Panorpa tincta Navás, 1931, by original designation.

The genus Sinopanorpa can be readily distinguished from other genera of Panorpidae by the following characters: wing membrane deeply yellowish-brown with sooty brown markings; vein R₂ generally 3-branched; notal organ on the posterior margin of male tergum III less-developed; tergum VI of male without anal horns; abdominal segment VII much thinner, stalk-like for basal 1/3, but distinctly thicker for distal 2/3; gonostylus in male genitalia greatly elongated with well-developed pointed basal lobe; ventral parameres simple, with spines on inner side, extending over apex of gonocoxite; A6 bearing a bundle of dense hairs on the centre of T6 in males; and female medigynium with extremely elongated thin axis.

China (Chongqing, Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Sichuan provinces) (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. 

Species distribution map of the genus Sinopanorpa Cai & Hua, 2008. BK, Baokang (Hubei); BLG, Baligou (Hubei); DHB, Daheba Forest Park (Gansu); DJH, Dajiuhu (Hubei); FHS, Fenghuangshan (Shaanxi); FP, Foping (Shaanxi); HAB, Huang’anba (Chongqing); HC, Hengchong Nature Reserve (Hubei); HDT, Huoditang (Shaanxi); HLS, Hualongshan (Shaanxi); HX, Huixian (Gansu); HZZ, Houzhenzi (Shaanxi); JHP, Jiuhuping (Hubei); JLJ, Jialing River (Shaanxi); LHG, Laohegou (Sichuan); LJP, Liujiaping (Gansu); LP, Liping (Shaanxi); MCS, Micangshan (Sichuan); NGS, Nangongshan (Shaanxi); TB, Taibai (Shaanxi); TTH, Tongtianhe Forest Park (Shaanxi); TY, Tianyan (Hubei); XLS, Xiaolongshan (Gansu); ZBS, Zibaishan (Shaanxi); ZQ, Zhuque Forest Park (Shaanxi).

This species differs from its congeners by the following characters: 1) gonostylus of male with median tooth blunt, and prominent basal lobe crescent spatula in shape; 2) ventral parameres shortened, only extending over apex of gonocoxite, with long comb-like spines along mesal margin on distal half; and 3) female medigynium narrow, with main plate nearly rectangular for basal 2/3, axis extending over 1/3 of its length beyond main plate.

China (Gansu and Shaanxi provinces) (Fig. 1).

This species can be differentiated from its congeners by the following characters: 1) abdominal segment VI of male markedly tapering towards apex in distal half; 2) basal lobe of gonostylus well-developed, with two acute distal hooks; 3) ventral parameres elongate, extending distinctly over basal lobe of gonostylus; and 4) main plate in female medigynium much shorter, only slightly longer than wide, with axis extending over half its length beyond main plate.

China (Chongqing, Hubei, and Shaanxi provinces) (Fig. 1).

This species can be readily differentiated from its congeners by the following characters: 1) posterior abdomen and male genitalia dark blackish brown; 2) ventral parameres greatly elongated, extending distinctly over median tooth of gonostylus; 3) basal lobe of gonostylus much narrower, with two short acute teeth at apex; and 4) main plate in female medigynium elongate, with thick axis extending half its length beyond main plate.

China (Shaanxi Province) (Fig. 1).

This species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: 1) male gonostylus with greatly developed simple acute basal lobe, extending beyond median tooth; 2) male ventral parameres moderately elongate, extending over base of basal lobe; and 3) female medigynium with main plate slightly longer than wide, with axis slender, two times as long as main plate.

China (Hubei Province) (Fig. 1).

