Perlesta shawnee Grubbs

Grubbs, Scott A. & DeWalt, R. Edward, 2008, Taxonomic And Distributional Notes On Perlesta Teaysia, P. Golconda, And P. Shawnee (Plecoptera: Perlidae), Illiesia 4 (14), pp. 143-149 : 147

Perlesta shawnee Grubbs

( Figs. 18–23 )

Perlesta shawnee Grubbs, 2005:64 .

Holotype ♂ (Illinois Natural History Survey). Cooper Creek, Alexander Co., Illinois, U.S.A.

Perlesta shawnee Stark, 2004:95

Material examined. U.S.A., ALABAMA: Clay Co., tributary to Cheaha Creek, Turnipseed Campground, Talladega National Forest ( TNF), 11 July 2008, S.A. Grubbs, 1 ♀ ( WKU); Swept Creek, F. R . 615, 20 km S Talladega , TNF , 20 June 2006, A.L. Sheldon, 1 ♂ ( WKU); tributary to Swept Creek, F. R . 615, TNF, 25 May 2006, A.L. Sheldon, 1 ♀ ( WKU); Cleburne Co., tributary to South Fork Terrapin Creek, F. R . 500, 8 km SE Piedmont , TNF , 11 July 2008, S.A. Grubbs, 2 ♀ ( WKU); Talladega Co., Smelley Creek, C. R . 234, 15 km S Talladega , TNF , 26 May 2006, A.L. Sheldon, 1 ♂ ( WKU) . ILLINOIS: Pope Co., Quarrel Creek. 8 km NE Dixon Springs, 13 July 2003, S.A. Grubbs 2 ♂, 3 ♀ (Paratypes; WKU); Lusk Creek , 13 km NW Golconda, 20 May 2006, S.A. Grubbs 1 ♂ ( WKU) . INDIANA: Perry Co., East Deer Creek, 13 km E Tell City, Hoosier National Forest , 12 June 2003, S.A. Grubbs 1 ♂, 2 ♀ (Paratypes; WKU) . NORTH CAROLINA: Cleveland Co., First Broad River, Mt. Zion Church Rd. , S of New Hope, 13 July 2007, B.C. Kondratieff, R . E. Zuellig & D. R . Lenat 1 ♂, 6 ♀ ( CSU) . VIRGINIA:

Wythe Co., Stony Fork , Reed Creek , U.S. 52, 11.5 km NW Wytheville , Jefferson National Forest ( JNF), 24 July 2008, S.A. Grubbs, 1 ♂ ( WKU); Reed Creek, F. R . 221, 21 km WNW Wytheville , JNF , 24 July 2008, S.A. Grubbs, 2 ♂ ( WKU); Reed Creek, C. R . 658, 5 km SW Wytheville , 24 July 2008, S.A. Grubbs, 1 ♂ ( WKU) .

Remarks. This species was described from the unglaciated southern portions of Illinois and Indiana ( Grubbs, 2005). The male is distinctive among Perlesta and readily identified by the combination of (a) a long, tubular aedeagus lacking a caecum, (b) dense separated patches of sensilla basiconica on the 10 th tergum, and (c) long slender paraprocts bearing a laterally-directed tooth. As part of a larger study addressing elevational patterns of stoneflies of the montane Talladega National Forest region of eastcentral Alabama, Perlesta specimens collected in summer 2006 included males that were tentatively identified as P. shawnee . Because mature eggs were not present in females, however, a definitive species designation was not applied.

Gravid females were collected in July 2008 and eggs were examined via SEM. Although eggs from the Alabama series ( Fig. 19 ) were noticeably less pitted and smoother than from paratype females from Indiana and Illinois ( Figs. 21, 23 ), both the overall egg shape (i.e., oval; Figs. 18, 20, 22 ) and collar (i.e., low, gently-rounded open pit; Figs. 19, 21, 23 ) were too similar to warrant a new species description .

In addition, several series of this species were also obtained recently from southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina. The occurrence of P. shawnee in Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia represent new state records and a significant southeastern range extension from Illinois and Indiana.

Figures

Figs. 18–23. Perlesta shawnee egg SEM micrographs. 18–19: U.S.A., AL, Cleburne Co., tributary to South Fork Terrapin Creek, 11 July 2008, 20-21: U.S.A., IL, Pope Co., Quarrel Creek, 13 July 2003, 22-23: U.S.A., IN, Perry Co., East Deer Creek, 12 June 2003), 18. Entire egg, 350X, 20, 22. Entire egg, 200X, 19, 21, 23. Anterior pole, 2000X.