Research Article
Print
Research Article
A new species of Haploperla from China (Plecoptera, Chloroperlidae)
expand article infoZhi-Teng Chen, Yu-Zhou Du
‡ Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
† Deceased author
Open Access

Abstract

A new species of the genus Haploperla, H. triangulata sp. n., is described and illustrated from specimens collected in Qinghai province, China. Haploperla triangulata is characterized by the epiproct mostly sclerotized and hairless, sub-triangular in dorsal view and blunt at tip; and by the aedeagus with two median elliptical lobes ventrally. The new species is compared with its most similar congeners, and diagnostic characters are presented.

Keywords

Stoneflies, species description, aquatic diversity

Introduction

The genus Haploperla Navás 1934 is mainly distributed in eastern Palaearctic and Nearctic regions, with only thirteen extant species reported (DeWalt et al. 2015). Only four Chinese species of Haploperla have been recorded from China, Haploperla ussurica Navás, 1934; H. lepnevae Zhiltzova & Zwick, 1971; H. valentinae Stark & Sivec, 2009; and H. choui Li & Yao, 2013 (Navás 1934, Zhiltzova and Zwick 1971, Stark and Sivec 2009, Li et al. 2013). Unknown specimens of Haploperla from Shuixia, Huangzhong county in Qinghai province were collected in August 2015, and identified as a new species. The types are deposited in the Insect Collection of Yangzhou University, Jiangsu. The species described in this contribution increases the number of known Chinese Haploperla taxa to five.

Materials and methods

All type specimens are preserved in 75% or 100% ethanol. Specimens were examined and illustrated using a Leica stereomicroscope-MZAPO. Images were taken using a Leica SZ45. The holotype of the new species is deposited in the Insect Collection of Yangzhou University, China.

Results

Haploperla triangulata sp. n.

Figs 1–4, 5–8, 9–10

Type material

Holotype. 1 male, China: Qinghai province, Huangzhong county, Shuixia, 101°41.25'E, 36°82.46'N, 2590 m, 8 August, 2015, leg. Yu-Zhou Du. Paratype: 1 male and 7 females, the same locality and data as holotype, leg. Yu-Zhou Du, Zhi-Hou Li, Qiu-Yu Fan.

Diagnosis

This species is characterized by a pale head, a pale pronotum disc with median stripe and brown margins, and the abdominal terga 1–8 with a longitudinal stripe. Epiproct mostly sclerotized and hairless, sub-triangular in dorsal view with a blunt tip. Aedeagus ventrally with two median situated elliptical lobes.

This new species is most similar to H. valentinae Stark & Sivec, 2009, known from Sichuan Province, China, but differs in the formation of the epiproct, which is mostly sclerotized and hairless in H. triangulata sp. n., whereas it is with sclerotized margins, membranous posterodorsal area and sparse patch of setae in H. valentinae (see Figs 13 and 17 in Stark and Sivec 2009). Besides, the subgenital plate of female is originating from tergum 8 to the posterior margin of tergum 9 in H. triangulata, while it’s slightly produced as a small rounded lobe with long setae in H. valentinae (see fig. 15 in Stark and Sivec 2009). The details of the wing venation and aedeagus are not described for H. valentinae.

Adult habitus

Triocellate. General color light yellow patterned with dark brown. Head mostly pale yellow without any markings; compound eyes and ocelli black (Fig. 1). Pronotum hyaline, with median stripe and brown margins; meso- and metanota with dark brown W-shaped markings. Wings hyaline; Rs of both wings branched; A3 of forewing fused with A2 near base; anal field of hindwing small and folded with three veins (Fig. 8). Coxae, tibiae and femura pale, tarsi brown. Abdominal terga 1–8 with a medial wide stripe. Cerci yellowish-brown with long brown setae (Figs 9, 10).

Figures 1–4. 

Haploperla triangulata sp. n. 1 Head and pronotum, dorsal view 2 Male terminalia, dorsal view 3 Male terminalia, ventral view 4 Male terminalia, lateral view.

Figures 5–8. 

Haploperla triangulata sp. n. 5 Aedeagus, lateral view 6 Aedeagus, ventroapical view 7 Female subgenital plate, ventral view 8 Wings.

Figures 9–10. 

Haploperla triangulata, sp. n. 9 Male habitus, dorsal view 10 Female habitus, dorsal view.

Male

Forewing length 6.5–7.0 mm, hindwing length 5.5–6.0 mm. Posterior margin of tergum 9 dark and slightly concave, covered with fine hairs. Tergum 10 divided (Fig. 2). Subgenital plate arising from tergum 9 to tip of the abdomen, slightly tapering at tip (Fig. 3). Subanal process simple, pale and subtriangular in shape. Epiproct mostly sclerotized and hairless, sub-triangular in dorsal view with a blunt tip (Figs 2, 4). Aedeagus membranous and curved ventrally, ventrally with two median situated elliptical lobes, subapically with a plump lobe (Figs 5, 6).

Female

Forewing length 7.0–7.5 mm, hindwing length 6.0–6.5 mm. General pattern similar to males. Abdominal segments 1–8 with median brown strip (Fig. 10). Ventral surface and terminalia without markings. Subgenital plate distinct, originating from tergum 8 to the posterior margin of tergum 9; posterior margin slightly protruding, forming a blunt lobe (Fig. 7).

Etymology

The species epithet refers to the sub-triangular shape of the epiproct.

Distribution

China (Qinghai province).

Remarks

We describe a new species of the genus Haploperla, thereby increasing the total number of Haploperla species recorded in China to five. More Haploperla species are expected to be found in China in the future because the geographical conditions ensure suitable resources for stoneflies. More studies are needed to enrich our understanding of Haploperla.

Acknowledgments

We thank two reviewers (Boris Kondratieff and Dávid Murányi) and Subject Editor Wolfram Graf for useful comments and scrutiny. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31071958).

References

  • Li WH, Yao G, Qin XF (2013) Haploperla choui sp. n. (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae), a remarkable new stonefly from Qinling Mountains of China. Zootaxa 3640: 550–556. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3640.4.3
  • Navás RPL (1934) Nevropteres et insects voisins (Chine et Pays environments). Notes d'Entomologie Chinoise. Museé Heude. Shanghai2: 1–16.
  • Stark BP, Sivec I (2009) Sweltsa wui and Haploperla valentinae (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae), two new stoneflies from Sichuan province, China. Illiesia 5: 156–163.
  • Zhiltzova LA, Zwick P (1971) Notes on Asiatic Chloroperlidae (Plecoptera), with descriptions of new species. Entomologisk Tidskrift 92: 183–197.
login to comment