Holotype ♂ (NWAU), China, Sichuan Province, Pingwu County, Laohegou (32°29'17"N, 104°43'17"E, 1800 m), 20 July 2017, leg. Yuan Hua & Kai Gao. Paratypes: 3♂ 2♀ (NWAU), China, Sichuan Province, Pingwu County, Laohegou (32°29'17"N, 104°43'17"E, 1800 m), 14 July 2022, leg. Yuan Hua; 2♂ 2♀ (NWAU), China, Sichuan Province, Pingwu County, Laohegou (32°29'17"N, 104°43'17"E, 1650–1900 m), 6 July 2021, leg. Yuan Hua; 3♂ 5♀ (NWAU), China, Gansu Province, Wenxian County, Liujiaping (32°48'30"N, 104°46'43"E, 2080 m), 25 June 2019, leg. Kai Gao & Zhi-Chao Jia.

The new species can be readily recognized from its congeners by the following characters: 1) vertex with a dark transverse band across ocellar triangle; 2) ventral parameres of male shortened, only extending slightly over basal lobe of gonostylus; 3) basal process of gonostylus short, simple, acute, but non-furcated; and 4) female medigynium elongate, with axis half its length out of main plate.

The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Minshan, and the Latin -cola (dwell).

Male (Fig. 2A). Head mostly yellowish brown. Rostrum faint yellow, with a pair of darkish longitudinal stripes laterally. Maxillary and labial palps yellowish brown, with distal segment dark brown. Antenna filiform, blackish brown. Ocellar triangle black. A dark transverse band across ocellar triangle to eyes (Fig. 2C).

Figure 2. 

Sinopanorpa minshanicola sp. nov. A. Male adult, dorsal view; B. Female adult, dorsal view; C. Male head, frontal view; D. Male head and thorax, dorsal view; E. Male abdomen, lateral view. Scale bars: 5 mm (A, B); 1 mm (C–E). ms, mesonotum. mt, metanotum. pr, pronotum.

Pronotum dark brown, with short black setae along anterior margin (Fig. 2D). Meso- and metanotum blackish brown. Pleura and sterna pale. Legs yellowish brown, with distal parts of tarsomeres dark brown.

Forewing length 15.96–16.70 mm, width 3.84–3.92 mm. Forewing membrane light yellow, with markings pale brown; pterostigma prominent, orange yellow; apical band broad, covering whole apical part; pterostigmal band complete, with basal and distal branches equal in width; marginal spot elongate-rectangular, extending from costa to R₄₊₅; basal band almost complete, across whole wing; basal spot absent; R₂ three-branched; R₃ arising from middle of pterostigmal band (Fig. 2A). Hindwing similar to forewing in pattern, but marginal spot and basal band absent. Forewings with 7–9 jugal bristles, hindwings with 2–3 frenular bristles.

Abdominal segments I–IV (A1–A4) black in terga, pale yellow in sterna, and pale in pleura with spiracles clearly visible. Notal organ on posterior margin of tergum III (T3) less-developed, with postnatal organ on tergum IV very small near anterior margin. A5 pale yellow. A6 reddish yellow, greatly elongated, two times as long as A5, without anal horns. A patch of golden hairs along mid T6. A7 much thinner in basal 1/3 than in distal 2/3, with a cluster of hairs on anterio-dorsal corner of distal part (Fig. 2E). A8 longer than A7, slightly constricted for basal 1/4.

Genital bulb long elliptic (Fig. 3A–C). Epandrium (tergum IX) broad at base, narrowing towards apex with a shallow apical emargination; a pair of cerci protruding subapically from under epandrium (Fig. 3C). Hypandrium (sternum IX) almost without basal stalk; hypovalves broad, extending beyond apex of gonocoxites, mesal margin of distal half bearing numerous barb spines. Two hypovalves almost parallel, with apex blunt (Fig. 3A). Gonocoxite with two small dark apical spots. Gonostylus elongate, slender, longer than gonocoxite, smoothly curved outwards; median tooth blunt, roughly at basal 1/3; basal lobe extremely developed, prominent, strongly sclerotized in apical half, assuming a stout elongate spine (Fig. 3E). Ventral parameres slender, finger-like, extending over basal lobe of gonostylus, distal half with dense long spines along mesal margins, shorter towards apical part. Aedeagus simple, with paired ventral and dorsal valves (Fig. 3B).

