Review of the genus Isca (Ephemeroptera, Leptophlebiidae) from China with a new species and a new species record

By

Gong, De-Wen
Zhou, Changfa

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1234

Pages

239--258

Subjects

Barcode gene , China , COI , mayfly , Morphology , new species , subgenus , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1234.140905

 

Abstract

Previously, only one Isca species (Isca purpurea Gillies, 1951) was recorded in China. In this review, three Isca species are presented and photographed. Among them, I. acutatasp. nov. is a new species with an acute male penal apex, a uniform brown abdomen of the imago, and a bilamellate gill VII of the nymph. Another species, I. fascia, previously reported from Vietnam, is found in China for the first time. The nymphs of I. fascia exhibit a banded body and a convex apex of the penes. The structure of the third species I. purpurea, shown graphically, has separated penes and a paler nymphal body than the other two species. The diverse morphology of the penes, wings, venation, and gills show that Isca has diverse species and evolutionary directions, suggesting that the previous subgeneric classification may not adequately represent some species. Biologically, their nymphs were observed living in tiny pits on substrate surfaces, where their ventral gills may facilitate respiration while they hide.