Prostoia ozarkensis Baumann & Grubbs

Grubbs, Scott A., Baumann, Richard W., DeWalt, R. Edward & Tweddale, Tari, 2014, A review of the Nearctic genus Prostoia (Ricker) (Plecoptera, Nemouridae), with the description of a new species and a surprising range extension for P. hallasi Kondratieff & Kirchner, ZooKeys 401, pp. 11-30 : 15-18

Prostoia ozarkensis Baumann & Grubbs sp. n. Figs 25-32, 42

Description.

Male. Macropterous. Forewing length 7.0-8.0 mm; body length 6.0-6.5 mm. Wings mottled with light band in forewing beyond cord. General body color brown. Epiproct ventral sclerite recurved over abdomen, gradually widening anterior to base, widest in distal third, narrowing mark to an acute, parallel-sided tip, rounded apically (Figs 25-30); recurved portion of ventral sclerite deflected downward at approximately the midpoint (Fig. 28). Paraprocts broadest basally, extending beyond base of ventral sclerite, subquadrate for ca. 2/3 length, with a triangular distal portion that is slightly flared laterally (Figs 29, 31). Vesicle present. Hypoproct sclerotized, broad at base, tapering markedly to a rounded, narrow apex.

Female. Macropterous. Forewing length 8.0-9.0 mm; body length 7.0-7.5 mm. Wing and body coloration similar to male. Seventh and eighth abdominal sterna fused medially, subgenital plate of eighth sternum scarcely extending over anterior portion of ninth sternum, barely concave medially with slightly rounded lateral lobes (Fig. 32).

Nymph. Undescribed.

