Milenascopia tenuis, Queiroz & Rafael, 2019

Queiroz, Larissa Lima De & Rafael, José Albertino, 2019, Milenascopia gen. nov. (Orthoptera: Proscopiidae) from the Brazilian Amazon Basin and a pictorial key to Proscopiini genera, Zootaxa 4603 (2), pp. 265-288 : 279-288

Milenascopia tenuis gen. nov., sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 , 2 , 11 , 14 )

Examined material. Holotype 3: “ Nogueira , Lago Tefé, Rio Solimıes, 21.x.1975, Col - E. Vieira ” ( INPA).

Etymology. From Latin tenuis = thin, in reference to the specimen’s general shape.

Diagnosis. Transverse ridge of frons with conspicuous irregular protuberance at apex (figs 12A–C). Clypeum with lateral projection pointing laterally; anteromedian concavity conspicuous; lateral fold widened, laterally conspicuously curved at right side; left side conspicuously sinuous; apical margin sinuous (figs 12A–B). Pronotum smooth, with few scattered granules (fig 12E). Prosternum without longitudinal spots (figs 11C, 13A). Epiproct with subtriangular base (fig 13C). Subgenital plate approximately two times longer than sternite 8 (fig 13E). Phallic complex with distal half ovoid (figs 14A–C). Transverse sclerite sclerotized; lateral margin conspicuously curved; apical margin with inconspicuous projection at left side (figs 14A–B). Lophi with basal third shortened; medial third with left lateral margin conspicuously convex, right lateral margin slightly convex, becoming straight towards apex; apical third with hook pointing anteriorly (figs 14A–B). Ectophallic valves in dorsal view with base conspicuously widened, gradually widening towards apex; right mesial margin sinuous; left mesial margin slightly convex, external lateral margin conspicuously convex, apical margin widened and rounded (figs 14A–C).

Description. 3

Head. Fastigium light brown; in dorsal view dark brown with light brown inconspicuous spots; apex rounded; longitudinal medial carina ranging from base until half the fastigium length; base in lateral view 7.7 times higher than apex (fig 12D). Coronal suture inconspicuous (fig 11A). Gena with irregular spot (fig 12D). Transverse ridge of frons with conspicuous irregular protuberance at apex (figs 12A–C). Clypeum with lateral projection pointing laterally; anteromedian concavity conspicuous; lateral fold widened, laterally conspicuously curved at right side; left side conspicuously sinuous; apical margin sinuous (figs 12A–B). Last maxillary palpomere two times longer than wide, with inconspicuous mesial emargination (fig 12B).

Thorax. Pronotum smooth, with few scattered granules (fig 12E). Meso- and metanotum dark brown (fig 11A). Prosternum without longitudinal spots (figs 11C, 13A). Meso- and metabasisternum smooth (fig 13B).

Abdomen. Epiproct with subtriangular base (fig 13C). Subgenital plate approximately two times longer than sternite 8 (fig 13E).

Genitalia. Phallic complex with distal half ovoid (figs 14A–C). Transverse sclerite sclerotized; lateral margin conspicuously curved; apical margin with inconspicuous projection at left side (figs 14A–B). Lophi with basal third shortened; medial third with left lateral margin conspicuously convex, right lateral margin slightly convex, becoming straight towards apex; apical third with hook pointing anteriorly (figs 14A–B). Ectophallic valves in dorsal view with base conspicuously widened, gradually widening towards apex; right mesial margin sinuous; left mesial margin slightly convex, external lateral margin conspicuously convex, apical margin widened and rounded (figs 14A–C).

Female unknown.

Remarks. Milenascopia gen. nov. is morphologically similar to Apioscelis , Carbonellis and Pseudoproscopia . It shares with Apioscelis the distal sac of endophallus heavily sclerotized, well developed, which has at least half the total length of genitalia. Both genera can be differentiated by the absence of the articulated sclerites in Apioscelis , by the inconspicuous ejaculatory duct in Apioscelis (versus conspicuous elongated ejaculatory duct, as long as the genitalia, in Milenascopia gen. nov.). Furthermore, the phallotreme in Apioscelis is inconspicuous (versus conspicuous). Externally, Apioscelis has the basal portion of the posterior femur enlarged (versus not enlarged).

Milenascopia gen. nov. is also morphologically similar to Carbonellis due to the well-developed ejaculatory duct and by the simple and single spermatheca of both genera. They can be differentiated by the ejaculatory duct of Carbonellis , which has a double layer wall, surrounded by a pleated membrane (versus a not surrounded by membrane single-walled ejaculatory duct in Milenascopia gen. nov.). Additionally, the distal sac of endophallus in Carbonellis is up to three times shorter than the ejaculatory duct (versus both structures of similar length). Externally, Carbonellis has a pair of longitudinal dark brown lines at the dorsal most portion of the head (versus absent). In the females, both genera can be differentiated by the spermatheca. In Carbonellis the duct of spermatheca end with one apical diverticula having two dissimilar large lobes (versus spermatheca ending up in a single elongated apical diverticula).

Milenascopia gen. nov. is also similar to Pseudoproscopia , in terms of coloration and measurements, although the phallic complex of Pseudoproscopia is mostly membranous, elongated, ventrally with a single irregular sclerite, which extends until the beginning of the ejaculatory duct (versus distal sac of endophallus well sclerotized and developed, conic).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map of geographical records of Proscopiidae species occurring in the Brazilian Amazon.

FIGURE 2. Map of geographical records of Milenascopia gen. nov. species.

FIGURE 11. Milenascopia tenuis gen. nov., sp. nov. Holotype 3. A) habitus, dorsal view; B) idem, lateral view; C) idem, ventral view; D) holotype’s labels.

FIGURE 14. Milenascopia tenuis gen. nov., sp. nov. 3 genitalia. A) scheme of figure B; B) dorsal view; C) scheme of figure D; D) distal sac of endophallus, dorsal view; E) lateral view; F) Distal and proximal sacs of endophallus, dorsal view.