Antarctoperla aonikenk Vera, 2023

Vera, Alejandro, 2023, A new species of Gripopterygidae (Insecta: Plecoptera) from Patagonia: Antarctoperla aonikenk sp. n., Zootaxa 5339 (6), pp. 587-593 : 588-592

Antarctoperla aonikenk Vera sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2CBAD66F-4B9D-4895-A5AE-21B9439E2600

(Male, Figs. 1–11 ; Female: Figs. 18–20, 23, 26 )

Specimens

Type material. Holotype, male, Chile, Región de Magallanes, Morro Chico, 52°03’S 71°25’W, November 12 1967, col. P. Cerda (MCCN). Paratypes: 3 females, data as for the holotype (MCCN). Original label is Fig. 26 .

Diagnosis. Male. Brachypterous ( Figs. 2, 5 ). Tergum X with articulated anterior, central, and posterior sclerites ( Fig. 7 ); posterior sclerite large, extending over tergum X, cardioid in dorsal view, apex with a spatula-shaped tooth ( Figs. 7–10 ). Epiproct elongated, with a row of 14 continuous small teeth on the lateral margins ( Fig. 10 ). Paraprocts slightly curved at the apex ( Figs. 8 , 11 ).

Female. Macropterous ( Fig. 23 ); wings broader than those of other Antarctoperla , veins similar but with an unusual increase in transversal veins and more profound patterning; forewings with a sclerotized spot on the basal lamina of anal region ( Fig. 18 ). Subgenital plate medially divided into two rectangular plates, with lateral carine ( Figs. 19–20 ). Paraprocts truncate.

Adult male description. Dimensions (mm). Male holotype: body length 8.7; antenna> 3.5 (incomplete); head length 1.6, width 1.9; pronotum length 1.3, width 1.7; mesonotum length 1.3 and metanotum length 1.3; forewing 3.9; length of the femur, tibiae and tarsi for foreleg: 1.7, 1.7, 0.3, 0.1, 0.6; middle leg: 2.2, 2.3, 0.3, 0.1, 0.9; and hind leg: 2.8, 3.3, 0.5, 0.2, 1; cercus 0.7.

Head. Globular, as long as wide ( Fig. 3 ), brown with a lighter epistomal suture; epicranium with rugosities; eyes black; three similar ocelli, laterals more distant from each other; cephalic capsule covered in minute setae. Antennae brown ( Fig. 1 ), covered in minute hair-like setae; scape slightly longer than wide, pedicel like first annulus, flagellum with 25 or more moniliform flagellomeres (holotype with incomplete flagellum). Clypeus and labrum yellow, labrum rectangular. Maxillary and labial palps yellow (holotype without maxilar palpomeres 4 and 5).

Thorax. Pronotum rectangular ( Figs. 2, 4 ), slightly wider than long, with parallel lateral margins, convex anterior margin, and straight posterior margin; corners slightly rounded and prominent. Dorsally brown, surface covered with minute hair-like setae, rugose central disc. Mesonotum and metanotum brown, dark brown medially, without hair-like setae. Mesonotum posterior margins straight; metanotum posterior margin concave.

Forewing. Brachypterous ( Fig. 2 ), light brown ( Fig. 5 ), without forks in RP and CuA, with a sclerotized spot on the basal lamina of anal region ( Fig. 6 ).

Legs. Coxae brown; femora, tibiae, and tarsi yellow; proximal bend in the tibiae grey; covered by short, hair-like setae; tibiae with carinate flexor margin on both sides; tarsomeres proportions as follows: 3.5:1:4.5; tarsal claws acute, arolium small.

Abdomen. Dark brown, covered with short, thin, hair-like setae. Segments I–VIII with terga and sterna separated, terga convex and sterna flatted. Segments IX–X forming a complete ring ( Figs. 7 and 9 ). Subgenital plate, with posterior margin truncated, angles rounded.

