Rhaphidophora curvata, Qin & Bian, 2024

Qin, Yanting & Bian, Xun, 2024, Contribution to subfamily Rhaphidophorinae Walker, 1869 (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) in China IX: New additions of Rhaphidophora from Yunnan and Xizang, Zootaxa 5555 (1), pp. 134-142 : 137-140

Rhaphidophora curvata sp. nov.

弯Ẇẍã

Figure 4

Description. Male. Body medium. Head and pronotum as other species of the genus. Legs. Fore coxae with 1 spine; femora with 1 short spine on internal margin; tibiae with 1 internal and 2 external spines ventrally, apices with 1 pair of spines on ventral surface. Middle femora with 1 pair of apical spines; tibiae dorsally with 1–3 internal and 1–2 external spines, ventral surface with 2 internal spines and 1 external spine, apices with 1 pair of spines on dorsal and ventral surfaces separately. Hind femora with 1 short internal spine; tibiae dorsally with 22–23 internal spines and 25 external spines, apices with 1 pair of dorsal and 2 pairs of ventral spines; basitarsi with 5 small spines and 1 large apical spine on dorsal surface along the midline ( Fig. 4F ).

Abdomen. Posterior margin of tenth abdominal tergite arched concave in middle.Epiproct prolonged downwards, dorsal surface with raised lateral carinae, between them concave, apical margin with 1 stout spine on each side, curving down and outward ( Fig. 4J ), its tip curving outwards ( Fig. 4H ); ventral surface sclerotized, prolonged into a small spine at apical area ( Fig. 4J ). Lateral margins of subgenital plate convex and after middle area gradually narrowing ( Fig. 4L ), ventral surface furrowed along the midline ( Fig. 4K ); apical area projecting, posterior margin faintly concave, the lateral lobes obtuse ( Fig. 4L ). Styli subcylindrical, inserted on subapical area of subgenital plate on ventral surface ( Fig. 4L ), apices obtuse.

Female. Unknown.

Coloration. Male body blackish brown, tergites darker.

Measurements (mm). BL: ♂ 14.3; PL: ♂ 2.0; FFL: ♂ 6.0; MFL: ♂ 6.0; HFL: ♂ 14.1; HTL: ♂ 12.1; HBL: ♂ 2.9.

Material examined. Holotype: male, Gandeng, Motuo , Xizang, July 18, 2024, coll. by Siyu Pang and Ting Luo.

Distribution. Xizang (Motuo).

Discussion. The new species differs from Rhaphidophora brevispinula Bian, Zhu & Shi, 2017 by: male epiproct with the lateral margins faintly raised in lateral view, the spines of dorsal surface curving outwards ( Fig. 4I ).

Etymology. The new species is named for the curved spines of male epiproct.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Rhaphidophora curvata sp. nov. Male: A. head in frontal view; B–C. head and thoraces: B. dorsal view, C. lateral view; D–E. apex of hind femur: D. external view, E. internal view; F. tarsus of hind leg in lateral view; G–L. apex of abdomen: G. dorsal view, H. apical view, I–J. apical and ventral view, K. ventral and lateral view, L. ventral view.