Neoperla brachyphallus, Zwick & Zwick, 2023

37. Neoperla brachyphallus n. sp.

( Figs. 201–204 View FIGURES 201–204 )

Holotype ♂: Republic of Liberia, Suakoko 10–20 March 1952 light trap C.C.Blickenstaff ( USNM-37 , pinned, abdominal tip in microvial in glycerin, penis in Euparal, on pinned plastic slide).

Additional material studied: 1♂: Republic of Liberia, Mt. Coffee , IV-1897 Mrs. Sharp (slide USNM-146 , genitalia in microvial) .

Habitus. Small, WL 8.3mm, specimen from Mt. Coffee only 7.3mm. Body entirely ochre, except a brown spot connecting ocelli. Wings infuscate.

Male ( Figs. 201–204 View FIGURES 201–204 ). Antecosta T7 connected to a short transverse sclerite separated by a pale zone from the squarish caudal sclerite with a long, sharply pointed triangular process ( Fig. 201 View FIGURES 201–204 ). Sclerite on T8 T-shaped, with forward-inclined hump ( Fig. 202 View FIGURES 201–204 ). Processes hinged in the intersegmental fold, antecosta 8 modified, with short anterior apodemes (resembling Fig 113 View FIGURES 108–113 ). Antecosta of T9 medially divided in front of a membranous field. Lateral pilose humps with some SB, median furrow without. Caudolateral base of HT10 large, with copious pilosity, mediobasal callus wide, almost square, process short, tip blunt. Sternites finely pilose, caudally with larger setae, mainly on S8.

Penis plump, tubular, narrowing caudally ( Figs. 203–204 View FIGURES 201–204 ). Stout spines in a subterminal dorsal patch point towards base, ♂ from Mt. Coffee additionally with some lateral subterminal spines. Endophallus short, curved to ventral side, distally tapering rapidly. Dorsal side with many minute spinules near base. Caudally large triangular spines form a wide band tapering near midlength of endophallus. Concave ventral side bare in basal third, caudally with slender erect spines, size decreasing distally and changing to small slender sclerites on the flagellum-like apical section of endophallus. Tip bare, recurrent tube not noticed.

Female. Unknown.

DNA. No data.

Notes. Several species with a hump on T8 have subterminal patches of spines on the penis but none has a comparably short endophallus. The armature conforms with the general pattern of a wide dorsobasal spine band, a bare lateral stripe, and a more distal ventral band of spines. The presumedly conspecific small male ( USNM- 146) agrees in T7–T9, but the process of Ht10 appears more slender and is pointed. Eversion of the endophallus failed, specimen in poor shape, details not recognised.

Etymology. A noun in apposition alluding to the shortness of the endophallus, formed from the Greek stems brachys and phallus.