Nemoura stellata Li & Yang

Li, Weihai & Yang, Ding, 2008, New species of Nemoura (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from China, Zootaxa 1783, pp. 61-68 : 65-66

Nemoura stellata Li & Yang , sp. nov.

( Figs. 16–22 )

Diagnosis. This large species is characterized by the tenth tergum bearing extraordinary, paired, elevated processes that appear stellate in dorsal view. In addition, the outer lobe of the paraproct is broad basally, narrowed medially, and curved apicolaterally to form a beak-like subapical projection laterally.

Male. Forewing length 10.3 mm, hindwing length 9.0 mm. Head and appendages dark; compound eyes brown and antennae dark brown. Thorax and abdomen dark. Wings brown with sporadic round gray markings. Legs brownish yellow except femora darker. Abdomen with pale hairs.

Terminalia ( Figs. 16–21 ): Tergum nine weakly sclerotized but anterior margin distinctly sclerotized, with a large mid-anterior incision. Sternum nine with claviform vesicle, shorter than half of hypoproct; hypoproct wide basally, distinctly tapering toward small tip, with outer margin and tip darkly sclerotized. Tergum ten weakly sclerotized medially, this area with a shallow median concavity bearing many tiny black spines anteriorly. Extraordinary, paired, sclerotized processes arise mediolaterally and are elevated in lateral view. The processes form a four-pointed, stellate hump in dorsal view. Cercus sclerotized with blunt apical spine directed outward. Epiproct short and trapezoidal; dorsal sclerite with a pair of outcurved lateral arms originating from middle at base and two sclerotized median bars connected medially with D-shaped sclerotized loop; ventral sclerite sclerotized, broad at base and narrowing toward tip, without ventral spines. Paraproct bilobed: inner lobe sclerotized, slender, with acute tip, much shorter than outer lobe; outer lobe broad basally, narrower medially and curved upward apically, spoon-shaped in dorsal view, and forming a beak-like subapical projection in caudal view.

Female ( Fig. 22 ). Forewing length 12.0 mm, hindwing length 10.5 mm. Sternum 7 with sclerotized, trapezoidal pregenital plate, distal part reaching posterior margin of sternum 8. Subgenital plate hexagonal and almost covering middle of sternum 8. Cercus membranous.

Type Material. Holotype. male, CHINA: Sichuan, Luding, Hailuogou, 29o92'N, 102o25'E, 2006. VII. 26, X. Liu. Paratype. 1 female, same data as holotype.

Distribution. China (Sichuan).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the extraordinary process on tergum ten that looks like a fourpointed star. The Latin “ stella ” means star.

Remarks. A distinct projection on tergum ten is also found in N. mesospina from Tibet, but may be separated from the latter by the shape of the projection and outer lobe of the paraproct.

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 22. Nemoura stellata sp. nov. (male). 16. Terminalia, dorsal view. 17. Terminalia, ventral view. 18. Epiproct, dorsal view. 19. Epiproct, lateral view. 20. Right paraproct, caudal view. 21. Projection on tergum ten, lateral view. 22. Female terminalia.