Research Article |
Academic editor: Sven Bradler
© 2022 Abdur Rehman, Qing-Bo Huo, Yu-Zhou Du.
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Citation:
Rehman A, Huo Q-B, Du Y-Z (2022) A new species of Suwallia Ricker, 1943 (Plecoptera, Chloroperlidae) from southwestern China, with an updated key to male Suwallia species. ZooKeys 1089: 169-180. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1089.72485
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A new species of the genus Suwallia Ricker, 1943 (Plecoptera, Chloroperlidae), Suwallia dengba sp. nov., is described from Tibet and Yunnan, southwestern China. A diagnosis and description of the adult habitus and aedeagal structure are illustrated with color images. Similarities in the terminalia with closely related species are discussed. In addition, an updated key to adult males of the Suwallia species of China is provided.
Distribution, Suwallia dengba sp. nov., Tibet, Yunnan Province
The family Chloroperlidae belongs to the superfamily Perloidea and is frequently referred to as “green stoneflies”. It consists of two subfamilies: Chloroperlinae Okamoto, 1912 and Paraperlinae Ricker, 1943. Presently, more than 29 species of the family Chloroperlidae are reported from China, belonging to six genera, namely: Alloperla Banks, 1906, Alaskaperla Stewart & DeWalt, 1991, Haploperla Navás, 1934, Suwallia Ricker, 1943, Sweltsa Ricker, 1943 and Utaperla Ricker, 1952 (
The genus Suwallia Ricker, 1943 belongs to tribe Suwalliini Surdick, 1985 of the subfamily Chloroperlinae. It is distributed in the East Palearctic and Nearctic regions (
All specimens were collected by aerial net or hands and preserved in 75% ethanol. Terminalia were examined and illustrated by KEYENCE VHX-5000 and the final images were prepared using Adobe Photoshop CS6. The type specimens of the new species were placed in the insect collection of Yangzhou University (ICYZU), Jiangsu Province, China. Data for the key and distribution map were extracted from the published literature (
Holotype
, 1♂, China, Tibet Autonomous Region, Dengba village, Mangkam County, Qamdo city, 3437 m, 29°32.406'N, 98°13.425'E, 18.IX.2019, Leg. Huo Qing-Bo (ICYZU). Paratypes, 6♂♂, 6♀♀, data same as holotype (Figs
The new species is characterized by the sclerotized median sclerite of tergum X and its aedeagus armature. The shape of the median sclerite of tergum X resembles a turtle or a hexagonal star. The aedeagus, with a large distinct sclerite divided into an eagle-shaped trifurcate structure, the large median sclerite, and one pair of wing-shaped lateral sclerites on both sides, is diagnostic (Figs
Adult habitus
(Fig.
Male (Figs
Female. Adult habitus (Fig.
Unknown.
Southwestern China (Tibet and Yunnan Province).
The species is named after the type locality, Dengba village.
The new species is closely related to Suwallia talalajensis, but can be distinguished by the sclerotized portion between the hemitergal processes, the pigmentation of tergum IX, the armature of the aedeagus and the well-developed, membranous, knob-like epiproct. Suwallia talalajensis does not have a distinct aedeagal sclerite (
Revised map showing distribution of Suwallia species in China (modified from www.tianditu.gov.cn).
1 | Epiproct reduced, tergum X with two median sclerites | 2 |
– | Epiproct well developed, tergum X with undivided median sclerite | 3 |
2 | Tergum X with two longitudinal median sclerites (see |
Suwallia wolongshana |
– | Tergum X with H-shaped median sclerite (see |
Suwallia jihuae |
3 | Tergum X with V-shaped median sclerite, aedeagus membranous, without spines or structures (see |
Suwallia asiatica |
– | Tergum X median sclerite triangular or subrectangular in shape, aedeagus with spines or structures | 4 |
4 | Tergum X median sclerite triangular in shape, epiproct small, aedeagus with triangular spines forming T-shaped structure (see |
Suwallia decolorata |
– | Tergum X median sclerite not as above, epiproct well developed and knob-like | 5 |
5 | Tergum X medial sclerite subrectangular, anterior margins with two separate sclerites | 6 |
– | Tergum X median sclerite of turtle or hexagonal shape | 7 |
6 | Tergum X anterior margins divided into two sclerites, epiproct with long hairs and without posterolateral bifurcation, aedeagus with V-shaped sclerite (see |
Suwallia errata |
– | Tergum X anterior margins with two separate paramedial sclerites, arch-shaped in lateral view, epiproct with stout posterolateral bifurcation, aedeagus with triangular sclerite, lateral margins darker (see |
Suwallia kuandian |
7 | Tergum X median sclerite turtle-like, aedeagus membranous, without distinct armature or sclerite (see |
Suwallia talalajensis |
– | Tergum X median sclerite hexagonal star-shaped, pointed posteriorly, aedeagus with distinct trifurcate sclerite (Figs |
Suwallia dengba sp. nov. |
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31872266, 31572295) and the Biodiversity Survey and Assessment Project of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China (No. 2019HJ2096001006). We express our deep gratitude to Xing-Min Wang, Wei-Dong Huang, Qing-Heng Tian (South China Agricultural University) and Yan-Dong Chen (Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) for help collecting the specimens. Moreover, we express our heartfelt thanks to the reviewers for providing comments that significantly improved the manuscript.