Stonefly Species Podmosta obscura (Tiny Winter Blacks)

Source: Further Descriptions Of Western North American Podmosta Larvae And Their Separation From Ostrocerca Larvae (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) (Figs. 1, 4, 6, 7, 13 - 16, 18, 26, 31, 47, 48)

Characters. Body length male 4.5 - 5.2 mm, female 5.4 - 5.6 mm, light brown above with mottled dark head pattern and light mesal stripe on thorax (Fig. 1). Antennal segments approximately 46, head capsule width male 0.90 - 0.96 mm, female 0.96 - 1.02 mm; eyes large, head wider than pronotum (Fig. 1). Gills absent. Mandibles with 5 or 6 apical teeth; right mandible as described herein for Podmosta weberi, with raised molar pad that grinds against the opposing depressed molar cup of left mandible (Figs. 21, 22), molar cup with outer (dorsal) comb of curved teeth (Figs. 20, 22). Laciniae triangular, palmate, with scalloped palm surface, 7 - 9 fingerlike apical teeth, apicodorsal comb of about 10 long, acute-pointed bristles and apicoventral comb of about 8 short, acute-pointed bristles (Fig. 26). Pronotum bearing scattered short bristles and sensillae on disc, distinct lateral fringe lacking (Fig. 31). Wing pads bearing scattered short bristles over surface, and tuft of short bristles on anterolateral corners (Fig. 1). Femora bearing scattered short bristles and hairs over dorsal surface, longer bristles apicodorsally (Fig. 1). Tibiae bearing scattered short bristles and few (5 - 7) posterior silky fringe hairs (Figs. 1, 4). Mesosternal Y-ridge faint, closed by anterior ridge forming a rectangular area as in Stewart & Stark (2002, Fig. 9.16 E). Abdominal terga bearing scattered microtrichia and macrotrichia scattered on intercalary surface, and forming a posterior fringe. Sexual dimorphism evident; males with developing hypoproct on sternum 9 (Fig. 14) and in pharate individuals evidence of developing external genitalia (Fig. 13) and raised tergum 10 (Fig. 15). Cercal segments 22 - 24; cercomeres 1 - 10 bearing apical whorls of stout bristles, fine hairs and sensillae, bristles about 0.65 times length of their segment (Fig. 47). Middle and anteapical cercomeres bearing whorl bristles 0.35 - 0.46 times length of their segment, and 3 - 7 fine intercalary hairs about 0.32 times length of their segment, all as seen laterally (Fig. 48). Diagnostic characters: cercal setation as described (Figs. 47, 48).