Male terminalia. Tergum X with anterior, central, and posterior sclerites well delimited ( Fig. 7 ). Anterior sclerites separated from each other by a broad membrane. Central sclerite covered by short, spine-like setae; anterior margin projecting medially between anterior sclerites ( Figs. 7 , 9 ). Posterior sclerite large, extending over tergum X ( Fig. 8 ), cardioid in dorsal view ( Figs. 7 , 9 ), apex with a spatula-shaped tooth; ventral surface with dense setae ( Figs. 8 , 10 ). Epiproct elongated, with a row of 14 continuous smalle teeth on the dorsal lateral margin, apex truncated, and ventral keel small ( Figs. 8 , 9 ). Paraprocts slightly curved at the apex, apex stretched and rounded, tip surpassing tergum X apex ( Figs. 8 , 11 ). Cerci with 12 segments.

Adult female description. Dimensions (mm). Three female paratypes: body length 11.3–10.9; antenna>6.1 (incomplete); head length 1.9–2.1, width 2.0–2.1; pronotum length 1.4–1.5, width 1.8; mesonotum length 1.5–1.7; metanotum length 1.7; forewing 11.7–12.0; length of the femur, tibiae, and tarsi for foreleg: 1.8–2.0, 2.0–2.2, 0.2, 0.1, 0.6; middle leg: 2.2, 2.4, 0.4, 0.1, 0.7; hind leg: 2.8, 3.5, 0.5, 0.2, 0.8; cercus 0.9.

Head, thorax, legs. Similar to the male.

Wings ( Fig. 18 ). Forewing broad, pale brown, lighter around veins, resulting in a mottled pattern; with a sclerotized spot on the basal lamina between AA1–AA2. RP bifurcated, CuA distal sinuated. Transversal veins: RA-RP, 3–4; RP-M, 7; M, 6; M-CuA, 12; CuA-CuP, 16. Hind wing: RP bifurcated, χAA2 margin concave. Transversal veins: RA-RP, 2; RP-M, 5; M, 4; CuA-CuP, 7.

Abdomen. Female genitalia ( Figs. 19–20 ). Subgenital plate projected on to sternite IX, medially divided into two rectangular plates with lateral carina, posterior margin straight with a shallow medial emargination; spiracle on the sclerotized plate. Sternite IX divided by soft medial membrane. Tergite X as a sclerotized cylindrical ring, posterior margin lightly acute. Paraprocts truncated. Cerci with 12 segments.

Larvae. Unknown.

Etymology. aonikenk is the name with which the aborigines who originally inhabited the South American Patagonian steppe called themselves.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Antarctoperla aonikenk. Male holotype. 1. Antenna, scale bar 0.5 mm; 2. Habitus, dorsal, without abdominal tip, scale bar 1 mm; 3. Head, dorsal, scale bar 200 µm; 4. Pronotum, dorsal, scale bar 200 µm; 5–6. Right wings, venations wings, scale bar 1 mm; 7. Genitalia, dorsal, without paraprocts, scale bar 200 µm; 8. Genitalia, lateral, without right paraproct, scale bar 200 µm. AA1 = first anterior Analis; AA2 = second anterior Analis; as = anterior sclerite; bsce = cercum base; ce = cercum; CuA = anterior Cubitus; CuP = posterior Cubitus; ep = epiproctum; M = Media; MA = anterior Media; MP = posterior Media; ms = medium sclerite; pa = paraproctum; ps = posterior sclerite; RA = anterior Radius; RP = posterior Radius; ScP = posterior Subcosta; vh = ventral hook.

FIGURES 9–17. Antarctoperla spp. Comparison of male genitalia in SEM image, for A. aonikenk holotype (9–11), A. altera (12–14) and A. michaelseni (15–17). 9, 12, 15. Dorsal view; 10, 12, 16. Lateral view, without right paraprocts; 11, 14, 17. Apex right paraproct, lateral view. Scale bar = 200 µm.

FIGURES 18–26. Antarctoperla spp. Comparison of wings and subgenital plate females for A. aonikenk paratypes (18–20, 23, 26), A. altera (21–22) and A. michaelseni (24–25). 18, 21, 24. Right wings, scale bar = 5 mm; 19–20, 22, 25. Subgenital plates, scale bar = 0.5 mm; 23. Habitus female, scale bar = 5 mm; 26. Female paratype label.