Margattea ventrinigra, Hayashi, 2024

Hayashi, Koki, 2024, A new species of the Genus Margattea (Blattodea: Pseudophyllodromiidae) from Yonaguni-jima Island, the Ryukyus, Japan, Zootaxa 5523 (3), pp. 363-372 : 366-371

Margattea ventrinigra sp. nov.

[Japanese name: Haraguro-tsuchi-gokiburi]

( Figs. 1–24 , 26 )

Type material. Holotype: (♂) ( Figs. 16–17 ). [ JAPAN] Mt. Kubura-dake , Yonaguni-Jima Is., Okinawa, 4. XI. 2021, Koki Hayashi leg. ( LETUA IC 2024–00024 ) . Paratypes: (25♂♂ 28♀♀). [ JAPAN] Mandabaru, Yonaguni-Jima Is., Okinawa : 4♂♂ 8♀♀, reared from egg, emerged on January 20 th –30 th, 2021, Koki Hayashi leg. ( LETUA IC 2024– 00025 – 00036 ) , 5♀♀, 3. III, 2021, Francesco Ballarin leg. ( LETUA IC 2024–00037 – 00041 ) , 2♂♂ 3♀♀, 27. III. 2021, Yûhi Seshima leg. ( LETUA IC 2024–00042 – 00046 ) , 1♂ 3♀♀, 2. XI. 2021, Teru Ôi leg. ( LETUA IC 2024– 00047 – 00050 ) , 12♂♂ 2♀♀, 2–4. XI. 2021, Koki Hayashi leg. ( LETUA IC 2024–00051 – 00064 ). Mt. Kubura-dake : 2♂♂ 7♀♀, 4. III. 2021, Francesco Ballarin leg. ( LETUA IC 2024–00065 – 00073 ) , 3♂♂ 1♀, same data as holotype ( LETUA IC 2024–00074 – 00077 ) .

Diagnosis. This new species is the most similar in general appearance to M. satsumana but can be distinguished by a combination of the following characters in the male (characters of M. satsumana in parentheses): median phallomere slender, distal part with numerous spines along the ventral margin ( Figs. 19–20 ) (with several spines only at apex, Roth 1991; Fig. 22 D ); accessory structure long ( Fig. 23 ) (short, Roth 1991; Fig. 22 D ). This new species is also similar in general appearance to M. ogatai and M. perspicillaris (Karny, 1915) , but can be distinguished by having interstylar margin of subgental plate in male. M. ventrinigra sp. nov. has inverted-triangular shaped plate and apically rounded corners with several setae on distal side ( Fig. 14 , 18 ). However, M. ogatai has widely plate that appears to be embedded, not protrude with several setae on lateral side ( Roth 1991). And M. perspicillaris has rectangular plate with rounded corners and several setae on distal side ( Roth 1989).

Description. Male. Generally yellowish brown. Body ( Figs. 1–2 , 16–17 ) with blackish brown maculae. Vertex ( Fig. 6 ) with blackish brown band between eyes. Frons ( Fig. 6 ) with several blackish brown bands or spots, variable in pattern of spots and position of band. Antenna blackish brown. Pronotum ( Fig. 5 ) with blackish brown complex symmetrical spots that vary in size and shape. Legs with blackish brown spots around distal setae.Abdomen blackish brown. Distal part of subgenital plate ( Fig. 14 ) dark brown. Cerci ( Fig. 13 ) with proximal, eighth, ninth and apical segments blackish brown.

Interocular space approximately as wide as distance between antennal sockets ( Fig. 6 ). Fifth segment of maxillary palps shorter than third and fourth, respectively ( Fig. 7 ). Pronotum ( Fig. 5 ) parabolic in dorsal view. Tegmina ( Fig. 10 ) about 2.3 times as long as pronotum; ScP simple; R multi-branched; M 1–2 branched. Hind wings ( Fig. 11 ) reduced, about 0.3 times as long as tegmina. Fore femora ( Fig. 8 ) type B2 with 3 or 4 large setae at proximal end. Pulvilli present on 4 proximal tarsomeres of all legs. Tarsal claws ( Fig. 9 ) symmetrical and specialized; ventral margins serrated. Arolia present. Eighth abdominal tergum ( Fig. 12 ) with hind margin broadly concave, with tuft of setae posteromedially.

Supra-anal plate ( Fig. 13 ) transverse; distal margin convexly rounded. Paraprocts simple and similar to each other, split into two parts, obtuse at apex. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 14 ) symmetrical; middle of proximal margin concave; distal of lateral margins upturned. Styles similar, cylindrical. Interstylar margin convexly bearing inverted-triangular shaped plate and apically rounded corners with several dark setae on distal side. Accessory styles absent. Left phallomere ( Fig. 22 ) proximal part oval; central thin and margin thick; distal part without long processes or spines. Median phallomere ( Fig. 19–20 ) slender; distal part with recurved process and numerous spines along ventral margin. Accessory structure ( Fig. 23 ) tapering; apex acute. Accessory median phallomere ( Fig. 24 ) sicklelike; distal part curves to left under median phallomere and bears numerous brush-shaped spines on the right margin. Right phallomere ( Fig. 21 ) hook-like with tiny apical spine.

Female. Generally similar to male, relatively larger than male. Body ( Figs. 3–4 ) darker than male. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 15 ) blackish brown. Fore femora type B2 or B3 with 4 or 5 setae at proximal end.

Measurements [in mm (holotype in parentheses)]. Male (n=26). Body length 7.1–8.1. Pronotum length 1.9–2.4 (2.2) × width 2.9–3.7 (3.4). Tegmen length 4.4–6.1 (5.8). Hind wing length 1.1–1.9 (1.7).

Female (n=28). Body length 7.4–9.4. Pronotum length 2.1–2.7 × width 3.2–3.9. Tegmen length 4.5–5.9. Hind wing length 1.5–2.0.

Etymology. The epithet ventrinigra means ‘black abdomen’, from the Latin venter, and nigra, referring to the dark brown color of the abdomen.

Distribution. Japan: Ryukyu Islands: Yaeyama Islands (Yonaguni-jima Is.).

Biology. Margattea ventrinigra sp. nov., like M. satsumana and M. ogatai , is a ground-wanderer. It is collected in the leaf litter ( Fig. 25 ). Adults emerge from November to about March. Last instar nymphs are found in November as well as adults ( Fig. 26 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1–15. Margattea ventrinigra sp. nov., 1–2, habitus of the male—dorsal and ventral view; 3–4, habitus of the female—dorsal and ventral view; 5–14, each body part of the male, pronotum (5, dorsal view), head (6, ventral view), second to fifth segments of maxillary palp (7, ventral view), fore femur (8, ventral view), tarsal claw (9, anterior view), tegmen (10, dorsal view), hind wing (11, dorsal view), eighth abdominal terga (12, dorsal view), supra-anal plate (13, dorsal view), subgenital plate (14, dorsal view); 15, female subgenital plate—ventral view. Scale bars: 10 mm (1–4); 1mm (5–15).

FIGURES 16–24. Margattea ventrinigra sp. nov., 16–17: habitus of holotype—dorsal and ventral view; 18–24: male genitalia— general shape (18, dorsal view), median phallomere (19–20, dorsal and lateral view), right phallomere (21), left phallomere (22), accessory structure (23), accessory median phallomere (24). Scale bars: 10 mm (1–2); 1 mm (18–24).

FIGURES 25–26. Habitat and living individual of Margattea ventrinigra sp. nov., 25, A forest on Yonaguni jima Island from which this species was collected; 26, last instar nymph.