Oemopteryx tuscarora, Verdone & Williams & Beaty & Holland & Grubbs & Dewalt, 2025

Oemopteryx tuscarora sp. nov. Verdone, Beaty, Holland & Williams

( Figs 20–25 View FIGURE 20 View FIGURE 21 View FIGURE 22 View FIGURE 23 View FIGURE 24 View FIGURE 25 )

Sand Hills Willowfly

Etymology. This species is named in honor of the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina that lived throughout much of eastern North Carolina and was considered the most powerful and developed tribe in the region ( Parramore 2006). The name is used as a noun of feminine gender. The common name “Sand Hills Willowfly” is proposed for this species.

Distribution. USA.—NC ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 ).

Material examined. Holotype M: USA.— North Carolina: Moore Co., Haystack Creek, Camp Reeves , 35.33889, -79.56610, 4 March 2021, C. Verdone, S. Beaty, V. Holland, J. DeBerardinis ( USNM) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: North Carolina: Hoke Co., Flat Creek, Manchester Rd. , 35.18274, -79.17723, 9 January 2019, C. Verdone. S. Beaty, D. Donahoe, 1L ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same location, 13 February 2019, C. Verdone, S. Beaty, E. Fleek, 1L ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps . Moore Co., Haystack Creek, nr. Mouth , Camp Reeves , 35.33889, -79.56610, 6 March 1986, T. McPherson, 10L ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; Haystack Creek, Camp Reeves , 35.33889, -79.56610, 23 February 2021, emerged 24 February 2021, C. Verdone, S. Beaty 1F, 1E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same location, 25 February 2021, C. Verdone, S. Beaty, V. Holland, J. DeBerardinis, 28L ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 26 February 2021, 1M, 1E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 28 February 2021, 1M, 1E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 1 March 2021, 1M, 1E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 1 March 2021, 1F, 1E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 2 March 2021, 2F, 2E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same location, 4 March 2021, emerged 5 March 2021, C. Verdone, S. Beaty, V. Holland, 1F, 1E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 8 March 2021, 1F, 1E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 9 March 2021, 1M, 1E, ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 10 March 2021, 1F, 1E, ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 10 March 2021, 1F, 1E, ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 12 March 2021, 1M, 1E, ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 13 March 2021, 1F, 1E, ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, 1L ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same location, 1 April 2021, 1L ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same location, 18 February 2022, C. Verdone, B. Williams, 10L ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 19 February 2022 1F, 1E GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 21 February 2022, 2F, 2E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 23 February 2022, 1M, 1F, 2E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same location, 25 February 2022, C. Verdone, S. Beaty, V. Holland, 3L ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 28 February 2022, 2F, 2E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 2 March 2022, C. Verdone, S. Beaty, V. Holland, 1M, 1E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; same data, emerged 3 March 2022, 1M, 1E ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps . Richmond Co., Rocky Ford Branch, Gibson Mill Rd. , 35.12360, -79.66283, 8 February 2023, C. Verdone, V. Holland. D. Harwood, 1L ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps ; Rocky Fork Creek, Gibson Mill Rd. , 35.06448, -79.69316, 8 February 2023, C. Verdone, V. Holland, D. Harwood, 1L ( NCDWR) GoogleMaps .

Adult male ( Fig. 21A View FIGURE 21 ). Macropterous. Length of forewings 7.7–8.1 mm (n = 6). Length of body 6.1–7.9 mm (n = 10). General body color dark-brown.

Head. ( Fig. 21A View FIGURE 21 ). Dorsum of head mostly dark-brown. Labrum pale anteriorly, brown posteriorly. Anterior frontoclypeus light-brown. Frons with a dark-brown U-shaped marking. Antenna longer than body. Scape, pedicel, and flagella dark brown. Scape with a distal notch on anterior face. First flagellum subdivided at distal 1/4. Rugosities anterolateral to lateral ocelli and ecdysial suture. Pale triangular areas distal of lateral ocelli and posterior to ecdysial suture, often appearing rectangular due to darker pigment on anterior half. Interocellar area uniformly dark-brown and slightly depressed. Occiput with dark brown rugosities. Medial areas of the frons, interocellar surface, and occiput covered with fine, pale, clothing hairs.

