Nemoura biplatta, Meng-Yuan & Yu-Zhou, 2021

Meng-Yuan, Zhao & Yu-Zhou, Du, 2021, A new species of Nemoura (Plecoptera, Nemouridae) and supplementary description of Amphinemura cordiformis from the Nanling Mountains of southern China, ZooKeys 1039, pp. 109-122 : 109

Nemoura biplatta sp. nov. Figures 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7

Type material.

Holotype, 1♂, China, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin City, Ziyuan County, Maoershan National Natural Reserve, the walkway beside the swamp (Fig. 7 ), 1945 m, 25°53'37.2624"N, 110°25'25.1544"E, 27.VIII.2020, leg. Huo Qing-Bo (ICYZU). Paratypes, 1♂, 1♀, the same data as the holotype (ICYZU).

Diagnosis.

Description.

Adult habitus (Fig. 1 ): head black, antennae dark brown, pronotum dark brown with rugosities, head slightly wider than pronotum; cervical gills poorly developed, outside lateral cervical sclerites with single small membranous, gill-like nub. Wings subhyaline, infuscate, veins brown. Legs pale brown; abdominal segments brown, terminalia dark brown.

Male (Figs 2 - 4 ). Body length 7.5 mm, forewing length 9.0 mm, hindwing length 8.0 mm. Tergum VIII and tergum IX distinctly sclerotized, but median area is less sclerotized, distal margin of tergum IX slightly covering the anterior margin of tergum X, with a mid-anterior notch and a row of long spines extending to the anterior margin of tergum X along the posterior margin (Figs 2 , 4 ). Hypoproct broad basally, and tapering to a thin apex; vesicle large, length approximately 2.5 × width. Tergum X distinctly sclerotized at both edges of lateral area, mid-anterior area weaker, median area membranous, with two sclerotized triangular sclerite plates beneath epiproct; apex of sclerite strongly sclerotized and median portion with setae and several black spines, sclerotized band extending to lateral margin from sclerite base (Figs 2 , 4 ). Cercus thick and oval, distinctly sclerotized, length approximately 2 × width, gradually tapered toward tip with a long and slender spine, curving forward and inward at apex (Fig. 2A ). Epiproct nearly oblong, short and broad; dorsal sclerite with two sclerotized bands forming a pair of nipple-like bulges, near apex with two S-shaped sclerotized arms tapering subapically toward small sharp tip, apex encased by cambered membrane with a small prolonged median sclerite (Fig. 2B, D ); ventral sclerite with two stick-like sclerites bearing spines and connected at base forming a mid-posterior projection, basic sclerite sinuous with a lateral knob, partly extending posteriorly and upwards (Figs 3 , 4 ). Paraproct divided into two lobes; outer lobe broad and short, strongly sclerotized with setae; inner lobe short, narrow at base, broader from 2/3 to apex with lateral margin strongly sclerotized (Figs 2 - 4 ).

Female (Figs 5 , 6 ). Body length 9.0 mm, forewing length 10.5 mm, hindwing length 8.5 mm. Body coloration and the cervical gills are similar to the male (Fig. 5 ). Sternum VII definitely produced distally, extending to posterior margin of sternum VIII; pregenital plate rounded and wide, strongly sclerotized with several wrinkles. Sternum VIII with two obvious sclerotized spots and several small spots are dispersed laterally. Sternum IX and sternum X darkly sclerotized (Fig. 6 ). Paraproct dark brown and broad, cerci short and brownish.

Etymology.

The Latin bi - and platta referring to the paired sclerites present beneath epiproct.

Remarks.

Regarding to the affinities of the new species, N. biplatta belongs to the cercispinosa complex proposed by Baumann (1975), whose cerci enlarged and thick, bearing one or more spines at apex. The new species is similar to some of the species known from Assam like N. khasii Aubert, 1967 and N. kuhleni Aubert, 1967 by epiproct and paraproct. However, in N. khasii and N. kuhleni , the two lateral arms of the epiproct are rounder or heart-shaped, while in N. biplatta , the arms are sclerotized and S-shaped with a small sharp tip subapically. The outer lobe of paraproct differ quite slightly in shape. Compared to some Chinese species, the male of N. biplatta appears similar to N. fusiformis Chen & Du, 2017 and N. nankinensis Wu, 1926 from Jiangsu province, particularly in respect of the oblong epiproct. The epiproct ventral sclerite of N. fusiformis seems similar to our new species in the pair of prongs at the sides and the sclerotized lateral knob. However, the new species can be easily separated by the presence of the two sclerotized bands on the epiproct dorsal sclerite and the outer lobe of the paraproct without a strongly sclerotized large hook and a sharp process. In terms of N. nankinensis , the epiproct dorsal sclerite with a pair of lateral sclerites and the medially crossed grooves are quite similar to the new species, which may be distinguished by the pair of S-shaped sclerites with a sharp tip and the outer lobe of paraproct which is broad and blunt (without being finger-shaped) with a slightly curved apex. Above all, the sclerotized sclerite plate beneath the epiproct make it simple to identify it as a new species.

Figures

Figure 1. Nemoura biplatta sp. nov. male A prothorax, ventral view B head and pronotum, dorsal view.

Figure 2. Nemoura biplatta sp. nov. male terminalia A ventral view B dorsal view C lateral view D epiproct, dorsal view.

Figure 3. Nemoura biplatta sp. nov. male A epiproct, ventral view B epiproct, lateral view C right paraproct, ventral view.

Figure 4. Nemoura biplatta sp. nov. male A terminalia, dorsal view B terminalia, ventral view C epiproct, ventral view D epiproct, lateral view E right paraproct, ventral view.

Figure 5. Nemoura biplatta sp. nov. female A prothorax, ventral view B head and pronotum, dorsal view.

Figure 6. Nemoura biplatta sp. nov. female abdomen, ventral view.

Figure 7. Habitat of Nemoura biplatta sp. nov. in China, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Maoershan National Natural Reserve). The wet, scrubby habitat of the new species seen from the walkway beside the swamp. (Photograph by Huo Qing-Bo).