Habrophlebia ghora Sartori, Vuataz & Samraoui sp. nov.

Figs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Habrophlebia consiglioi sensu Zrelli et al. (2011 a), nec Biancheri 1959.

Habrophlebia spK, Samraoui et al. 2021 b; Habrophlebia sp. 11, Hezil et al. 2025.

Material examined.

Holotype: one nymph in ethanol (GBIFCH 00654989), Algeria, Wilaya of El Tarf, Ghora, Oued Louar supérieur, 36°37'1"N, 8°22'47"E, 594 m, 1.V.2019, B. Samraoui leg., MZL.

Paratypes. Algeria, Wilaya of El Tarf, Ghora, Oued Louar supérieur, same data as holotype, 135 nymphs in ethanol (GBIFCH 00672312), 1 nymph on slide (GBIFCH 00673115); same locality as holotype, 6.VI.2019, 1 nymph on slide (GBIFCH 00763556); same locality as holotype, 10.V.2021, 20 nymphs in ethanol (GBIFCH 00892922), 1 nymph on slide (GBIFCH 01118447); same locality as holotype, 15.V.2021, 9 nymphs in ethanol (GBIFCH 00892917), 21 male imagos in ethanol (GBIFCH 00892924), 1 male imago in ethanol (GBIFCH 01118445) • Wilaya of El Tarf, Ghora, Oued Louar inférieur, 36°37'2"N, 8°22'49"E, 589 m, 15.V.2021, 7 male imagos in ethanol (GBIFCH 01118448, GBIFCH 01123083) • Wilaya of El Tarf, Ghora, Oued Guitna supérieur, 36°37'0"N, 8°21'19"E, 584 m, 26.IV.2022; 1 nymph on slide (GBIFCH 01118449), 10 nymphs in ethanol (GBIFCH 01123084) • Wilaya of El Tarf, Ghora, Oued Guitna inférieur, 36°37'5"N, 8°20'46"E, 476 m, 1.V.2019, 1 nymph on slide (GBIFCH 00673045); same locality, 1.VI.2020, 12 male imagos in ethanol (GBIFCH 00892916); same locality, 7.VI.2020, 28 male, 1 female imagos (GBIFCH 00892915), 1 male imago (GBIFCH 01118446); same locality, 6.VI.2021, 1 nymph in ethanol (GBIFCH 01123082); same locality, 26.IV.2022, 1 nymph in ethanol (GBIFCH 00892921); same locality, 5.V.2022, 1 male imago in ethanol (GBIFCH 00892919); same locality, 12.V.2022, 1 female imago in ethanol (GBIFCH 00892918); same locality, 18.V.2022, 3 male, 4 female imagos (GBIFCH 00892914); same locality, 21.V.2022, 2 male imagos in ethanol (GBIFCH 00892920); same locality, 30.V.2022, 1 male, 3 female imagos in ethanol (GBIFCH 00892913). • Wilaya of El Tarf, El Ayoun; 36°50'14"N, 8°36'4"E, 263 m, 9.V.2021, 1 male imago in ethanol (GBIFCH 01118443), 4 nymphs, 22 male imagos in ethanol (GBIFCH 00654970); same locality, 15.V.2021, 1 nymph on slide (GBIFCH 01118442), 7 nymphs in ethanol (GBIFCH 00892923, GBIFCH 00654971) • Wilaya of El Tarf, Menzel Beldi; 36°36'59"N, 8°21'51"E, 590 m, 15.V.2021, 5 nymphs, 7 male imagos in ethanol (GBIFCH 00654986), 1 male imago in ethanol (GBIFCH 01118438), 1 nymph on slide (GBIFCH 01118437). All B. Samraoui leg., MZL.