Thorax ( Fig. 21A View FIGURE 21 ). Pronotum subquadrate, wider than long (length 0.8X width) with posterior width slightly wider than anterior width; brown overall with darker rugosities. Anterior and posterior margins of pronotal flange often pale. Disk with irregular dark rugosities; a transverse furrow at anterior 1/4. Prosternum moderately sclerotized. Meso- and metathorax dark-brown, heavily sclerotized dorsally and ventrally. Thoracic nota and coxae uniformly covered with sparse, short, fine clothing hairs. Legs with contrasting pigment. Femur pale with an incomplete mottled brown stripe on the anterodorsal and posterodorsal faces; distal portion of femur with darker pigment. Tibia light-brown, darker brown on distally, proximal callus pale; apex of tibiae with 2-stout apical spines. Tarsus dark-brown. Legs uniformly covered with dark, short stout setae. Wings hyaline; venation brown. Forewing with light mottling; without costal crossveins between humeral crossvein and apex of the subcostal vein which may be forked. Hindwing mottling less developed, absent in anal region.

Abdomen. Dorsum of tergum-1 with a U-shaped pale area ( Fig. 20B View FIGURE 20 ). Abdominal segments 1–9 lightly covered with short, fine clothing hairs. Terga 2–7 uniformly brown; terga 8–9 with a posteromedial membranous cleft. Sterna 1–9 uniformly brown; sterna 2–8 with a pair of anterior sublateral oval brown spots. Sternum-9 with a lightly sclerotized, broadly circular vesicle ( Fig. 21C View FIGURE 21 ) that is attached to sternum-9 from directly beneath the vesicle. Sternum-9 elongated into a scooped plate ( Fig. 22D View FIGURE 22 ), width subequal from base to apex ( Fig. 21C View FIGURE 21 ); apex square with rounded lateral margins ( Fig. 22A View FIGURE 22 ); plate with numerous long setae on dorsal and ventral surfaces ( Figs 22A, D View FIGURE 22 ); plate covering sternum-10 ventrally and extending beyond.

Terminalia ( Figs 22A–E View FIGURE 22 ). Abdominal segment-10 nested within segment-9. Anterior margin unsclerotized. Tergal sclerite-10 with a subtle medial cleft, paired anterior processes absent ( Figs 22A, 22C View FIGURE 22 ). Cercus 4-segmented, excluding vestigial apical segment ( Figs 22A, 22D View FIGURE 22 ), and with a low, rounded, posteriorly directed basalcercal process covered in socketed setae and sensilla basiconica ( Figs 22A–B, 22D View FIGURE 22 ). Basal plate of tergum-10 relatively flat, sclerotized with a wrinkled texture ( Fig. 22A View FIGURE 22 ). Lateral struts present, median strut absent, but with a small medial point ( Fig. 22A View FIGURE 22 ). Basal bulb ( Figs 22A–B View FIGURE 22 ), glabrous, oval, bulbous, moderately sclerotized and with an oval inner bulb bearing a small hollow stalk, which terminates at a pore on the anterior face near the junction of the 2-anterior epiproct processes. Anterior epiproct prong fused to basal bulb, divided halfway to base, each arm terminating an anteriorly facing sclerotized foot-shaped process that it pointed at its apex and recurved ventrally ( Figs 22A–B, 22D–E View FIGURE 22 ). Posterior epiproct prong closely appressed to anterior prong and subdivided into 2-processes. Ventral process lightly sclerotized, divided near apex into 2-glabrous, rounded lobes ( Figs 22A–B, 22D–E View FIGURE 22 ). Dorsal process pouch-like, armed with posteriorly directed spine-like setae with an apical sleeve containing 2–3 internal filaments that are not eversible ( Figs 22A–B, 22D–E View FIGURE 22 ); filaments sometimes visible on left side of basal bulb. Paraprocts subdivided into 2-parts, symmetrical anterior paraprocts and asymmetrical, bi-lobed posterior paraprocts. Anterior paraproct, conical, medially directed, evenly tapering to a point ( Figs 22A–B View FIGURE 22 ). Posterior paraprocts ( Figs 22A, 22D View FIGURE 22 ) subdivided, fused near bases. Left outer prong short, flattened and lightly sclerotized. Left inner prong long, flattened, twisted and striated, terminating with an acute sclerotized spine. Right outer prong short, flattened and moderately sclerotized. Right inner prong tubular, twisted and striated, tapering to apex.

