The adult stage of Languidipes corporaali (Lestage, 1922), new status and the validity of Povilla (Navás) (Ephemeroptera: Polymitarcyidae: Asthenopodinae)

Abstract

The male imago of Languidipes corporaali (Lestage, 1922), new status (Ephemeroptera: Polymitarcyidae: Asthenopodinae), is described for the first time based upon adults associated with females. The male is distinguished from Povilla by the large eyes, short tarsi of forelegs, absence of a styliger plate and a triangular basal cell at the fork of CuA-CuP in the forewing. Based on examination of series of females of Povilla from localities in Africa and Asia, an apparent third intercalary in the Cu field of Povilla females is a not infrequent population variation in the genus. Following examination of the holotype photograph of Povilla adusta, the present generic concept of Povilla is considered valid. New records for Languidipes corporaali include Malaysia and Thailand.

Keywords:

• Ephemeroptera
• Polymitarcyidae
• Languidipes
• Povilla
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Mr Yeap Chin Aik (Malaysian Nature Society) for his assistance in collecting specimens and Dr Eliane De Coninck (Royal Museum for Central-Africa, Tervuren, Belgium) for the beautiful photograph of the holotype female of P. adusta. We gratefully acknowledge the Royal Museum for Central Africa, copyright owner, who granted permission to use the photograph for this paper. Photographs of Languidipes corporaali were taken by IAD (junior author).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael D. Hubbard

Deceased