Neoperla latamaculata Du, 2005

Zeng, Liang-Liang, Huo, Qing-Bo & Du, Yu-Zhou, 2025, A new species of the genus Neoperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Guizhou, China with redescription of N. latamaculata Du, 2005, Zootaxa 5618 (3), pp. 433-438 : 435-436

Neoperla latamaculata Du, 2005

Figures 3–5

Neoperla latamaculata Du, 2005 in Du & Sivec, 2005: 48, 49. Li, Wang & Lu, 2011: 57. Yang & Li, 2018: 41. Zwick, 2023: 121.

Male. General color brown. Head mostly orange with triangular darker area covering ocelli and triangular dark area anterior to M-line, area around compound eyes pale; compound eyes black; antennae brown to dark brown. The pronotum is wider anteriorly with pointed anterior and rounded posterior angles, rugosities and a darkened midline mark the middle third of the pronotum with a diffuse stripe. Antennae and palpi yellow brown; wing membrane subhyaline, veins brown; legs pale to yellowish brown, femorotibial joint dark brown.

Body length 17–19 mm (n=3). Terga 1–6 unmodified. Tergum 7 with posterior margin slightly extended into a subquadrate process, covered with sensilla basiconica. Tergum 8 possesses a slender, erect, and recurved medial tongue-like process, which is adorned with sensilla basiconica. Hemitergal processes of tergum 10 sclerotized and slightly bent ventrally at middle.

The penis tube is plump, featuring a sclerotized patch on the dorsal surface that extends to the tip, with paired spiny lobes on the ventral surface near the apex. The base of the endophallus features a V-shaped spine patch on the dorsal surface, with a larger spine patch in the middle. Near the proximal end, a hump is present on the dorsal surface. A row of spines extends from the ventral surface, running from the middle to the tip, with fine spines scattered along the posterior half.

Female, egg, larva. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype ( ICYZU), China: Shaanxi Province, Ningshaan County, Pingheliang National Nature Reserve , 1989.VII.20, leg Aierkens. 3 males ( ICYZU), China: Chongqing, Wuxi County, Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve , Linkouzi Management Station , 1269 m, 2024.VII.21, leg Luyu Wang, Zhisheng Zhang.

Distribution. China (Chongqing, Hubei, Shaanxi)

Remarks. This morphological description of this species is brief and available only in Chinese; and the original illustrations are somewhat blurry. We examined the holotype as well as recently collected specimens from Chongqing ( Fig. 3 ). Due to nearly 35 years of preservation in alcohol, many features of the holotype have become less distinct. In contrast, we photographed the adult male penis of a specimen collected in Chongqing, which was better preserved. Herein, we present novel, clear color images to aid accurate identification in the future. ( Figs. 4–5 ).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Neoperla latamaculata, holotype, everted penis. A: dorsal view. B: ventral view. C: lateral view.

FIGURE 4. Neoperla latamaculata from Chongqing, male. A: adult of male, dorsal view; B: head and pronotum, dorsal view; C: abdominal terminalia, dorsal view.

FIGURE 5. Neoperla latamaculata from Chongqing, male, everted penis. A: dorsal view. B: ventral view. C: lateral view.