Australogryllacris guttata, 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 : 132

Australogryllacris guttata sp. nov.

Figs. 44 A–I

Material examined. Holotype (male): Indonesia: West Papua, Tamarau Mts., Bamus Bama vill. env., elev. 730 m (0°45'19''S, 132°15'48''E), 13.ii.2012, leg. D. Telnov— 1 male (Erfurt NKME).

A. guttata differs from both other species of the genus by the shape of the tegmen that has a distinct constriction at end of subcosta followed by a narrower apical area ( Fig. 44A ), while in both other species the anterior margin of the tegmen is gradually rounded to tip, both other species also have wider tegmina. Moreover, in A. guttata , the basal half of the tegmen is somewhat stiffened and uniformly yellowish, the apical half and the anterior area with dark bands along the cross-veins, while in A. ornata cyanea ( Brunner, 1888) the dark bands along the cross-veins are distributed over the whole tegmen and in A. kirbyi ( Griffini, 1909b) they are restricted to the anterior area.

Description. Medium sized species. Head: Face ovoid, rather narrow; forehead dull; fastigium verticis about as wide as scapus; lateral ocelli little distinct, median ocellus clear; a very fine suture separating fastigium frontis from fastigium verticis; subocular furrows shallow, in upper area absent ( Fig. 44B ). Abdominal tergites two and three with stridulatory pegs.

Wings surpassing abdomen and reaching to about hind knees of stretched hind legs ( Fig. 44A ). Tegmen: Radius releases RS in subapical area and divides another time near tip; media anterior free from base, divides before mid-length into two branches, MA and MP; cubitus anterior and cubitus posterior both single branched, undivided; with 4 anal veins.

Legs: Fore coxa with spine at fore margin reduced to a tubercle; fore and mid femora unarmed; fore and mid tibiae with four pairs of large ventral spines and one pair of very small ventral spurs; hind femur with 11 external and 13 internal spines on ventral margins, increasing in size towards posterior end; the last two internal spines modified: penultimate spine thickened with acute tip, ultimate spine greatly widened in basal half, then suddenly constricted to less than half of its width, faintly curved and with acute tip ( Fig. 44C ); hind tibia with spaced spines on both dorsal margins, ventral margins with one short pre-apical spine each; with 3 apical spurs on both sides.

Coloration. General color brown. Face dark brown, upper area (fastigii, base of antennae) medium brown, a spot around median ocellus light ochre; clypeus and labrum yellowish brown; tips of mandibles black; palpi light ochre. Tegmen in area ahead of ScP bright white with dark brown bands along veins and veinlets; remaining area shining yellowish in basal half including veins and veinlets, in apical half semi-transparent white with yellow main veins but transverse veinlets bordered by brown lateral bands on both sides. Hind wing semi-transparent white with yellowish or brown veins; most cross-veins darkened and bordered on both sides by dark brown bands.

Male. Ninth abdominal tergite prolonged but apically only little down-curved; apical margin convex, on both sides with a small setose lamella ( Figs. 44 D–E). Tenth abdominal tergite broad band-shaped, divided in midline; on both sides of midline, margin bulging and stiffened, on dorsal side prolonged into a stout obtuse cone, on ventral side with an at base wide, slightly down-curved, acute spine ( Fig. 44F, F, I ). Subgenital plate elongate, in about basal half membranous except along lateral margins, in apical half sclerotised and divided into three lobes: two long lateral lobes and a shorter, about half as long medial lobe; all three lobes at apex obtuse; without styli ( Figs. 44 H–I).

Female unknown.

Measurements (1 male).—body w/wings: 28; body w/o wings: 24; pronotum: 5; tegmen: 20; tegmen width: 6.8; hind femur: 16; antenna: male 160 mm.

Etymology. The new species is named for the spotted fore and hind wings; from Latin guttatus spotted.

Figures

FIGURE 44. Australogryllacris guttata sp. nov., holotype male: A, habitus dorsal view; B, face, C, apical area of hind femur with enlarged spines; D–I abdominal apex in lateral view (D), with cercus flipped aside (E), in apical view showing projections of tenth abdominal tergite (F, G), in ventral (H) and oblique ventral view (I) showing three-lobate subgenital plate and projections of tenth abdominal tergite from behind.