Zealeuctra warreni Ricker & Ross

Grubbs, Scott A., Kondratieff, Boris C., Stark, Bill P. & DeWalt, R. Edward, 2013, A review of the Nearctic genus Zealeuctra Ricker (Plecoptera, Leuctridae), with the description of a new species from the Cumberland Plateau region of eastern North America, ZooKeys 344, pp. 17-47 : 41-43

Zealeuctra warreni Ricker & Ross Figs 10, 13

Zealeuctra warreni Ricker & Ross, 1969: 1120. Holotype ♂ (INHS), Sugar Creek, 5 mi E Hardy, Sharp Co., Arkansas

Description.

Male - abdominal tergal cleft. Anterior portion broadly-rounded and U-shaped. Posterior portion V-shaped, with small crenulations evident along inner margins, terminating posteriorly with paired, subtriangular, medially-projected extensions (Fig. 10A).

Male - epiproct. Base broad and flanged laterally (Fig. 10A), with paired spines both originating from base, posterior spine ca. 2 × length of anterior spine, moderately recurved anteriorly (Fig. 10B), anterior spine straight and bifurcated slightly at tip, with the paired terminal ends bearing four thick spines at tip (Fig. 10C).

Female - 7th sternum. Seventh sternum lacking medial lobe, with posteromedial portion overlapping as a broadly-triangular flap onto anteromedial margin of the eighth sternum (Fig. 10D).

Material examined.

USA, Arkansas: Polk Co., Rock Creek, Hwy 71, 2 mi SW Mena, 34.5601, -94.2902, 26.X.1983, B.C. Poulton, 4♂ (CSUC); tributary to Casatot (sic Cossatot) River, 1.5 mi S Shady off AR 375, 34.4373, -94.1281, 11.XI.1990, S.R. Moulton & K.W. Stewart, 22♂, 19♀ (BYUC); Scott Co., Johnson Creek, Hwy 49, 34.7131, -94.2101, 6.I.1999, B.P. Stark, 2♂, 5♀ (BPSC); Van Buren Co., Archy Creek, S of Woolum, W of Botkinburg, 35.6883, -92.6500, 7.II.2003, B.C. Kondratieff, R.E. Zuellig and J.P. Schmidt, 2♂, 2♀ (CSUC); Washington Co., Wildcat Creek, CR 870, 36.1223, -94.2460, 17.I.1999, B.P. Stark ♂ (BPSC); West Fork of the White River, 0.5 mi N Brentwood, at rest stop, 35.8663, -94.1188, 25.XI.1995, C.R. Nelson, ♂, 4♀ (BYUC); Cove Creek, 15 mi S Prairie Grove, 35.7758, -94.3748, 17.XI.1962, O. Hite and M. Hite, 4♂, 8♀ (BYUC). Oklahoma: LeFlore Co., Big Creek, Page, 34.7160, -94.5503, 5.I.2006, B.P. Stark, 2♂, ♀ (BPSC).

Distribution.

USA: AR, MO, OK ( DeWalt et al. 2012)

Remarks.

Zealeuctra warreni males are easily distinguished from all Zealeuctra species by presence of the two prominent epiproct spines. The common name for this species, Early Needlefly ( Stark et al. 2012), is apt since its November–February emergence period is earlier compared to each of the four other regional congeners ( Zealeuctra cherokee , Zealeuctra claasseni , Zealeuctra narfi , and Zealeuctra wachita ) in the Interior Highlands. Poulton and Stewart (1991) noted the emergence period for Zealeuctra warreni starts in November.