Rhopalopsole trichotoma Yang & Du, 2021

Rhopalopsole trichotoma Yang & Du, 2021 View in CoL

Figs. 2–4 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4

Rhopalopsole trichotoma Yang & Du, 2021 View in CoL . In: Yang et al. 2021: 146 View Cited Treatment .

Type locality: China: Fujian Province, Wuyi Mountain .

Material examined: 2 males, China, Fujian Province, Mt. Wuyi , 2021-III-19, leg. Huo Qing-Bo and Zhu Bin-Qing ( ICYZU) .

Distribution: China (Fujian)

Remarks and Conclusion: If Luo et al. (2022) had checked the specimens of R. basinigra collected from Wuyi Mountains, they likely would not have regarded R. trichotoma as a synonym of this species ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 ). Fortunately, we have recently collected specimens of R. basinigra from Wuyi Mountains. The figures of R. basinigra are presented below ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ) and can be clearly distinguished from R. trichotoma by (1) sternum 9 has two lines strongly sclerotized apically ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ); (2) tergum 9 bears a bottle-like and strongly sclerotized structure medially ( Figs. 1A–B View FIGURE 1 ); (3) tergum 10 bearing a large, strongly sclerotized central plate ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Conversely, in R. trichotoma (1) sternum 9 lacks the two strongly sclerotized apical lines ( Figs. 2C View FIGURE 2 , 3C View FIGURE 3 ); (2) tergum 9 bears an oval structure medially ( Figs. 2A View FIGURE 2 , 3A View FIGURE 3 ); (3) tergum 10 bears a large central plate irregularly covered with sensilla basiconica patch in two oval, lightly sclerotized posteromedial areas ( Figs. 2A–B View FIGURE 2 , 3A–B View FIGURE 3 ). The shape of the transverse plates and lateral projections also bear some differences between these two species.

The genetic distance data and phylogenetic analyses also provide ample evidence that R. trichotoma and R. basinigra are not the same species ( Table 1 View TABLE 1 , Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ). The interspecific genetic distance value of the mtCOI gene sequence between R. trichotoma and the two R. basinigra individuals is 6.5% and 6.2%. The value is more than the commonly used 2% for species delimitation with DNA barcoding (Zhou et al. 2009). The Maximum likelihood (ML) tree ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ) shows R. basinigra KY 304496 and R. basinigra KY 304497 supported by a high bootstrap value (98%), but neither is grouped individually with R. trichotoma . Overall, based on morphological characteristics and molecular evidence, we determined that R. trichotoma Yang & Du, 2021 is a valid species.