28. Neoperla pirus n. sp.

(Figs. 158–160)

Material studied: Holotype ♀, Republic of Cameroon, Nguti [5.33N, 9.42E], 4/7/96 Coll. M. Picker, sweeping in forest near stream (SMNS; NEOP064; slide MP.11).

Habitus. WL 12.3mm. A pale yellow specimen with a light brown spot between ocelli, flagellum distally, tibiae entirely indistinctly brownish, cercus pale.

Male. Unknown.

Female (Fig. 158). S8 structurally unmodified, largely covered by a light brown spot. Front end of spot with a small pale kink near antecosta, an arched pale stripe across caudal part of spot. Vagina unmodified, with areas of pale spinules on either side of attachment of SSt. Spermathecal stalk with short, curved base, much widened towards middle section, distal section narrow and long. SSt lined with a continuous coat of brown scales except along a narrow bare seam on concave edge.

Egg (Figs. 159–160). Pear-shaped, 266*208µm. Anchor pole wide, truncate, opposite egg pole shaped like a half sphere. No collar, anchor cavity bowl-shaped, opening for the mushroom-shaped anchor constricted. No striae, entire surface finely and irregularly punctate. Micropyles not found in preparation.

DNA (Figs. 492, 494). The female holotype from Cameroon was sequenced for part of the COX1 DNA barcode fragment (417bp). With such limited data, the species is placed with poor statistical support (64.9/67/89) as sister to the well-supported clade (75.4/99/99) of N. caeleps n. sp. + N. plicata n. sp. .

Etymology. The name refers to the egg shape, Lat. pirus, the pear; a noun in apposition.