Crassabwa Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996
Creators: name: Kluge, Nikita J.
name: Gattolliat, Jean-Luc
name: Salles, Frederico F.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Ephemeroptera
Baetidae
Crassabwa

description: Genus Crassabwa Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996
(Figs 1–132)
Crassabwa Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996b: 236. Type species Centroptilum flavum Crass 1947.
Systematic position of Crassabwa. Crassabwa belongs to the plesiomorphon Protopatellata Kluge & Novikova 2011. Within this plesiomorphon, it is most closely related to Susua Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1998a. Previous descriptions of Susua contain errors, which will be corrected in a separate paper. In the present paper, we compare Crassabwa with Susua based on our examination of Susua niandanense (Wuillot in Wuillot & Gillies 1993b) and Susua sigiense (Gillies 2001) comb. n. (originally described as Cheleocloeon sigiense). Among characters of Crassabwa listed below, setation of larval femur [character (12)] and structure of larval claw [character (19)] are common for Crassabwa and Susua, and probably represent apomorphies for the lineage comprising these two genera.
Annotated diagnosis of Crassabwa. This diagnosis is based on three species, C. flava, C. ludmilae sp. n. and C. ameliae sp. n. described below. In all three species, last instar larva has peculiar structure of the first pair of tergalii, which allows to distinguish it from all other taxa [see (25)]. Another peculiar larval character is presence of a pair of projections on the anterior margin of tenth tergum [see (28)]. Winged stages can be distinguished from other taxa by shape of hind wing [see (21)] (known for all three species) and presence of inner projection on male unistyliger [see (31)] (known only for C. flava and C. ludmilae sp. n.).
(1) Cuticular coloration of larva. Larvae of all three species of Crassabwa have contrasting cuticular coloration consisted of dark areas (varying from ocher to greenish brown or dark brown) and light blanks (varying from colorless to ocher): Head at most part dark, between eyes with composite blanks corresponding to places of attachment of mandibular muscles (Figs 3, 61, 116). Thoracic terga at most part dark, with composite blanks (in C. ludmilae sp. n. and C. ameliae sp. n. blanks of pronotum and mesonotum often with darkening inside – Figs 62, 124). Abdominal terga with paired medioanterior and medioposterior sigilla forming contrasting blanks; coloration of terga is either similar on all abdominal segments (Figs 3, 57, 60, 116, 119), or different on different segment (Figs 1, 2, 56, 59, 114, 115; Crass 1947: Fig. 21a); in most cases cuticular pigmentation on terga VII–VIII is less intensive than on terga III–VI and IX (the same in Sususa). Abdominal sterna either all colorless or poorly colored, or sternum IX partly or completely colored with brown. Legs at most part colorless, with variously expressed diffusive brown markings on femur, proximal part of tibia and proximal part of tarsus (Fig. 64). Caudalii proximally and distally light or colorless, dark brown at middle (Figs 1–3, 56, 57, 59, 60, 114–117, 119).
Cuticle of fore protoptera of last instar larva has species-specific coloration: in C. flava it has dark lines along longitudinal convex veins and blanks along longitudinal concave veins, without color markings on cross veins (Fig. 4); in C. ludmilae sp. n. and C. ameliae sp. n. it has dark lines along all longitudinal and cross veins (Figs 56–58, 62, 114–116). This coloration occurs on the larval cuticle, so it is retained unchanged during all last larval instar, and does not depend upon hypoderm with veins, which is gradually transformed to subimaginal wing; only shortly before molt to subimago the cuticular coloration of protopteron becomes poorly visible on background of the dark subimaginal wing crumpled inside. This species-specific character is present only in the last larval instar; in previous instars, coloration of protoptera of all three species is the same as in the last instar of C. flava.
(2) Hypodermal coloration of all stages. Larva, subimago and imago has more or less expressed red hypodermal pigmentation, whose color varies from light orange to dark red or nearly black: in larva this coloration is either absent (Fig. 1), or present as reddish markings visible through cuticle (Figs 2–3); in subimago this hypodermal coloration is always present, but can be poorly visible through brown subimaginal cuticle; in imago this hypodermal coloration is well visible, so that imagoes of both sexes are intensively colored by orange and red, especially in dorsal half of the body (Figs 31–34, 96–97, 100–101).
