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| Zelandoperla maungatuaensis Foster in Foster, McCulloch & Waters, 2019. |
ABSTRACT
A new wing-reduced species of the stonefly genus Zelandoperla Tillyard is described from Otago, New Zealand. Zelandoperla maungatuaensis sp. n. differs from a related species, Z. denticulata, primarily by lacking full wing development. We used morphological, geographical, and genetic evidence to assess the proposed status of Z. maungatuaensis sp. n. and Z. denticulata as separate monomorphic species, as opposed to conspecific members of a polymorphic species. High genetic divergence was found between distinctly allopatric populations, supporting the status of Z. maungatuaensis sp. n. as a distinct monomorphic species.
KEYWORDS: Gripopterygidae, microptery, new species, taxonomy, wing reduction
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| Zelandoperla maungatuaensis sp. n. male holotype habitus showing live colouration. |
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| Zelandoperla maungatuaensis sp. n. male holotype habitus showing live colouration. |
Family Gripopterygidae
Subfamily Zelandoperlinae
Genus Zelandoperla Tillyard, 1923
Zelandoperla maungatuaensis sp. n. Foster, 2019
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the type locality Maungatua, which is derived from the Māori words maunga-atua, meaning ‘hill of the spirits’. Suggested common name: the Maungatua stonefly.
Brodie J. Foster, Graham A. McCulloch and Jonathan M. Waters. 2019. Zelandoperla maungatuaensis sp. n. (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae), A New Flightless Stonefly Species from Otago, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology. DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2019.1624266
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