Body length (from anterior of head to posterior of paraprocts) 13.0-15.0 mm (examined specimen number = 8), living male near habitat stream and male in ethanol both dark brown (Figs 1, 2).

Figure 1.  

Perlodinella shennongjia sp. nov. A Habitat in Dajiuhu National Wetland Park, Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province, China, photo by Yi-Yang Xu; B Living habitus of male, photo by Yi-Yang Xu; C Living habitus of a pair of mating adults, photo by Yi-Yang Xu.

Figure 2.  

Perlodinella shennongjia sp. nov., male holotype A Habitus, dorsal view; B Habitus, ventral view.

Head mostly dark brown dorsally, pale ventrally (Fig. 2); triocellate, anterior ocellus much smaller than posterior ocelli, ocellar area and posterior margin of head pale. Compound eyes dark and rounded. Antenna slender, length slightly longer than abdomen, all segments dark brown.

Pronotum subquadrate (Fig. 2), lateral margins nearly parallel, pigmentation dark brown, except pale median stripe, surface with several obscure rugosities. Prosternum mostly pale, medially with a fusiform, dark spot. Mesothoracic furcasternum branches reaching posterior of furcal pits. Basisterna and furcasterna of meso- and metathorax dark brown. Wings fully developed or slightly shortened (Figs 1, 2, 3), fore-wings length 10.0-12.0 mm (examined specimen number = 8), hind-wings length 8.0-10.0 mm (examined specimen number = 8); wing membrane subhyaline, veins brown. In fore-wings, apex with small net-like venation formed by apical branches of RA and RP; six to seven cross-veins present between C and Sc; anal area with four main anal veins. In hind-wings, apical net similar to that of fore-wing; anal area large and folded, with about ten anal branches. Leg background dark brown (Fig. 2); coxae, trochanters and joints between femora and tibiae pale; two giant tibial spurs present apically; claws slender and sharp.

Figure 3.  

Perlodinella shennongjia sp. nov., male holotype A Right forewing, dorsal view; B Right hind-wing, dorsal view.

Abdominal segments mostly dark (Figs 2, 4, 5), segments 1-4 divided into distinct terga and sterna by pale lateral membrane, pale lateral areas extending to sterna 5-6 in a paratype. Sternum 1 completely fused with metathorax. Sternum 9 elongated, mostly or entirely dark brown. Terga 6-9 not elevated at posterior half, with dense posterolateral hair patches. Posterior half of terga 8-10 with scattered sensilla basiconica. Tergum 10 strongly elevated, dorsally covered with dense short spines and sparse sensilla basiconica (Figs 4, 5); apex blunt, ventrally with scattered sensilla basiconica. Epiproct completely membranous (Fig. 5), thumb-shaped, basal half cylindrical, slightly constricted near mid-point, apical half rounded; dorsal surface covered with sparse patch of conical, dark spines, ventral surface covered with dense patch of conical, dark spines, apex scattered with sparse, conical, pale spines. Paraproct sclerite wide and resembling a parallelogram basally (Fig. 5), then gradually tapering into an inwardly pointed apex; anterior margins of paraproct sclerites dark; inner margins dark, not connected basally, nearly parallel at basal half, apical half of paraproct sclerites surrounding a circular median area. Paraproct lobe short, near bulbous, covered with dense, conical, pale spines and with several scattered, conical, dark spines. Cerci subequal in length to abdomen; each segment mostly dark brown, except paler basal ends, with a whorl of long bristles around distal end.

Figure 4.  

Perlodinella shennongjia sp. nov., male holotype A Abdomen, dorsal view; B Abdomen, lateral view; C Abdomen, ventral view.

Figure 5.  

Perlodinella shennongjia sp. nov., male holotype A Male terminalia, caudal view; B–D Male terminalia, dorsal view; E Apex of aedeagus, dorsal view; F–G Aedeagus, lateral view; H–I Aedeagus, dorsolateral view.

Body length 17.0-19.0 mm (examined specimen number = 4), mostly dark brown (Fig. 6). Colour pattern similar to males.

Figure 6.  

Perlodinella shennongjia sp. nov., female paratype A Female habitus, dorsal view; B Female habitus, ventral view.

Macropterous (Figs 6, 7); fore-wings length 15.0-16.0 mm, hind-wings length 13.0-14.0 mm (examined specimen number = 4); wing membrane subhyaline, veins brown. Wing venation similar to males.

Figure 7.  

Perlodinella shennongjia sp. nov., female paratype A Right fore-wing, dorsal view; B Right hind-wing, dorsal view.

Abdomen dorsally dark brown; abdominal sterna 1-7 with a continuous dark brown, median stripe, lateral areas pale (Fig. 6). Abdominal sternum 8 with four subtriangular dark sclerites, anterior ones smaller, posterior ones larger, median line pale. Subgenital plate broad, posterior margin rounded, nearly reaching posterior margin of sternum 9. Sterna 9-10 pale and short. Paraproct subtriangular, apex blunt, with grey inner and posterior margins.

Length ca. 800 μm; width ca. 400 μm. Trilateral (Fig. 8), with three conspicuous longitudinal ridges. Each side of egg with a transverse ridge near posterior pole. Anterior area of each transverse ridge with one row of several micropyles. Chorion relatively smooth. Anchor completely membranous, mushroom-shaped in lateral view, surface covered with dense granules. Collar sessile and short, with sinuous anterior margins.

Figure 8.  

Perlodinella shennongjia sp. nov., immature eggs A Egg with anchor preserved, lateral view; B Less-developed egg, lateral view; C Egg with anchor removed, lateral view.