cheaha Creek, 33.4398, -85.8376, 12 April 2012, A.L. Sheldon, 1♂, 1♀ (WKUC) ; tributary to Cheaha Creek, 33.4398, -85.8389, 12 April 2012, A.L. Sheldon, 1♂ (WKUC) ; Cleburne Co., tributary to Terrapin Creek, 33.8775, -85.5658, 22 May 2006, A.L. Sheldon, 1♂ (WKUC) ; tributary to Terrapin Creek, 33.8777, -85.5700, 22 May 2006, A.L. Sheldon, 1♀ (WKUC) ; tributary to Terrapin Creek, 33.8784, -85.5510, 9 April 2008, A.L. Sheldon, 1♂, (WKUC) .

Distribution. USA: AL (DeWalt et al. 2016).

Diagnosis. Szczytko & Kondratieff (2015) placed I. sandbergi in the I. similis (Hagen, 1861) Group with I. bellona Banks, 1911, I. cherokee Szczytko and Kondratieff, 2015, I. distincta Nelson, 1976, I. major Nelson and Kondratieff, 1983, I. similis, and I. starki Szczytko and Kondratieff, 2015 . The eggs of I. bellona and I. distincta remain undescribed. The combination of a concave profile and lack of a collar easily distinguishes the eggs of I. sandbergi from I. cherokee, I. major, I. similis, and I. starki . The eggs of I. major and I. similis are round in crosssection, possess a low raised collar, and lack a concavity (Szczytko & Kondratieff 2015, figs. 29.7, 51.15). The eggs of I. cherokee and I. starki have a concave profile but possess either a low, buttonlike collar ( I. cherokee; Szczytko & Kondratieff 2015, Figs. 7.24‒7.25) or a distinct, elevated collar ( I. starki; Szczytko & Kondratieff 2015, Fig. 55.21).

Comments. This species appears to be the most common headwater Isoperla in the Talladega Mountain region (Sheldon & Grubbs unpublished data).