Neoperla decorata, Zwick & Zwick, 2023

Zwick, Peter & Zwick, Andreas, 2023, Revision of the African Neoperla Needham, 1905 (Plecoptera: Perlidae: Perlinae) based on morphological and molecular data, Zootaxa 5316 (1), pp. 1-194 : 51

................................................................................. N. spio- complex, p. 87 2 Front wing distally with a transverse clear band between dark shades ( Fig. 96 )..................... 20 N. decorata n. sp. 2' Front wing not patterned............................................................................... 3 3 Egg subspherical, not striate (e.g., Figs. 168 , 187 )..................................... N. pilulifera -complex, p. 70 3' Egg striate........................................................................................... 4 4 Egg with a low cap-like operculum and a visible eclosion line ( Fig. 100 )........................ 21 N. cataractae n. sp. 4' No visible eclosion line, operculum different............................................................... 5 5 SSt long and flexible, forming 2 or more (up to ~5) rings ( Fig. 126 )................... 25 N. camerunensis (Enderlein) 5' SSt forming a single ring, or even shorter, resembling part of a circle............................................ 6 6 SSt very wide, surrounding a small centre. Wide base of SSt on concave side bare and with prominent longitudinal folds. Convex side with a narrow spine band widening distally abruptly which causes a projecting angle. Wide base and narrow distal section of SSt of similar length ( Fig. 123 ). Vagina without lateral sclerite rods.................. 23 N. africana Klapálek

Figures

FIGURES 96–101. Neoperla decorata n. sp. and N. cataractae n. sp., the holotypes. N. decorata: 96, front wing; 97, genital situs, diagrammatic, spermatheca removed; 98, egg. N.cataractae: 99, female genital situs, diagrammatic, spermatheca removed; 100, 101, egg, side view and optical cross section (from a photograph). Scales are 100µm, other figures not to scale. a, anchor; c, collar; mi, micropyle; op, operculum; os, opercular suture; sd, spermathecal duct, SSt, spermathecal stalk, V vagina.

FIGURES 161–168. Neoperla amoena n. sp.. ♁ holotype: 161–163, habitus and abdominal tip (not to scale; NEOP070); 164–166, penis, only 164 to scale; ♀ paratype from Bamako: 167, 168, genital situs and egg. Scales are 100µm. bbs, bare basal stretch; tf, transverse folds; sa, spermatheca; SSt, spermathecal stalk; V, vagina.

FIGURES 181–192. ♀♀ of the Neoperla pilulifera-complex. N. pilulifera n. sp.: 181, genital situs, ♀ from Ghana, Ankasa Reservation; 182, egg of same, arrows show micropyles; 183, 184, collar and micropyle of ♀ from Gabun, Belinga; 185, “teleskoping” collar of ♀ from Schouteden, Koteh / Belinga. N. occulta n. sp.: 186, 187, genital situs and egg, Central African Republic, Bayanga. N. nichollsi n. sp., 188–192: 188, 189, genital situs and egg (Liberia, 8 mi NW Belefuanai, S fork S.Paul R., 11.8.66, Ross & Lorenzen diagrammatic, from photographs) (NEOP057); 190–192 are anchor pole regions of an intact and of 2 teratological eggs, all from the same ♀. In 186–188 ♀ situs and eggs to the same scales, respectively. The scale in 181 is 100µm, others figures as indicated, or not to scale. a, anchor; od, oviduct; rd, receptacular duct; sa, spermatheca; SSt, spermathecal stalk.

FIGURES 123–126. Neoperla africana-group, female genital situs and spermathecal stalk: N. africana Klapálek: 123, Ghana, Subri R., vagina and spermathecal coil folded back from S8, for better visibility of anchor spot on S8. N. panafricana n. sp.: 124, Waterberge, Mapote Farm. N. camerunensis (Enderlein): 125, Ethiopia, Ghibe R.; 126, Cameroon, Bamenda, NEOP128. Scales are 100µm. am, anchor mark; ap, angular projection; lf, longitudinal folds; lscl, lateral vaginal sclerite; tf, transverse folds; SSt, spermathecal stalk; V, vagina.