Tachycines (Gymnaeta) zhongi, Zhou & Yang, 2022

Zhou, Xulin & Yang, Weicheng, 2022, Ten new species of genus Tachycines (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae, Aemodogryllinae) from karst caves in Guizhou, China, ZooKeys 1109, pp. 115-140 : 115

Tachycines (Gymnaeta) zhongi sp. nov.

Figs 1A-D , 15

Specimens examined.

Holotype, 1♂, Daxiao Dong , Xinchang township, Liuzhi Special District, 900 m, 2019-VII-28, collected by Jinhua Zhong, Xulin Zhou, Lingzhi Ou, Guang Wang, Benzhang Shi, Juan Liao and Liangfeng An; paratypes, 5♂, 2♀, same collection data as for holotype.

Diagnosis.

This new species is similar to T. (G.) caudatus ( Gorochov et al., 2006) regarding the shape of the female subgenital plate, but the female subgenital plate of the new species has a small triangle on both sides, while the latter is without. Also similar to T. (G.) chenhui (Rampini & Di Russo, 2008) regarding the shape of the male epiphallus, but the new species is smaller, with its body length not exceeding 13 mm, vertex conical tubercles extremely reduced, scarce (Fig. 1D ), ventral conical projections of 3rd-8th abdominal sternites less developed, forming smaller and shorter projections, hind tarsus keeled ventrally; T. (G.) chenhui has a larger body exceeding 13 mm, vertex conical tubercles of intermediate development, ventral conical projections of 3rd-8th abdominal sternites developed, forming larger and longer projections, hind tarsus with bristles ventrally.

Description.

Male. Body medium and small-sized (Fig. 1D ). Eyes slightly reduced, ocelli absent; conical tubercles of vertex reduced. Legs elongate and slender; fore femur approx. 3.1-3.2 times longer than the pronotum, ventrally unarmed, the internal genicular lobe with single small spine, external genicular lobe with single elongate movable spur; ventral side of fore tibiae with one internal spur and two external spurs. Mid femur with an elongate movable spur on the inner and outer genicular lobes, ventrally unarmed; mid tibiae beneath with one internal spur and one external spur. Hind femur without ventral spine, internal genicular lobe with one small spine; hind tibiae dorsally on both sides with 23-25 spines, sparsely arranged. Supra-internal spur of hind tibiae not exceeding ventral apex of hind tarsus. Hind tarsus keeled ventrally and with one dorsal apical spine (Fig. 1C ). Small and short ventral conical projections of 3rd-8th abdominal sternites developed, but distal ones obtuse and densely ciliated. Cerci extremely long. Male genitalia with H-shaped epiphallus, middle lobe and lateral sclerites of genitalia almost at the same level at the bottom (Fig. 1A ).

Female. Other characteristics are similar to the male. Subgenital plate with three lobes, median lobe large and nearly triangular (Fig. 1B ). Ovipositor is slightly longer than half the length of hind femur.

Coloration.

Body uniformly yellowish brown.

Measurements

(mm). Body ♂11.2-11.6, ♀10.8-12.1; pronotum ♂3.5, ♀3.8; fore femur ♂11.1-11.5, ♀10.8-12.3; hind femur ♂18.5-19.3, ♀18.4-20.0, ovipositor 10.0-11.2.

Distribution of light zone.

Weak light and dark light zones.

Cave adaptation type.

Troglobite.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the person’s last name who led us to collect the specimens.

Figures

Figure 1. Tachycines (Gymnaeta) zhongi sp. nov., A male genitalia, dorsal view B female subgenital plate in ventral view C hind tarsus in lateral view D male live habitus dorsal view.

Figure 15. Distribution map for new species of subgenus Tachycines Gymnaeta from Guizhou mentioned in this study.