Other material. Algeria, Wilaya of El Tarf, Ghora, Oued Louar supérieur, 36°37'1"N, 8°22'47"E, 594 m, 21.I.2019, 3 nymphs (GBIFCH 00834912); same locality, 16.IV.2019, 4 nymphs (GBIFCH 00834904); same locality, 1.V.2019, 81 nymphs (GBIFCH 00672312 - GBIFCH 00672313); same locality, 6.VI.2019, 50 nymphs (GBIFCH 00672308); same locality, 1.VII.2019, 10 nymphs (GBIFCH 00835008); same locality, 22.I.2020, 7 nymphs (GBIFCH 00835007); same locality, 18.IV.2018, 15 nymphs (GBIFCH 00889986). • Wilaya of El Tarf, Ghora, Oued Louar inférieur, 36°37'3"N, 8°22'49"E, 589 m, 18.IV.2018, 1 nymph (GBIFCH 00889509); same locality, 6.VI.2019, 45 nymphs (GBIFCH 00672306); same locality, 1.VII.2019, 3 imagos (GBIFCH 00835071), 10 nymphs (GBIFCH 00835082). • Wilaya of El Tarf, Ghora, Oued Guitna supérieur, 36°37'0"N, 8°21'19"E, 584 m, 14.VI.2018, 15 nymphs (GBIFCH 00889962); same locality, 6.VI.2019, 15 nymphs (GBIFCH 00834830); same locality, 1.VII.2019, 3 imagos (GBIFCH 00834537). • Wilaya of El Tarf, Ghora, Oued Guitna inférieur, 36°37'5"N, 8°20'46"E, 476 m, 1.V.2019, 8 nymphs (GBIFCH 00672315). • Wilaya of El Tarf, Ghora, Oued Guitoun, 36°37'0"N, 8°19'34"E, 293 m, 14.VI.2018, 2 nymphs (GBIFCH 00889505). • Wilaya of El Tarf, Kherrata, Oued Bougous, 36°38'2"N, 8°18'25"E, 262 m, 18.IV.2018, 4 nymphs (GBIFCH 00889513). • Wilaya of El Tarf, Zitoun Meftah, Bayadh, 36°38'0"N, 8°21'55"E, 282 m, 28.III.2018, 2 nymphs (GBIFCH 00889989); same locality, 1.VII.2019, 3 nymphs (GBIFCH 00834516). • Wilaya of El Tarf, Ghora, Oued Houadfia, 36°36'0"N, 8°23'29"E, 455 m, 5.VI.2018, 21 nymphs (GBIFCH 00835076 - GBIFCH 00889532); same locality, 13.III.2019, 1 nymph (GBIFCH 00672309); same locality, 19.V.2019, 60 nymphs (GBIFCH 00672310), one nymph on slide (GBIFCH 01225270); same locality, 6.VI.2019, 25 nymphs (GBIFCH 00834910). • Wilaya of El Tarf, Oued Bougous, 36°39'0"N, 8°19'59"E, 610 m, 28.III.2018, 2 nymphs (GBIFCH 00889521). • Wilaya of El Tarf, Oued Besbassa, 36°39'0"N, 8°20'1"E, 233 m, 28.III.2018, 14 nymphs (GBIFCH 00889982). • Wilaya of El Tarf, Oued Khemissa, 36°39'0"N, 8°21'57"E, 237 m, 28.III.2018, 7 nymphs (GBIFCH 00889540). • Wilaya of El Tarf, Oued Oudaï Smid, 36°40'0"N, 8°22'49"E, 202 m, 28.III.2018, 7 nymphs (GBIFCH 00889987). All in ethanol, B. Samraoui leg., MZL.

Tunisia, Jendouba Governorate, Aïn Draham, Oued Ennour, 36°48'0"N, 8°39'31"E, 418 m, 28. IV. 2010, 1 nymph in ethanol (GBIFCH 00281533); same locality, 25. IV. 2009, 1 nymph on slide (GBIFCH 01225269); S. Zrelli leg., MZL.

Etymology.

The name “Ghora” is derived from the Coot (Fulica atra), known locally as “ Ghor ”, whose conspicuous white frontal shield evokes the image of a snow-capped peak. Mount Ghora (Djebel Ghora), situated on the Algerian – Tunisian border, takes its name from this association and forms part of the Kroumiria massif.

Descriptions.

Nymph. Body length of final instar, excluding caudal filaments, up to 5 mm for male and up to 6 mm for female. Cerci as long as body length.

Coloration. General coloration medium brown; light brown between compound eyes and antennae. Upper portion of male eyes light brown to orange (Fig. 2 A). Antenna with scape and pedicel greyish brown, filament yellowish. Pro- and mesonotum medium brown, with light brown maculae, on medium; lateroparapsidal sutures dark brown. Legs light to medium brown; dorsal surface of femora darker; tibiae and tarsi light brown to yellowish. Abdominal tergites medium brown with a sagittal line paler; distal half of each tergite darker, sometimes with two elongated light maculae medio-anteriorly, on segments I – VI, especially in younger nymphs. Sternites light to medium brown, nervous ganglia well visible. Cerci and paracercus medium brown at base, lighter distally, rather uniform in color, without apparent banding.

Head. Labrum rectangular, ca. 1.6 × wider than long (Fig. 2 B); dorsal surface covered distally with scattered stout setae; anterior margin with a row of stout, long and spatulate setae medially; emargination smooth, U-shaped, flared, with indistinct flat denticles; ventral surface with two bunches of stout setae medially. Mandibles similar to other Habrophlebia species, incisor with three teeth, the lowest on left mandible characterised by distinct basal indentation (Fig. 2 C), kinetodontium with 3 teeth, 11–15 long and thin setae below mola of right mandible (Fig. 2 D). Maxilla stocky, subapical row of 6–7 pectinate setae (Fig. 2 E); maxillary palp with three segments, segment 1 and 2 subequal in length, and longer than segment 3; segment 3 triangular 1.11–1.15 × longer than wide at base; all setae on palp segments stout and entire. Hypopharynx with highly developed superlinguae terminated by a membranous digitation (Fig. 2 F). Labium with rhomboid glossae, outer margin and apex covered by short, broad setae; paraglossae enlarged laterally, covered with fine and long setae on the dorsal surface; with long, thick setae on outer margin; labial palp with three segments, inner margin of segment 1 highly dilated near the middle, about 1.20 × longer than the maximum width, segment 2 as long as segment 3, ca. 0.8 × length of segment 1; segment 3 ca. 1.75–1.80 × longer than wide at base, conical shape and with 7–8 stout and long, simple setae on dorsal surface. Submentum with numerous long, stout and pointed setae laterally; ventral surface with few long, stout and pointed setae (Fig. 2 G).

