Neoperla bicurvata Kong & Li

Kong, Fanbin, Lv, Junfeng & Li, Weihai, 2014, Three new species of Neoperla in the montivaga group (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from China, Zootaxa 3841 (3), pp. 429-438 : 432

Neoperla bicurvata Kong & Li , sp. nov.

( Figs. 3–4 )

Male. Forewing length 9.2–9.3 mm. General body color yellow brown. Distance between ocelli narrower than diameter of the ocellus. Head brownish with dark brown area between ocelli ( Fig. 3 a); compound eyes black; antennae brown and mouthparts brownish. Pronotum pale brown with brownish markings ( Fig. 3 a); wing membrane brownish, veins darker; legs brownish. Abdominal segments pale brown, terminalia processes and cerci dark brown.

Terminalia. Tergum 7 with posterior margin produced into a triangular process, covered with many marginal sensilla basiconica ( Figs. 3 b, 3d). Tergum 8 with no process but covered by small median spine patch ( Fig. 3 b). Tergum 9 without patches of sensilla basiconica or long hairs. Hemitergal processes of tergum 10 strongly sclerotized and finger-like, with a median curve and sharp tip ( Figs. 3 b, 3d). Aedeagal tube with heavily sclerotized dorsal band and apical and subapical ventral spinose projections ( Fig. 3 c). Aedeagal sac narrow at basal half and swollen apically, with spinules on most of the surface except the apical one fifth; the entire aedeagus exhibits a double curve, showing in lateral aspect, an S-shaped curve ( Figs. 3 c, 4).

Female. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype: male ( HIST), China: Hainan Province, Changjiang, Mount. Bawangling, National Nature Reserve, 1000 m, 19.2504 N, 109.0340 E, 2006. VII.7–11, Jie Zeng. Paratype: 1 male ( CAU), same data as holotype.

Etymology. The species name refers to the overall shape of the everted aedeagus.

Distribution. China (Hainan Province).

Diagnosis and remarks. The male of the new species is characterized by the aedeagal tube having apical and subapical ventral spinose projections which distinguish this species from all others in the montivaga group. The aedeagal armature is superficially similar to that of N. reticulata Zwick (1986) described from Borneo, but in that species there are two distal patches of spines located ventrolaterally, and a single proximal spine patch set on a small ventral lobe.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Neoperla bicurvata Kong & Li, sp. nov., male. a. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. b. Terminalia, dorsal view. c. Everted aedeagus, lateral view. d. Terminalia, lateral view.

FIGURE 4. Neoperla bicurvata Kong & Li, sp. nov. Male everted aedeagus, lateral view.