First description of the Chinese mayfly Ephemera lota Navás, 1934 (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae) based on imagines with designation of the species neotype

Abstract

The mayfly Ephemera lota Navás, 1934 was described based on subimagines, and the imagines and nymphs have not been known so far. For the first time, we provide descriptions of adults and nymphs using recently collected material. Based on their morphology, the species diagnostic characters are imaginal abdomen without transverse line, penis with finger-like apex, hindwing without any dot; nymphal frons with deep anterior emargination, two mandibular tusks subequal in length. Significantly, forewings of this species have variable MP2 base: from independent to fusing with CuA in different specimens through the other characters and barcoding data confirm all specimens belong to the same species. Due to the holotype lost, a neotype of the species is designated and subimagines are re-described.