Stonefly Species Sierracapnia shepardi (Little Snowflies)

Source: Sierracapnia, A New Genus Of Capniidae (Plecoptera) From Western North America

Male. Tergum 7 knob wide and often divided into right and left lobes, knob width 29 - 32 % of segment 7 width (Figs. 17, 19). Epiproct in dorsal view with nearly uniform width along length, maximum width 17 - 25 % of epiproct length; maximum width occurs near mid epiproct; apex broadly rounded and with median posterior-projecting triangular lobe (Fig. 17 and see Fig. 19 in Nelson and Baumann 1987); dorsal membrane dark gray or black, sometimes lighter at tip. Epiproct in lateral view with pronounced reverse (S-shaped) curve, the dorsal surface concave in anterior half and convex in posterior half; ventral surface deeply curved; maximum depth 18 - 20 % of length; maximum depth occurs anterior of mid epiproct; neck narrow (Fig. 18). Epiproct dorsolateral horns closely appressed to main dorsal surface; horn length 14 - 18 % epiproct length; horn tips extend forward to 80 - 86 % of epiproct length (Figs. 18, 20; Table 1).

Female. Subgenital plate heavily sclerotized and dark; plate covers entire width of sternum 8 from its posterior to anterior edge; subgenital plate often with small lateral notches; sclerotization extends onto sternum 7 (Fig. 247, Nelson and Baumann 1989).