Velia ( Cesavelia ) lii, Fu & Jin & Ye, 2025

Velia ( Cesavelia) lii sp. nov.

Figs 1 a, b View Figure 1 , 2 a, b, g, h View Figure 2 , 3 a View Figure 3 , 4 a, b, g, h, m, p, q View Figure 4

Material examined.

Holotype: apterous ♂, China • Xizang Province, Linzhi City, Motuo County, Bangxin Village : 29.5763°N, 95.4643°E; 1360 m a. s. l.; 2024-VIII-19; Zihe Li leg. ( NKUM) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 1 apterous ♀, same data as holotype ( NKUM) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Body large (length 7.73–7.90, width 2.00–2.50), mainly brown. Connexiva of apterous female slightly curved in dorsal view, with bright yellow stripes along almost entire connexiva except posterior part of connexivum VII in both sexes (Figs 1 a, b View Figure 1 , 2 a, b, g, h View Figure 2 ), connexival spines sharp and caudally directed in male, dorso-caudally directed in female (Fig. 2 a, b, g, h View Figure 2 ); abdominal segment VIII of male stout and ventrally concave (Fig. 4 a, b View Figure 4 ); proctiger of male broad, shield-shaped, posterior margin rounded (Fig. 4 g View Figure 4 ); paramere broad, strongly curved, with thick setae on external side, apices sharp (Fig. 4 m View Figure 4 ); endosoma of male stout, apical ends of lateral sclerites distinctly constricted, dorsal sclerites weakly sclerotized, translucent and curved, secondary ventral sclerite slender, accessory sclerite absent (Fig. 4 p, q View Figure 4 ); proctiger of female broad, diamond-shaped (Fig. 4 h View Figure 4 ).

Comparative notes.

Velia ( Cesavelia) lii sp. nov. is most similar to V. bui in appearance. It can be distinguished from other species of Cesavelia by the following characters: the absence of the accessory sclerite in the male endosoma distinguishes this species from V. tomokunii J. Polhemus & D. Polhemus, 2003 , V. championi Tamanini, 1955 , and V. mitrai Basu, Subramanian & D. Polhemus, 2013 (Fig. 4 p, q View Figure 4 ); the shape of the male proctiger (Fig. 4 g View Figure 4 ) distinguishes this species from V. bui Jin, Fu & Ye, 2023 , V. longiconnexiva Tran, Zettel & Buzzetti, 2009 , V. anderseni Tran, Zettel & Buzzetti, 2009 , V. laticaudata Tran, Zettel & Buzzetti, 2009 , and V. yunnana Tran, Zettel & Buzzetti, 2009 ; and the bright yellow stripes along almost the entire connexiva except the posterior part of connexivum VII in both sexes (Figs 1 a, b View Figure 1 , 2 a, b, g, h View Figure 2 ), and the prominent sub-apical tooth on the ventral side of the male metafemur, which is significantly larger than the sub-basal one (Fig. 3 a View Figure 3 ), distinguish this species from V. sinensis and V. tonkina D. Polhemus & J. Polhemus, 2003 . Due to the fact that V. steelei Tamanini, 1955 is only known from the macropterous female, and only the apterous female and male of V. lii sp. nov. have been collected to date, a comparison between the same forms is impossible (Tamanini 1995 a). However, we note that V. steelei possesses long, erect setae on the extensor sides of the meso- and metatibia, these being longer than the tibial width ( Tran et al. 2009). This characteristic is considered diagnostic ( Tran et al. 2009) and is not found in V. lii sp. nov., thereby allowing for the distinction between these two species. Furthermore, the differences of the dorsal sclerites and lateral sclerites of the male endosoma distinguish V. lii sp. nov. from Velia ( Cesavelia) motuoensis sp. nov. (Fig. 4 p, q View Figure 4 vs. Fig. 4 r, s View Figure 4 ); and the larger body size and the differences of yellow stripes along the connexiva distinguish it from Velia ( Cesavelia) yiliangensis sp. nov. (Fig. 2 a, b, g, h View Figure 2 vs. Fig. 2 e, f, k, l View Figure 2 ).

Description.

Apterous male ( holotype). Measurements. Body: length 7.73, width 2.00. Head: length 0.91, width: 1.16. Antenna: 5.75 (1.98 + 1.26 + 1.23 + 1.28), length of antennal segment I about 1.71 times head width. Pronotum: width about 0.98 times its length (length 1.68, width 1.65). Lengths of leg segments (femur: tibia: tarsus (tarsal segment I + segment II + segment III )): fore leg: 2.47: 2.47: 0.96 (0.13 + 0.27 + 0.56); middle leg: 3.40: 3.90: 2.21 (0.10 + 1.20 + 0.91), length of mesotarsus II about 1.32 times length of mesotarsus III; hind leg: 3.40: 4.25: 2.07 (0.10 + 1.13 + 0.84), maximum width of metafemur: 0.42, length of metatarsus II about 1.35 times length of metatarsus III.

