Soyedina sheldoni, Grubbs & Baumann, 2019

Grubbs, Scott A. & Baumann, Richard W., 2019, Soyedina Ricker, 1952 (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) in the eastern Nearctic: review of species concepts, proposed morphology-based species groups, and description of a new species from North Carolina, Zootaxa 4658 (2), pp. 223-250 : 241-244

Soyedina sheldoni sp. nov.

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Plecoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:50713 7

( Figs. 65–78 , 81 )

Description. Macropterous. Male forewing length 4.5–6.0 mm, body length 6.5–8.5 mm (n=26); female forewing length 5.5–6.5 mm, body length 8.5–9.5 mm (n=11). General body color dark brown. Head dark brown except for a lighter medial area extending from the occiput anteriorly to, but not enclosing, the lateral ocelli, and extending into the ocellar triangle ( Fig. 65 ). Legs light brown ( Fig. 65 ). Wings fumose, venation typical for genus with veins A 1 and A 2 united near posterior margin. Cerci membranous ( Fig. 66 ) and single-segmented. Gills absent.

Male. ( Figs. 65–67 ; 69–78 ). 7 th and 8 th abdominal terga unmodified. Hypoproct well-developed, base covering medial ⅓ of 9 th sternum, constricted in basal half to plane of the base of the paraprocts; apical half tapered and set between base of outer paraproct lobes, distally tapered markedly to a lightly-sclerotized, narrowly-triangular terminus. Vesicle base partially obscured on preserved males by posterior margin of 8 th abdominal sternum; narrow basally, widest in medial ½, tapered apically; mean length (L): 0.031 mm, mean maximum width ( MW): 0.013 mm, mean L/ MW ratio: 2.45 (n=11). Paraprocts with two lobes, inner lobes difficult to discern with standard light microscopy on uncleared specimens, lightly sclerotized and inconspicuous, extending only slightly to base of recurved portion of outer lobes; outer lobes heavily sclerotized, large and robust for genus, in basal half appear bulbous in ventral view ( Fig. 67 ) but essentially medially-concave in dorsal view ( Figs. 66 , 76 ); broadly rounded basally and dorsally ( Figs. 66 , 77–78 ); recurved in anterior 1/3, slightly concave laterally ( Figs. 66 , 69 , 76 ) and dorsally ( Figs. 77–78 ), terminating anteriorly in medially-directed triangular flaps ( Figs. 69–70 , 77–78 ). Epiproct typical for genus, exhibiting asymmetry with right half longer than left ( Figs. 69–70,74 ); lateral arms short and lightly sclerotized, extending from near the distal terminus of the 10 th tergal sclerite to the basal cushion; ventral sclerites elongate and asymmetric, right longer than left ( Figs. 69–70 ), studded with small teeth medially and laterally throughout length, tips typically rounded distally ( Figs. 71–72 ); dorsal sclerite elongate and asymmetric, right longer than left ( Figs. 67 , 69, 73–74 ), appearing scaly at higher magnifications ( Figs. 71–72 ), open apically, revealing an sclerotized inner member is either slightly tapered or straight-sided distally ( Figs. 71–73 ).

Female. ( Fig. 68 ). Typical of genus. Subgenital plate well-developed, subtriangular in shape; base broad, extending from posterior of seventh sternum entirely over eighth sternum and approximately ¼ over ninth sternum; apical portion darker than basal portion, terminating in broadly-rounded apex ( Fig. 68 ).

Larva. Undescribed.

