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

Velia ( Cesavelia) motuoensis sp. nov.

Figs 1 c, d View Figure 1 , 2 c, d, i, j View Figure 2 , 3 b View Figure 3 , 4 c, d, i, j, n, r, s View Figure 4

Material examined.

Holotype: apterous ♂, China • Xizang Province, Linzhi City, Motuo County, Motuo Village : 29.3051°N, 95.3567°E; 1936 m a. s. l.; 2024-VIII-20; Zezhong Jin, Zihe Li leg. ( NKUM) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 1 apterous ♂, 3 apterous ♀, same data as holotype ( NKUM) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Body large (length 6.90–7.10, width 2.00–2.25), mainly brown. Connexiva of apterous female slightly curved, convergent posteriorly in dorsal view, with orange stripes along connexiva in both sexes (Figs 1 c, d View Figure 1 , 2 c, d, i, j View Figure 2 ), connexival spines sharp and caudally directed in males, dorso-caudally directed in females (Fig. 2 c, d, i, j View Figure 2 ); abdominal segment VIII of male stout and ventrally concave (Fig. 4 c, d View Figure 4 ); proctiger of male broad, shield-shaped, posterior margin rounded (Fig. 4 i View Figure 4 ); paramere broad, strongly curved, with thick setae on external side, apices sharp (Fig. 4 n View Figure 4 ); endosoma of male stout, lateral sclerites large, strongly sclerotized, apical ends of lateral sclerites distinctly constricted, dorsal sclerites distinctly sclerotized, translucent and curved, with membranous parts medially, secondary ventral sclerite stout, accessory sclerite absent (Fig. 4 r, s View Figure 4 ); proctiger of female broad, diamond-shaped, lateral dilations distinct (Fig. 4 j View Figure 4 ).

Comparative notes.

Velia ( Cesavelia) motuoensis sp. nov. is most similar to V. longiconnexiva 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 , V. championi , and V. mitrai (Fig. 4 r, s View Figure 4 ); the shape of the male proctiger (Fig. 4 i View Figure 4 ) distinguishes this species from V. bui , V. longiconnexiva , V. anderseni , V. laticaudata , and V. yunnana ; and the characteristics of the endosomal sclerites, especially the large lateral sclerites and dorsal sclerites with membranous parts medially, distinguish this species from V. sinensis , V. tonkina , V. lii sp. nov. and V. yiliangensis sp. nov. (Fig. 4 r, s View Figure 4 vs. Fig. 4 p, q, t, u View Figure 4 ). The extensor sides of the meso- and metatibia without long, erect setae and the shape of the female proctiger (Fig. 4 j View Figure 4 ) distinguish this species from V. steelei .

Description.

Apterous male ( holotype). Measurements. Body: length 6.90 (6.90–7.10), width 2.00 (2.00–2.13). Head: length 0.70, width: 1.15. Antenna: 5.43 (1.89 + 1.27 + 1.20 + 1.07), length of antennal segment I about 1.64 times head width. Pronotum: width about 1.12 times its length (length 1.50, width 1.68). Lengths of leg segments (femur: tibia: tarsus (tarsal segment I + segment II segment III )): fore leg: 2.50: 2.27: (0.09 + 0.24 + (segment III missing )); middle leg: 3.30: 3.50: 2.13 (0.13 + 1.16 + 0.84), length of mesotarsus II about 1.38 times length of mesotarsus III; hind leg: 3.25: 3.55: 1.99 (0.12 + 1.07 + 0.80), maximum width of metafemur: 0.51, length of metatarsus II about 1.34 times length of metatarsus III.

Color (Figs 1 d View Figure 1 , 2 i, j 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 dark orange. Sides of abdomen dark brown, with bright orange stripes along connexival segments II – VI, the width of stripes exhibits intraspecific variations; in some samples, the stripes almost cover the entire connexiva. 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 mediotergite I and lateral parts of sternites.

Structure. Body relatively large, covered with dense, short pubescence. Head (Figs 1 d View Figure 1 , 2 i, j 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 d View Figure 1 , 2 i, j View Figure 2 ): pronotum slightly wider than length, posterior margin of pronotum broadly rounded, lateral parts of pronotum distinctly constricted at mid-length, middle part slightly raised and lateral parts of anterior pronotal lobe concave; mesonotum completely hidden beneath pronotal lobe and 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 b View Figure 3 ) relatively slender, ventrally with two rows of small teeth and two prominent long teeth, the sub-apical tooth almost as long as the sub-basal one, metatibiae ventrally with two rows of small spines. Abdomen (Figs 1 d View Figure 1 , 2 i, j 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 c, d View Figure 4 ) relatively stout, ventrally concave in lateral view, posteriorly with short, sparse setae, posterodorsal margin of abdominal segment VIII medially emarginate. Genital segments (Fig. 4 i, n, r, s View Figure 4 ): relatively large and visible in vitro; proctiger (Fig. 4 i View Figure 4 ) shield-shaped, hind margin rounded, posterior with short, sparse setae; paramere (Fig. 4 n View Figure 4 ) broad, strongly curved, with thick setae on external side, apices sharp; endosoma (Fig. 4 r, s View Figure 4 ) stout, lateral sclerites large, strongly sclerotized, apical ends of lateral sclerites distinctly constricted, dorsal sclerites distinctly sclerotized, translucent and curved, medially with membranous parts, secondary ventral sclerite stout, accessory sclerite absent.

Apterous female. Measurements. Body: length 7.00–7.10, width 2.20–2.25. Head: length 0.82, width: 1.16. Antenna: 4.97 (1.71 + 1.11 + 1.07 + 1.08), length of antennal segment I about 1.47 times head width. Pronotum: width about 1.09 times its length (length 1.68, width 1.83). Lengths of leg segments (femur: tibia: tarsus (tarsal segment I + segment II + segment III )): fore leg: 2.35: 2.05: 0.82 (0.09 + 0.24 + 0.49); middle leg: 3.17: 3.40: 2.02 (0.11 + 1.11 + 0.80), length of mesotarsus II about 1.39 times length of mesotarsus III; hind leg: 3.15: 3.55: 1.94 (0.13 + 1.04 + 0.77), length of metatarsus II about 1.35 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 denser on lateral parts of abdominal mediotergite I and laterotergites I (Fig. 2 c View Figure 2 ). The width of stripes on connexiva exhibits intraspecific variations, wider and brighter in one sample.

Structure. Body slightly larger than apterous male. Head (Figs 1 c View Figure 1 , 2 c, d View Figure 2 ): Similar to apterous male. Thorax (Figs 1 c View Figure 1 , 2 c, d View Figure 2 ): similar to apterous male with following exceptions: profemora slender; metafemora slender, ventrally with two rows of small spines, metatibiae ventrally with some sparse small spines. Abdomen (Figs 1 c View Figure 1 , 2 c, d View Figure 2 ): similar to apterous male with following exceptions: relatively stout; connexiva gradually 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 j View Figure 4 ) broad, diamond-shaped, lateral dilations distinct, posteriorly with short, sparse setae.

Macropterous female and macropterous male.

Unknown.

Etymology.

This species is named after its type locality, Motuo Village, Motuo County, China.

Habitats.

This species is found in the nearshore areas of larger, slow-flowing streams, particularly in corners formed by deadwood or vegetation. (Fig. 5 b View Figure 5 ).

Distribution.

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