Neoperla yaoshana Li, Wang & Lu

Li, Weihai, Wang, Hongliang & Lu, Wenyan, 2011, Species of the genus Neoperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Henan, China, Zootaxa 2735, pp. 57-63 : 58-62

Neoperla yaoshana Li, Wang & Lu , sp. nov.

( Figs. 12–17 )

Diagnosis. Males of this species are distinguished by a dark brown area on the head including the ocelli, and a triangular brown stigma anteriorly on the frons ( Fig. 12 ). The aedeagal sac is curved dorsally. It bears a pair of dorsolateral spinule patches at the base. Its apical half bears a field of fine dorsal and ventral spinules separated by a lateral membranous area ( Fig. 17 ).

Male. Forewing length 12.2–12.8 mm, hindwing length 11.2–11.6 mm. Distance between ocelli slightly wider than diameter of the ocellus. Head slightly wider than pronotum, with a dark brown area covering ocelli and a triangular brown stigma on anterior portion of frons ( Fig. 12 ); compound eyes dark; antennae brown. Thorax mostly brown but pronotum paler with a wide, diffuse median stripe and scattered, dark rugosities ( Fig. 12 ); wing membrane subhyaline, veins brown; legs yellowish brown. Abdomen brownish, hemiterga darker.

Terminalia . Tergum 7 with posterior margin slightly produced into a subquadrate process, elevated on posterolateral margins and covered with sparse small sensilla basiconica ( Figs. 13, 14 ). Tergum 8 with an erect tongue-like process, with small spines at distal margin ( Figs. 13, 14 ). Tergum 9 without sensilla patches. Hemitergal processes of tergum 10 strongly sclerotized and slightly bent ventrally at middle. Aedeagal tube plump and slightly sclerotized, medially with a pair of ventral projections bearing heavy spinule patches ( Figs. 15–16 ). Aedeagal sac about 2X longer than tube and upcurved dorsally, with a pair of dorsolateral spine covered patches at middle, apical half bearing fine dorsal and ventral spinules separated by lateral membrane, near apex with several rows of dorsal small spines and a row of ventral small spines ( Fig 17 ).

Female. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype: male, China: Henan Province, Lushan County, Mt. Yaoshan, 33.7587 N, 112. 4709 E, light trap, 2009. VII.21, Weihai Li. Paratype: 2 males, same data as holotype.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the mountain from which the new species was collected.

Distribution. China (Henan).

Remarks. The new species seems closely related to N. taibaina Du, 2005 from Shaanxi Province in having similar terminalia and aedeagal structures, but may be separated from the latter by its male aedeagal sac having several rows of small, dorsal and a row of small, ventral spines near the apex, compared with Du’s description and illustration. In addition, the fine spinule areas are separated by a lateral membrane. Neoperla taibaina has an aedeagal sac that is covered by fine spinules throughout and has no small, ventral spines near its apex (Du 2005).

Figures

FIGURE 12 – 17. Neoperla yaoshana sp. nov. (male). 12. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. 13. Terminalia, dorsal view. 14. Terminalia, lateral view. 15. Aedeagus, ventral view. 16. Aedeagus before eversion, lateral view. 17. Aedeagal sac, lateral view.