Peracca conspicuithorax Griffini, 1897

Tan, Ming Kai & Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2014, New taxa and notes of some described species of Agraeciini (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae) from Malay Peninsula, Zootaxa 3765 (6), pp. 541-556 : 550-553

Peracca conspicuithorax Griffini, 1897

Fig. 5

Peracca conspicuithorax Griffini, 1897 — Griffini, 1897a: 2; 1897b: 141; Ingrisch, 1998: 92; Gorochov, 2011: 3

Material examined. Peninsular Malaysia, Pahang: 1 male, Kuala Lompat, Kerau Game Reserve 30 km north of Temerloh, 3°43'N, 102°16'E, coll. K. -G. Heller & M. Volleth, 23-26 March 1984; 1 male, same data, 18-21 March 1992; 1 male, Taman Negara, wildlife observation point (former airstrip), coll. S. Ingrisch, 19-22 July 1984; 1 female, Ulu Gombak Field Study Centre, 20 km northwest of Kuala Lumpur, 3°20'N, 101°45'E, coll. D. Kovac, 17 October 1995 (all Coll. Ingrisch (CI)).

Discussion. As we discovered a new but very similar species from Singapore, it became necessary to reexamine the identity of P. conspicuithorax . The shape of the pronotum in Griffinis' original publication exaggerates the hind margin of the male pronotum or the drawing has been done after a specimen in alcohol that was later dried ( Fig. 5 D). If we compare new specimens from Singapore or Malaysia, there is hardly any difference in the shapes of the pronotum ( Figs. 5 A, 5D, 5G). Regarding the male cerci, Griffinis' description and drawings fit better the Malaysian than the Singaporean specimens ( Figs. 5 B–C, 5E–5F). Thus, the specimens from Malaysia should be the true P. conspicuithorax , while those from Singapore represent a new taxon (species or subspecies) (see Peracca mirzai sp. n.). There are also differences in the biology of the two species. Based on records from Ingrisch (1998) and observations by MKT in Bukit Fraser, P. conspicuithorax can be found taking refuge inside bamboo plants. Peracca mirzai sp. n., however, are restricted to the swamp forest of Singapore.

Peracca mirzai Tan & Ingrisch , new species Fig. 6

Peracca conspicuithorax Griffini, 1897 —Tan, 2012: 44, 46 (images)

Material examined. Holotype (male): Singapore, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, along Nee Soon pipeline, secondary forest close to primary freshwater swamp forest, coll. M. K. Tan, 3 September 2011 ( ZRC).

Paratypes: 3 females. Singapore, Central Catchment Nature Reserve: 1 female, Nee Soon interior, primary freshwater swamp forest, coll. M. K. Tan & M. R. B. Ismail, 13 December 2010 ( ZRC); 1 female, Nee Soon, in malaise trap, coll. P. Grootaert, 11 December 2003 ( ISNB); Singapore: 1 female, coll. H. N. Ridley, 1901 ( BMNH).

Diagnosis. Similar to Peracca conspicuithorax Griffini, 1897 from Malay Peninsula but differs by fastigium verticis with apex acute rather than obtuse; male tenth abdominal tergite with apico-lateral margin more concave and middle of apex emarginated (instead of rounded), more distinctly furrowed along middle; male cercus bent ventrad and in apical area internally more strongly swollen with apex broadly rounded; with compressed branch behind middle of cercus terminating and bifurcating into two subacute apices (instead of an acute hook-shaped apex); female subgenital plate furrowed in middle, with apex truncated and notched in middle (instead of roundly truncated) ( Fig. 5 H).

Description. Habitus of male as shown in Fig. 6 A. Fastigium verticis surpassing apex of scapus; dorsally with apex acute. Frons subrugose, rarely shining with few impressed dots. Pronotum subrugose, disc broadly rounded into paranota; with swollen area of paranota with ventral margin almost curved mediad and posterior margin with rim broadened as seen from behind ( Figs. 6 B–C). Tegmen in male micropterous, reduced to stridulatory apparatus, covered by pronotum; female squamipterous. Prosternal spines of medium length. Femora with the following number of spines on ventral margins: profemur 6 (nearly regularly sized) external, 4 (plus 3 minute ones) internal; mesofemur 5 (plus 1 minute basally, 2 minute ones between each of the three most apical spines) external, 3 (plus 1 minute basally) internal; postfemur 11 external, 11 internal (n = 1, holotype). Knee lobes of pro- and mesofemur obtuse (subacute for mesofemur) externally and spinose internally; of postfemur spinose on both sides, longer than those of pro- and mesofemur.

