Amphinemura pterygoidea Li & Yang

Li, Weihai & Yang, Ding, 2008, Species of Amphinemura (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from Tibet, China, Zootaxa 1688, pp. 54-60 : 57-59

Amphinemura pterygoidea Li & Yang , sp. nov.

( Figs. 11–15 )

Diagnosis. The defining feature of this species involves the dorsal sclerites of the epiproct forming wing-like, laterally directed lobes that are bifurcate apically and covered by tiny spines. The outer lobes of the paraproct are also distinctive in that they curve dorsally at about half their length and then ventrolaterally, terminating in a bifurcate tip. The median lobe is sclerotized and strongly curved dorsomedially, its enlarged apex bearing several black spines.

Male. Forewing length 4.0 mm, hindwing length 3.3 mm. Head, thorax and mouthparts dark brown; compound eyes dark. Wings hyaline. Abdomen and legs brown with pale hairs.

Terminalia ( Figs. 11–15 ): Tergum 9 weakly sclerotized, except anterior band, which is darkly sclerotized, with wide anterior and shallow posterior incisions, covered with tiny spines at middle forming a sclerotized, trapezoidal area. Sternum 9 vesicle constricted at base and swollen at tip; hypoproct wide basally, slightly enlarged medially and then gradually tapering toward triangular tip. Tergum 10 weakly sclerotized medially except heavier sclerotization at anterior and posterolateral margins; a large, anterior concavity present many tiny, black spines posterolaterally. Cercus slightly sclerotized, longer than wide. Epiproct quadrangular at base, produced at middle and distinctly enlarged at tip; dorsal sclerite with lateral margin darkly sclerotized as two wing-like bands that in dorsal view are bifurcate at their tip and apically covered by many tiny spines; ventral sclerite strongly sclerotized, broad at base and becoming narrower toward apex, forming acutely angulated ridge with small spines ventrally. Paraproct divided into three lobes: outer lobe distinctly sclerotized, curved dorsally at middle and then ventromedially apically, the apex having a bifurcate tip; median lobe sclerotized and strongly curved dorsally at middle, apex enlarged and bearing several black spines; inner lobe triangular, slightly sclerotized, with a narrow darkly sclerotized strip at the medial surface.

Female. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype male ( IZCAS), CHINA: Tibet, Zuogong, 1976. VII.2, Yinheng Han.

Distribution. China (Tibet).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the wing-shaped process on the apex of the epiproct, the Latin “ pterygos ” meaning wing and the Greek “ oides ” meaning resembling.

Remarks. The new species is quite distinct from other known species on the basis of the lateral, wing-like lobes with many tiny spines at the apex of the epiproct.

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 15. Amphinemura pterygoidea sp. nov. (male). 11. Terminalia, dorsal view. 12. Terminalia, ventral view. 13. Epiproct, dorsal view. 14. Epiproct, lateral view. 15. Right paraproct, caudal view.