Pseudonicsara (Cercana) siwi, Ingrisch, 2009

Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2009, Revision of the genus Pseudonicsara Karny, 1912 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae: Agraeciini) 2185, Zootaxa 2185, pp. 1-122 : 59-60

Pseudonicsara (Cercana) siwi sp. n.

Figs. 49, 51, 82, 145, 161, 255, 288, 298–301, 334, 387–389, 472, 506, 526, 546, map 4.

Holotype (male): Indonesia: Papua, Manokwari Prov., Warbiati (Oransbari), 14 km NE Wansiki, 1°18'25''S, 134°14'14''E, 2.III.2007, A. Weigel, depository: Naturkundemuseum, Erfurt, Germany ( NKME).

Paratype: 1 female, Indonesia, Papua: Siwi (Arfak) [1° 29' S, 134° 3' E], 21.IV.–25.V.1928, E. Mayr ( ZMB) .

Diagnosis. Males of P. siwi share with P. furcata that the apical excision of the tenth abdominal tergite is of moderate length, and the cercus has two apico-internal processes pointing mediad ( Fig. 145). It differs from the latter and other species by a combination of the following characters: the cercus has one stylate basointernal process ( Fig. 161); the apico-internal processes have the ventral process standing on an expanded base, is compressed with rounded tip and carries a spinule before tip at hind margin ( Fig. 255); the dorsointernal process forms a long internal spine; the subgenital plate is wider than long, the apical excision of medium width, angular; the styli are long ( Fig. 288); the apical parts of the titillators are narrow oval with regular margin ( Figs. 387–389). Probably the species is most closely related to P. spinibranchis , which has a similar general structure of the male cerci but only one baso-internal process, similar titillators and long styli. P. siwi differs from the latter by a much shorter excision of the tenth abdominal tergite ( Fig. 145), and more slender cerci with a narrow spinose dorso-apical process and by the shape of the compressed ventral process ( Fig. 255). Females are characterised by the subgenital plate split until base into four lobes: two central lobes are separated in midline by a narrow carina at base replaced by a membranous area behind and in two large lateral plates ( Fig. 472). This character it shares with P. spinibranchis . It differs from the latter by the central lobes of the subgenital plate being in basal half rounded, in apical half triangular, narrowest at apex and little surpassing the lateral plates ( Fig. 506). Differences to other species are outlined in the key.

Description. Fastigium verticis in front of eyes 0.8 mm, from base 1.1–1.2 mm; dorsal eye length 1.4 mm; greatest diameter of eye 1.6 mm; index fastigium verticis from base: eye length 0.9. Face rugose but shining. Pronotum shining, subrugose in midline and along margins; paranota with hind margin bulgy behind auditory swelling. Prosternal spines short ( Figs. 49, 51). Tegmen little surpassing hind knees; costal field wide in basal two thirds, narrow in apical third. Femora with the following number of spines on ventral margins: fore femur 6–7 external, 6 internal; mid femur 6 external, 2 internal near base; hind femur 10 external, 4–8 internal in basal area.

Male. Stridulatory file sinuate; teeth at apex very dense and indistinct; 1.8 mm long; with 105 teeth or 57.9 teeth per mm, in middle of file with 47.3 teeth per mm ( Fig. 82). Mirror with fore margin straight, hind margin rounded; 1.1 mm long, 1.3 mm wide; index length:width 0.9. Tenth abdominal tergite little globular; apex bilobate, roundly excised in between lobes; lateral and apical areas setose ( Fig. 145). Epiproct pentangular with apex obtuse-angular; with faint median furrow ( Fig. 161). Paraproct at internal margin with short obtuse projection. Cerci short, with external surface convex, internal surface concave; at base with a dark brown, compressed and narrow, little sinuate, dorso-internal projection with acute tooth at tip; ventrointernal margin in apical half expanded and with narrow, compressed projection with rounded tip and a spinule before tip at hind margin; dorso-internal apex of cercus prolonged into a long internal spine, the base of which connected to internal lamella of ventro-internal projection ( Figs. 145, 161, 255). Subgenital plate wider than long; apical excision angular; styli long ( Fig. 288).

Titillators broad with expansion at base, curved and gradually narrowed afterwards; apical parts narrow oval, densely covered with clinging hairs; margin of apical parts granular ( Figs. 298–301, 334, 387–389). Baso-lateral sclerites small, long-oval with longitudinal carina ( Fig. 300). Apico-lateral sclerites flat, in ventral area curved laterad; dark brown ( Fig. 299). Lateral of apico-lateral sclerites with cap-shaped, rough granular areas ( Fig. 300, 334, 389).

Female. Ninth abdominal tergite with ventro-lateral apex slightly swollen. Tenth abdominal tergite transverse, entire. Subgenital plate divided into two central and two large lateral lobes; apex of lateral lobes obliquely truncate with lateral angle broadly rounded; apex of central lobes triangular with angle rounded; in midline with furrow that is sclerotised towards base and carries a median carina, membranous towards apex ( Figs. 472, 506, 526). Ovipositor sickle-shaped ( Fig. 546).

Coloration. Brown or olivaceus brown (partly green when alive?). Face concolorous, pale olivaceus brown; lateral parts of clypeo-frontal suture and tip of mandibles black. Tegmen with green veins (light brown in female) and veinlets contrasting with brown cells. Legs yellowish brown (green when alive?); fore tibia below tympana and along dorsal angle little infumate; hind knees dark brown. All legs with spines or tip of spines dark brown.

Measurements (1 male, 1 female): body male 33, female 29; pronotum male 6, female 7; tegmen male 21, female 23; hind femur male 15, female 15.5; ovipositor 15 mm.

Discussion. The females of P. siwi and P. spinibranchis share subgenital plates that are split into four plates ( Figs. 472, 524). Obviously the base of the subgenital plate became completely split with the resulting parts moved laterad. Thus they are lying lateral of the pair of central lobes, which can be supposed to be derived from the apical lobes of the subgenital plate. It seems however that the lateral plates became fixed to the central lobes in P. siwi but connected by membrane and thus moveable in P. spinibranchis . Both species differ in details of the shapes of the subgenital plates and in the ovipositor which is shorter and more strongly curved in P. siwi than in P. spinibranchis ( Figs. 543, 546).

Etymology. Named after the type locality; noun in apposition.