In C. flava and C. ludmilae sp. n. cerci of imago have red hypodermal coloration in proximal part (Fig. 31). In immature larva (including beginning of last larval instar) red hypodermal coloration, if present in some parts of the body, is never present in caudalii (Fig. 1); during development of last instar larva, when tissues of paracercus start to degenerate, and tissues of cerci start to transform into subimaginal cerci, proximal parts of cerci get red hypodermal coloration (Figs 2–3, 59). In subimago this red hypodermal coloration of proximal parts of cerci is retained, but can be invisible through dark brown subimaginal cuticle of cerci. Imaginal cuticle of cerci is colorless, so red coloration of their proximal parts is well visible (Figs 31, 32, 97, 100, 101).
Winged stages of C. ameliae sp. n. are unknown; a single examined mature male larva ready to molt to subimago, has no red coloration of cerci (Fig. 121), that allows to conclude that winged stages of this species have no red coloration of cerci (see below).
(3) Larval frons. Bases of antennae are widely separated, frons between them is flat (Fig. 3) (unlike carinate in some other taxa).
(4) Larval frontal suture. Frontal suture elongate (Fig. 61).
(5) Labrum. Labrum nearly semicircular with median incision; dorsal surface with pair of submedian setae and one or two pairs of latero-distal setae (Figs 71, 129; Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996b: Fig. 1).
(6) Mandibles. In all three species, incisor and kinetodontium are fused at most length; left prostheca with 4 blunt processes and 3–5 small pointed processes more or less fused together; right prostheca nearly parallel-sided, apically obliquely truncated and divided to several processes terminated at one line (Figs 8–9, 69–70, 76–82, 127– 128; Crass 1947: Fig. 21f–g; Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996b: Fig. 3–4). In other respects structure of mandibles is species-specific: In C. ludmilae sp. n. and C. ameliae sp. n. structure of molae of both mandibles is markedly different from that of C. flava and other Baetidae (see below). In C. flava and C. ameliae sp. n. setae between prostheca and mola are present only on right mandible (Figs 8–9, 127–128), but in C. ludmilae sp. n. such setae are present on both mandibles (Figs 69–70, 76–82).
In Crassabwa, as in many other taxa, denticles of mandibles are often worn down; in order to study the real shape of mandibles, it is necessary to take a just molted larva; to be absolutely sure that mandibles are not worn down, one can examine mandibles just before molt to the next larval instar (Figs 8–9, 78–79). This examination testifies that right prostheca, whose processes looks as cut off, really has such shape (see Figs 79 and 82 for comparison).
(7) Maxillae. Maxilla (Figs 72, 130; Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996b: Fig. 5) has all 3 canines and 3 dentisetae; distal dentiseta much thicker than others, but bent at the same direction as others; among several setae proximad of dentisetae, 1 st one either simple as others (Fig. 6), or bifid, resembling dentiseta and possibly consists of two setae fused at base (Fig. 7).
(8) Maxillary palp. Maxillary palp 2-segmented; 2nd segment thick, with short and narrow apical projection (Figs 72, 130; Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996b: Fig. 5), which possibly represents vestige of 3rd segment.
(9) Labium. Paraglossa slightly wider than glossa (Figs 5, 74, 83, 131). Setal rows on glossae and paraglossae as in many other taxa: Glossa with following setal rows: median row (regular row of spine-like setae along median margin); dorso-lateral row (regular row along lateral margin, with setal bases visible in dorsal view); ventral side of glossa bears setae directed ventrally, which are located irregularly in the proximal part of the glossa and form a ventro-median row (sparse row parallel to median margin). Paraglossa with following setal rows: latero-apical setae (longest ones) form a regular sparse row along lateral margin, more densely and irregularly located on apical margin, and irregularly located on dorsal side; ventro-median row (regular row of long slender straight setae attached on ventral side and directed mainly medially); dorso-median row (regular row of thicker setae attached on dorsal side and directed medio-distally, limited by distal half of paraglossa).
(10) Labial palp. 2nd segment forms prominent inner-apical projection, which can be markedly thinner than 3rd segment or subequal to it (Figs 5, 73, 74, 83, 131). 2nd segment contains well-developed muscle-adductor of 3rd segment. Muscle-abductor of 2nd segment is attached at median groove of submentum (Fig. 5) (in contrast to Susua, where it is attached at base of submentum).