Color (Figs 1 b View Figure 1 , 2 g, h View Figure 2 ). Body mainly dark brown, with scattered silvery pubescence. Pronotum with a row of black punctures near anterior margin and other punctures scattered on posterior lobe. Median part of anterior pronotal lobe and midline of pronotum dark orange. Sides of abdomen dark brown, with bright orange stripes along almost entire connexiva except posterior part of connexivum VII. Silvery pubescence usually distinctly denser on anterolateral corners of pronotum, lateral corners of metanotum, lateral parts of abdominal mediotergites II, V – VI, sparse on abdominal mediotergites I, III – IV and lateral parts of sternites.

Structure. Body relatively large, covered with dense, short pubescence. Head (Figs 1 b View Figure 1 , 2 g, h View Figure 2 ): triangular, almost perpendicular to thorax, without deflection; anteclypeus and postclypeus with dense, peg-like setae; antennal sockets prominent, antennal segment I much longer than head width, slightly thicker than antennal segments II – IV. Thorax (Figs 1 b View Figure 1 , 2 g, h View Figure 2 ): width and length of pronotum approximately equal, posterior margin of pronotum broadly rounded, lateral parts of pronotum distinctly constricted at mid-length, median part slightly raised and lateral parts of anterior pronotal lobe concave; mesonotum completely hidden beneath pronotal lobe, with hind part of metanotum visible in dorsal view; lateral evaporatoriums slender, with a cluster of suberect, thick setae on each side; legs mainly with decumbent or suberect setae, tarsi of fore legs short, tarsi of middle and hind legs long and slender; profemora moderately incrassate, slightly curved and contracted subapically; mesofemora slender; metafemora (Fig. 3 a View Figure 3 ) relatively slender, ventrally with two rows of small teeth and two prominent long teeth, the sub-apical tooth significantly larger and more prominent than the sub-basal one, metatibiae ventrally with two rows of small spines. Abdomen (Figs 1 b View Figure 1 , 2 g, h View Figure 2 ): relatively slender; mediotergite I concave laterally, mediotergites II – VII almost flat; connexiva moderately raised, almost parallel, hardly converging, connexival spines short, sharp, caudally pointed; abdominal segment VIII (Fig. 4 a, b View Figure 4 ) relatively stout, ventrally concave in lateral view, posteriorly with short, dense setae, posterodorsal margin of abdominal segment VIII medially emarginated. Genital segments (Fig. 4 g, m, p, q View Figure 4 ): relatively large and visible in vitro; proctiger (Fig. 4 g View Figure 4 ) shield-shaped, posterior margin rounded, with short, sparse setae; paramere (Fig. 4 m View Figure 4 ) broad, strongly curved, with thick setae on external side, apices sharp; endosoma (Fig. 4 p, q View Figure 4 ) stout, apical ends of lateral sclerites distinctly constricted, dorsal sclerites weakly sclerotized, translucent and curved, secondary ventral sclerite slender, accessory sclerite absent.

Apterous female. Measurements. Body: length 7.90, width 2.50. Head: length 0.96, width: 1.24. Antenna I – III: (1.87 + 1.22 + 1.27), length of antennal segment I about 1.51 times head width. Pronotum: width about 0.94 times length (length 2.00, width 1.88). Lengths of leg segments (femur: tibia: tarsus (tarsal segment I + segment II + segment III )): fore leg: 2.70: 2.53: 0.98 (0.09 + 0.31 + 0.58); middle leg: 3.65: 4.00: 2.28 (0.11 + 1.24 + 0.93), length of mesotarsus II about 1.33 times length of mesotarsus III; hind leg: 3.65: 4.20: 2.21 (0.16 + 1.18 + 0.87), length of metatarsus II about 1.36 times length of metatarsus III.

Color (Figs 1 a View Figure 1 , 2 a, b View Figure 2 ). Similar to apterous male with following exceptions: silvery pubescence weaker on abdominal mediotergites III – VI (Fig. 2 a View Figure 2 ).

Structure. Body slightly larger than apterous male. Head (Figs 1 a View Figure 1 , 2 a, b View Figure 2 ): Similar to apterous male. Thorax (Figs 1 a View Figure 1 , 2 a, b View Figure 2 ): similar to apterous male with following exceptions: profemora slender; metafemora slender, ventrally with two rows of small spines, metatibiae ventrally without any spines or teeth. Abdomen (Figs 1 a View Figure 1 , 2 a, b View Figure 2 ): similar to apterous male with following exceptions: relatively stout; connexiva slightly convergent towards abdominal apex, connexival spines long, slender and straight, dorso-caudally directed. Genital segments: gonocoxae and gonapophyses semi-membranous, rami strongly sclerotized; proctiger (Fig. 4 h View Figure 4 ) broad, diamond-shaped, posteriorly with short, sparse setae.

Macropterous female and macropterous male.

Unknown.

Etymology.

The species is named in honor of Dr Zihe Li, who is the only one to successfully collect the specimens from a hazardous mountain stream.

Habitats.

This species inhabits areas near rocks or the banks of fast-flowing mountain streams (Fig. 5 a View Figure 5 ).

Distribution.

China ( Xizang) (Fig. 6 View Figure 6 ).