Type material. Holotype male ( INHS): USA, North Carolina, Yancey Co., Lower Creek, Buncombe Trail , Mount Mitchell State Park , 35.75564, -82.26803, 27 April 2019, M.L. Metzger & E.T. Metzger . Paratypes: North Carolina, Macon Co., upper Ball Creek, Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory , Nantahala National Forest , 35.03804, -83.45908, 20 March–7 April 1984, A.D. Huryn, 1 male ( BYU 1933 ) ; same but 7–20 April 1984, A.D. Huryn, 2 males ( BYU 1934 ) ; same but same but 20 April–20 May 1984, A.D. Huryn, 1 male ( BYU 1936 ) ; Yancey Co., on road to Camp Alice (= Lower Creek ?), 25 May 1994, S.W. Szczytko, J.B. Sandberg & B.P. Stark, 1 male, 4 females ( BYU) ; seep (= Balsam Spring), near Mount Mitchell Summit, Mount Mitchell State Park , 35.76653, -82.26403, 28 April 2016, V. Holland, E. Fleek & S. Beaty, 1 male ( NCDWR) ; Balsam Spring, near Mount Mitchell summit, Mount Mitchell State Park 35.76653, -82.26403, 25 April 2019, M.L. Metzger & E.T. Metzger, 1 male, 2 females ( WKUC) ; spring along old railroad bed, Mount Mitchell State Park , 35.74395, -82.28172, 25 April 2019, M.L. Metzger & E.T. Metzger, 1 pharate male, 5 larvae ( WKUC) ; tributary to Right Prong South Toe River, Buncombe Trail, Pisgah National Forest , 35.72718, -82.28379, 27 April 2019, M.L. Metzger & E.T. Metzger, 1 male ( WKUC) ; Right Prong South Toe River, Buncombe Trail, Pisgah National Forest , 35.72900, -82.28331, 27 April 2019, M.L. Metzger & E.T. Metzger, 1 male, 1 female ( WKUC) ; South Fork Upper Creek, Buncombe Trail, Pisgah National Forest , 35.73634, -82.27946, 27 April 2019, M.L. Metzger & E.T. Metzger, 4 males, 1 female ( WKUC) ; seeps, Buncombe Trail, Pisgah National Forest , 35.74279, -82.27468, 27 April 2019, M.L. Metzger & E.T. Metzger, 4 males, 1 female ( WKUC) ; Lower Creek, Buncombe Trail, Mount Mitchell State Park , 35.75564, -82.26803, 27 April 2019, M.L. Metzger & E.T. Metzger, 2 males, 1 female ( WKUC) ; tributary to Lower Creek, Commissary Trail, Mount Mitchell State Park , 35.75630, -82.26460, 27 April 2019, M.L. Metzger & E.T. Metzger, 3 males, 1 female ( WKUC) ; Lower Creek, Camp Alice, Mount Mitchell State Park , 35.75953, -82.26683, 27 April 2019, M.L. Metzger & E.T. Metzger, 1 male, 1 female ( WKUC) ; tributary to Hemphill Creek, FS 472, Pisgah National Forest , 35.71005, -82.24959, 28 April 2019, M.L. Metzger & E.T. Metzger, 1 male ( WKUC) .

Additional material examined. USA, North Carolina, Haywood Co., Yellowstone Prong, Trail 440, 35.32250, -82.83357, 26 May 2014, A.L. Sheldon, 1 male ( WKUC) ; Macon Co., upper Ball Creek, Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory , Nantahala National Forest , 35.03804, -83.45908, 20 March 1984, A.D. Huryn, 1 male ( WKUC) ; same but 8–20 April 1984, A.D. Huryn, 1 male ( ADHC) ; same but 20 April–2019 April 1984, A.D. Huryn, 1 male ( ADHC) ; but 21 April 1984, A.D. Huryn, 1 male ( ADHC) ; Rattlesnake Springs, near Wayah Bald, Nantahala National Forest , 35.17060, -83.57741, 23 March 2002, S.A. Grubbs, 1 male ( WKUC) ; Mitchell Co., tributary to Holder Creek, FS 130A, Roan Mountain , 36.10178, -82.12650, 19 May 2014, 3 males (WKUC—sacrificed for SEM) ; Holder Creek, FS 130A, Roan Mountain , 36.10060, -82.12862, 19 May 2014, A.L. Sheldon, 5 males, 3 females ( WKUC) ;

Etymology. This species is named in honor of the late Dr. Andrew Sheldon. Andy was a close working colleague of both authors and was responsible for collecting the first series of specimens of this new species. Mountain Man Forestfly is proposed as the common name for this species ( Stark et al. 2012).

Diagnosis. The combination of the (a) nearly straight-sided sclerotized inner epiproct member ( Figs. 71–72 ), (b) apically-rounded ventral sclerites ( Figs. 69–70 ), and (c) robust outer paraproct lobe that is medially-concave and has a prominent, anteriorly-directed triangular flap ( Figs. 76–78 ) readily distinguishes S. sheldoni sp. nov. from all other eastern Nearctic Soyedina with some form of an anterior projection on the outer paraproct lobe. Several spe- cies of eastern Soyedina have a spur or flap present on the outer paraproct lobe. These include S. amicalola ( Fig. 56 ; Verdone et al. 2017, their figs. 5, 8), two distinct phenotypes of S. carolinensis ( Figs. 33–34 ), S. kondratieffi ( Figs 63–64 ), the more subtle spur exhibited by S. merritti ( Fig. 41 ), and the geographically-consistent shape present on S. washingtoni ( Figs. 49–50 ). Hence, the presence alone of a spur is not diagnostic for species-level determinations of eastern Soyedina .

The outer paraproct lobe of S. sheldoni sp. nov. ( Figs. 77–78 ) is similar only to S. amicalola ( Fig. 56 ; Verdone et al. 2017, their figs. 5, 8), but two epiproct characteristics distinguish these two species. First, the ventral sclerites of S. sheldoni sp. nov. are typically rounded apically ( Figs. 69–70 ) yet subtriangular on S. amicalola ( Fig. 51 ). Second, the nr. straight-sided sclerotized inner epiproct member of S. sheldoni sp. nov. ( Figs. 71–73 ) is easily distinct from the apically-triangular and caudally-split inner member of S. amicalola ( Figs. 53–55 ).

