Lobosceliana brachyptera, Hemp, Claudia, 2013

Hemp, Claudia, 2013, A new Lobosceliana Dirsh species (Orthoptera: Pamphagidae: Porthetinae) from coastal Tanzania, East Africa, Zootaxa 3731 (2), pp. 295-300 : 296-298

Lobosceliana brachyptera n. sp.

Holotype Male: Tanzania, Rufiji District, Mchungu forest reserve, August 1990, leg. FRONTIER Tanzania, depository: ZMUC. Alcohol specimen.

Paratypes: 1 female, 3 nymphs, same data as holotype, depository: ZMUC. Alcohol specimens.

Description. Male. General coloration brown without conspicuous pattern ( Fig. 1 ). Cuticle of whole body granulate. Head and antennae. Fastigium verticis strongly projecting forward, above angular with round posterior margin on dorsum of head and acute-angular anterior part, with raised margins so that shallow groove is formed ( Fig. 3 A); frontal ridge with shallow sulcus ( Fig. 3 B). Basal segments of antennae laterally strongly compressed, segments almost fused ( Fig. 4 C, a); segments of middle part clearly separated, both segments roundish with deep separation ( Fig. 4 C, b). 5 apical segments of antenna almost triangular in section, apical segment elongate and roundly conical. Apical 2-3 segments yellow ( Fig. 4 C, c). Thorax. Prosternal process almost square, bowl-like, with three raised margins, open at posterior end; at anterior margin two short processes at the edges, several small tubercles posteriorly. Pronotum laterally strongly compressed, laminate with three fenestrae of which two are very deep almost forming translucent slits; pronotum in this area undulating ( Fig. 1 ). Anterior margin of crest elongated, thus projecting over part of head. Crest of pronotum arcuate in 2/3rd, at posterior end abruptly sloping downwards and strongly serrate. Laterally on pronotal lobes faint broad cream fascia, bordered in pro- and metazona by brown patch above ( Fig. 1 ). Tegmina. Tegmina shortened, reaching to abdominal tergite 4, tips evenly rounded ( Fig. 4 A). Alae rudimentary, tiny elongate scale-like appendages hidden under tegmina. Legs. Fore and mid femora unarmed. Upper margin of hind femur expanded with strongly serrated straight margin. Lower margin of hind femur strongly expanded, laminate with undulating margin ( Fig. 4 B). Fore and mid tibiae ventrally near apex with double row of few short black-tipped spines; hind tibiae ventrally near apex with double row of few stout spines and a pair of larger stout spurs on each side. Abdomen. 9th and 10th abdominal tergite with median short ridge at posterior margin. Supra-anal plate oval with pointed apex; deep grove medially at anterior half ( Fig. 3 D). Cerci short and stout, pointed. Subgenital plate laterally compressed with sharp median keel ( Fig. 3 C).

Female: Similar to male, but much larger and more plump, completely apterous with large tympanum ( Figs. 2 , 5 A). Supra-anal plate elongate with median groove ( Fig. 5 D). Cerci short and thick with broadly rounded tips ( Fig. 5 D). Ovipositor valves short with slightly curved black tips ( Fig. 5 B, C, D). Subgenital plate as in Fig. 5 B, elongate with broadly rounded posterior margin.

Measurements, male. (mm) (N = 1). Body length: 47. Length of hind femur: 16.2. Lateral length of pronotum: 23 (non-regarding curvature of crest).

Measurements, female. (mm) (N = 1). Body length: 78. Length of hind femur: 21. Lateral length of pronotum: 30.

Habitat. Coastal forest.

Etymology. Greek: brachys = short, Greek: pteron = wing, because of the reduced tegmina.

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished by the shortened tegmina of the males and the extremely expanded lower margin of the hind femora. All other known Lobosceliana species are fully winged. Only L. femoralis and L. loboscelis females also have expanded lower margins of the hind femora. In L. femoralis and in L. loboscelis the lower margin of the hind femur is evenly roundly expanded, while in L. brachyptera n. sp. it is extremely broad, especially in the middle part of the femur, and the margin is undulating The pronotal crest is laterally depressed and elevated in L. femoralis but not to a degree as seen in L. brachyptera n. sp. In the latter species the pronotal crest is very elevated and very thin and undulating. In L. loboscelis the posterior part of the pronotal crest is not serrated while it is strongly serrated in L. brachyptera n. sp.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype, male, Lobosceliana brachyptera n. sp.

FIGURE 2. Female paratype, L. brachyptera n. sp.

FIGURE 3. Holotype, male L. brachyptera. A. Fastigium verticis B. Face. C. Abdominal apex, lateral view D. Supra-anal plate. Scale bars 2 mm.

FIGURE 4. Holotype, male L. brachyptera. A. Right tegmen, lateral view B. Right hind femur, lateral view C. Left antenna, dorsal view. Scale bars 2 mm.

FIGURE 5. Paratype, female L. brachyptera n. sp. A. Lateral view on pronotum and head B. Subgenital plate C. Lateral view on abdominal apex and ovipositor valves D. Dorsal view on abdominal apex. Scale bars 1 cm.