Arenivaga pratchetti, Hopkins, Heidi, 2014

Hopkins, Heidi, 2014, A revision of the genus Arenivaga (Rehn) (Blattodea, Corydiidae), with descriptions of new species and key to the males of the genus, ZooKeys 384, pp. 1-256 : 93-94

Arenivaga pratchetti sp. n. Figures 126-128

Type locality.

USA, California, Riverside Co., Rice Dunes.

Material examined.

Holotype: ♂ in EMEC labeled "ARIZ: Mohave Co. [now La Paz Co.], 3 mi. SE of Parker, VI-28-78, J.Powell, black light trap" "HOLOTYPE Arenivaga pratchetti Hopkins, 2012" [red label with black border].

Paratypes (15): USA: CA, Riverside Co., Rice Dunes, 19 Sept 1977, A.R. Hardy & FG Andrews, cereal bowl pit trap (1, CSCA); CA, LA Co., Black Butte, Antelope Valley, 8/22/1959, G Sphon (1, LACM); CA, LA Co., Black Butte, Antelope Valley, 10/5/1959, Honey & Sphon (1, LACM); CA, San Bernardino Co., Kelso Dunes, 9 air mi SW of Kelso, 6/29/1978, J Powell, black light (2,EMEC); CA, San Bernardino Co., Kelso Dunes, 9 air mi S of Kelso, 6/29-30/1978, Doyen & Rude, Pitfall trap (3, EMEC); AZ, Mohave Co. (now La Paz Co.), 3 mi. SE of Parker, 6/28/1978, J.Powell, black light trap (7, EMEC). All paratypes labeled "Paratype Arenivaga pratchetti Hopkins 2012" [blue label with black border].

Etymology.

The name is a noun in the genitive case. This species is named for the one and only Terry Pratchett, creator of Disc World and many happy hours of reading. May the strength and durability of these creatures I so love impart those gifts to him in full measure in his fight against Alzheimer’s.

Distribution.

This is species is found in the southern Mohave Desert of California and far western Arizona. See Fig. 128.

Diagnosis.

The external phenotype of Arenivaga pratchetti may be confused with that of Arenivaga investigata with whom it is sympatric but Arenivaga pratchetti has dramatically pointed apices on its subgenital plate which distinguish it. See Fig. 9.

Description.

Male.Measurements. Holotype TL = 16.7 mm, GW = 7.6 mm, PW = 5.35 mm, PL = 3.97 mm, TL/GW = 2.12, PL/PW = 0.74. EW = 0.25 mm; OW = 0.20 mm. Among paratypes range of TL 16.4-18.6 mm; range of GW 7.6-9.0 mm; range of PW 5.32-6.09 mm; range of PL 3.93-4.48 mm.

Head. Two ocelli very large, ovoid and protruding (0.5 × 0.35 mm); vertex medium brown with small ridges in rays around upper apices of eyes and extending onto ocellar tubercles; interocellar space deeply concave, smooth, medium brown with light brown arrowhead shape medially. Frons and clypeus waxy white; posterior frons with horizontal corrugations, slightly concave; anterior portion of frons bulbous; waxy white smooth anteclypeus. See Fig. 126d.

Pronotum. Pronotum translucent, waxy beige; dorsal surface of pronotum with short orange-brown setae that are slightly thicker laterally; pronotal pattern "koala face" varying from yellow to orange-brown to dark orange-brown depending on specimen but in all instances with very little detail discernible; no aura. See Fig. 126c.

Body. Wing brace present. Two tarsal claws present. Legs and body light brown with pale yellow striping brown maculations laterally on each sternite; subgenital plate light brown; strongly asymmetrical with pointed apices. See Fig. 126b.

Forewings. Wings extended well beyond abdominal apex (~30% of wing length); light golden beige; surface translucent with very slight sheen. See Fig. 126a.

Genitalia. Right dorsal phallomere composed of bulbous lightly sclerotized hook-shaped lobe, articulated with right ventral phallomere on lateral side; central field lightly sclerotized; medial margin more heavily sclerotized, shagreened with toothed edge and slight thickening centrally creating small bulge along rim. Small central sclerite nearly flat, nondescript in shape, finely punctate with posteriorly projecting shagreened curved flange at anterior end; right ventral phallomere extends from articulation to form smooth rounded structure becoming punctate and rugose anteriorly; attached anteriorly is mildly dorsally projecting flanged concave punctate arm that extends greater than depth of phallomere. Folded anterior portion of left phallomere finely setose, otherwise unmodified. Genital hook with moderate extension to pointed head with short hook; arm with distinct bend. See Fig. 127.

Habitat and natural history.

All life history elements remain unobserved.