Big diversity in a small hotspot: two new species of Leptophlebiidae (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) from New Caledonia

Abstract

Two new species from Grande Terre Island, New Caledonia, namely Fasciamirus petersorum sp. nov. and Simulacala rara sp. nov. are described based on larval morphology and molecular data (COI sequences). Fasciamirus petersorum sp. nov. is distributed in the southern part of the island and is characterised by a reduced third segment of the labial palps and all abdominal gills divided from the base. The species inhabits slow-flowing aquatic habitats with fine-grained substrate in forest brooks. Simulacala rara sp. nov. is known from a single locality in the northern part of the island and is characterised by narrow and distinctly elongated abdominal gills 1–7. It was collected from fine substrates behind stones in riffles with slightly turbulent flow. Both species were recorded only in areas with ultramafic bedrock.