A new stonefly from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber reveals novel genital structure for the extinct genus Largusoperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae)

Abstract

Largusoperla zhouchangfai sp. nov., a new extinct stonefly species is described based on a male adult in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. The new stonefly exhibits well-preserved wing pairs, dorsal and ventral abdominal segments and aedeagus. The new species is inter alia characterized by the two elongated lobes on the cleft tergum 10, inverted V-shaped epiproct sclerite, small circular hammer, subtriangular paraprocts, and the tubular aedeagus with three slender apical spines. Morphological characters of the new species are described, illustrated, and compared with related taxa.