Research Article |
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Corresponding author: Yu-Zhou Du ( yzdu@yzu.edu.cn ) Academic editor: Sven Bradler
© 2025 Abdur Rehman, Qing-Bo Huo, Yu-Zhou Du.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Rehman A, Huo Q-B, Du Y-Z (2025) Synopsis of Chinese Alloperla Banks, 1906 (Plecoptera, Chloroperlidae), with description of a new species. ZooKeys 1243: 365-375. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1243.139128
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A new species of the genus Alloperla Banks, 1906 (Plecoptera, Chloroperlidae), Alloperla triquetra Rehman, Huo & Du, sp. nov., is described from Liaoning Province, China, with diagnostic features and color images of the adult habitus included. The terminalia of the new species are compared with those of related species, and key similarities and distinguishing characteristics are highlighted. In addition, the male of A. joosti Zwick, 1972 is described from China for the first time, as previous records included only females. Detailed color photographs of the dorsal and ventral views of the epiproct are provided, addressing a gap in the literature where illustrations of the ventral view were previously lacking a critical feature for accurate species identification. Furthermore, color illustrations and supplementary redescriptions of A. mediata (
Alloperla triquetra sp. nov., identification key, new record, redescription
The genus Alloperla Banks, 1906 belongs to the subfamily Chloroperlinae of the family Chloroperlidae. Alloperla includes about 52 recognized species distributed across the Nearctic and Palearctic realms (
Alloperla species in China have primarily been found in Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, and Gansu provinces which border on Mongolia and Russia. Although Alloperla has mainly been recorded from northeastern and north-central China, its actual distribution may be broader. This possibility is supported by the wider distribution patterns of related green stonefly genera, such as Sweltsa Ricker, 1943, Suwallia Ricker, 1943, and Haploperla Navás, 1934, which are more widely distributed and have also been reported from southwestern China (
All specimens were collected using aerial nets or by hand and preserved in 75% ethanol. Terminalia were examined and illustrated with KEYENCE VHX-5000 and the final images were prepared using Adobe Photoshop. The type specimens of the new species were deposited in the insect collection of Yangzhou University (ICYZU), Jiangsu Province, China. Data for the key and distribution details were gathered from published literature (
Holotype , • 1 male China, Xiaodonggou Village, Benxi Autonomous County, Liaoning Province, 9–10-VI-2019, 589 m alt., 41°10.806'N, 124°40.148'E, leg. Huo Qing-Bo, Yang Yu-Ben (ICYZU). Paratypes, • 4 males and 6 females (ICYZU), are the same as the holotype.
The new species is characterized by a triangular epiproct. The epiproct is distinctly triangular, especially in its middle portion. Basally, it is narrow and broadens medially before tapering towards a pointed apex, forming a triangular shape. The apex is pointed and bears tiny anterior hairs (Figs
Male. Forewing length: 8.5–9.0 mm; hindwing length: 7.5–8.0 mm. Body greenish in the field, pale yellow in ethanol. Head rounded brown with small central brown markings or spots. Compound eyes blackish, ocelli gray with black margins. Antennae brown, with pale brown basal segments (Fig.
Female. Forewing length: 9.0–9.5 mm; hindwing length: 8.0–8.5 mm. Body appears greenish in life and brown in ethanol. Head rounded, brown, with small brown markings or spots on frons. Compound eyes blackish, ocelli gray with black margins. Pronotum brown with slight rugosities (Fig.
Egg and nymph. Unknown.
Known only from the type locality.
The species is named for its epiproct, which is distinctly triangular in shape. The Latin word “triquetra” means triangular.
The new species is most similar to Alloperla yangi Li & Wang, 2011, from Quanshanlinchang, Kuandian County, Liaoning, China, but it is easily distinguished by the structure of the epiproct. The epiproct of the new species is triangular with a pointed apex (Figs
Alloperla Banks, 1906
Alloperla Banks, 1906:175.
Chloroperla mediata Navás, 1925: 210;
Alloperla (Sweltsa) mediata (Navás, 1925):
Alloperla alexanderi Nelson & Hanson, 1968:
Alloperla mediata (Navás, 1925) in
Material examined. • 2 females, China: Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, HulunBuir city, Oroqen Zizhiqi, Dayangshu town, 405 m, 49.7086°N, 124.5899°E, 2023.VI.3, leg. Zhu Ya-Fei & Yang Xiao (ICYZU) • 1 male, 5 females, Heilongjiang Province, Da Hinggan Ling Prefecture, Songlin District, Jinsong town, 480 m, 51.0724°N, 124.1948°E, 2023.VI.4, leg. Zhu Ya-Fei & Yang Xiao; • 3 males, 20 females • Heilongjiang Province, Da Hinggan Ling Prefecture, Xinlin District, Dawusu town, 471 m, 51.7682°N, 124.5122°E, 2023.VI.6, leg. Zhu Ya-Fei & Yang Xiao (ICYZU); • 4 males, 2 females China: Heilongjiang Province, Da Hinggan Ling Prefecture, Tahe county, 364 m, 52.3050°N, 124.6968°E, 2023.VI.6, leg. Zhu Ya-Fei & Yang Xiao (ICYZU).
