Soyedina amicalola Verdone & Kondratieff, 2017

Verdone, Chris J., Kondratieff, Boris C., DeWalt, R. Edward & South, Eric J., 2017, Studies On The Stoneflies Of Georgia With The Description Of A New Species Of Soyedina Ricker, New State Records And An Annotated Checklist, Illiesia 13 (3), pp. 30-49 : 31-36

Soyedina amicalola Verdone & Kondratieff , sp. n.

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Plecoptera .speciesfil e.org:TaxonName:499523

( Figs. 2-8 )

Material examined. Holotype ♂, Georgia, Dawson Co., Little Amicalola Creek, Amicalola Falls State Park , N 34.57233, W 84.24107, 9 February 2017, C. Verdone, B. Kondratieff, ( USNM) ; Paratypes: Same data as holotype, ♂ ( CSUC) ( SCAN, CSUC_ENT0062195 ); Lumpkin Co., Frogtown Creek , Hwy 19, Desoto Falls Rec. Area, N 34.70649, W 83.91634, 10 February 2017, C. Verdone, B. Kondratieff, ♂ ( CSUC) ( SCAN, CSU_ENT0062194 ). Distribution. USA – GA

Etymology. The name amicalola is a Cherokee word meaning “tumbling waters” and is a reference to the nearby waterfalls where this species was collected. We propose Georgia Forest Fly as the common name for this new species.

Male. Macropterous. Length of forewings 7.8–7.9 mm (n = 3). Length of body 6.4–6.6 mm (n = 3). General body color brown ( Fig. 2 ). Head dark brown; U-shaped carina between ocelli. Ocelli reddish. Legs light brown. Wings fumose. Venation typical for genus with A1 and A2 united near wing margin. Gills absent. Cerci membranous and one segmented with a sclerotized nipple-like process on apex. Hypoproct well developed, base covering medial ⅓ of ninth sternum ( Figs. 3 , 6 ); apical half articulated, bent dorsad; small lateral projections covered in long setae produced at bend ( Figs. 3, 5 , 6, 8 ); apex lightly sclerotized, cylindrical. Vesicle long and thin, 3.5X as long as wide (n = 3); narrow at base; widest at basal ¼; tapering to a narrowly rounded tip ( Figs. 3 , 6 ). Paraprocts with two lobes; inner lobes inconspicuous, small, narrow, flattened and lightly sclerotized. Outer lobes large, heavily sclerotized, narrowed at midlength; apical portion expanded posteriorly, mushroom-shaped in profile ( Fig. 5 , 8 ). Apical half of proximal side of outer lobes covered in sensilla, giving the appearance of a serrated edge on apical margin ( Figs. 3–5 , 8 ). Anterior apex broadly pointed and oriented slightly ventrad. Apex bisected by a thin sclerotized band ( Figs. 5 , 8 ). Epiproct typical for genus, asymmetrical with right half larger than left ( Figs. 3, 4 , 6, 7 ). Epiproct 2.5X as long as wide (n = 3), when measured from base of ventral sclerite to epiproct apex and widest width. Lateral arms short, extending from the base of ventral sclerites to the base of the sclerotized portion of the dorsal sclerites ( Fig. 7 ). Ventral sclerites elongate, width subequal, bearing small teeth on outer margin, tips rounded ( Figs. 4 , 7 ). Basal sclerites rectangular ( Fig. 7 ). Basal portion of dorsal sclerite darkly sclerotized, triangular shaped, encircling basal cushion. Apical portion of dorsal sclerite lightly sclerotized; open throughout the apical ⅔, which exposes the inner sclerotized structure.

Female. Unknown.

Diagnosis. Soyedina amicalola is most similar to S. kondratieffi Baumann & Grubbs, 1996 , S. merritti Baumann & Grubbs, 1996 and S. washingtoni ( Claassen, 1923) which also possess pointed paraproct apices, but can be separated by other details of the paraprocts. Soyedina amicalola has paraprocts that are mushroom-shaped with sensilla covering the apical half of the proximal side, giving the margin a serrated appearance. Whereas, S. kondratieffi , S. merritti and S. washingtoni do not exhibit the mushroom-shape and serrated appearance. In addition, S. amicalola is distinguished from S. kondratieffi by details of the epiproct. The epiproct of S. amicalola is asymmetrical, in contrast to the nearly symmetrical epiproct of S. kondratieffi . Ongoing work by Scott Grubbs and Richard Baumann has found that details of epiprocts possess characters useful in grouping eastern Nearctic species of Soyedina (S. Grubbs, personal communication). Based on these characters,

S. amicalola is tentatively grouped with S. washingtoni , S. carolinensis ( Claassen, 1923) , and S. merritti , all of which possess relatively straight ventral sclerites and an inner tube-shaped process that is flared apically with the opening mostly centered, not strongly oriented to the left ( Figs. 7, 8 ). Soyedina amicalola is easily distinguished from S. carolinensis which lacks pointed paraproct apices and is truncate posteriorly.

