Amyttacta marakelensis, Naskrecki & Bazelet & Spearman, 2008

Naskrecki, Piotr, Bazelet, Corinna S. & Spearman, Lauren A., 2008, New species of flightless katydids from South Africa (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae), Zootaxa 1933 (1), pp. 19-32 : 23-24

Amyttacta marakelensis n. sp.

( Figs. 1J–O )

Type locality. REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo, Waterberg Mtns; Marakele Nat. Park; nr. Thabazimbi ; Kwaggasvlakte Section (24°30.869'S, 27°29.586'E), 1060 m, 5–7.iv.2006, coll. Spearman & LaPolla — male holotype ( PPRI)

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to A. farrelli but differs in the smaller body size and the unique shape and armature of the male cercus. Females of the two species are nearly indistinguishable, except for the smaller size of A. marakelensis .

Description (male, except where specified)

General. Body small, slender, cylindrical; male brachypterous, female squamipterous.

Head. Antennal scapus unarmed. Fastigium of vertex parallel-sided, blunt apically, as wide as 1/2 of antennal scapus, not reaching apex of antennal sockets, flat dorsally; antennae about twice as long as body; frons flat, vertical; eyes circular, weakly protruding.

Thorax. Humeral sinus of pronotum absent, lateral lobe almost 3 times as long as high; anterior margin of pronotum straight, flat; metazona flat, posterior edge of metazona narrowly rounded. Prosternum unarmed.

Legs. Legs slender. Front coxa armed with long spine, front femur unarmed ventrally; genicular lobes of front femur unarmed; front tibia unarmed dorsally, with 2–3 spines on posterior and 3 on anterior ventral margin; tympanum bilaterally open, oval. Mid femur unarmed ventrally, genicular lobes of mid femur unarmed; mid tibia not noticeably thickened in basal part, unarmed dorsally, with 2–3 spines on posterior and 2–3 on anterior ventral margin. Hind femur unarmed ventrally, genicular lobes of hind femur unarmed; dorsal spines of hind tibia with alternating size, smaller and larger ( Fig. 1O ).

Wings. Tegmen reduced, shorter than pronotum; completely hidden under metazona of pronotum; anterior margin nearly straight; hind wing absent. Costal field not dilated at base; veins Sc and R diverging towards apex of tegmen; left stridulatory area with large, poorly defined ( Fig. 1M ). Stridulatory file elevated on thickened vein, strongly curved, with 26 teeth, 0.4 mm long, 0.02 mm wide ( Fig. 1N ). Female tegmina squamiform, shorter than half of pronotum.

Abdomen. Tenth tergite with posterior edge sclerotized, slightly raised, and with small, triangular incision; epiproct unmodified. Cercus long and slender, bent inwards ( Fig. 1K ); straight when seen from side ( Fig. 1L ); unarmed but with multi-lobed projection at base; apex slightly distended, blunt ( Fig. 1J ); paraprocts strongly enlarged and forming large, bulbous projection pointing up, above subgenital plate; sclerotized epiphallus absent; subgenital plate broadly trapezoidal, straight apically; styli cylindrical, about twice as long as wide, parallel. Female subgenital plate broadly trapezoidal, with wide, shallow apical incision.

Ovipositor. Ovipositor normally developed; almost straight, shorter than hind femur; apex pointed, with both valvulae smooth, dorsal edge of upper valvula parallel to lower valvula.

Coloration. Coloration light green, antennae concolorous; eyes uniformly colored; face without darker markings; occiput with two light yellow bands, continuous with bands on pronotum. Pronotum with light yellow band on upper side of lateral lobe; hind femur uniformly colored; abdominal sterna without markings; subgenital plate without markings.

Measurements (2 males, 3 females). body: male 11.5–13 (12.3±1.1), female 20.2–21.2 (20.8±.5); pronotum: male 5, female 4.5–4.9 (4.6±.2); tegmen: male 2.3–2.5 (2.4±.1), female 1.5; hind femur: male 8–8.2 (8.1±.1), female 8.9–9.8 (9.4±.5); ovipositor: 8 mm.

Material examined. Republic of South Africa: Limpopo, Waterberg Mtns; Marakele Nat. Park; nr. Thabazimbi ; Kwaggasvlakte Section , elev. 1060 m (24°30.869'S, 27°29.586'E), 5–7.iv. 2006, coll. L. Spearman & J. LaPolla — 3 females, 2 males (incl. holotype, 4 paratypes) (ANSP, PPRI).

Etymology. Named after the type locality of the new species, Marakele National Park in Limpopo Province.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Amyttacta farrelli. A. male head and pronotum, lateral view; B. male subgenital plate; C. apex of male abdomen, dorsal view; D. ditto, lateral view; E. male right cercus, dorsal view; F. male left tegmen; G. stridulatory file; H. ovipositor; I. female subgenital plate; A. marakelensis. J. male right cercus, dorsal view; K. apex of male abdomen, dorsal view; L. ditto, lateral view; M. male left tegmen; N. stridulatory file; O. spines on hind tibia.