Remarks. Soyedina sheldoni sp. nov. is presently known from the southern Appalachian Highlands region in western North Carolina ( Fig. 81 ). The holotype locality and most paratype localities are positioned in the High Mountains Level IV (66i) Ecoregion. This region is characterized by disjunct high-elevation Appalachian landscapes with remnant patches of red spruce ( Picea rubens Sargent, 1898 ) and Frasier fir ( Abies fraseri Pursh, 1817 ) ( Griffith et al. 2002). Paraleuctra sara (Claassen, 1937) was the only other stonefly species collected with S. sheldoni sp. nov. at the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 81. Distribution maps of eastern Nearctic Soyedina based on material examined during this study plus valid literature data. 81, S. amicalola, S. kondratieffi, and S. sheldoni n. sp.

FIGURES 65–68. Soyedina sheldoni n. sp. 65–66, USA, North Carolina, seeps along Buncombe Trail; 67–68: USA, North Carolina, Lower Creek. 65, male, head and pronotum, dorsal view, 4X; 66, male, abdominal terminalia, dorsal view, 11.5X; 67, male, abdominal terminalia, ventral view, 11.5X; 68, female, abdominal terminalia, ventral view, 5X. ds = dorsal sclerite, vs = ventral sclerite, opl = outer paraproct lobe.

FIGURES 69–74. Soyedina sheldoni n. sp. 69, 71, 73–74, USA, North Carolina, Holder Creek; 70, 72: USA, North Carolina, tributary to Holder Creek. 69, epiproct, ventral view, 200X; 70, epiproct, ventral view, 270X; 71, epiproct apex, ventral view, 650X; 72, epiproct apex, ventral view, 800X; 73, epiproct apex, lateral view, 270X; 74, epiproct, caudal view, 180X. ds = dorsal sclerite, vs = ventral sclerite, im = inner member, opl = outer paraproct lobe.

FIGURES 75–78. Soyedina sheldoni n. sp. 75–76, 78: USA, North Carolina, tributary to Holder Creek 77; USA, North Carolina, Holder Creek. 75, epiproct apex, caudal view, 500X; 76, epiproct apex, dorsal view, 250X; 77, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 230X; 78, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 230X. ds = dorsal sclerite, im = inner member, opl = outer paraproct lobe.

FIGURES 51–56. Soyedina amicalola. 51-56: USA: Georgia, Frogtown Creek. 51, epiproct, ventral view, 800X; 52, epiproct, lateral view, 800X; 53, epiproct apex, apical view, 2000X; 54, epiproct, caudal view, 2000X; 55, epiproct apex, caudal view, 3500X; 56, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 500X. ds = dorsal sclerite, vs = ventral sclerite, im = inner member, opl = outer paraproct lobe.

FIGURES 31–34. Soyedina carolinensis. 31: USA, North Carolina, Rattlesnake Springs, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 250X; 32: USA, West Virginia, Marsh Fork of Buckhannon River, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 190X; 33: USA, Virginia, seep into Lewis Fork, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 230X; 34, USA, Maryland, Fishing Creek, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 270X.

FIGURES 57–64. Soyedina kondratieffi. 57, 59–60, 62–63: USA, Maryland, Mill Run; 59, 61, 64: USA, North Carolina, Ball Creek. 57, epiproct, ventral view, 270X; 58, epiproct, ventral view, 354X; 59, epiproct apex, ventral view, 650X; 60, epiproct apex, dorsal view, 850X; 61, epiproct, lateral view, 347X; 62, epiproct, caudal view, 370X; 63, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 300X; 64, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 262X. ds = dorsal sclerite, vs = ventral sclerite, im = inner member.

FIGURES 35–42. Soyedina merritti. 35–38, 40–41: USA, Pennsylvania, seep into Powdermill Run; 39, 42: USA, Pennsylvania, seep into Indian Creek. 35, epiproct, ventral view, 150X; 36, epiproct, ventral view, 250X; 37, epiproct apex, ventral view, 650X; 38, epiproct apex, dorsal view, 550X; 39, epiproct, lateral view, 270X; 40, epiproct, caudal view, 220X; 41, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 180X; 42, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 250X. ds = dorsal sclerite, vs = ventral sclerite, im = inner member.

FIGURES 43–50. Soyedina washingtoni. 43–46, 49: USA, Maine, Thorndike; 47: USA, Maryland, spring into Elk Lick Run; 48: USA, Pennsylvania, Fourmile Creek; 50: USA, Maryland, Mill Run. 43, epiproct, ventral view, 105X; 43, epiproct, ventral view, 247X; 45, epiproct apex, ventral view, 637X; 46, epiproct apex, dorsal view, 488X; 47, epiproct, lateral view, 370X; 48, epiproct, caudal view, 250X; 49, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 166X; 50, outer paraproct lobe, lateral view, 300X; ds = dorsal sclerite, vs = ventral sclerite, im = inner member.