Male. Tenth abdominal tergite with apico-lateral margin concave and middle of apex emarginated, furrowed along middle, curved ventrad, strongly setose particularly at the distal half ( Fig. 6 D). Cercus short-globose at base, with a large, faintly sinuate dorso-internal projection with acute apex; thereafter bent ventrad and internally strongly (near 90 °, n = 1, holotype), distinctly sinuate, internal surface flattened, apical area laterally compressed with apex broadly rounded; behind middle of cercus with a branch which is compressed, strongly curved and terminating and bifurcating to two subacute apices ( Figs. 6 D–E). Subgenital plate with disc subflat and with a medial carinula; in apical area excavated, apical margin substraight; styli short with rounded apex ( Fig. 6 F).

Female. Tenth abdominal tergite with apex deeply triangularly incised ( Figs. 6 G–H). Epiproct triangular. Cerci with apex pointing ( Fig. 6 G). Subgenital plate wider than long, furrowed in middle; apex truncated and notched in middle ( Figs. 6 I–K). Ovipositor dagger shaped; with substraight basal and gently curved apical area; apical area with dorsal margin straight, ventral margin gently curved; margins smooth ( Fig. 6 L).

Colouration. Generally testaceous. Frons, mandibles, labrum, dorsal part of clypeus and ventral surface of scapus and pedicellus dark brown to black; ventral part of clypeus pale yellow; palpi pale yellow with some tint of green; vertex and genae brown, sometimes with a tint of green. Pronotum red brown with some tint of green, anterior margin black, with two small pale white spots, apical area of disc with two cuneiform white spots, with very small black spots between the two white spots along the posterior margin; area in between and paranota generally brown. Abdomen testaceous to brown with light dots; with medial small black spots on posterior margin of each tergite. Thoracic sterna brown to black with pale margins; abdominal sternites brown with light dots. Pro- and mesofemur brown to red brown with pale marmoration; postfemur with basal half brown to red brown with pale marmoration, distal half pale yellow, then green; knees black. Tibiae generally green. Tegmen with light veins and veinlets, without dark cells.

Measurements (1 male, 2 females). See Table 3 .

Etymology. This species is named after Mirza Rifqi bin Ismail, friend of M. K. Tan.

* abdomen shrunk do to former conservation in conservation fluid.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Peracca conspicuithorax Griffini, 1897 male from Kuala Lombat (A – C), male type from Malacca (D – F), and female from Ulu Gombak (G – H): head and pronotum in dorsal view (A, D, G); abdominal apex in lateral view (B, E), dorsoposterior view (C, F), and ventral view (H). Scale bars: 10 mm (A, G); 1 mm (B, C, H). Images by SI; line drawings redrawn from Griffini (1897 a).

FIGURE 6. Peracca mirzai sp. n.: male habitus (A); head and pronotum of male (B) and female (C); male abdominal apex in dorsal (D), lateral (E) and ventral (F) views; female abdominal apex in dorsal (G, H), ventral (I, J) and lateral (K, L) views. Scale bars: 10 mm (B, C); 1 mm (D – K); 5 mm (L). Images by MKT (A – I, L) and SI (J – K).

Tables

TABLE 3. Measurements Peracca mirzai sp. n. (in mm, mean values in brackets).

	BL	BWL	PL	PW	TL	HFL	HTL	OL
Male holotype	39.7	-	11.1	7.8	2.5	19.4	20.4	-
Female paratype (13 Dec.2010)	40.0	-	11.0	8.7	2.1	20.8	21.6	15.8
Female paratype (11 Dec.2003)	31.0*	-	8.8	8.0	1.5	20.0	21.0	16.5
Female (n = 2)	31.0–40.0 (35.5)	-	8.8–11.0 (9.9)	8.0–8.7 (8.4)	1.5–2.1 (1.8)	20.0–20.8 (20.4)	21.0–21.6 (21.3)	15.8–16.5 (16.2)