Additional material examined: Soyedina

carolinensis : North Carolina, Buncombe Co., Blue Ridge Parkway, MP 360.3, BLRI, 2 May 2007, J. Robinson, ♂, ♀ ( CSUC); Haywood Co., ATBI Plot, Cataloochee, GSMNP, 27 March–10 April 2002, P.E. Super, 2♂, ♀ ( CSUC); ATBI Plot, Purchase Knob, GSMNP, 27 March–10 April 2002, P.E. Super, J. Lowe, ♂ ( CSUC); Big Creek , GSMNP boundary, 11March 2008, C.R. Parker, ♂ ( CSUC); Macon Co. , stream at Wayah Crest Campground, Nantahala National Forest , 5 March 1991, R. Baumann, S. Clark, 6♂, 2♀ ( CSUC). Soyedina kondratieffi : North Carolina, Macon Co., Upper Ball Creek, Coweeta Hydro Lab , (Malaise) 20 March–7 April 1984, A.D. Huryn, ♂ ( CSUC, paratype); Swain Co. , Andrews Bald, ATBI plot, GSMNP, (Malaise), 16 March–24 April 2001, I.C. Stocks, J. Breeden, 4♂, 4♀ ( CSUC) ; Tennessee, Sevier Co., Rocky Spur of Roaring Fork, GSMNP, 25 March 1999, B. Kondratieff, ♂ ( CSUC); Sams Creek , Stn 7, third trail crossing, ca. 100 m below mouth of Chuck Hollow, GSMNP, 1 February 1997, D. Etnier, ♂ ( CSUC); Mannis Branch, ca. 12 mi. Little River, GSMNP, 25 February 1998, B. Hart, ♂ ( CSUC). Soyedina merritti : Pennsylvania, Westmoreland Co., Maul Spring, Powdermill Nature Reserve , 19 March 1975, R.W. Baumann, O.S. Flint Jr., J.L. Sykora ♂ ( USNM, holotype). Soyedina sp .: Georgia, Rabun Co., Greasy Creek, North Germany Rd. , N 34.9146, W 83.41972, 10 February 2017, C. Verdone, B. Kondratieff, ♀ ( CSUC). Soyedina washingtoni : New York, Delaware Co., spring-fed trib. to Emory Brook, Rt. 28 Fleischmanns , N 42.1511, W 74.5224, 27 May 2009, L. Myers, B. Kondratieff, 2♂, 7♀ ( CSUC); Essex Co., Seep to North Fork Boquet River flowing off Noble Mountain , N 44.10820, W 73.69780, 9 May 2006, L. Myers, 2♂, ♀ ( CSUC) ; Pennsylvania, Center Co., Big Poe Creek, Poe Paddy Dr., N 40.82972, W 77.44472, 29 March 1995, E.C. Masteller, ♂, ♀ ; Erie Co., Sixmile Creek, H and B Morgan, 7 April 1986, E.C. Masteller, ♂ ( CSUC); trib. to upper Fourmile Creek , 27 April 1987, E.C. Masteller, 3♂, 9♀ ( CSUC); Fourmile Creek , Penn State Behrend Campus , N 42.12139, W 79.95416, 26 April 1981, E.C. Masteller, ♂, 3♀ ( CSUC); Forest Co. , Indian Spring, old logging road, N 41.32791, 79.20204, 20 May 2009, S. Harris, ♂ ( CSUC) .

Biological notes. The above records for S. amicalola are the first of this genus from Georgia. The two locations this species is known from are midelevation streams (630–792 m) with nearby seeps. Additional collections from these locations are needed to confirm the identity of the female. Other adult stoneflies collected with the holotype and paratypes were Allocapnia aurora Ricker, 1952 and Leuctra ferruginea (Walker, 1852) .

New state records

Figures

Fig. 2. Soyedina amicalola sp. n. male dorsal habitus.

Figs. 3-5. Soyedina amicalola sp. n. 3. Male vesicle, ventral. 4. Male terminalia, dorsal. 5. Male terminalia, lateral.

Figs. 6-8. Soyedina amicalola sp. n. 6. Male vesicle, ventral. 7. Male terminalia, dorsal. 8. Male paraproct, lateral. BS = basal sclerite, DS = dorsal sclerite, HP = hypoproct, ITP = inner tube-shaped process, LA = lateral arm, OL = outer paraproct lobe, VC = vesicle, VS = ventral sclerite.