(11) Postsubalar sclerite. Postsubalare has posterior-dorsal corner stretched to a thin process with concave dorsal margin (this is similar to Cloeonini, but differs from Susua and many other taxa, whose posterior-dorsal process is wider, with convex dorsal margin). Postsubalare has the same shape in imago and subimago; it is well visible on subimaginal exuviae due to contrasting cuticular coloration (Figs 36, 98).
(12) Larval femur. Outer margin of each femur bears one row of stout elongate spatulate colorless setae; near apex of femur locates one subapical seta, which has the same structure as other setae of this row, but usually is somewhat shorter and separated from nearest seta by a distance greater than other distances between setae of this row (Figs 10–13, 64, 67, 122, 125; Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996b: Fig. 7). The same in Susua; in most other Baetidae larval femur either has two subapical setae brought together, or no recognizable subapical seta. Probably, presence of one subapical seta is a synapomorphy of Crassabwa and Susua.
(13) Patella-tibial suture. In larvae of both sexes and in female at all stages (larva, subimago and imago) fore tibia without patella-tibial suture, middle and hind tibia with patella-tibial suture; in other respects tibiae of all legs have similar structure (Figs 10–12). This is typical for the plesiomorphon Protopatellata, to which Crassabwa belongs. In larva, patella-tibial suture is stretched far along tibia, so that crosses inner side of tibia at distal part (Figs 11–12, 64, 122).
(14) Fine setae on larval tibia. Outer side of tibia near base is crossed by a row of fine colorless setae: portion of this row located on posterior side of tibia is transverse (this transverse portion was erroneously figured on anterior side of tibia by Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996b: Fig. 7); portion of this row located on anterior side of tibia is oblique, on middle and hind tibia stretching along patella-tibial suture (Fig. 13); setae of the same kind as in this row, are sparsely and irregularly arranged along posterior side of tibia and tarsus of all legs. In C. ludmilae sp. n. and C. ameliae sp. n. these setae are simple, in C. flava all these setae are bifurcate (Fig. 14).
Based on the presence of arched row of setae on tibia, Lugo-Ortiz and McCafferty (1996b) regarded Crassabwa to be related with Cloeodes Traver 1938 and placed them to the « Cloeodes complex», together with Dabulamanzia Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996a (Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1998b). Actually, such setae form a row on proximal part of tibia in various taxa of Baetidae, including well-known Cloeonini (Kluge & Novikova 1992: Figs 1, 2); this is considered a plesiomorphy by Salles et al. (2016).
(15) Apical setal patch on larval tibia. Small, arched setae, which are dispersed over larval leg, are especially dense on apex of inner (ventral) side of tibia, forming here a setal patch. Size of this setal patch varies individually; it is either limited by apical portion of tibia (Figs. 16–17), or is stretched along tibia.
Besides Crassabwa, such setal patch is present also in Susua and Dabulamanzia; more compact and dense setal patch on the same place is present in Centroptiloides Lestage 1918 and Dicentroptilum Wuillot & Gillies 1994; setae of the same type are constantly present on the same place in some other taxa.
(16) Stout setae on larval tibia. Outer side of tibia and tarsus have no stout setae; outer-apical seta of tibia is absent as well (Figs 10–12, 64, 67, 122, 125).
(17) Imaginal and subimaginal tibia and tarsus. In all 3 species described below, in imago and subimago of both sexes tibia of each leg with more or less prominent inner-apical projection (Fig. 103). Tarsus moderately long (Figs 31, 32, 34, 97, 101, 102). Middle and hind legs of both sexes and on fore leg of female have 2 apical spines on 2nd and 3rd primary tarsomeres; 3rd apical spine, located on 4th primary tarsomere (penultimate one) either present, or absent on individual legs (Figs 103, 122).
(18) Microlepides on subimaginal tarsi. In all 3 species described below, all tarsal segments of all legs of both sexes are covered by pointed microlepides. The same in most Baetidae other than Baetungulata.
