Leuctra pinhoti Grubbs & Sheldon 2009, sp. n.

Leuctra pinhoti sp. n.

(Figs. 1–8)

Material examined. Holotype ♂, U.S.A., Alabama, Cleburne Co., unnamed tributary to South Fork Terrapin Creek, Talladega National Forest, 33°52.671N, 085°33.282W, 22 May 2006, A.L. Sheldon (INHS). Additional paratypes: same as Holotype but 3 ♂ (INHS, WKU); unnamed tributary to South Fork Terrapin Creek, Talladega National Forest, 33°52.790N, 085°34.026W, 11 May 2005, 1 ♂, A.L. Sheldon (WKU); unnamed tributary to South Fork Terrapin Creek, Talladega National Forest, 33°53.059N, 085°34.520W, 22 May 2006, 1 ♂, A.L. Sheldon (WKU); unnamed tributary to South Fork Terrapin Creek, Talladega National Forest, 33°53.188N, 085°33.352W, 17 May 2008, 5 ♂, S.A. Grubbs (WKU).

Male. Forewing length 5.5–6.0 mm. General body color and wings brown, typical of the genus. Cerci tubular and unmodified, typical of genus. Abdominal terga 1–7 unmodified. Abdominal tergum 8 with mesal portion unsclerotized, lateral margins lightly sclerotized; a darkly sclerotized anterior band expanded medially into a narrow dorsal process ca. 1/6 th of segment width, extending beyond middle of segment, process narrowing slightly beyond base before expanding posteriorly to a slightly medially concave tip, appearing arcuate when viewed anterodorsally due the presence of small lateroapical lobes (Figs. 1, 5–6). Specilla thickened and broad basally, in lateral view, proximal 2/3 rd subrectangular in shape with subtriangular distal 1/3 rd and rounded tip, toothed posteriorly along distal half (Figs. 2–3, 7–8). Lateral styles flattened and subtriangular basally, sinuate and tapering to an apically acute, anterdorsallydirected tip (Figs. 2–3, 7–8). Vesicle simple and gourd-like, with long hairs directed posteroventrally (Fig. 4).

Female. Unknown.

Larva. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific name, used as a noun in apposition, refers to the type locality positioned at a crossing of the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail. Pinhoti was an Upper Creek (= Muskogean) Native Americans village located in this region. The common name, Pinhoti Needlefly, is proposed for this species (Stark et al. 1998).

Diagnosis. According to the Nearctic species groups defined recently by Harper & Harper (1997), Leuctra pinhoti belongs to the L. biloba Claassen group with L. alexanderi Hanson, L. biloba, L. mitchellensis Hanson, L. monticola Hanson and L. nephophila Hanson. The male of L. pinhoti possesses a well-developed process on the 8 th abdominal tergum, the specilla (= subanal lobes) are broadened basally with toothed outer margins, and the lateral styles (= paraprocts) are flattened and recurved anterodorsally.

Leuctra pinhoti can be distinguished from the other members of the L. biloba group mainly by the width and shape of the 8 th abdominal dorsal process (Hanson, 1941a,b; Harper & Harper, 1997). The dorsal process of L. pinhoti is only ca. 1/6 the width of the 8 th tergum, contrasting markedly from L. alexanderi (ca. 1/3), L. biloba (1/3), L. mitchellensis (ca. 1/3), L. monticola (ca. 1/2) and L. nephophila (ca. 1/4). Although the shape of the dorsal process of L. pinhoti (i.e. narrow beyond base, but expanding slightly distally) is similar to L. alexanderi, L. mitchellensis and L. monticola, it is easily distinct from these three species due to the clearly narrower profile as seen in dorsal view. The strongly bilobed dorsal process of L. biloba and the presence of the broad subapical shoulders of the dorsal process prior to the tear-drop shaped apical portion of L. nephophila are both distinct from L. pinhoti.

Remarks. The type locality is an unnamed headwater stream draining the eastern flanks of Dugger Mountain, Alabama’s second highest peak at 650 m A.S.L. that is located in the Dugger Mountain Wilderness Area in Talladega National Forest. Despite intensive collecting efforts throughout the Talladega region we have yet to collect this species from other drainages. Alloperla chloris Frison, A. usa Ricker, Amphinemura nigritta (Provancher), Beloneuria jamesae Stark & Szczytko, Eccoptura xanthenes (Newman), Hansonoperla cheaha Kondratieff & Kirchner, Leuctra grandis Banks, Sweltsa onkos (Ricker), Tallaperla laurie (Ricker) and T. maria (Needham & Smith) have been collected with L. pinhoti.