Protonemura lupina, Vinçon & Launay & Reding, 2021

Vinçon, Gilles, Launay, Bertrand & Reding, Jean-Paul G., 2021, Two new species of Protonemura Kempny, 1898 (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from Southern France, Zootaxa 5061 (3), pp. 432-450 : 434-436

Description of Protonemura lupina sp. n.

Male (Figs. 1–8). In dorsal view, tergites 8 and 7 with several rows of strong spines on each side of posterior margin, medially interrupted; tergite 6 with one to four smaller spines in one row on each side (Fig. 3). Hypoproct terminated by a finger-shaped expansion (Figs. 5–6). Vesicle ovoid-shaped (Figs. 5, 7). Inner lobe of paraprocts thinly sclerotized and mostly hidden by hypoproct (Fig. 7). In ventral view, sclerotized base of median lobe of the paraprocts of adult males wide and circular (Figs. 5–7). In lateral view, sclerotized base of median lobe of the paraprocts circular; membranous field reduced, not extending over the length of the cercus (Figs. 6–7) often with a dark thorn (Fig. 6). Insertion point of the sclerotized stem located medially on the side of the median lobe of the paraprocts (Figs. 5–7). Sclerotized stem of the sclerotized median lobe of the paraprocts thick, short and slightly curved, not extending over the membranous field, and with apical thorn and subapical spines (Figs. 1–2, 6–8). Sclerite of the outer lobe of the paraprocts bifurcated, with a narrow basal branch turning around the cercus (= OLS1, Fig. 8; cf. Figs. 18, 27), and a second, wider branch, located between the cercus and the membranous field of the median lobe (= OLS2, Fig. 8; cf. Figs. 18, 27). Epiproct with a slight median widening in lateral view (Figs. 1–2). Tip of epiproct bent upwards, with a shallow and wide notch between the tip and the upper median part of the epiproct (Figs. 1–2). Tip of epiproct with a small, transparent, globulous extension, in lateral view (Fig. 2). In dorsal view, tip of epiproct with a dark, ellipse-shaped sclerite (Fig. 4). Dorsal sclerites on each side of the epiproct bifurcated (Figs. 1–2); ventral branch of the dorsal sclerite of the epiproct is wide and straight, tapering out near the ventral edge of the epiproct, then straightening towards the apex in a narrow, sclerotized strip (Figs. 1–2). Ventral sclerite of the epiproct widened in a small portion of its middle part (Figs. 1–2), otherwise straight and continuous. Ventral sclerite of the epiproct without a median bulge and bearing a row of short spines in its middle section (Fig. 2).

Females (Figs. 9–10). Pregenital plate of sternite 7 with rounded margin slightly extending over sternite 8 (Fig. 9). Subgenital plate formed by a curved sclerotized band, constricted in its middle and terminated by an acuminated edge on both sides (Figs. 9–10). Vaginal lobes large and well visible at the lower edges of the subgenital plate (Figs. 9–10).

Larvae. Unknown.

Morphological affinities. Males. Adult males of Protonemura lupina sp. n. are morphologically closest to those of P. risi . In ventral and lateral views, the sclerotized base of the median lobe of the paraprocts is spherical in shape in P. lupina sp. n. (Figs. 5–7) whereas it is reniform (or has the shape of a spherical cap, according to the original description of P. risi (Figs. 26–27; Ris 1902, p. 387, pl. 1, figs. 5–6). The ventral branch of the dorsal sclerite of the epiproct is very thin and curved in P. risi (Figs. 23–24), whereas it is much wider and straight in P. lupina sp. n., tapering out near the ventral margin of the epiproct and straightening in a narrow strip towards the apex (Figs. 1–2).

Females. The subgenital plate of Protonemura lupina sp. n. (Fig. 9) is much smaller and narrower than the one of P. risi (Figs. 28, 29). The subgenital plate of P. risi is triangle-shaped (Figs. 28, 29), whereas it is wing-like in P. lupina sp. n. (Fig. 9). The vaginal lobes of P. risi are small and nearly entirely covered by the subgenital plate (Figs. 28–29), whereas the vaginal lobes are well visible in P. lupina sp. n. (Fig. 9).

Distribution area and biogeographical notes. Protonemura lupina sp. n. inhabits springs and small brooks (371–1420 m) in the Loup Valley (Alpes-Maritimes) ( Fig. 42 ) and its surroundings ( Fig. 43 ). The region belongs to a vast, but isolated, karstic system ( Gilli et al. 2006), fed by permanent and temporary springs located in the Cheiron Massif (1778 m a.s.l.), one of the highest mountains in these otherwise dry Castellane Prealps. Two males and one female were collected in the Bévéra Valley, some 30 kms eastward of the type locality ( Fig. 41 ). The flight period extends from early spring to autumn (IV–IX), with a pause during summer.

Derivatio nominis of Protonemura lupina . This species is named after the region where it was first discovered, namely the Loup River Valley. The epithet is to be treated as a Latin adjective, feminine in gender combined with Protonemura .

Figures

FIG. 42—Localities of Protonemura lupina sp. n. in the southern French Alps: a = (spring) and b = (harnessed spring), tributaries to the Loup River, on the road to Courmes, 43.753N, 7.005E (Alpes-Maritimes) (photographs by Gilles Vinçon).

FIG. 43—Locality of Protonemura lupina sp. n. in the southern French Alps: Bouisse spring, Estéron tributary, Conségudes, near D1, 371 m, 43.8463N, 7.0284E (photograph by Gwenole Le Guellec).

Fig. 41—Distribution map of Protonemura alexidis sp. n., P. lupina sp. n., P. cf. lupina (hybrid), P. risi and P. spinulosa (drawn by Bertrand Launay with ArcGIS version 10.6.0.8321).