Xiphidiola lobaticerca, Naskrecki, Piotr, 2008

Naskrecki, Piotr, 2008, New species of arboreal predatory katydids from West Africa (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae), Zootaxa 1732, pp. 1-28 : 15-16

Xiphidiola lobaticerca n. sp.

(Figs. 2D–F; 4J, T; 6F, G)

Differential diagnosis. This species seems to be closely related to X. aliquantula (Karsch) , but differs in having apically flattened, lobe-like cerci in the male.

Description.

General. Body small, slender; macropterous ( Fig. 6 G).

Head. Fastigium of vertex triangular, blunt apically, barely reaching base of scapus, flat dorsally; antennae about twice as long as body; frons flat, vertical; eyes globular, moderately protruding.

Thorax. Lateral lobe of pronotum as long as wide; anterior margin of pronotum flat; metazona weakly convex ( Fig. 6 F); posterior edge of metazona narrowly rounded.

Legs. Legs slender. Front tibia unarmed dorsally, with 5 spines on posterior and 4 on anterior ventral margin; tympanum bilaterally open; genicular lobes of front femur unarmed; front femur unarmed ventrally. Mid tibia unarmed dorsally; thickened in proximal 3/4, with 5 spines on posterior and 4 on anterior ventral margin; mid femur unarmed ventrally; genicular lobes of mid femur unarmed. Hind femur unarmed ventrally; genicular lobes of hind femur armed on inner side.

Wings. Tegmen surpassing apex of hind femur; anterior margin straight; hind wing slightly longer than tegmen. Costal field wide, gradually narrowing towards wing tip, ending at 4/5 of tegmen; veins Sc and R close together, parallel along their entire length; vein Rs branching off before middle of tegmen, with 3 apical branches; right stridulatory area with large, fully developed mirror; left stridulatory area with large, fully developed, roughly rectangular mirror ( Fig. 4 T). Stridulatory file elevated on thickened vein, straight, with 46 teeth, 0.75 mm long, 0.04 mm wide ( Fig. 4J ).

Abdomen. Epiproct unmodified, rounded; 10th tergite unmodified. Cercus with vertical rounded lobe on upper surface (Fig. 2E), short, slightly bent inwards; apex strongly flattened laterally (Fig. 2F); paraprocts unmodified; epiphallus not sclerotized. Subgenital plate narrowly trapezoidal; distal end strongly narrowed (Fig. 2D); styli short, strongly flattened laterally, approximately triangular (Fig. 2F), parallel.

Coloration. Coloration light green; antennal scapus with dark markings on anterior surface; antennae concolorous; eyes uniformly colored; face without darker markings; occiput with dark band; prozona with darker band, continuous with that on occiput; tegmen without markings; hind wing slightly fumose; genicular lobes of front legs with small, dark patches; hind legs uniformly colored; abdominal sterna and subgenital plate without markings.

Measurements (1 male). body w/wings: 22.5; body w/o wings: 12; pronotum: 4; tegmen: 18.5; hind femur: 11 mm.

Material examined. GHANA: Eastern Region, Ajenjua Bepo Forest Reserve, elev. 300–320 m (6°22'2.3''N, 1°1'58''W), 26–30.viii. 2006, coll. P. Naskrecki, V. Awotwe-Pratt and M. Bakowski (Camp 1) - 1 male (holotype) ( ANSP).

Etymology. Named with reference to the apically flattened, lobe-like cerci in the male of this new species.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Amyttopsis palmulicerca: A. male pronotum; B. male; C. female; Anepitacta wrightae: D. male pronotum; E. male; Xiphidiola lobaticerca: F. male pronotum; G. male; X. hokei: H. male pronotum; I. male.

FIGURE 4. A – J. Stridulatory files: A. Proamytta spinifera; B. Amyttopsis palmulicerca; C. X. bakowskii; D. Anepitacta wrightae; E. Brachyamytta rapidoaestima; F. B. mcculloughae; G. B. maculipes; H. Amyttosa insectivora; I. Xiphidiolahokei; J. X. lobaticerca; K – T. Left tegmina of males: K. Proamytta spinifera; L. Amyttopsis palmulicerca; M. X. bakowskii; N. Anepitacta wrightae; O. Brachyamytta rapidoaestima; P. B. mcculloughae; Q. B. maculipes; R. Amyttosa insectivora; S. Xiphidiola hokei; T. X. lobaticerca.