Cladonotella spinulosa Tan et al.

Tan, Ming Kai, Tumbrinck, Josef, Baroga-Barbecho, Jessica B. & Yap, Sheryl A., 2019, A new species and morphometric analysis of Cladonotella (Tetrigidae: Cladonotinae), Journal of Orthoptera Research 28 (2), pp. 129-135 : 129

Cladonotella spinulosa Tan et al. sp. nov. Figs 3 , 4

Material examined. -

PHILIPPINES • 1 ♀, holotype of C. spinulosa ; Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Municipality of Del Carmen, Mahayahay, N9.86494, E126.03358, 82.9 ± 7.9 m, 17 Oct. 2018, 1019 hours, on rocky path, leg. M. K. Tan and J. B. Baroga-Barbecho, UPLBMNH.

Diagnosis. -

The new species differs from all known species of Cladonotella by the combination of the following characters: body very nodular and lobular, with dense spinules on these nodules and lobes; vertex very wide; broader scutellum width; anterior and posterior elevations, hump-shaped (in lateral view), rugose and nodulose; anterior margin of pronotum protruding anteriorly in the middle and extending beyond anterior margin of eyes; pronotum longer and extending beyond ovipositor.

Comparison with congeners. -

Apart from the unique characters of this species (in the diagnosis), the new species also differs from Cladonotella beccarii ( Bolívar, 1898) of Papua by a pronotum with two elevations (instead of one), posterior end of pronotum broader but with a narrower notch in the middle, and legs more lobular and nodular; from Cladonotella gibbosa (Haan, 1842) of Java by two distinct and clear-cut elevations on pronotum (instead of a few irregularly shaped elevations), stouter femora; from Cladonotella interrupta ( Bolívar, 1898) of Java by posterior elevation of pronotum humped-shaped (instead of acute peaks, in lateral view); from Cladonotella riedeli Tumbrinck, 2014 of West Papua by lobes and nodules on body not spine-like, sulcation between anterior and posterior elevation of pronotum less deep and truncated, lateral lobe of pronotum not acute at apex.

Holotype description. -

Relatively small for the genus. Habitus as shown in Fig. 3 . Brown, well camouflaged against forest floor.

Head: In frontal view: Antennal groove inserted 0.2 mm below lower margin of eyes ( Fig. 4A ). Fastigium convex in frontal view; curved on anterior border ( Fig. 4A ). Face very rugose and with fractures ( Fig. 4A ). Frontal costa stout. Bifurcation of the frontal costa in line with middle of eye ( Fig. 4A ). Facial carinae with spinules, curved in frontal view ( Fig. 4A ). Scutellum 1 mm wide ( Fig. 4A ). Compound eyes hemispheric, not exerted above vertex, pale colored, 0.5 times wider than tall. Lateral ocelli just above facial carinae and slightly above antennal groove ( Fig. 4A ). Margins of clypeal triangle with spinules ( Fig. 4A ). In dorsal view: apex of fastigium surpasses frontal margin of eyes, emarginated in the middle ( Fig. 4B ). Vertex very wide ( Fig. 4B ), 4.6 times wider than eye width. Lateral carinae of fastigium not distinct; median carina like a rounded horn ( Fig. 4B ). Lateral ocellus between apex of fastigium and antennal groove ( Fig. 4B ), located posterior of fascial carina. In lateral view: frontal costa arched and protruding in front of eyes. Gena with spinules. Mouthparts yellowish. Maxillary palps elongated, with apical (fifth) segment longest, following by third segment; subapical (fourth) segment shorter than both apical and third segments ( Fig. 4C ).

Pronotum: Pronotum, surpassing ovipositor, 2.1 times longer than wide (pronotal lateral lobe width). In lateral view: With anterior and posterior elevations, hump-shaped, rugose and nodulose ( Fig. 3A ); nodules covered with yellow spinules; sulcation between elevations wide but shallow ( Fig. 3A ). Anterior elevation 3.8 mm tall (measured from pronotal lateral lobe width to peak); with lateral margins straight (not tapering or broadening) dorsally in frontal view. Anterior margin of pronotal disc protruding anteriorly in the middle, surpassing anterior margin of eyes as a frontal horn ( Fig. 3A ). Infrascapular area broad ( Fig. 3A ). In dorsal view: median carina distinct throughout length of pronotum, with large nodules along the carina, nodules with yellow spinules ( Fig. 3B ). Second elevation of pronotal disc yellow around the peak. Lateral carinae with large nodules with yellow spinules. Interhumeral carina not distinct. Lateral lobe of pronotum with apex rounded ( Fig. 3B ). Apical end of pronotal disc truncated, narrowly and shallowly notched in the middle ( Fig. 3B ).

