Stonefly Species Megaleuctra complicata (Tiny Winter Blacks)

Source: The Genus Megaleuctra Neave (Plecoptera: Leuctridae) In North America

Male. Macropterous, but some populations in northern California exhibit brachyptery (Fig. 85). Length of forewing 12 - 13 mm; body length 11 - 12 mm. General color brown. Wings hyaline, with dark pigment occupying about half the costal space beyond the cord. Radial sector of forewing with three branches. Tergum 8 sometimes with a pair of small lobes (Fig. 3). Tergum 9 with a pair of widely separated conical lobes, without a basal forked structure (Figs. 2 - 3, 6, 13, 15); subgenital plate tongue-like, apex rounded (Fig. 18); epiproct variable in shape, depending on expansion position. In midlength position, the upper portion is narrower at the base and expanded near the apex in dorsal view and is subparallel tapering along the middorsal groove (Fig. 13), the anterior portion is expanded into blunt lateral processes, bearing a loose fringe of small stout spines, the lower portion is broader at the base, the apex wedge-shaped laterally and directed downward as two large stout hooks, extending beyond the apex of the upper process (Figs 13, 15, 17). In expanded position, the upper portion is broader at the base and narrow at the apex, fitting into grooves on each side of the expanded lower process (Figs. 2, 5 - 8), the large wedge-shaped hooks of the lower process are visable on each side of the apex (Fig. 8, 9), the expanded epiproct has a dorsal groove that can cover the apex of the subanal probe (Fig. 6). Subanal probe can be free from the epiproct (Figs. 3, 5) or it can fit into the middorsal groove of the epiproct (Figs. 5 - 6), tip greatly expanded in lateral view, exhibiting a deep notch, between the narrow elongate upper lobe and a broadly rounded lower lobe, which bears a distinct tube (Figs. 3, 10, 14, 16, 17); cerci consisting of an elongate single segment (Figs. 3, 5, 18); Vesicle long and thin and covered with sparse long hairs (Fig. 11).

Female. Macropterous, but some populations in northern California are slightly brachypterous. Length of forewing 14 - 15 mm; body length 13 - 14 mm. Coloration similar to male. Radial sector of forewing with three branches. Sternum 8 with subgenital plate extending past tip of abdomen 1.5 - 2.0 mm (Figs. 19, 20), narrowed gradually to tip, round in cross section (Fig. 4). Sternum 9 formed into a long, narrow ovipositor; cerci inconspicuous (Figs. 4, 20).

Larva. Described by Stewart & Sandberg (2004).