Panorpa vajra Wang, 2024

Wang, Ji-Shen & Zhao, Can-Jun, 2024, Taxonomy of the Panorpa issikiana species group, with descriptions of twenty new species (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 64 (1), pp. 79-106 : 98

Panorpa vajra Wang sp. nov.

( Figs 146–156 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J ( CN22 Piskvaj001), CHINA: YUNNAN: Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunlong County, Caojian Town , eastern slope of the Zhiben Mountain , 25°42′32″N, 99°07′22″E, 2580 m, 3.viii.2022, leg. Dan-Chen Zhu ( DALU) . PARATYPES: 2 ♀♀ ( CN 22Piskvaj002, 003), same data ( DALU).

Diagnosis. This new species can be differentiated from the other members of this group by the combination of the following characters: in males, 1) gonostyli with basal lobe greatly enlarged and wider than distal portion of gonostyli ( Fig. 153 ); 2) ventral branch of parameres slender and weakly sclerotized, nearly half as long as dorsal branch ( Figs 151, 152 ); 3) dorsal branch of parameres crossed posterior to ventral valves of aedeagus ( Fig. 150 ); 4) dorsal processes of aedeagus greatly elongated with shallow median cleft, and greatly humped in middle ( Figs 151, 152 ); in females, 5) subgenital plate broad with apical prominence emarginated in V-shape terminally ( Fig. 154 ); 6) laterotergites IX broad with irregular caudal margin ( Fig. 154 ); and 7) medigynium with main plate broad and greatly projecting ventrad ( Figs 155, 156 ).

Measurements (mm). Male (n = 1): AtL 12.0, AbL 10.6, BdL 14.6, FL 14.4, FW 3.1, HL 13.3, HW 3.0. Female (n = 2): AtL (broken), AbL 7.0, BdL 11.0–11.5, FL 14.5–14.8, FW 3.0–3.1, HL 13.3–13.5, HW 3.0.

Etymology. The specific epithet, vajra , is derived from the Sanskrit वजर (vájra), a Buddhist ceremonial mace and also an ancient weapon that the male aedeagus greatly resembles to. Noun in apposition.

Distribution. China: Yunnan: Yunlong: Zhiben Mountain ( Fig. 212 ).

Figures

Figs 146–156. Panorpa vajra Wang sp. nov. 146, 148–153 – male. 147, 154–156 – female. 146, 147 – habitus, dorsal view. 148 – terminal abdomen, left-lateral view. 149, 150 – genital bulb, dorsal and ventral views, respectively. 151, 152 – aedeagal complex, right-lateral and ventral views, respectively (in 151, parameres are moved aside to show the aedeagus). 153 – right gonostylus, ventral view. 154 – subgenital plate, ventral view. 155, 156 – medigynium, ventral and right-lateral views, respectively.

Fig. 212. Distributional map of the Panorpa issikiana species group. The question mark indicates an uncertain location of Panorpa issikiana Byers, 1970 in Yunnan (based on BYERS 1970).