Figure 3. 

Sinopanorpa minshanicola sp. nov. A. Male genitalia, ventral view; B. Male genitalia, with hypovalves removed, ventral view; C. Male genitalia, dorsal view; D. Female terminalia, ventral view; E. Male gonostylus, dorsal view; F, G. Female medigynium, ventral and dorsal views. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. ax, axis. bp, basal process. ce, cercus. ep, epandrium. gcx, gonocoxite. gs, gonostylus. hv, hypovalve. mp, main plate. pa, posterior arm. pm, paramere. sgp, subgenital plate.

Female (Fig. 2B). Head dark yellow. Thorax dark black dorsally, light yellow laterally. Forewing length 16.30–16.76 mm, width 3.88–4.00 mm. Wing pattern similar to that of male, but markings vaguer, marginal spot absent. In hindwings, markings indistinct, basal band completely absent. A1–A4 dark black in terga, light yellow in sterna; A5–A7 yellowish brown dorsally, with a longitudinal thin mesal line.

Subgenital plate broad at base, gradually narrowing towards apex, with bluntly rounded apex, apical part bearing long setae (Fig. 3D). Medigynium (genital plate) very broad, main plate longer than wide, with a pair of posterior arms roughly forming a broad U-shape; axis elongate, extending half its length beyond main plate (Fig. 3F, G).

China (The Minshan Mountains in Gansu and Sichuan provinces).

Numerous adults of the new species were collected from late June to the end of July at the edges of coniferous and broad-leaf mixed forests, with dense sub-shrubs in the Minshan Mountains. At the type locality, adults are often found in moist microhabitats, especially rich on the alpine shrub or understory in broad-leaved forests with an altitude ranging from 1600 to 2100 m above sea level (Fig. 1).

Holotype ♂ (NWAU), China, Hubei Province, Shennongjia Nature Reserve, Tianyan (31°42'58"N, 110°21'35"E; 1800 m), 1 July 2018, leg. Kai Gao & Yu-Ru Yang. Paratypes: 1♂ 2♀ (NWAU), China, same data as for the holotype; 2♀ (NWAU), China, Hubei Province, Shennongjia, Dalongtan (31°29'39"N, 110°18'10"E; 2200 m), 3 July 2018, leg. Kai Gao & Yu-Ru Yang; 8♂ 6♀ (NWAU), China, Hubei Province, Shennongjia, Jiuhuping (31°30'32"N, 110°20'57"E; 1850 m), 3 July 2018, leg. Kai Gao & Yu-Ru Yang; 2♀ (NWAU), China, Hubei Province, Shennongjia, Jiuhuping (31°30'32"N, 110°20'57"E; 2200 m), 4 July 2018, leg. Kai Gao & Yu-Ru Yang; 6♂ 6♀ (NWAU), China, Hubei Province, Shennongjia, Jiuhuping (31°30'32"N, 110°20'57"E, 1900 m), 18 July 2019, leg. Kai Gao.

The new species can be differentiated from its congeners by the following characters: 1) vertex with ocellar triangle black, but without transverse band; 2) male tergum VI and female terga VI–IV orange; 3) ventral parameres of male greatly elongated, extending distinctly over median tooth of gonostylus to apical forth; 4) gonostylus with basal lobe well-developed and split into two separate acute elongate hooks; and 5) female subgenital plate with X-shaped ridge over whole length, and medigynium with slender axis non-expanded anteriorly.

The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Shennongjia, by using the adjective form of the locality name with the fuffix -ica.

Male (Fig. 4A). Head yellowish brown; eyes dark; ocellar triangle black; vertex and frons yellowish brown. Antennae darkish brown, filiform with 44–45 segments. Rostrum, labrum, and maxillae light brown; mandibles reddish brown with tips dark brown; maxillary palp light yellow except apical part dark brown.