Thorax. Pronotum with anterior corners bearing few long and pointed setae laterally, and 6–8 stout and strong setae dorsally. Anterior margin of pronotum with 3–5 stout setae laterally (Fig. 3 A). Fore legs femora elongated, ca. 2.65 × longer than wide, outer margin and upper surface covered with long, entire and pointed setae (Fig. 3 B); tibiae slightly shorter than femora, outer margin with sparse thin and long setae, inner margin with long stout and feathered or entire setae more numerous near apex; tarsi 0.55 × length of tibiae, outer margin with sparse long and thin setae, inner margin with long and pointed entire setae. Middle legs similar to fore legs, femora ca. 2.9 × longer than wide, dorsal surface of femora with more numerous and slightly longer stout and pointed setae (Fig. 3 C); tibiae slightly shorter than femora; tarsi 0.5 × length of tibiae. Hind legs with femora 3.4 × longer than wide (Fig. 3 D), dorsal surface covered with stout, long and short, pointed or rounded and entire (non-feathered) setae more or less in rows (Fig. 3 E); hind tibiae as long as hind femora, outer margin with scattered stout, pointed setae; inner margin with stout, pointed and entire setae (Fig. 3 F); tarsi 0.45 × length of tibiae, outer margin with few long and thin setae, inner margin with long, stout, pointed and entire setae. Claws of all legs slightly hooked, with 12–14 denticles that decrease in size from the apex to the tarsus (Fig. 3 G).

Abdomen. Posterolateral expansions only on segments VIII and IX. Posterior margin of tergite IX with triangular, broad and narrow, pointed spines, ca. 1.5–2.5 × longer than wide at base (Fig. 4 A); tergite VIII with small triangular, narrow spines 1.5–2 × longer than wide (Fig. 4 B); tergite VII with tiny needle-shaped spines (Fig. 4 C); tergites VI and above with barely visible spines. Gills present on segments I – VII; all gills elongated with long filaments; dorsal lamella bearing 4–5 filaments, ventral lamella with 2–3 filaments (Fig. 4 D).

Imago. Male imago. Size: body length: ca. 5.5 mm; forewing length: 5.0– 5.5 mm; cerci and terminal filament broken.

Head dark brown; basal portion of compound eyes greyish, upper portion light brown, scape dark brown, pedicel medium brown, flagellum light brown (Fig. 5 A).

Thorax. Pronotum dark brown; meso- and metanotum uniformly dark brown, pleurae, coxae, and trochanters medium brown, washed with dark brown; fore femora dark brown, fore tibiae medium brown, tarsi light brown; mid- and hind legs with femora medium brown, dark brown distally, tibiae and tarsi medium brown. Femur / tibia / tarsi ratio in fore leg: 1 / 1.15 / 0.6 / 0.4 / 0.3 / 0.15; mid leg: 1 / 1.15 / 0.05 / 0.08 / 0.08 / 0.2; hind leg: 1 / 1.25 / 0.1 / 0.1 / 0.1 / 0.15. Fore claws similar, paddle-shaped, mid- and hind claws dissimilar, one paddle-like and one hooked. Forewing transparent, pterostigmatic area milky with 6–7 oblique and simple transversal veins, longitudinal veins medium brown, transversal veins light brown. MA and MP forks asymmetrical, cubital field with two long and sometimes one short intercalary veins (Fig. 5 B). Hindwing with rounded costal process approximately in the middle of the wing; vein Sc long, very close to the costal one and reaching it almost at the tip of the wing (Fig. 5 C).

Abdomen. Tergites greyish brown, posterior margin of each segment dark brown; sternites light brown, nervous ganglia tinted with medium brown. Styliger plate medium brown, dark brown along the margins, first segment of the gonopods medium brown at base, lighter at apex, segments 2 and 3 yellowish brown. Posterior margin of the styliger plate almost straight in the middle, median incision V-shaped (Fig. 5 D); segment 1 subequal in length to segments 2 and 3 combined; inner margin of segment 1 with a broad base, and without bulge on outer margin. Penis lobes rounded and tight together, ventral spine long, thick and curved outwards, almost reaching the base of the styliger plate (Fig. 5 E). Cerci and terminal filament broken.

Female imago. Size: body length: 4.5–5.0 mm; forewing length: 5.0– 5.5 mm.

Forewing transparent, longitudinal and transversal veins dark brown; pterostigmatic area with 7–9 oblique and simple transversal veins. MA and MP forks asymmetrical, cubital field with two long intercalary veins. Hindwing with rounded costal process approximately in the middle of the wing; vein Sc reaching the costal margin at mid length to the tip of the wing.

Eggs ovoid, ca. 225 µm × 95 µm, with longitudinal ribs punctuated or not punctuated, bearing transversal small outgrowths, making the whole structure resemble barbed wire (Figs 6 A, B). Micropyle in equatorial area (Figs 6 C, D).