The genus Zealeuctra and its position in the family Leuctridae (Plecoptera, Insecta)

Abstract

Zealeuctra Ricker 1952 (type Leuctra claasseni (Frison 1929)) contains seven known species, of which six are newly described: arnoldi, fraxina, hitei, narfi, wachita, and warreni. All the species occur in the central Mississippi valley region of the United States, with only a little overlap into adjacent watersheds in Texas and West Virginia. Zealeuctra occupies a fairly central position in the general scheme of evolution among Leuctridae, but the large epiproct and basally undivided subanal probe are primitive characters. Its seven species are all closely allied to each other, and are very different from other genera.