Adult female ( Figs 20A View FIGURE 20 , 21B View FIGURE 21 ). Macropterous. Length of forewings 8.5–8.9 mm (n = 6). Length of body 6.9–7.5 mm (n = 10). General body color brown. Overall appearance similar to male. Wings hyaline; venation brown. Forewing with light mottling; without costal crossveins between humeral crossvein and apex of the subcostal vein which may be forked ( Fig. 21D View FIGURE 21 ). AA1 vein of forewing with short fine setae ≤ 0.5mm ( Fig. 21F View FIGURE 21 ). Hindwing mottling less developed, absent in anal region ( Fig. 21D View FIGURE 21 ). Dorsum of tergum-1 with a U-shaped pale area ( Fig. 20C View FIGURE 20 ); terga 2–8 uniformly brown dorsomedially; terga 9–10 sclerotized dorsally and laterally. Lateral margins of abdomen segments 1–8 unsclerotized. Sternum-8 weakly sclerotized ( Fig. 21E View FIGURE 21 ). Subgenital plate weakly sclerotized ( Fig. 21E View FIGURE 21 ), but with a lightly sclerotized medial tab ( Figs 23A–B View FIGURE 23 ). Sternum-9 parabolic, produced just beyond the apex of abdominal segment-10 ( Figs 21E View FIGURE 21 , 23A View FIGURE 23 ); length of free portion of sternum-9 0.8X basal width; uniformly covered with long setae that become longer posteriorly; lateral margins slightly narrowing to a truncated apex. Cercus 4–5 segmented, excluding vestigial apical segment ( Figs 21E View FIGURE 21 , 23A View FIGURE 23 ).

Ovum. Unknown.

Mature larva ( Fig. 24A View FIGURE 24 ). Length of male body 5.7–7.9 mm (n = 6), female body 7.7–9.2 mm (n = 6). General color light-brown. Integument glossy, much of the body with sparse, fine, hair-like sensillae and socketed stout setae, observable at>100X magnification. Specimens generally preserve in a curled posture with the head touching or approaching the abdomen apex, similar to other Taeniopterygidae .

Head ( Fig. 24A View FIGURE 24 ). Dorsum of head light-brown with darker brown maculations variously developed.Antelabrum light-brown; anterior margin with a dense brush of golden setae. Postlabrum pale. Anterior frontoclypeus pale. Frons with a brown U-shaped marking with posterolateral extensions; light-brown subrectangular markings directly anterior to lateral ocelli. Interocellar area diffusely light-brown. Occipital area diffusely light-brown near ecdysial suture and with irregular brown rugosities. Eyes with pigmented ommatidia reduced, not reaching eye margins. A single long seta both anterior and posterior to eyes.Antennal scape brown; scape and flagella light-brown; dorsobasal apically inserted setae absent ( Fig. 24C View FIGURE 24 ); antenna slightly shorter than body ( Fig. 24A View FIGURE 24 ).

