Pseudonicsara (Cercana), 2009

Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2009, Revision of the genus Pseudonicsara Karny, 1912 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae: Agraeciini) 2185, Zootaxa 2185, pp. 1-122 : 50

Pseudonicsara (Cercana) sgen. n.

Type species: Pseudonicsara (Cercana) furcata sp. n.

Diagnosis. Differs from nominate Pseudonicsara by the prosternal spines, which are distinctly shorter than half the length of the fore coxa, often reduced to small tubercles; the mesosternal lobes are rounded or triangularly rounded but not conical ( Figs. 49–52). The fore tibiae are in cross-section triangular in middle of the tibia but often quadrangular or dorsally rounded near apex ( Figs 13, 28). Face and pronotum are less rugose; the lateral lobes hardly descending posteriorly in some species, but moderately descending as in nominate Pseudonicsara in others. The ovipositor is sickle-shaped. The dorsal field of the tegmen is in the mean wider than in the nominate subgenus. In some species it is rectangularly bent into the main area, giving the tegminal region a box shaped appearance.

Description. Pronotum shining, subsmooth throughout or subrugose in midline and along margins ( Figs. 41, 45, 47). Prosternal spines distinctly shorter than half the length of the fore coxa, often reduced to small tubercles ( Figs. 49–52). Mesosternal lobes rounded or triangularly rounded. Fore tibia in cross-section triangular below tympana but in apical area the dorsal angle runs from midline to external side and tibia becomes roughly quadrangular with a dorsal furrow ( Figs. 13, 28).

Male. Epiproct only weakly furrowed. Paraproct with an obtuse projection of variable shape.

Female. Ovipositor falcate, margins converging to apex; apex acute; dorsal valves with a furrow parallel to ventral margin.

Coloration. Coloration of face variable, either of general colour or with black marks, but usually without a black band between the compound eyes; exceptions P. bomberi and P. sinuata with black band between the compound eyes.

Discussion. Typical species as P. (C.) furcata can easily be separated from species of the nominate subgenus by its rather short and stout body with the dorsal field of the tegmen wider, the face more rugose but the pronotum nearly smooth, the absence of a black band between the compound eyes, the shorter prosternal spines and the sickle-shapes ovipositor. However other species show only some of those characters while in others they are like typical Pseudonicsara as e.g. P. (C.) spinibranchis . The latter species has the general habitus intermediate between Pseudonicsara and Cercana : the male pronotum with the hind margin concave, the narrow dorsal field of the male tegmen, and the fore tibia triangular to nearly apex are characters of Pseudonicsara , while the robust head, the smooth pronotum, and the short prosternal spines characters of Cercana ; the ovipositor is nearly intermediate between both subgenera but little closer to Cercana . Only two characters proved to be constantly different between Cercana and Pseudonicsara , the length of the prosternal spines and the shape of the ovipositor. Cercana is thus regarded to be just a subgenus of Pseudonicsara .

Etymology. Named for the strong modification of the male cercus that occurs in many species of the subgenus. The name is derivated from the word cercus.