Tupiperla tessellata ( Brauer, 1866 )

Lecci, Lucas Silveira, Sarmento, Felipe Ribeiro Pereira & Bispo, Pitágoras Da Conceição, 2025, Tupiperla tessellata (Brauer, 1866) (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae): description of the nymph with morphological and distributional notes, Zootaxa 5642 (6), pp. 551-561 : 552-560

Tupiperla tessellata ( Brauer, 1866) ( Figs. 1–6 ).

Gripopteryx tessellata Brauer, 1866:51 ; Klapálek 1904:9; Jewett 1960:172.

Gripopteryx neofriburgensis Navás, 1916:27 ; Jewett 1959:150 (syn. fide Jewett 1960).

Paragripopteryx gracilis (in part.) Illies, 1963:179.

Tupiperla tessellata Froehlich 1998:20 ; Froehlich 2008:126; Stark et al. 2009:98; Froehlich 2010:139; Bispo & Lecci 2011:380; Avelino-Capistrano & Nessimian 2013:188; Avelino-Capistrano & Nessimian 2014:9; Duarte et al. 2014:86; Lecci et al. 2014:95; Novaes & Bispo 2016:488; Gonçalves et al. 2017:570; Pessacq et al. 2019:194; Duarte & Lecci 2023:e20230056; Varella & Parise 2024:e20230072.

Diagnosis. Tupiperla tessellata is a small- to medium-sized species with adult specimens ranging from dark brown ( Figs. 1A – 2A ) to light brown ( Fig. 3A ). The forewing length range for males is 7.5–8.7 mm (n = 63) and for females is 9.2–10.2 mm (n = 61). Male paraprocts thin with almost parallel margins and apices curving upward; tergum 10 with a thin extension ending in two separated teeth ( Figs. 2C – 3C ). Female subgenital plate long ( Figs. 1B, 1E , 4 B-C), with a laterotergal sclerotization that runs to the posterior border of the segment more dorsally ( Froehlich, 1998). Nymphs have femora with two longitudinal bands of setae; and tergum 10 apex trapezoid-shaped, slightly forked ( Figs. 6C–D ).

Material Examined. Holotype, Female : RIO DE JANEIRO, Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria . Additional material: Nymphs. 3 nymphs: BRAZIL, São Paulo, Jundiaí, Parque Florestal Serra do Japi, Riacho do PA 11 (23°13’42”S, 46°57’57”W, 902 m a.s.l.), 27.III.2007, D-net, ARC, RM, and LSL .; 7 nymphs: same data except for Riacho da Cachoeira do Paraiso (23°14’33”S, 46°57’03”W, 1025 m a.s.l.), 29. V.2007, LSL and EAN . Adults. 1 male, 1 exuviae: BRAZIL, São Paulo, Jundiaí, Parque Florestal Serra do Japi , Riacho do PA 11 (23°13’42”S, 46°57’57”W, 902 m a.s.l.), 27.III.2007, collected as a nymph with a D-net and reared to the adult stage, ARC, RM and LSL ; 1 male, 6 females: same data except for Riacho da Cachoeira do Paraiso (23°14’33”S, 46°57’03”W, 1025 m a.s.l.), 29. V.2007, entomological net, LSL and EAN ; 2 males: same data except for Riacho da Cachoeira do Paraiso (23°14’33”S, 46°57’03”W, 1025 m a.s.l.), 27.VIII.2007, entomological net, LSL and EAN ; 1 female, 1 exuviae: same data except for Riacho do PA 11 (23°13’42”S, 46°57’57”W, 902 m a.s.l.), 20.IV.2009, collected as a nymph with a D-net and reared to the adult stage, RM and LSL .

Numerical data. Nymphs, last instar: width of head, 0.88–0.96 mm (mean = 0.92 mm); length of body, 4.6–6.0 mm (mean = 5.2 mm); number of antennomeres, 56–58; number of cercomeres, 38–39 (n = 4).

Description of the nymph. Body slender ( Fig. 5 ), generally light brown in alcohol. Head with long antennae, approximately 58 antennomeres; scape and pedicel brownish; flagellum mostly light brown; frons light brown; gena with a rounded dark brown spot; epicranial line almost imperceptible; clypeus dark brown; three small ocelli. Mouthparts ( Figs. 5B–C ): maxilla, cardo, and stipes with short setae; galea falciform, with 7 apical setae; lacinia with two apical teeth. Labium: posmentum with a broad base; glossa and paraglossa with many setae; palpus 4‐segmented. Mandibles slightly concave internally, with setae at the base.

Thorax flat, without spines. Pronotum as wide as the head, square-shaped with rounded corners; distal margin elliptical, light brown and slightly darker near the edges ( Fig. 5A ); meso and metanotum light brown; setae on the wing pad with a bulbous base; legs light brown; femur with two longitudinal bands of setae; femur with a spine approximately 1/3 from the apex.

Abdomen light brown ( Figs. 5A ; 6 ), with uniform shape and pilosity of abdominal segments uniform. Bacillusshaped setae forming a band on the end of abdominal segments 1 to 9; The apex of tergum 10 trapezoid-shaped, slightly forked, similar in shape to a swallowtail with two small, separated teeth in the latter instars ( Figs. 6C–D ). Cerci brown and long, with 38–39 cercomeres.