(19) Larval claw. Claw with two regular rows of denticles, among which two most distal denticles of each row are enlarged and shifted toward sides of claw. These two rows of denticles (anterior and posterior rows) are located symmetrically on inner side of the claw; in C. ludmilae sp.n. and C. ameliae sp. n. they are also symmetric regarding size of their denticles (Figs 66, 95, 126), but in C. flava two distal denticles of the anterior row are large, while two distal denticles of the posterior row are twice smaller (Figs 15, 18–19). On individual claws instead of two large distal denticles, there is larger number of thinner denticles.
Besides Crassabwa, two distal denticles in each of two rows are enlarged and shifted laterally in Susua, that is a possible synapomorphy of Crassabwa and Susua. However, two enlarged distal denticles in each of two rows are found in some other taxa, e.g. in selected species of Cheleocloeon (Kluge 2016: Figs 23, 37) and in undescribed species of Indocloeon.
Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty (1996b) overlooked posterior row of denticles on the claw of C. flava and wrongly described it as having one row of denticles. Probably because of this error, they wrongly compared Crassabwa with Dabulamanzia, which has one row of denticles on larval claws (McCafferty 1999), but did not compare Crassabwa with Susua.
(20) Fore wing. Fore wing is widest near base, gradually narrowing toward apex (Fig. 54; Crass 1947: 20d). The same in various relatively large Baetidae, in contrast to smaller Baetidae (including Susua) whose wings are more oval and widest near middle.
Pterostigma of fore wing has approximately 5–20 oblique veins, which can be complete and incomplete, simple and branches, well-expressed and vestigial; several weak cross veins can be present proximad of pterostigma; one marginal intercalary of this or that length either present in each space, or absent in one or two most posterior spaces.
(21) Hind wing. Hind wing present in both sexes, of « Centroptilum -type»: narrow, with fore margin nearly straight and hind margin slightly convex, with 2 longitudinal veins, with hooked costal projection; in contrast to other taxa with the « Centroptilum -type» hind wing, in Crassabwa costal projection is especially long and directed perpendicular to the wing (Figs 51–53, 55; Crass 1947: Fig. 20f). The same in the species originally described as Cloeon vitreum Navás 1930 (see below).
(22) Denticles on larval abdomen. In all 3 species, posterior margins of abdominal terga II–X with regular row of large, narrow, pointed denticles, which can alternate with smaller denticles (Fig. 20); posterior margin of abdominal tergum I either with the same denticles, or with smaller denticles, or lack denticles (individual variability); at middle of posterior margin of tergum IX denticles either slightly diminished (Fig. 65), or indistinguishable from others, never interrupted. Anterior abdominal sterna without denticles, posterior sterna (sterna VI–IX of C. flava, or sterna V–IX of C. ludmilae sp. n. and C. ameliae sp. n.) with regular row of pointed denticles smaller than denticles on terga; sternum IX of male with pointed denticles between protogonostyli and laterad of them (Fig. 104). Each paraproct with 6–10 large pointed denticles (Fig. 68; Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996b: Fig. 12).
(23) Scales on larval abdomen. Abdominal terga with numerous scales; in C. ludmilae sp. n. and C. ameliae sp. n. all scales are short and blunt (Fig. 94); in C. flava scales vary from short and blunt to long and pointed (Figs 20–21), that is similar to scales of Susua. Abdominal sterna with short scales only (Fig. 22).
(24) Setae on larval sterna. In all three species abdominal sterna bear only sparse short setae; in C. ludmilae sp. n. and C. ameliae sp. n. all setae are simple (not bifurcate) and do not form rows; in C. flava several setae located near lateral rugose convexity, are bifurcate and sometimes form irregular row, which is either nearly longitudinal (stretching laterad of the rugose convexity), or nearly transverse (stretching posteriad of the rugose convexity), or arched (Fig. 22).
(25) Structure of tergalii. Tergalius I with anal margin not bordered by rib and convex in proximal part (Figs 24, 85); in larva of last instar this convex proximal portion is overturned and bent ventrally (Figs 23, 84). In previous larval instars tergalius I is not folded in such a manner, being spread similar to Figs 24 and 85. Among examined last instar larvae of three species, only in few individuals selected tergalius I (either left or right one), was not folded, but spread as in younger larvae.
Other tergalii II–VII have no overturned anal lobe; their anal margin either has no anal rib (Fig. 25), or has very short anal rib (Figs 86–91), that varies individually and among tergalii of one individual (Fig. 29). Costal margin is armed by costal rib, which in its distal part bears small seta-bearing denticles (Fig. 26).
