Neoperla bicornua Wu, 1973

Li, Weihai & Yan, Yanhua, 2021, Two new species and a new synonym of Neoperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from China, with proposal of a new species group, Zootaxa 5047 (4), pp. 431-443 : 440

Neoperla bicornua Wu, 1973

( Figs. 6–7 )

Neoperla flagellata Li & Murányi, 2012 . In: Li et al. 2012b:15 (original description of male); Li et al. 2014: 36 (record from Henan Province, female and vagina description); Yang & Li, 2018:39 (catalogue). syn. nov.

Material examined. Holotype: male ( IZCAS), China: Sichuan Province, Emeishan, Baoguo temple, 550–750 m, 29.5679° N, 103.4428° E, 1957.IV.27, Youcai Lu . Paratype: 1 female (allotype, IZCAS), same locality and data as holotype . 4 males and 2 females, Hubei Province, Xuan’en County, Mahuping village , 509 m, 2016.V.5, 29.9746° N, 109.5826° E, Jian Yao .

Distribution. China, Hunan, Guangdong, Henan, Sichuan and Zhejiang provinces.

Remarks. The holotype is in poor condition and the sac was not successfully everted, but terminal segments and color pattern of the above males are nearly identical to Figs. 6a–c of the present study. The female subgenital plates of the Hunan population agree well with the paratype (compare Figs. 6h–i and Fig. 6g ). The color of lateral pronotal margins in Hunan males displaying heavier pigmentation than found in Sichuan and Guangdong ones (compare Fig. 6c , Figs. 6a–b, f , and fig. 1 in Li et al. 2012b) and the sac of Hunan males show more tiny spines in the basal half. We consider these differences as geographic variation (compare Fig. 7 , and figs. 5–9 in Li et al. 2012b, fig. 5c in Li et al. 2013a). Therefore, we place Neoperla flagellata Li & Murányi, 2012 (in Li et al. 2012b) as a junior subjective synonym of N. bicornua Wu, 1973 .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Neoperla bicornua Wu, 1973 (a–e, male, f–i, female) a. Head, holotype, dorsal view. b. Pronotum, dorsal view. c. Head and pronotum, male from Hunan, dorsal view. d. Terminalia, male from Hunan, dorsal view. e. Terminalia, male from Hunan, lateral view. f. Head and pronotum, paratype, dorsal view. g. Subgenital plate, paratype, ventral view. h–i. Subgenital plate, showing slight variations, female from Hunan, ventral view.

FIGURE 7. Neoperla bicornua Wu, 1973 (male from Hunan). a. Aedeagus with everted sac, lateral view. b. Aedeagus with everted sac, lateral view, another side. as= apical sclerites, broken during eversion.