Neoperla latispina Wang & Li

Wang, Guo-Quan, Li, Wei-Hai & Yang, Juan, 2013, New species and records of the stonefly genus Neoperla (Plecoptera, Perlidae) from Jinhuacha Nature Reserve, Guangxi of China, ZooKeys 351, pp. 37-48 : 38-39

Neoperla latispina Wang & Li sp. n. Figs 1-2

Type material.

1 male (CAU), China: Guangxi, Fangcheng, Jinhuacha Nature Reserve, 21°76,09'N, 108°43,49'E, light trap, 15 May 2013, G.Q. Wang.

Male.

Forewing length 12.6 mm. Distance between ocelli about 1.5 × as wide as diameter of the ocellus. Head pale yellow, slightly wider than pronotum, with a black area covering ocelli which extends forward to contacting a quadrate black stigma on frons (Fig. 1a); compound eyes black and antennae dark except scape pale; maxillary palpi brownish. Pronotum with obscure rugosities and pale lateral margins, meso- and metathorax mostly brown (Fig. 1a); wing membrane subhyaline, veins brown; legs dark brown with femora pale brown, but distal fourth of foreleg femora dark brown (Fig. 1e).

Terminalia. The posterior margin of tergum 7 with a trapezoidal sclerotized area extended into a rounded quadrate process covered with distal sensilla basiconica (Fig. 1b). Tergum 8 with two median weak humps covered by sensilla basiconica (Figs 1b). Tergum 9 with two patches of sensilla basiconica. Hemitergal processes of tergum 10 sclerotized, with rod-like base and sharp apex (Fig. 1b). Aedeagal tube membranous with a weak basodorsal sclerite, apically with a pair of separate dorsal spinous lobes covered by small spines connected with two lateral spinous bands, in lateral view the lobes plump and nipple like (Figs 1 c–d, 2). Aedeagal sac slightly longer than tube, essentially straight along with tube in outline; two spinulose dorsal patches present at slightly swollen base, single ventral lobe without spines, located near midlength of sac, a pair of mesolateral protrusions rounded, covered by large spines and two nearby elevated dorsal lobes triangular in lateral view covered with tiny spines; distal portion of sac with two rows of large spines which extend laterally below the apical fine spinules (Fig. 2).

Female.

Unknown.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the lateral spinous patch of aedeagal sac.

Distribution.

China (Guangxi).

Diagnosis and remarks.

Neoperla latispina belongs to oculata species complex defined by Zwick (1986) in the montivaga species group ( Zwick 1983) which includes species bearing a similar T7 lobe and several lobes, protrusions or finger shaped extensions of the aedeagal sac (see figs 1-2 and figs 51-63 in Zwick 1986 for comparison). This species shares dorsal lobe characteristics of the aedeagal tube with Neoperla securifera Zwick 1986 and Neoperla multilobata Zwick 1986 (figs 57 & 59 in Zwick 1986). Neoperla latispina also shares a straight outline of the extruded aedeagus with Neoperla multilobata whereas the sac of Neoperla securifera stands at right angle to tube. However, the dorsal lobes of aedeagal tubein Neoperla latispina are paired but that of Neoperla multilobata is single. Additionally, Neoperla latispina bears only single ventral lobe near midlength while Neoperla multilobata has spinous ventrobasal and ventrodistal lobes (fig. 59 in Zwick 1986).