Superficially, last instar larval tergalii of Crassabwa resemble that of Susua, Dabulamanzia and Cheleocloeon, whose tergalii I are petiolate and sharply different from others; in contrast to these taxa, in Crassabwa tergalii I are not really petiolate, but get this shape due to folding. Among Baetidae, besides Crassabwa, tergalii with overturned anal lobe are found only in Cloeonini and Callibaetini; in contrast to Crassabwa, anal lobe of Cloeonini is bent not ventrally, but dorsally and can be present on tergalii of several pairs; in Callibaetini the anal lobe bent ventrally is present on tergalii of several or all pairs.
(26) Pigmentation of tergalii. Dorsal cuticle of each tergalius I–VII can have a brown stripe running just above main trachea; in C. flava this stripe is wider than trachea (Figs 29–30); in C. ludmilae sp. n. this stripe is not wider than trachea, so that is invisible on background of trachea (Figs 92–93); in some individuals of C. ludmilae sp. n. and C. ameliae sp. n. this stripe is completely absent.
(27) Mobility of tergalii. Tergalii make rhythmical respiratory movements with little amplitude. In contrast to other mayflies able to such movements, larvae of Crassabwa are unable to live in stagnant water, so it is rather difficult to transport living larvae from place of collecting to a cage placed on current, and impossible to keep them in container for rearing. Crass (1947) also noted that «The nymphs have proved very intolerant of captivity».
(28) Larval abdominal tergum X. Anterior margin of abdominal tergum X forms a pair of prominent projections (Fig. 65), which serve as places of attachment for various longitudinal dorsal muscles running from anterior margin of tergum IX and from previous abdominal terga. In other taxa, including Susua, anterior margin of this tergum is either nearly straight, or forms a pair of shallow convexities.
(29) Larval caudalii. Caudalii of the «Siphlonuroid-type»: cerci and paracercus have equal length and bear long, dense primary swimming setae; larvae of Crassabwa are good swimmers. Posterior margin of each caudalius segment bears denticles, which are enlarged on lateral sides of cerci and on dorsal side of paracercus, being somewhat larger on each 2nd segment (Fig. 63) (in contrast to Susua, whose denticles are much smaller). In distal half of cercus outer side with more or less developed secondary swimming setae, not forming regular row (Fig. 63).
(30) Pose of developing gonostyli. Before molt from larva to subimago, subimaginal gonostyli are bent under larval cuticle in « Cloeon - type » pose, i.e. with 2nd segments directed laterally (Fig. 104); this is known for all 3 species described below (the same in most other Protopatellata and Anteropatellata-non-Baetovectata).
(31) Styliger of male imago. At least in C. flava and C. ludmilae sp. n. apical margin of each unistyliger bears a median projection, which represents continuation of dorsal wall of unistyliger and is projected in medio-ventral direction (Figs 37–39, 41, 106).
(32) Penis of male imago. At least in C. flava and C. ludmilae sp. n. inner margin of penial bridge forms a pair of internal projections directed cranially and located dorsad of gonovectes (Figs 40, 107). The same in Susua.
(33) Eggs. At least in C. flava and C. ludmilae sp. n. eggs are elongate, chorion with net-like relief, whose longitudinal ridges are more wide and convex than transverse ridges, so that in middle part of egg this relief looks as longitudinal striation (Figs 45–50, 108–113). This relief allows to distinguish Crassabwa from many other Baetidae, whose chorion has even net-like relief with isodiametric cells separated by equally developed longitudinal and transverse ridges. Susua niandanense also has irregular longitudinal ridges in middle part of egg (paper in preparing); possibly, this is a synapomorphy of Crassabwa and Susua.
Distribution. Afrotropical Region.
Discussion about species composition of Crassabwa. Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty (1996b) established the genus Crassabwa for 4 species, which were originally described as Centroptilum flavum Crass 1947 (the type species of Crassabwa), Centroptilum loweae Kimmins 1949, Centroptilum badium Kopelke 1980 and Cloeon vitreum Navás 1930.