Figure 4. 

Sinopanorpa shennongjiaica sp. nov. A. Male adult, dorsal view; B. Female adult, dorsal view; C. Male head, frontal view; D. Male head and thorax, dorsal view; E. Male abdomen, lateral view. Scale bars: 5 mm (A, B); 1 mm (C–E). pr, pronotum. ms, mesonotum. mt, metanotum.

Thorax blackish brown dorsally, pale yellow or yellowish brown laterally. Pronotum with 12 setae along anterior margin. Legs yellow, except joints from tibia to claws dark brown to black, claws serrate with six teeth.

Forewing length 15.32–16.34 mm, width 3.78–3.94 mm. Forewing membrane deeply yellow, with markings faint grayish brown; pterostigma prominent, orange. Apical band broad; pterostigmal band prominent, with complete basal and distal branches equal in width; marginal spot absent or elongate, extending from R₁ to R₂₊₃; basal band complete, broad; basal spot absent. R₂ 3-branched. Hindwings similar to forewings, but marginal spot and basal band absent (Fig. 4A).

Terga I–IV blackish brown, A5 yellowish brown; A6 orange reddish brown, A7–A9 yellowish brown. Sterna I–V pale yellow, pleura pale with dark longitudinal stripes. Notal organ on posterior margin of T3 less-developed. A6 subcylindrical, at least two times as long as A5, with a cluster of hairs on mid protuberance of tergum, without anal horns. A7 prominently thinner for basal 1/3, then suddenly swollen dorsad for distal 2/3, with a cluster of short hairs along anterodorsal corner of distal part (Fig. 4E).

Genital bulb rounded (Fig. 5A–C). Epandrium (tergum IX) broad at base, gradually narrowing towards apex, with apex shallowly emarginated; a pair of cerci protruding subapically from under epandrium (Fig. 5C). Hypandrium (sternum IX) with basal stalk very short; hypovalves broad, split from base of hypandrium, extending to apex of gonocoxite, almost parallel, bearing long setae on inner margin of distal half (Fig. 5A). Gonocoxites yellowish brown, with two black spots at apex. Gonostylus elongate, curved outwards, almost as long as gonocoxite, with one pointed mesal tooth and two prominent acute basal lobes (Fig. 5E). Ventral parameres greatly elongate, extending distinctly over median tooth to distal forth of gonostlylus, without distinct spines along inner margins, with apices slightly convergent. Aedeagus black (Fig. 5B).

Figure 5. 

Sinopanorpa shennongjiaica sp. nov. A. Male genitalia, ventral view; B. Male genitalia, with hypovalves removed, ventral view; C. Male genitalia, dorsal view; D. Female terminalia, ventral view; E. Male gonostylus, dorsal view; F, G. Female medigynium, ventral and dorsal views. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. ax, axis. bp, basal process. ce, cercus. ep, epandrium. gcx, gonocoxite. gs, gonostylus. hv, hypovalve. mp, main plate. pa, posterior arm. pm, paramere. sgp, subgenital plate.

Female. Forewing length 16.64–17.12 mm, width 3.94–4.10 mm. Wings generally similar to those of male, but marginal spot present (Fig. 4B). Terga I–III black, corresponding sterna pale; T4 reddish brown, with lateral margins black; T5–T9 reddish brown.

Subgenital plate narrow, with an X-shaped ridge (Fig. 5D). Medigynium broad, nearly rectangular from above; main plate two times as long as wider, with a pair of posterior arms in U-shape. Axis elongate, slender, extending half its length beyond main plate, not expanded at anterior end (Fig. 5F, G).

China (Hubei Province).

This species is distributed in the Shennongjia Mountains. In the type locality, all specimens were captured on herbaceous groundcover, with elevations ranging from 1800 to 2200 m. Suitable microhabitats are moist and cool valleys during the imaginal flight period.