Material examined

(also provided in Suppl. material 1). Holotype ♂, in 75% ethyl alcohol, USA, Missouri, Webster County, Bryant Creek, Hwy 14, 3 mi SW Evans, 36.8870, -92.4733, 22 February 1972, R.W. Baumann & S.W. Szczytko, (USNM). Paratypes: Arkansas, Benton Co., White River, 21 February 1943, W. Larimore, ♂ (INHS); White River, Rogers, 6 March 1943, W. Larimore, ♂, 2♀ (INHS); Carroll Co., Big Clifty Creek, SW ¼ Sec 4 T19N R27W, 8 March 1963, O. Hite & L.R. Aggus, 2♀ (INHS); Osage Creek, Hwy. 60, Osage, 36.1887, -93.4152, 16 March 1963, O. Hite & L. Aggus, ♀ (INHS); Madison Co., War Eagle, Hwy 16 & Hwy 45, 36.2020, -93.8569, 10 March 1962, L.O. Warren, 9♂, 11♀ (BYUC); Kings River, Hwy 21, 4 mi N Kingston, 36.0882, -93.5417, 8 March 1963, O. Hite & M. Wall, ♀ (INHS); Marion Co., Crooked Creek, Hwy. 62, 36.2458, -92.8348, 16 March 1963, O. Hite & L. Aggus, ♀ (INHS); Georges Creek, Hwy. 62, 36.2533, -92.7487, 16 March 1963, O. Hite & L. Aggus, ♂ (INHS); Newton Co., Add Creek, Hwy 43, Ponca, 36.0210, -93.3600, 25 March 1972, R.W. Baumann & S.W. Szczytko, ♂, 4♀ (BYUC); Buffalo River, Hwy 74, near Ponca, 36.0221, -93.3547, 25 March 1972, R.W. Baumann, ♀ (BYUC); same site, 8 February 1976, McCraw & Kittle, 3♂, ♀ (BYUC); Buffalo River, Boxley, 35.9610, -93.4040, 16 March 2002, B.C. Kondratieff & R. Zuellig, 2♂ (CSUC); Searcy Co., Big Creek, St. Rd. 14, 35.9789, -92.4815, 17 March 1963, O. Hite & L. Aggus, 4♀ (INHS); Stone Co., Wallace Creek, State Rd. 14, 35.7764, -91.8872, 17 March 1963, O. Hite & L. Aggus, ♀ (INHS); Sylamore Creek, St. Rd. 9, 35.9419, -92.1201, 17 March 1963, O. Hite & L. Aggus, ♂ (INHS); Rocky Bayou, State Rd. 14, 35.8598, -92.0469, 17 March 1963, O. Hite & L. Aggus, 2♂, 4♀ (INHS); Van Buren Co., Peyton Creek, Hwy. 65, 35.7881, -92.5397, 17 March 1963, O. Hite & L. Aggus, ♀ (INHS); Washington Co., War Eagle Creek, SW ¼ Sec 19 T18N R28W, 28 February 1963, O. Hite & L.R. Aggus, ♀ (INHS); same but 14 March 1963, O. Hite & L.R. Aggus, ♂ (INHS); no locality data, 20 March 1962, O. Hite & M. Hite, ♂, 2♀ (INHS). Illinois, Union Co., Hutchins Creek, Wolf Lake, 37.5107, -89.3773, 13 March 1946, H.H. Ross & B.D. Burks, ♂, ♀ (INHS); Hutchins Creek, 5.4 km E Wolf Lake, 93-152, T11S, R2W, S31, 37.5107, -89.3776, 19 April 1993, M.A. Harris & D.W. Webb, ♂, ♀ (INHS). Missouri, Bollinger Co., Whitewater River, Alliance, 37.5791, -90.0013, 6 March 1958, Ross & Stannard, ♂ (INHS); Christian Co., Bull Creek, Hwy W, 3 March 1972, R.W. Baumann & B.K. Newman, 3♂, 5♀ (BYUC); same site, 20 March 1972, B.K. Newman, ♀ (BYUC); Crawford Co., Meramec River, N Steeleville at MO 19, 37.9889, -91.3761, 4 February 2012, R.E. DeWalt & S.K. Ferguson, 2♂, ♀, 5 nymphs (INHS); Meramec River, Steeleville, 37.9849, -91.3724, 6 March 1958, Ross & Stannard, ♂, 3♀ (INHS); Huzzah Creek, Dilliard, Mark Twain [Clark] National Forest, 37.7406, -91.2029, 6 March 1958, Ross & Stannard, ♂, ♀ (INHS); Dade Co., Turnback Creek, Hwy O, E Greenfield, 37.4023, -93.8020, 19 February 1972, D.A. Boehne, 2♂, 4♀ (BYUC); same site, 18 March 1972, D.A. Boehne, ♂, ♀ (BYUC); Douglas Co., Bryant Creek, Hwy 14, 3 mi SW Evans, 36.8870, -92.4733, 22 February 1972, R.W. Baumann & S.W. Szczytko, 12♂, 25♀ (BYUC); Bryant Creek, Hwy 14, near Gentryville, 36.8868, -92.4734, 14 March 1972, R.W. Baumann & C.D. Inman, ♂, 9♀ (BYUC); Bryant Creek, Gentryville, 18 February 1962, Ross & Stannard, ♂, 4♀ (INHS); North Fork White River, Hwy 14, Twin Bridges, 36.8109, -92.1492, 22 February 1972, R.W. Baumann, ♂, 2♀ (BYUC); Franklin Co., Indian Creek, 1.5 mi S Piney park at Hwy K, 38.2692, -90.9447, 4 February 2012, R.E. DeWalt & S.K. Ferguson, 11♂, 5♀, 8 nymphs (INHS); Greene Co., Little Pomme de Terre River, Hwy 65, near Fair Grove, 37.4161, -93.1452, 15 February 1972, R.W. Baumann, 2♂ (BYUC); same site, 24 March 1972, R.W. Baumann, ♀ (BYUC); Lawrence Co., White Oak Creek, near Red Oak, 37.2291, -94.0276, 19 March 1972, R.W. Baumann, ♀ (BYUC); Shannon Co., Current River, Hwy B, Cedar Grove, 37.4189, -91.6029, 17 March 2002, B.C. Kondratieff & R. Zuellig, ♂ (CSUC); Jacks Fork River, Hwy S, Creek, 17 March 2002, B.C. Kondratieff & R. Zuellig, 5♂, 6♀ (CSUC); Manan Creek, Hwy 106, W Eminence, 37.1461, -91.3792, 16 March 2002, B.C. Kondratieff & R. Zuellig, ♂ (CSUC); Big Shawnee Creek, 2 mi E Eminence at MO 106, 37.1528, -91.3131, 5 February 2012, R.E. DeWalt & S.K. Ferguson, ♂ (INHS), Shawnee Creek, Hwy 106, N Winona, 37.1528, -91.3132, 17 March 2002, B.C. Kondratieff & R. Zuellig, 3♂, 4♀ (CSUC); Taney Co., Bull Creek, Hwy 76, 36.7311, -93.1933, 28 February 1972, B.K. Newman, ♂, 3♀ (BYUC); same site, 8 March 1972, B. K. Newman, 4♂, 3♀ (BYUC); Texas Co., Big Piney River, Hwy RA, N Simmons, 17 March 2002, B.C. Kondratieff & R. Zuellig, ♀ (CSUC); Hog Creek, S Houston, 37.2400, -91.9527, 17 March 2002, B.C. Kondratieff & R. Zuellig, 2♀ (CSUC); Jacks Fork River, 5 mi S Pine Crest, 37.0563, -91.6679, 17 February 1962, Ross & Stannard, ♂ (INHS); Wright Co., Gasconade River, Hwy E, 9 mi. NE Hartville, 37.3135, -92.3988, 13 March 1987, B.C. Poulton, 2♀ (BYUC). Oklahoma, Adair Co., Ballard Creek, 36.0924, -94.5881, 20 February 1972, B.P. Stark, ♂, 4♀ (BYUC); unnamed stream, Hwy 59, Baron, 35.9195, -94.6199, 20 February 1972, B.P. Stark, 2♂, 2♀ (BYUC); Delaware Co., Flint Creek, 36.1942, -94.7069, 19 February 1984, B.C. Poulton, 2♂, 2♀ (BYUC).

