Xestophrys bengalensis, Kumar & Chand, 2023

Kumar, Hirdesh & Chand, D. Suresh, 2023, A new species of Xestophrys Redtenbacher, 1891 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Conocephalinae; Copiphorini) from West Bengal, India, Zootaxa 5361 (4), pp. 585-589 : 585-587

Xestophrys bengalensis sp. nov.

Holotype: male, India, West Bengal, Asansol, Ethora bridge, 23.739203N, 86.909393E, alt. 158m., 28.ii.2023, (Collected by D. Suresh Chand & Party).

Description: Male (Figures: 1A–B ): Smallest for the genus, robust. Fastigium of vertex ( Figure 2A ) elongate angular with obtusely rounded apex; slightly convex above, slightly punctate; longer than both eye and scape. Fastigium of vertex without a ventral tubercle at the base of fastigium ( Figure 2B ). Frons ( Figure 2F ) convex in profile. Dorsum of pronotum ( Figure 2A ) densely rugose; anterior margin straight, posterior margin convex; lateral carinae absent; transverse sulcus distinct throughout, placed in anterior part of pronotum; humeral sinus ( Figure 2F ) deep. Prosternum bispinose ( Figure 2B ). Mesosternal lobes ( Figure 2C ) deeply bifurcated in the middle, apex triangularly rounded and curved upward; metasternal lobes ( Figure 2C ) triangular. Tegmina not reaching to the apex of hind tibia when stretched, parallel-sided, apex truncated ( Figure 2H ); stridulatory file ( Figure 2E , 3A ) broad, narrow at both ends with 41 teeth; mirror of right tegmina ( Figure 2D ) longer than wide. Hind wing slightly shorter than tegmina. Thoracic auditory spiracle oval, covered by pronotum. Tympanum present on fore tibia, laterally closed, opening slit-like and directed dorsally.All legs short and thick.All femora dorsally unarmed, genicular lobes unarmed on both sides. Fore coxae spined. Fore femora ( Figure 2I ) ventrally armed in apical half by 3 spines on inner margin, unarmed on outer margin. For tibia unarmed dorsally, ventrally with 6 spines internally and 5 spines externally. Mid femora ventrally unarmed on inner margin; 3 spines present on outer margin posteriorly. Mid tibia unarmed dorsally, ventrally with 6 spines on both internal and external margin. Hind femur surpassing the apex of the abdomen. Hind femora ( Figure 2J ) ventrally armed by 2 spines apically on inner margin, 9 spines on outer margin. Hind tibiae dorsally armed with 12 spines on inner margin, 8 spines on outer margin; ventrally armed with 5 spines on inner margin, 6 spines on outer margin; dorsal spurs one pair, ventral spur two pairs (inner small and outer large). Tenth abdominal tergite ( Figure 2K ) bifurcated almost from base to form two large triangular lobes. Supra-anal plate ( Figure 2M ) triangular, longer than wide. Cerci ( Figures 2 K-O) robust, conical, apex terminated into large incurved spine; internal tooth well developed, conical, inner margin concave, curved upwards, apex acute. Subgenital plate ( Figure 2N ) long, posterior margin obtuse angularly emarginated; styli short and cylindrical, diverging apically, 1.75 times shorter than subgenital plate.

Female: Unknown.

Coloration: General color yellowish. Frons bright rose color. Labrum and Clypeus are yellowish. Mandibles black on inner side.

Measurements (mm):

Male: Length of body: 23.5; length of tegmina: 25.4; length of pronotum: 6.8; length of hind femur: 11.2; length of hind tibia: 9.8.

Discussion: The new species described in this paper is the third species of Xestophrys Redtenbacher, 1891 from India and differs from the previous Indian species, X. agraensis Farooqi & Usmani, 2018 and X. namtseringa Kumar & Chandra, 2019 by not only the characters outlined in the key to species but also by the shape of male subgenital plate. The new species is superficially similar to the Indonesian species Xestophrys javanicus lombockensis Carl, 1908 , but differs from the latter in the smaller size, anterior femur unarmed on the external margin, hind femur with two spines on the internal margin.

Etymology: The geographic name of the new species is based on the locality (Bengal) of India.

Distribution: India: West Bengal.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Xestophrys bengalensis sp. nov. (Male) (scale 10mm).A–dorsal view. B–ventral view. C–lateral view.

FIGURE 2. Xestophrys bengalensis sp. nov. (Male). A–Head & pronotum, dorsal view. B–Frons. C–Sternum, ventral view. D–Mirror of right tegmen, dorsal view. E–Stridulatory file of left tegmen, ventral view. F– Head & pronotum, lateral view. G– Stridulatory file of left tegmen, dorsal view. H–Apex of left tegmen, dorsal view. I–Fore femur, ventral view. J–Hind femur, ventral view. K–Abdominal apex, dorsal view. L–Abdominal apex, lateral view. M–Abdominal apex, apical view. N–Abdominal apex, ventral view; O–Left cercus, dorsal view.

FIGURE 3. SEM of male stridulatory file.