Prosopogryllacris nigra, 2018

Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2018, New taxa and records of Gryllacrididae (Orthoptera, Stenopelmatoidea) from South East Asia and New Guinea with a key to the genera, Zootaxa 4510 (1), pp. 1-278 : 84-85

Prosopogryllacris nigra sp. nov.

Figs. 26O , 27 J–M

Material examined. Holotype (female): East Malaysia: Sabah, Mt. Kinabalu NP, Poring , elev. 500–700 m (6°5'N, 116°33'E), 30.iii.1998, leg. A. Floren (tree nr. 11)— 1 female (Bonn ZFMK).

Other specimens studied: East Malaysia: Sabah, Sorinsim, (6°19'N, 116°44'E), 26.ii.1997, coll. A. Floren (tree nr. 3)— 1 female (Bonn ZFMK).

Diagnosis. The new species is characterized by the fully black head and pronotum and the characteristic black bands on femora and tibiae, both characters are so far unique within the genus ( Fig. 27J ). It further differs from P. personata ( Serville, 1831) and related species by the longer and less strongly curved ovipositor and the female subgenital plate that terminates into a truncate apical margin instead of being bilobate. It also differs from them by the distinct dark bands bordering the cross veins of the hind wing that are only faintly expressed in P. personata and missing in several other species of the genus. The color pattern of the hind wings and the shape of the ovipositor P. nigra sp. nov. shares with P. silacea sp. nov. found in the same area. Apart from coloration of head, pronotum and legs, it differs from the latter by the dark bands on the hind wings being parallel-sided instead of oval in shape and by the female subgenital plate having a truncate instead of shortly bilobate apex and the female seventh abdominal sternite having only a faint transverse fold near hind margin instead of a distinct oval apical projection. With regard to the color pattern and the narrow lateral ocelli P. nigra resembles Gryllacris sirambeica battaka Griffini, 1911 but has the black color on head and pronotum more extended without light hind margin of pronotum and the black spots at the legs being larger and extended around the tibiae. A more significant difference is however the simple shape of the female subgenital plate without elevated rim or median styliform projection typical for Gryllacris sensu strictus.

Description. Medium sized species. Head: Face ovoid, rather narrow, with scattered impressed dots and shallow transverse furrows; lower area of fastigium verticis finely rugose; clypeo-frontal suture weak, straight; lateral ocelli elongate and very narrow, white; median ocellus large, shining black and thus indistinct, with a narrow light vertical stroke in middle; subocular furrows weak ( Fig. 27K ). Abdominal tergites two and three each with little distinct stridulatory pegs (0, 0–7; 6–7, 8–14; n = 2; Fig. 26O ), in the specimen from Sorinsim clearly visible, in the type indistinct.

Wings surpassing hind knees. Tegmen: Radius with RS branching before mid-length, both veins forked near tip; media anterior fused in basal area with radius, it divides behind basal third; media posterior absent; cubitus anterior forks between basal third and mid-length into two veins, CuA1 and CuA2; cubitus posterior undivided, free throughout; with 4 anal veins, the last incomplete and with common stem with third anal vein.

Legs: Fore coxa with a spine at fore margin; fore and mid femora unarmed; fore and mid tibiae with four pairs of moderately long ventral spines and one pair of smaller ventral spurs; hind femur with 4–6 external and 0 internal spines on ventral margins; hind tibia with spaced spines on both dorsal margins, ventral margins with one preapical spine; with 3 apical spurs on both sides.

Coloration. Head and pronotum black; palpi yellowish brown; occiput with fine or little wider yellowish strokes, in one specimen (type) pronotum with a pair of indistinct lighter strokes; antennae with scapus and pedicellus black, flagellum yellowish brown, little darker towards base. Legs medium brown, femora of all legs with one black band, tibiae with two black bands, in the specimen from Sorinsim more extended than in the type and fore tibiae almost fully black. Tegmen light yellowish brown, veins little darker but in basal area shining; hind wings with light yellowish ochre surface; cross veins brown and bordered on both sides by dark brown bands ( Fig. 27J ).

Male unknown.

Female. Seventh abdominal sternite wider than long, before hind margin with a little distinct transverse swelling. Subgenital plate wide at base, afterwards with converging lateral margins and subtruncate apical margin ( Fig. 27L ). Ovipositor elongate, moderately curved throughout; with apical widening, before widening dorsal margin slightly narrowed, tip subacute ( Fig. 27M ).

Measurements (2 females).—body w/wings: 27–28; body w/o wings: 21–22; pronotum: 4.2–5.0; tegmen: 19– 22; hind femur: 11–12; tegmen width: 6.5–7.5; antenna: 100–130; ovipositor: 14–18 mm. The larger values are from the holotype.

Etymology. The new species is named for its uniformly black head and pronotum; from Latin nigra (black).

Figures

FIGURE 26. Genus Prosopogryllacris: A–E, P. p. personata (Serville, 1831) male; F–I, P. p. moeschi (Griffini, 1908) female; J–L, P. labaumei (Griffini, 1912) male (J) and female holotype (K–L); M–N, P. nigrovenosa (Karny, 1928); O, P. nigra sp. nov.—Habitus dorsal view (A, F, J), face (B, G), male abdominal apex in oblique lateral (C), apical (D, M), and ventral view (E, N), female end of abdomen with seventh sternite, subgenital plate and base of ovipositor in ventral (H–I, K) and lateral view (L), stridulatory pegs on second and third abdominal tergites (front is left, O). Scales 10 mm (A, F).

FIGURE 27. Genus Prosopogryllacris: A–I, P. silacea sp. nov.; J–M, P. nigra sp. nov.—Habitus dorsal view (A–B, J), face (C, K), male abdominal apex in ventral (D), apical (E), and oblique lateral view (F), female abdominal apex with base of ovipositor in ventral view (G, L), ovipositor (H, M), stridulatory pegs on second and third abdominal tergites, front is left (I).— Male holotype (A, C–G); female paratypes (B, H–K). Scales 10 mm (habitus, ovipositor), 1 mm (face).