Supplementary description. General body color pale yellow in alcohol. Head pale brown, triocellate. Pronotum with prominent, dark-brown medial stripe (Fig.
Distribution. China (Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Liaoning), Japan, Mongolia, Russia, and South Korea.
Remarks. This species was first described from China by
Alloperla erectospina Wu, 1938: 152;
Distribution. China (Gansu Province).
Remarks.
Alloperla (Sweltsa) thompsoni Nelson & Hanson, 1968: 425.
Alloperla thompsoni:
Distribution. China (Heilongjiang Province).
Remarks.
Alloperla kurilensis Zhiltzova, 1978: 544;
Distribution. China (Liaoning Province) and Russia.
Remarks.
Alloperla kurentzovi Zhiltzova & Zapekina-Dulkeit, 1977: 50;
Distribution. China (Liaoning Province) and Russian Far East.
Remarks.
Alloperla teleckojensis Šámal, 1939: 423.
Chloroperla teleckojensis:
Alloperla deminuta Zapekina-Dulkeit, 1970: 159:
Material examined. • 1 male, China: Heilongjiang Province, Da Hinggan Ling Prefecture, Tahe county, 364 m, 52.3050°N, 124.6968°E, 2023.VI.6, leg. Zhu Ya-Fei & Yang Xiao (ICYZU).
Supplementary description. Male body pigmentation matches previous descriptions in the literature. Tergum X divided and features two parallel sclerotized bands along inner margin. Base of epiproct rounded and shiny, with slight constriction near base. In dorsal view, it narrows to form pointed apex, while laterally completely flattened (Fig.
Distribution. China (Heilongjiang Province), Russia, and Mongolia.
Remarks.
Alloperla joosti Zwick, 1972: 35;
Material examined. • 5 males, 30 females, China: Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, HulunBuir city, Oroqen Zizhiqi, Dayangshu town, 405 m, 49.7086°N, 124.5899°E, 2023.VI.3, leg. Zhu Ya-Fei & Yang Xiao • 4 females (ICYZU), China: Heilongjiang Province, Da Hinggan Ling Prefecture, Tahe County, 364 m, 52.3071°N,124.7051°E, 2023.VII.30, leg. Zhu Ya-Fei & Yang Xiao.
Supplementary description. Male. Forewing length: 8.0–8.5 mm; hindwing length: 7.0–7.5 mm. Body greenish in field, pale yellow in ethanol. Head rounded, pale brown without markings or spots. Compound eyes blackish, ocelli gray with black margins. Antennae brown, with pale brown basal segments. Wings macropterous, hyaline. Meso- and metanota with faint pigmentation, no markings or stripes (Fig.
Female. The female subgenital plate is small and V-shaped, extending only to the middle part of sternum 9. The plate gradually slopes to an abrupt point, forming a triangle with a broad base (Fig.
Distribution. China (Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Heilongjiang Province), Mongolia, Russia, and South Korea.
Remarks.
Alloperla yangi
Distribution. China (Liaoning Province).
Remarks.
| 1 | Epiproct small, flattened, or constricted in dorsal view | 2 |
| – | Epiproct long, rounded, or flattened in dorsal view | 6 |
| 2 | Epiporct flattened in dorsal view, with dorsum appressed setae | 3 |
| – | Epiproct constricted medially in dorsal view | 4 |
| 3 | Epiproct tongue-shaped, apically rounded with shallow marginal serrations ( |
A. yangi |
| – | Epiproct triangular, apically pointed without marginal serrations; lateral margins covered with scattered hairs (Figs |
A. triquetra sp. nov. |
| 4 | Epiporct divided or constricted medially; anterior portion of epiproct oval, bearing several spines along lateral margins (Fig. |
A. mediata |
| – | Epiproct round or triangular without any constriction medially; anterior portion without spines | 5 |
| 5 | Epiproct completely rounded without marginal appressed setae ( |
A. thompsoni |
| – | Epiproct triangular, covered with setae on margins and upturned in lateral view ( |
A. erectospina |
| 6 | Epiporct flattened, long and narrow apically, apex pointed like pen, laterally flattened (Fig. |
A. teleckojensis |
| – | Epiporct long, rounded, and broader apically, ventrally with a arow of spines (Figs |
A. joosti |
We express our heartfelt thanks to the reviewers for providing comments that significantly improved the manuscript.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 32370480, 31572295).
Conceptualization: AR. Methodology: AR. Supervision: YZD. Writing - original draft: AR. Writing - review and editing: QBH, YZD, AR.
Abdur Rehman https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7379-6482
Qing-Bo Huo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9197-8503
Yu-Zhou Du https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4452-7125
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.