Cercoteratura reflexa Tan & Gorochov, 2024

Tan, Ming Kai, Muhammad, Amira Aqilah, Gorochov, Andrei V. & Abdullah, Nurul Ashikin, 2024, An account on some katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigonioidea) from Panti Forest Reserve in Johor, Peninsular Malaysia, Zootaxa 5415 (1), pp. 117-143 : 133-134

Cercoteratura reflexa Tan & Gorochov , sp. n.

( Figs 18 , 19A–C , 20 , 21 )

Specimens examined. PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: Johor State: PFR • ♁ (holotype); Panti Barat ; N1.80951, E103.85115, 76.6± 5.9 m.a.s.l.; 17 August 2023, 19h51; moulting under the foliage of a tree; coll. M. K. Tan, Amira A. Muhammad & N. Ashikin Abdullah; PANTI.23.16 (ZRC)

Etymology. The species name refers to the diagnostic long lamellar lobes of the epiproct appearing to bend backwards (anteriorly) being curved ventrally and having a tooth-like ventral lobe pointing ventro-anteriorly at the apex; reflexa = bent back in Latin.

Diagnosis. The new species is characterised most by the epiproct (a pair of rather large and long lamellar lobes with its apex having an obtuse, stout dorsal lobe pointing dorso-posteriorly and a tooth-like ventral lobe pointing ventro-anteriorly) and the phallic complex (with yoke-shaped epiphallus producing into two lateral stout and rounded lobes at the apex with dentated margins); as well as the combination of the shapes of the male last abdominal tergite (with small triangular postero-median lobe), male cercus (S-shaped in profile view; with the basal part thickened and having a tongue-shaped inner lobe; almost lamellar rest part; at the apex with a thin and arcuate apical spine and a smaller stout lobule dorsad of the apical spine).

The new species is most similar to Cercoteratura variegata Gorochov, 2019 from Sumatra and Borneo by the shape of the last abdominal tergite with a small postero-median lobe, of the epiproct consisting of a pair of rather large and long lamellar lobes and of the male cercus S-shaped with a thin and arcuate apical spine. It differs by the epiproct forming two apical lobes (absent in Cercoteratura variegata ) and the cercus having a tongue-shaped inner basal lobe (instead of having four lobes).

Remarks. This represents the first record of Cercoteratura in Malay Peninsula, having previously known from Thai-Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and Java.

Description. Habitus typical of congeners; generally green with dark-brown patterns on head, pronotum, tegmina and legs when alive ( Figs 18 , 19A ). Head generally pale green to green, dorsum with four dark-coloured longitudinal bands converging at frontal rostrum; antennal scapus and pedicel dark coloured ( Figs 19B, 19C ). Eyes globular ( Fig. 19B ). Frontal rostrum dark coloured, conical, stout, with rounded apex of upper tubercle having median sulcus feebly present ( Fig. 19C ). Antennal segments with apical parts dark ( Fig. 19B ). Mouthparts generally light coloured ( Fig. 19B ). Apical segment of maxillary palpi long and slender, widened apically and blackish at apex; fourth slightly shorter than third segment in length ( Fig. 19B ). Pronotal disc covering most part of tegminal mirror, anterior margin slightly convex, anterior half green with broad median brown band, posterior half brown with two black spots, posterior margin subobtusely rounded ( Fig. 19C ). Ventral margin of pronotal lateral lobe short and rounded ( Fig. 19B ). Thoracic auditory spiracle (= thoracic foramen) large and bean-shaped; not covered by pronotal lateral lobe ( Fig. 19B ). Tegmen rather narrow, with oblique apex, reaching basal part of hind tibiae; with numerous irregular black or dark spots ( Fig. 19A ). Hind wing surpassing tegminal apices ( Fig. 19A ). Legs generally pale green; fore and middle femora dark coloured towards apex and knees; hind femur with large dark-coloured patch at middle of external surface and with knee dark coloured; tarsi and apex of tibiae black ( Fig. 19A ). Femora without spine; fore and middle tibiae each with four outer and four inner subapical spines (spines black and tibia at base of spine dark coloured); inner and outer knees of hind femora with rounded lobes, inner knee with a small apical spine; hind tibiae ventrally and dorsally with numerous outer and inner dark-coloured spines as well as two ventral and one dorsal apical spurs on each side.

Male. Abdominal apex as in Figs 20A–F . Last abdominal tergite with small triangular postero-median lobe (apex obtuse) located in depth of large postero-median notch. Epiproct consisting of a pair of rather large and long lamellar lobes, curved ventrally in profile, at the apex having obtuse, stout dorsal lobe pointing dorso-posteriorly and a tooth-like ventral lobe pointing ventro-anteriorly; ventral lobe distinctly slenderer and longer than dorsal lobe. Cercus S-shaped in profile view; with basal part thickened and having tongue-shaped inner lobe; thereafter almost lamellar; at apex with thin and arcuate apical spine and smaller stout lobule dorsad of apical spine. Subgenital plate with long styles. Phallic complex consists of yoke-shaped epiphallus ( Figs 20G–I ), with small basal lobe (in profile view), anterior half slightly swollen, posterior half slightly narrowing, posterior apex emarginated and with two lateral stout and rounded lobes pointing dorsad (in profile view); lobes with dentated margins.

Female. Unknown.

Measurements (1♁, in mm). BL = 8.7 (dry-pinned), BWL = 21.7, PL = 3.8, TL = 16.6, HWT = 2.4, HFL = 11.2, HTL = 12.0.

Ecology. The specimen was collected when it had just moulted ( Fig. 21 ) and the colouration differs distinctly from its final colouration ( Fig. 18 ).

Type locality. PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: Johor State: PFR

Distribution. PENINSULAR MALAYSIA (Johor State: PFR)

Calling song. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 18. Cercoteratura reflexa sp. n. ♁ adult in its natural environment.

FIGURE 19. Cercoteratura reflexa sp. n. (A–C) and Platycercotura caricauda gen. et sp. n. (D–F) ♁ adult holotypes: body and tegmina (A, D) in lateral views, head and pronotum in lateral (B, E) and dorsal (C, F) views. Scale bars: 5 mm (A, D), 2 mm (all except A, D).

FIGURE 20. Cercoteratura reflexa sp. n. ♁ adult holotype: abdominal apex in dorsal (A), posterior (B), lateral (C, D) and ventral (E) views (A–C dry pinned; D, E in ethanol with genitalia intact), cercus in lateral view (F), genitalia in ventral (G), dorsal (H) and lateral (I) views. Scale bars: 1 mm (all except G–I), 0.5 mm (G–I).

FIGURE 21. Cercoteratura reflexa sp. n. ♁ adult holotype, freshly moulted.