Rhopalopsole hainana Li & Yang

Li, Weihai & Yang, Ding, 2010, Two new species of Rhopalopsole vietnamica group (Plecoptera: Leuctridae: Rhopalopsole) from China, Zootaxa 2614, pp. 59-64 : 59-61

Rhopalopsole hainana Li & Yang , sp. nov.

(Figs. 1–6)

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by the lateral projections of tergum 10 being bifurcate with the upper spine being smaller than the lower one in lateral view. The cercus has a small apical spine and the epiproct is rather wide and nearly truncate apically in dorsal view. Females cannot be diagnosed at this time.

Male. Forewing length 3.3–3.5 mm, hindwing length 2.7–2.8 mm. Head dark brown, slightly wider than pronotum; compound eyes dark; antennae and mouthparts brown. Thorax brown, pronotum dark brown; wings infuscate; legs brown. Abdomen brown; hypopygium dark brown.

Terminalia (Figures 1–6). Tergum 9 weakly sclerotized, with a wide, incised anterior margin that is more poorly sclerotized medially and continuing posteriorly to form a vase-like area with hairs oriented differently than found in lateral sections. This vase terminates in a series of low granules posteromedially. Sternum 9 slightly longer than wide with tongue-like vesicle bearing dense hairs, a distinct subgenital plate is wider than long and more or less straight posteriorly. Tergum 10 with strongly sclerotized lateral projections originating from a triangular bulging base and ending in a short upper spine and a larger lower spine in lateral view; central plate with three separated and sclerotized mid-anterior sclerites, the two lateral ones being narrow and elongate, the median one being large and triangular with fine granules posteriorly; transverse bars slightly elevated mesally, their lateral bases being subquadrate with finger-like extensions medially. Cercus long 3– 4 X longer than width, curved dorsally, with a small subapical spine. Epiproct slightly curved forward, its tip rather wide in dorsal view, slightly tapering toward tip in lateral view. Paraproct composed of 2–3 arms, distinctly sclerotized basally, somewhat tapering apically, ventral furrows well defined.

Female. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype: male, China: Hainan, Ledong, Jianfengling, Lake Nantianchi, 18.7070 N, 108.8247 E, light trap, 2006. V.17, Hui Dong. Paratype: 1 male, China: Hainan, Ledong, Jianfengling, Lake Nantianchi, 18.7070 N, 108.8247 E, 2006. V.18, Gang Yao.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the island from which it was collected.

Distribution. China, Hainan.

Remarks. The new species seems similar to those of the R. vietnamica group, western assemblage of Sivec et al. (2008) in having the following features: tergum 9 with some kind of ornamentation posteromedially; the lateral projections bifurcate apically; central plate of tergum 10 with two lateral bars; simple epiproct and cerci upturned bearing apical spine. The new species seems closely related to R. vietnamica Sivec & Harper, 2008 in having a similar epiproct, but may be separated from the latter by its male epiproct being nearly truncate apically in dorsal view and the bifurcate lateral projections on tergum 10 with the upper spine being smaller than the lower one in lateral view. In R. vietnamica Sivec & Harper, 2008 , the lateral projections have the upper spine being larger than the lower one in lateral view, and the epiproct is rounded apically (Sivec et al. 2008).