Remarks. The holotype of T. tessellata is a female housed in Naturhistorisches Museum Viena, Austria. The holotype is in poor condition, heavily damaged and repaired with glue ( Froehlich 1998). However, after abdominal clearing by Prof. Claudio G. Froehlich, key terminalia characters could be observed ( Fig. 4 B-C). Male terminalia were previously illustrated in Froehlich (1998).

In general, the forewing length of male adults of T. tessellata ranges from 6.8 to 8.7 mm and the length of female adults ranges from 8.4 to 13 mm ( Jewett 1959; Froehlich 1998; Bispo & Lecci 2011). The dorsal color pattern of the head and pronotum of T. tessellata adults can be variable ( Bispo & Lecci 2011), even within the same population as we can see here ( Figs. 2–3 ).

The first nymph described of Tupiperla ( Froehlich 1969) is not associated with any species, as it was described when the genus was considered monotypic. Therefore, the present study makes for the first time an association of nymphs with adults of a nominal species of Tupiperla . The nymph of T. tessellata has a trapezoid-shaped apex of tergum 10, whereas the nymph described in Froehlich (1969) has a rounded apex. In addition, the nymph of T. tessellata is darker than the nymph described in Froehlich (1969). The nymph of T. tessellata has a femur with two longitudinal bands of setae and the apex of tergum 10 trapezoid-shaped and slightly forked, resembling a swallowtail with two small separated teeth in the latter instars ( Fig. 6 ). This combination of characters is not found in any morphotype of nymphs of Tupiperla spp. analyzed in the present work and also does not match the nymph of T. gracilis described by Froehlich in 1969 ( Froehlich 1969).

Tupiperla tessellata occurs in streams throughout the Atlantic Forest biome, with a latitudinal range extending from Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost recorded point for any Tupiperla species, to Pernambuco, the northernmost distribution limit for the genus, in the northeast of Brazil ( Fig. 7 ). This species has the widest geographic distribution within the genus Tupiperla . By describing the nymph of T. tessellata , we take the first step toward reducing the Haeckelian shortfall (Faria et al. 2021) for the genus Tupiperla .

Previous studies have already shown that Tupiperla spp. ( Roque et al. 2008), including T. tessellata (Silva et al. 2018) , have demonstrated significant potential as a bioindicator of environmental quality. This sensitivity stems from the species’ dependence on intact riparian ecosystems—the loss of natural vegetation along streams directly increases water temperatures, reduces dissolved oxygen levels, decreases shelter availability, and diminishes particulate organic matter that serves as critical food resources for nymphs.

Our findings significantly expand current knowledge of Tupiperla and Brazilian Plecoptera providing crucial baseline data for future research. These results are particularly valuable for developing biomonitoring protocols and targeted conservation strategies, especially for the threatened Atlantic Forest biome where these environmental pressures are most acute. Froehlich (2012) highlighted critical gaps in Plecoptera taxonomy across several Brazilian regions, emphasizing the urgent need for expanded research. Such taxonomic studies form the essential foundation for effective ecological monitoring and conservation strategies, particularly in vulnerable biomes where biodiversity remains poorly documented despite anthropogenic threats.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Tupiperla tessellata. Female. A, head and pronotum in dorsal view; B, fore- and hind wings; C–E, terminalia in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views; scale bar: 1 mm. (Abbreviations: AA1, first anterior Analis; AA2, second anterior Analis; Ant, Antenna; CuA, anterior cubitus; CuP, posterior cubitus; Hd, Head; M, Media; PC, Pterostigmatic cell; Pnt, Pronotum; RA, anterior Radius; RP, posterior Radius; Sc, Subcosta; Cc, Cerci; Pp, Paraprocts; Sp, Subgenital plate; T8, Tergum 8; T9, Tergum 9; T10, Tergum 10).

FIGURE 2. Tupiperla tessellata. Male. A, head and pronotum in dorsal view; B, fore- and hind wings; C–E, terminalia in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views; scale bar: 1 mm. (Abbreviations: Cc, Cerci; Pp, Paraprocts; Sp, Subgenital plate; T8, Tergum 8; T9, Tergum 9; T10, Tergum 10; T10e, Tergum 10 extension).

FIGURE 3. Tupiperla tessellata. Teneral Male.A, head and pronotum in dorsal view; B, fore- and hind wings; C–E, terminalia in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views; scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Tupiperla tessellata. Holotype Female. A, head and pronotum in dorsal view; B and C, terminalia in ventral and lateral views; scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Tupiperla tessellata. Nymph. A, last instar specimen whole body in dorsal view; B, maxilla in ventral view; C, mandibles in ventral view; scale bar: 1 mm. (Abbreviations:Ant, Antenna; Hd, Head; Pnt, Pronotum; T8, Tergum 8; T9, Tergum 9; T10, Tergum 10).

FIGURE 6. Tupiperla tessellate. A and B, lateral and dorsal views of male exuvium; C and D, dorsal view of nymphs in different instars, earlier and later stages; scale bar: 1 mm. (Abbreviations: T8, Tergum 8; T9, Tergum 9; T10, Tergum 10).

FIGURE 7. Updated geographic distribution of Tupiperla tessellata.