Stonefly Species Nemoura normani (Tiny Winter Blacks)

Source: Nearctic Nemoura Trispinosa Claassen, 1923 And Nemoura Rickeri Jewett, 1971 Are Junior Synonyms Of Holarctic Nemoura Species (Plecoptera: Nemouridae)

Nemoura normani was described from the holotype female and one paratype female (Ricker 1952) and is still unknown from the male stage. The females were described as “ noticeably larger ” than both Nemoura arctica and Nemoura trispinosa and exhibit subtle differences in the shape of the subgenital plate (Ricker 1952). Stewart and Oswood (2006) examined the paratype female (Alaska, Anaktuvik Pass, 6 July 1949, preserved in alcohol) during their study of the stoneflies of Alaska and western Canada but were unable to collect additional material. We likewise studied the paratype female and determined that it was indeed a Nemoura female with the correct wing venation, sclerotized cerci, and no cervical gills. The color of the wings are fumose in alcohol. This species is perhaps also absent from the Yukon (Stewart and Ricker 1997). Hence, the two females remain the only specimens of this species collected and none since 1949. Males or molecular data are needed to determine if this is a valid species, another Nemoura species (Ricker, 1964), or a junior synonym of either Nemoura arctica or Nemoura sahlbergi.