Etymology.

The specific epithet recognizes that this species is broadly widespread across the Ozark Plateau region of southern Missouri, northern Arkansas, and northeastern Oklahoma, with one additional isolated locality in southwestern Illinois. The common name Ozark Forestfly is proposed for this species ( Stark et al. 2012).

Diagnosis.

Prostoia besametsa , Prostoia completa , and Prostoia ozarkensis sp. n. appear to form a closely-related species group based primarily on structural similarities of the short, compact lateral arms of the male dorsal sclerite and the female 8th sternum that bears a faint medial notch with poorly-developed lateral lobes. The combination of the narrow, v-shaped epiproct tip and the western Nearctic distribution of Prostoia besametsa easily separates this species from Prostoia completa and Prostoia ozarkensis sp. n. The epiproct of Prostoia completa and Prostoia ozarkensis sp. n. narrow markedly to an acute, parallel-sided tip. In addition, the lateral arms of Prostoia besametsa do not extend past the epiproct base whereas in Prostoia completa and Prostoia ozarkensis sp. n. the lateral arms are noticeably longer. Prostoia ozarkensis sp. n. closely resembles Prostoia completa in both the male and female adult stages. Whereas females of the two species appear indistinguishable, males can be separated by close examination of details of the lateral arms and the overall shape of the ventral sclerite. The lateral arms of Prostoia ozarkensis sp. n. are short, pointed apically, and bear a stout nub on the outer surface (Fig. 29). While in Prostoia completa the lateral arm is longer, scythe-shaped, and has a smooth outer margin (Fig. 15). The ventral sclerite of Prostoia ozarkensis sp. n. is recurved in lateral aspect, especially along the ventral margin (Fig. 28) and expanded dorsally toward the apex (Fig. 25). Conversely, in Prostoia completa the ventral sclerite is nearly straight in lateral aspect (Fig. 11) and narrow and nearly parallel-sided dorsally (Figs 9, 10).

Prostoia ozarkensis sp. n. overlaps in range only with Prostoia similis (Fig. 42), but the combination of the long, sinuate lateral arms and the well-developed lateral lobes of the female 8th sternum easily distinguish the latter species from each of the four other Prostoia species. With the surprising discovery of Prostoia hallasi from southern Illinois, the distribution of this species is likely far from understood and there is no reason to preclude its presence west of the Mississippi River into the Interior Highland region. The ornate epiproct tip and absence of lateral arms of Prostoia hallasi are distinctive features that make it easy to identify males of this species. Additionally, Prostoia hallasi is the only Prostoia species with a convex subgenital plate.

Remarks.

Prostoia ozarkensis sp. n. specimens from the Ozark Plateau, including the Boston Mountains, consistently exhibit distinctive male characters that set it apart from widespread Prostoia completa . Specimens from states to the east, namely Indiana and Kentucky, are more difficult to separate consistently and even show variability in the same population. The Prostoia completa records presented in Poulton and Stewart (1991) likely now pertain to Prostoia ozarkensis sp. n., but very few of their specimens were available for study. The same also applies for Prostoia completa reported in Stark and Stewart (1973), Ernst et al. (1984), Ernst and Stewart (1985a, 1985b, 1986), Jop and Stewart (1987), Phillips and Kilambi (1994), and Harp and Robison (2006).