Pseudonicsara (P.) fascifrons, Naskrecki, Piotr & Rentz, David C. F., 2010

Naskrecki, Piotr & Rentz, David C. F., 2010, Studies in the orthopteran fauna of Melanesia: New katydids of the tribe Agraeciini from Papua New Guinea (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae), Zootaxa 2664, pp. 1-35 : 10-12

Pseudonicsara (P.) fascifrons n. sp.

( Figs. 4 A–E)

Type locality. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Western Province, Muller Range, Gugusu (5°43'45.3''S, 142°15'47.8''E), 515 m, 3–10.ix.2009, coll. P. Naskrecki & D.C.F. Rentz—male holotype ( ANSP)

Differential diagnosis. In the shape of the male cercus in this new species is unique within the genus, but most similar to that of P. concha Ingrisch , from which it can be distinguished by the presence of a small, triangular lobe on the dorsal side of the cercus ( Fig. 4 D), above the basal, inner process, and the presence of two subapical processes (only one in P. concha .) The titillator differs from that of P. concha in the development of more rounded and evenly distributed lamellae on the apico-lateral margin ( Fig. 4 B). The new species also lack the vertical, dark band on the frons, which is present in P. concha .

General. Body cylindrical, of medium size, robust; macropterous ( Fig. 4 A).

Head. Frons flat, weakly oblique, nearly smooth, gena weakly rugose ( Fig. 4 C). Fastigium of vertex long, spur-shaped, as wide as 1/2 of antennal scapus, about 1.5 times longer than scapus. Eyes globular, moderately protruding; median ocellus present; lateral ocelli present, circular. Antennae about 1.5 times as long as body.

Thorax. Pronotum surface weakly punctate; anterior margin of pronotum straight, flat; metazona slightly raised, posterior edge of metazona straight; lateral lobe almost 1.7 times as long as high; marginal fold of pronotum very narrow, smooth; auditory swelling present, extending caudat well beyond thoracic auditory spiracle. Thoracic auditory spiracle narrowly oval, completely hidden under pronotum. Sternum distinctly concave; prosternum armed with two long spines, spines distinctly longer than half of front coxa; posterior lobes of mesosternum with small, vertical protuberances; metasternum unarmed.

Legs. Front coxa armed with long spine, front femur with 6 spines on anterior and 6–7 spines on posterior ventral margin; genicular lobes of front femur with single spine on both sides. Front tibia with single dorsal edge, triangular in cross-section along its entire length, with 8 spines on posterior and 7 on anterior ventral margin; ventral spines on front tibia slightly longer than tibia diameter. Mid coxa armed with small but distinct spine; mid femur armed with 6 spines on anterior and 3 minute spines on posterior ventral margin at base of femur, genicular lobes of mid femur with single spine on both sides; mid tibia with 9 spines on posterior and 10 on anterior ventral margin. Hind femur with 9 spines on anterior and 1–3 minute spines on posterior ventral margin at base of femur, genicular lobes of hind femur with 2 spines on each side (lower spine shorter); hind tibia armed on both dorsal and ventral margins.

Wings. Tegmen surpassing apex of hind femur, its apex broadly rounded; costal field about as wide at base as width of tegmen between Sc and posterior margin. Veins Rs, M, and Cu diverging towards apex of tegmen; vein Rs branching off in apical fourth of tegmen, vein Rs with 1 apical branch. Right stridulatory area with large, fully developed mirror; mirror roughly circular; stridulatory file weakly sinuous, 2.6 mm long, 0.23 mm wide, with 92 teeth.

Abdomen. Tenth tergite unmodified. Cercus slightly bent, with one long, cylindrical, inner, and one triangular, dorsal process below mid-length point ( Fig. 4 D); two short subapical processes; and one short apical process ( Fig. 4 E). Epiproct slightly elongate, distinctly invaginated dorsally. Phallus with weakly developed, paired titillators; titillators distended and flattened apically, and with rounded and evenly distributed lamellae on apico-lateral margin. Subgenital plate broadly trapezoidal, with small, triangular apical incision ( Fig. 4 E); styli cylindrical, about 5 times as long as wide.

Coloration. Coloration dark olive green, with irregular dark markings ( Fig. 4 A); face mostly pale yellow, with black, horizontal band covering antennal sockets and median ocellus, and second black, horizontal band above clypeus; clypeus and labrum red-brown; mandibles white at base, black in apical half; occiput with pair of small, dark patches ( Fig. 4 C). Pronotum olive brown, with diffused, irregular dark markings on lateral lobe and on metazona. Legs without distinct markings, except for dark, irregular spots at base of hind femur. Tegmen dark brown, with light yellow venation, especially in costal field.

Measurements (2 males). body w/wings: 45.5–47 (46.3±1.1); pronotum: 9–9.5 (9.3±.4); tegmen: 32.5– 34 (33.3±1.1); hind femur: 22–23 (22.5±.7) mm.

Material examined (2 specimens). Papua New Guinea: Western Province, Muller Range, Gugusu , elev. 515 m (5°43'45.3''S, 142°15'47.8''E), 3–10.ix.2009, coll. P. Naskrecki & D.C.F. Rentz— 1 male (holotype) ( ANSP); Muller Range, Sawetau , elev. 1550–1700 m (5°39'23.7''S, 142°18'16.5''E), 11–17.ix.2009, coll. P. Naskrecki & D.C.F. Rentz— 1 male (paratype) ( MCZ).

Etymology. Named after the presence of three distinct, horizontal bands on the face.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Pseudonicsara fascifrons n. sp.: A. holotype male; B. titillators; C. face; D. male cerci, dorso-lateral view; E. male cerci and subgenital plate; P. gugusu n. sp.: F. holotype male; G. titillators; H. face; I. male cercus, dorsal view; J. male cerci and subgenital plate; K. ovipositor; L. female subgenital plate.