Maxilla ( Figs 25A–B View FIGURE 25 ). Lacinia triangular with a sinuous inner margin. Lacinia with 2-apical, cupped teeth and 3–4 subapical denticles on ventral face. Apical teeth subequal in length; length of apical teeth 0.3X palm length and 0.6X palm width. Inner palm margin with 19-stout socketed marginal setae below apical teeth; first marginal seta robust. Basal 1/3 of palm with a cluster of 6–8 thin dorsal setae. A single acutely pointed sensilla basiconica on palm surface near the basal 1/4. Galea with a dense brush of curved setae on the distal apical margin, which transition to sparse peg-like setae at the apical 2/3; a thin patch of setae on inner margin below apical setae, which extends about halfway to base. Length of galea, including apical setae, 1.3X length of lacinia; width of galea 1.1X the lacinia width. Maxillary palp with 5-segments; 1.7X length of lacinia; palp with sensilla basiconica developed primarily on the apical and distal margins of each segment; segments 3–4 with 1–2 short hair-like sensillae.

Mandible. Right mandible ( Fig. 25C View FIGURE 25 ) bicuspid, outer cusp with 3-teeth, inner cusp with 1-tooth. Molar pad adorned with marginal rows of pointed acanthae (length 1.0X width). Palm dorsum with 4-dorsal sensillae adjacent to molar pad (requires focusing through the mandible) ( Fig. 25C View FIGURE 25 circle inset); the proximal basal corner with a marginal patch of 3-hair-like, branched setae. Ventro-apical setal patch extending from outer cusp to beyond the inner cusp basally (indicated by dotted line in Fig. 25C View FIGURE 25 ). Left mandible ( Fig. 25D View FIGURE 25 ) bicuspid, outer cusp with 5- teeth, basal cusp with 1-broad concave tooth. Molar pad with marginal rows of rounded acanthae and long pointed acanthae (length 2.0X width). Palm dorsum 4–6 dorsal sensillae adjacent to molar pad (requires focusing through the mandible) ( Fig. 25D View FIGURE 25 circle inset); proximal basal corner with a marginal patch of 3-hair-like, branched setae. Ventro-apical setal patch extending from outer cusp to beyond the inner cusp basally (indicated by dotted line in Fig. 25D View FIGURE 25 , square inset).

Thorax ( Fig. 24A View FIGURE 24 ). Pronotum wider posteriorly; light-brown with faint rugosities; Length of forewing pad 3.3X width; length of hindwing pad 1.8X width. Venter of thorax pale. Prothoracic presternum mostly glabrous with light-brown spicules laterally and a pair of elongate lateral cervical sclerites. Prothoracic basisternum and furcasternum light-brown; spicules dense medially and sporadic distally. Mesothorax with an oval prefurcasternal pit; light-brown spicules present both anterior and posterior to pit; lateral areas glabrous. Mesothoracic basisternum with light-brown spicules mostly concentrated medially. Furcasternal pit present between mesothoracic legs; furcasternum triangular, longer than wide (length 1.2X width). Metathoracic basisterna with a medial patch of light-brown spicules and a pair of furcasternal pits. Anterior face of femur usually pale, darker distally ( Fig. 24D View FIGURE 24 ). Femur and tibia pale and with a fringe of silky setae (not shown); length of femoral setae about 1/2 the width of the femur; length of tibial setae about equal to tibial width. Anterior and posterior faces of the femur with scattered short stout setae. Tibial callus pale ( Fig. 24D View FIGURE 24 ). Tarsus with a sparse dorsal fringe of silky setae (not shown); tarsus pale to light-brown and becoming progressively darker towards distal half of tarsal segment 3. Venter of tibia and tarsus with scattered short stout setae.