Centroptilum loweae was originally described by Kimmins (1949) as male imagoes, male subimagoes and female subimagoes collected near Lake Nyasa, with a male imago designated as the holotype. Male imago of C. loweae belongs to Cheleocloeon Wuillot & Gillies 1993a, about which testifies structure of its gonovectes (which Kimmins erroneously termed «titillators») with hooked apices «a pair of sinuous titillators, whose apices are bent at right-angles and overlapping» (Kimmins 1949: 829, Fig. 4); this genital structure allows to distinguish Cheleocloeon from all other taxa (Kluge 2016). Kimmins noted similarity of C. loweae with Centroptilum excisum Barnard 1932 (which is recently placed to Cheleocloeon) and stated that C. loweae differs from C. excisum by presence of hind wings in female. At the same time Kimmins (1949) did not prove that female subimagoes reported in his paper as C. loweae, are really conspecific with the male imaginal holotype of C. loweae. Actually females of all Cheleocloeon have no hind wings (Kluge 2016). According to our data (Kluge, unpublished), two species of Dabulamanzia occur in tributaries of Lake Nyasa; their female subimagoes and imagoes are similar to that of Cheleocloeon, but differ in having hind wings. So it is quite probable that female paratypes of Centroptilum loweae belong to some of these species of Dabulamanzia. In another paper, Kimmins (1960) described male and female imagoes and subimagoes attributed by him to Centroptilum loweae, collected near Lake Victoria (in Uganda and Tanzania), and noted variability of this species. Possibly, here also various species were reported under the name « Centroptilum loweae ». Gillies (1990) placed the species loweae [Centroptilum] to the group tarsale of the genus Afroptilum, and Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty (1996b) placed it to Crassabwa. According to the original designation of male imago from Lake Nyasa as the holotype (originally termed « type »), the species loweae [Centroptilum] undoubtedly belongs to Cheleocloeon, and can be treated as Cheleocloeon loweae (Kimmins 1 949) comb. n. Not far from the Lake Nyasa, in the same mountain system (in the source of Great Ruaha River near Mfumbi and in a tributary of Little Ruaha River near Iringa), the first author reared imagoes from larvae of Cheleocloeon excisum (Barnard 1932). All characters of this species agree with the description of the holotype of C. loweae, so the following synonymy is proposed here: Ch. excisum = Ch. loweae syn. n.
Centroptilum badium Kopelke 1980 was originally described as male and female imagoes from D.R. Congo (Zaire). Gillies (1990) placed it to the group tarsale of the genus Afroptilum, and Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty (1996b) placed it to Crassabwa. One of us (N. Kluge) has reared material of this species from Uganda; it belongs to a new genus, which will be described in a separate publication.
Cloeon vitreum Navás 1930 was described as a single female imago from Congo, and its systematic position remains doubtful (see below).
Thus, only Crassabwa flava (Crass 1947) was reliably attributed to the genus Crassabwa. This species is redescribed below based on reared material. Two other species, Crassabwa ludmilae sp. n. and C. ameliae sp. n. are described below.
Discussion about diagnosis of Crassabwa. The original diagnosis of Crassabwa included characters of larva and imagoes (Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996b). Larval claw of Crassabwa was characterized as having «two enlarged subapical denticles and four to six small basal denticles» (Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996b: 236), that was regarded to be different from the « Centroptiloides complex», whose larval claw was said to «possess 2 subparallel rows of denticles» (Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1998a: 2). Actually, larval claws were wrongly described for a number of baetid species, including Crassabwa flava, whose claws have not one, but two rows of denticles, with two enlarged distal denticles in each row (Figs 15, 18–19) [see character (19)]. If correct this character, it appears that Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty (1996b) did not report any character of Crassabwa different from Susua, which was placed by them to the « Centroptiloides complex» (Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1998a). Actually, Crassabwa and Susua are closely related [see characters (12), (19)]. Larva of Crassabwa differs from larva of Susua mainly by structure of 1 st tergalii, which in Crassabwa have a proximal-anal flap overturned ventrally in the last larval instar (Figs 23, 84). This character of Crassabwa was not reported neither by Crass (1947), nor by Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty (1996b), who described and figured only tergalii («gills») of 4th pair.
description: Published as part of Kluge, Nikita J., Gattolliat, Jean-Luc & Salles, Frederico F., 2017, Redescription of the Afrotropical genus Crassabwa Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae: Protopatellata), pp. 401-435 in Zootaxa 4350 (3) on pages 402-407, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4350.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1059179