Contribution to the knowledge of the andean stonefly genus Claudioperla illies, with description of new apterous and micropterous species (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae).
The genus Claudioperla (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae), which has been reported from Chile and Argentina to Colombia, was until now monospecific. The study of adults from various localities of the Bolivian Altiplano has resulted in the discovery of four distinct species. Three are new and described: Claudioperla rosalesi n. sp., Claudioperla moyai n. sp., and Claudioperla ruhieri n. sp. The fourth, Claudioperla tigrina (Klapálek), presents morphological variations with previous descriptions that are exposed and discussed. One of the new species, C. ruhieri, is apterous. The male of C. moyai is micropterous. Among South American stoneflies, they are the first cases of aptery and microptery reported outside of Patagonia. Adapted to extreme conditions of temperature and altitude, C. moyai and C. ruhieri are particularly threatened by the recent evolution of Bolivian glaciers.
Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (UMR INRA, IRD, CIRAD, Montpellier Supagro), Montferrier sur Lez Cedex, France. Francois-Marie.Gibon@ird.fr
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D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D001838:Bolivia; D005260:Female; D007313:Insecta / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male