Abdomen. Dorsum of abdomen uniformly light-brown ( Fig. 24E View FIGURE 24 ). Posterior margins of terga with a single row of short, stout sensillae. Posterior margins of tergum-8 and tergum-9 with a pair of thin, erect, submedial setae. Venter of abdomen pale; sterna 1–8 with light-brown spicules. Sternum-9 with an elongate plate (male = length 1.7X width; female = length 1.9X width); plate width relative to sternal width (male = 0.8X; female = 0.8X). Male plate ( Fig. 24F View FIGURE 24 ) with sides parallel past the posterior margin of sternum-9, posterolateral margins convex, evenly rounded towards apex. Female plate ( Fig. 24G View FIGURE 24 ) narrower basally, widest at posterior margin of sternum-9; posterolateral margins convex, evenly narrowing towards apex. Plates of both males and females with short stout setae sparse basally, becoming denser towards apex. Cercus uniformly brown; dorsobasal apically inserted setae absent ( Fig. 24B View FIGURE 24 ); cercus longer than body ( Fig. 24A View FIGURE 24 ).

Diagnosis. Oemopteryx tuscarora sp. nov. is defined in the adult male by the lack of paired anterior processes on tergum- 10 in addition to a U-shaped pale area on tergum-1, which the female also possesses. The larvae are defined by their pale tibial callus.

Type locality ( Figs 24A–C View FIGURE 24 ). Haystack Creek is a small ecotonal tributary of Suck Creek located within the Boy Scouts of America Camp Reeves property in Moore County, North Carolina. The collection site is 152 m ASL and has a drainage area of just 1.7 km 2 before it flows into John Beard Lake. The creek possesses characteristics of streams from both the Slate Belt and Sand Hills Level IV ecoregions. Substrates consist of gravel, sand, cobble, petrified wood, woody debris and coarse particulate organic matter .

Water quality at the type locality has been assessed four times since 1984 using North Carolina Biotic Index protocols ( Lenat 1993; NCDEQ 2016). In April 2024, Haystack Creek rated “Good” boasting an EPT richness of 26 taxa. In total, at least 125 aquatic taxa have been recorded from the site. Other notable stoneflies collected from the creek include Leuctra alta James, 1974 , Prostoia hallasi Kondratieff & Kirchner, 1984 , Zealeuctra uwharrie Verdone, Beaty, Holland & Kondratieff, 2019 , and an undescribed species of Isoperla Banks, 1906 .

Haystack Creek is the only location where a robust population of the new species occurs and while half the watershed is conserved as a Boy Scout camp, the other half is managed for timber.The southwest side of the watershed was clear cut in 2023 and additional logging is planned for 2025. The North Carolina Biological Assessment Branch is currently studying the impact of the clearing on the macroinvertebrate assemblage.

Biological notes. Though many streams were surveyed, O. tuscarora sp. nov. has only been recorded from three locations in the Sand Hills Level IV ecoregion in North Carolina, where it is thought to be endemic. Due to the few known occurrences, a pollution tolerance value is currently unknown for this taxon. Elevations of collection locations range between 60 m to 152 m ASL. Based on known records, the new species appears to be allopatric with O. contorta , which occurs in the mountainous ecoregions of the Appalachians. Available records indicate adults are active from late February to mid-March. Larvae were most common in clean gravel riffles and have been collected from streams with drainage areas ranging from 1.7 km 2 to 22.9 km 2. Larvae were not present in benthic samples during the late spring through the end of October 2024, suggesting egg or larval diapause to survive low water levels and high summer temperatures that affect the small streams from which this species in known. The species appears to exhibit a univoltine life cycle.

Because of its rarity and geographic location, O. tuscarora sp. nov. is vulnerable to extirpation due to habitat loss and climate change. Much of the general area including the type locality are subject to periodic timber harvesting. This combined with changes to precipitation patterns and increasing temperatures could pose a threat to the long term viability of this little known animal. A conservation rank of G1 was calculated for this species indicating a high risk of extinction or collapse because of an exceptionally narrow range and few populations or occurrences (NatureServe 2020).

The O. glacialis Group