Fallceon longifolius (Kluge)

González-Lazo, D. & Salles, F. F., 2007, Description of a new species of Fallceon from Cuba, and redescription of the larva of F. longifolius (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae), Zootaxa 1583 (1), pp. 51-57 : 54-56

Fallceon longifolius (Kluge)

( Figs. 13 – 26 )

Baetis (Fallceon) longifolius Kluge 1992b: 44 (egg, larvae, male and female adults)

Larva. Body lenght, 3.0– 3.5 mm, cerci 2.5–3.5 mm, paracercus 2.0– 3.5 mm.

Head. Coloration pale to pale yellow. Antennae pale yellow. Scape and pedicel without setae. Frontal keel present. Labrum ( Fig. 13 ) with anterior margin rounded, and with median emargination; one submedian and 4–5 submarginal simple setae present on each side; marginal setae pectinate, fine simple setae scattered dorsally, very short submarginal-anterolateral simple setae present. Right mandible ( Fig. 14 ) with eight denticles; 8–9 long, stout, simple setae between prostheca and molar; row of fine, simple setae at base of incisors; two simple setae distally on molar. Left mandible ( Fig. 15 ) with seven denticles; reduced tuft of simple setae between prostheca and molar are present; blunt triangular process at base of molar; short, stout simple setae at base of triangular process and molar. Maxillae ( Fig. 16 ) short, robust; maxillary palps extending beyond galea-laciniae; palp segment 1 0.7x length of segment 2, segments 1 and 2 with scattered fine, simple setae; 4– 5 long, simple setae at base of galea-laciniae. Labium ( Fig. 17 ) with palp segment 1 subequal to segment 2 and 3 combined, with scattered fine, simple setae; segment 2 with 5–6 simple setae dorsally and scattered fine, simple setae laterally; segment 3 basally broad and apically pointed, with many long robust and fine simple setae on surface; glossae with 8–10 simple setae in inner margin and 4-5 simple setae ventrally, outer margin with 8–9 simple setae; 0.9x length of paraglossae. Paraglossae broad, with 2 apical rows of long, robust simple setae. Hypopharynx as in Fig. 18

Thorax. Nota pale yellow to pale brown, without distinct pattern; sterna pale yellow to pale brown. Legs pale yellow, long and slender. Femora ( Fig. 19 ) dorsally with 8 long, robust spurs, distal two spurs almost contiguous with very fine, simple setae between long robust spurs ( Fig. 20 ); ventrally with 11–12 short spurs and very fine simple setae. Tibiae ( Fig. 19 ) with 10 long, stout spurs, increasing in length distally, and fine, long, simple setae ventrally; dorsal margin with 3 stout spurs and many fine, long, simple setae. Tarsi ( Fig. 19 ) with 13 long, stout spurs ventrally, those on distal end longer and more robust; dorsal margin with scattered fine, simple setae. Tarsal claws ( Fig. 21 ) with 11–12 denticles increasing in length distally.

Abdomen. Color pale yellow to pale brown. Terga with color pattern as in Fig. 22 . Sterna pale yellow. Tergal surface ( Fig. 23 ) with abundant angulate scales bases and scattered, fine simple setae; posterior margin with sharp triangular spines. Gills ( Fig. 24 ) narrow, elongate; gills 3–7 as long as two abdominal segments or longer ( Fig. 25 ); margin serrated, with fine, simple setae between serrations. Paraprocts ( Fig. 26 ) with numerous, angulate scale bases and fine simple setae over surface, 10–11 relatively large marginal spines. Caudal filaments pale yellow.

Material examined. Cuba: río Guaso , Guantánamo, 21.i.2004, Y. Rodríguez col. (1 larva) ; río El Muerto , Guantánamo, 20.iv.2006, S. Muñoz col. (4 larvae) ; río Sevilla, Amancio , Las Tunas, 7.ii.2007 Y. Benitez col. (2 larvae) ; río Guantánamo, Guantánamo, 13.iii.2006, G. Álvarez col (1 larva) .

Distribution. Eastern Cuba.

Discussion. Larvae of F. longifolius can be easily distinguished from all other larvae of Fallceon by the following combination of characters: (1) frontal keel present; (2) anterior margin of labrum rounded ( Fig. 13 ); (2) maxillary palps extending beyond galea-laciniae ( Fig. 16 ); (3) tarsal claws without subapical seta ( Fig. 21 ); (4) gills narrow, elongate, as long as two abdominal segments or longer ( Fig. 25 ); (5) tergal surface with abundant angulate scales bases and posterior margin with sharp triangular spines ( Fig. 23 ); (6) paraprocts with 10–11 relatively large marginal spines ( Fig. 26 ).

F. longifolius shares some characters with F. sp. (see below) and it shows very minor differences with that species. These species differs in the size, shape of anterior margin of labrum, the number of denticles on each mandible, the orientation of the molar of the left mandible, the shape of the right prostheca, the shape of the maxillae and the size, shape, and number of spines of the paraprocts.

Figures

FIGURES 13–26. Fallceon longifolius. Larva: 13, labrum, d.v.; 14, right mandible v.v.; 15, left mandible v.v.; 16, maxillae v.v.; 17, labium, left v.v., right d.v.; 18, hypopharynx v.v.; 19, fore leg; 20, distal end of femora; 21, fore tarsal claw; 22, abdominal tergum VI; 23, posterior margin of tergum IV; 24, gills I–VII; 25, thorax and abdomen l.v.; 26, paraproct.