Legs: Coxae, trochanters, and femora with lobes and nodules, all with yellow spinules. Anterior and middle legs: anterior and middle femora stout ( Fig. 4D, E ). Anterior femur with three and two lobes along dorsal and ventral margins, three nodules in the external area ( Fig. 4D ); middle femur with three and two lobes along dorsal and ventral margins, four nodules in the external area ( Fig. 4E ). Anterior and middle tibiae with stout spinules. Posterior legs: posterior femur about 2.1 times longer than wide, about 1.2 times longer than posterior tibia; with five lobes along dorsal margin, apical one large; with two nodules on dorsal of external area, anterior one larger than posterior one; one large nodule in the middle of the external area; with two lobes along ventral margin, less protruding than dorsal ones ( Fig. 4F, G ). Knee of posterior femur with yellow spinules along margin ( Fig. 4F ); both genicular tooth and antegenicular tooth rounded with yellow spinules ( Fig. 4F ). Posterior tibia dark near the knee, following by a pale ring ( Fig. 4H ); with large dorsal spines, five on each lateral margin; with many yellow spinules between these dorsal large spines. Basal article of posterior tarsus 1.6 times longer than apical article; middle article very short ( Fig. 4H ).

Abdomen: Tergites and sternites typically with many spinules. Epiproct with spinules. Ovipositor with yellow spinules along lateral area, especially on dorsal valve; dorsal and ventral valves with hairs along dorsal and ventral margin, denser along dorsal margin ( Fig. 4I ). Dorsal valve with six dorsal spines, apex acute; ventral valve with five ventral spines, apex also acute but more hooked than dorsal apex; spines on valves increasing larger and robust apically ( Fig. 4I ). Apices of ovipositor valves red brown ( Fig. 4I ). Subgenital plate with many yellow spinules, denser laterally; about as long as wide, taper slightly after basal third, apex truncated ( Fig. 4J ).

Measurements. -

(In mm). BL = 10.3, VW = 1.7, EW = 0.4, SW = 1.0, posAG = 0.2, PL = 10.2, PLW = 4.9, PAW = 1.8, PPW = 1.4, PH = 3.8, AFL = 2.1, AFW = 0.9, MFL = 2.5, MFW = 1.0, PFL = 5.3, PFW = 2.6, PTL = 4.4, bHTL = 0.9, aHTL = 0.6, ODL = 1.5, OVL = 1.4.

Habitats. -

The holotype was found on a rocky path within hilly areas of over-limestone forest not too far from the coast ( Fig. 5 ). The rocks on the path were probably limestone and were covered with wet leaf litter and dead branches. Limestone on the surface was also covered with wet mosses. This suggests that the pygmy grasshoppers probably prefer wet microhabitats, as is the case for other Southeast Asian tetrigids ( Tan et al. 2017a). The forest on the hill (background of Fig. 5 ) is bordered by banana and coconut trees.

Etymology. -

This species name refers to the many spinules all around the body and is Latin female gender adjective in nominative.

Figures

Fig. 3. Habitus of Cladonotella spinulosa sp. nov. holotype in A. Lateral and B. Dorsal views. Scale bars: 2 mm.

Fig. 4. Cladonotella spinulosa sp. nov. holotype: A. Face and anterior part of pronotum in frontal view; B. Head in dorsal view; C. Mouthparts in ventro-frontal view; D. Anterior and E. Middle femora in lateral views. Posterior femur in F. Lateral (posterior part) and G. Dorsal views; H. Posterior tibia and tarsus in lateral view; I. Abdominal apex in lateral view; J. Subgenital plate in ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 5. Over-limestone forest in Siargao Island, the habitat of Cladonotella spinulosa sp. nov. The blue arrow indicates the location where the specimen was collected.