Pseudonicsara (P.) spinicercus Karny, 1912

Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2009, Revision of the genus Pseudonicsara Karny, 1912 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae: Agraeciini) 2185, Zootaxa 2185, pp. 1-122 : 43-44

Pseudonicsara (P.) spinicercus Karny, 1912

Figs. 87, 112, 149, 187, 274, 322, 425–426, 473, 521, map 2.

Pseudonicsara pallidifrons forma spinicercus Karny 1912a , Abh. Ber. Zool. Mus. Dresden 14: 15, 22.

Pseudonicsara spinicerca Karny 1926 , Treubia 9: 227.

Pseudonicsara spinicercus OSF online 2009.

Syntypes (3 males): Papua New Guinea, West Sepik: Kais. Wilhelmsland, Toricelli Gebirge [Toricelli mountains, 3° 30 'S, 142° 0' E], 600 m, I.1910, Dr. Schlaginhaufen, depository: Staatliches Museum für Tierkunde, Dresden , Germany ( SMTD) [4 males mentioned in Karny (1912a), one male in coll. Karny = lost?] .

Other material studied: 1 female ( Pseudonicsara pallidifrons det. Karny), same data as syntypes ( SMTD); 2 females, Toricelli mountains , 1200 m, 10.V.1975, J.L. Gressitt ( BPBM) .

Diagnosis. P. spinicercus shares with P. buergersi sp. n. that the dorsal of the baso-internal processes of the male cerci is closer to the base than the ventral process; otherwise the cerci look quite different. In P. spinicercus the dorsal process is compressed with the apex obtuse, the ventral process forms a small tubercle ( Fig. 187), while in P. buergersi the dorsal process wide at base, little curved, the ventral process stylate. The apico-internal process of the male cerci consists of a very short dorsal and long ventral lobe in P. spinicercus , while it is strongly compressed with a dorsal lamella at base in P. buergersi . The apical parts of titillators in P. spinicercus are triangular with rounded angles ( Fig. 425–426), not pyriform. The female subgenital plate has in midline a deep furrow with a narrow median carina; on both sides a disc-shaped lobe with little grooved surface, and separate lateral sclerites ( Fig. 473).

Description. Fastigium verticis in front of eyes 1.0– 1.2 mm, from base 1.5–1.7 mm; dorsal eye length 1.7–1.8 mm; index fastigium verticis from base: eye length 0.9. Fastigium verticis with a very weak median carina continuing as ventral margin. Face rugose. Tegmen surpassing hind knees. Femora with the following number of spines on ventral margins: fore femur 6-8 external, 6 internal; mid femur 6-7 external, 3 internal near base; hind femur 8-14 external, 4-8 very small internal near base, rarely also with 1 near apex. Mid tibia with basal two thirds swollen and dorsal surface rounded.

Male. Stridulatory file with about 109 teeth; curved before apex ( Fig. 87). Terminal tergite transverse, terminating into two triangular lobes, apex broad-angularly excised in between ( Fig. 112). Epiproct narrowtriangular with a deep median furrow and with lateral carinae ( Fig. 149). Paraproct with an obtuse projection. Cerci conical, curved; with a compressed baso-internal projection which is slightly widened at apex, behind projection with a small wart; apex with a long, compressed, slightly sinuate, acute projection ( Fig. 187). Subgenital plate with short styli ( Fig. 274).

Titillators separate, compressed, basal are hyaline, strongly curved towards centre; apical area with internal surface densely covered with clinging hairs, apical margins coarsely rugose and with a few small obtuse projections with serrulate margins ( Figs. 322, 425–426).

Female. Terminal tergite short, transverse, divided in midline; apex truncate and excised in middle. Subgenital plate transverse, composed of a disc-shaped sclerite at each side with bulging internal and apical margins, and a weakly sclerotised, narrow, central area which is shorter than the lateral discs and has a median carina ( Figs. 473, 521).

Coloration. Males pale brown (discoloured?), female dark brown (not well preserved). Face with a dark brown band between compound eyes, including antennal scrobae and fastigium frontis and also encircling median ocellus; two dark brown spots, one at each side, at clypeo-frontal suture, these spots may be fused to a transverse band. Apex of mandibles black. Tegmen transparent with light veins and brown cells. Fore tibia with a small black spot below tympana.

Measurements (3 males, 1 female): body male 27–28, female 30; pronotum male 7.7–8.0, female 8.0; tegmen male 25.0–25.5, female 28.5; hind femur male 15.5–17.5, female 18.5; antenna male 80, female 100; ovipositor 19 mm.