Africalolampra punctipennis (Saussure, 1895)

Leonid N. Anisyutkin, 2016, New and little known Epilamprinae (Dictyoptera: Blaberidae) from the collections of the Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Genève and the Zoological Institute RAS, Saint Petersburg. Part 2, Revue suisse de Zoologie 123 (1), pp. 139-152 : 141-144

Africalolampra punctipennis (Saussure, 1895)

Figs 24-37

Epilampra punctipennis Saussure, 1895: 355 , 356, pl. 9 fig. 12. Heterolampra punctipennis . ‒ Kirby, 1904: 123. Epilampra punctipennis . ‒ Shelford, 1910: 14. ‒ Princis, 1963:

200.

Material examined: MHNG; 1 male; “Daressalam. Afrique orient. allemande. Dr J. Carl.”, “Gen. M”, “ Epilampra punctipennis (Sauss) . ♂”, genital complex in prep. 100815 /02.

Redescription of male: General colour light yellowish with small scattered brownish spots. Eyes black; ocellar spots pale; facial part of head above antennal sockets brownish. Surfaces smooth and lustrous, distal parts of antennae (approximately from 12-13th segments) and 5th segment of maxillary palps dull; punctuation very weak, present only in proximal parts of tegmina. Head longer than wide ( Fig. 24 ); ocellar spots large; facial part with distinct impression between eyes and weak transverse wrinkles above antennal sockets, between eyes; distance between eyes 0.3 times eye length; distance between antennal sockets about 1.8 times scape length (0.7 mm); approximate length ratio of 3rd-5th segments of maxillary palps 1.0: 1.0: 1.0. Pronotum as in Fig. 25 . Tegmina and wings completely developed, surpassing abdominal apex. Tegmina with rounded apex, sclerotized in costal and, in lesser degree, anal fields; venation distinct; costal field wide; Sc thickened (well visible on ventral side of tegmen); R and M stems basally fused; CuP distinct. Wings membranous, without sclerotized areas; Sc long and simple; RA long, with few anterior veins; RS distinct; M long and simple; CuA pectinate with 5 complete (reaching wing margin) veins; behind CuA a long and simple vein, probably corresponding to 1st plical vein sensu Rehn (1951) or CuP [probably CuP + A1 sensu Bey-Bienko (1950)]; next vein short and reduced, proximally incrassated, not reaching wing margin, probably corresponds to 2nd or 3rd plical veins sensu Rehn (1951); anal fan consisting of 14-15 veins reaching margin of wing; 3-4 possibly jugal veins situated behind anal fan. Fore tibiae not thickened distally. Anterior margin of fore femora of armed type B, with 4-5 spines, including 1-2 apical ones. Tibial spines well developed. Structure of hind tarsi similar to those of A. erubescens (see description above). Abdomen without visible glandular specializations. Anal plate (tergite X) short and transverse, caudal margin weakly sinuate, without medial incision ( Fig. 26 ). Cerci with distinct segments ( Fig. 26 ). Paraprocts of blaberid-type ( Fig. 27 ). Hypandrium asymmetrical, caudal margin widely rounded; right stylus small, left absent ( Fig. 28 ).

Genitalia ( Figs 29-37 ): Right phallomere (R+N): sclerite R1T well sclerotized, weakly curved, caudal part R1T slightly separated, with shape of large plate-like sclerite ( Figs 29, 30 , pl.s.), lateral part of this sclerite probably corresponds to sclerite R4 ( Figs 29 , R4?); bristles absent; R2 slightly curved; R3 “V”-shaped, with long, thin and slightly curved branches; R4 probably fused with large plate like sclerite; R5 large, plate-like. Sclerite L2D (L1) not divided into basal and apical parts, widened cranially ( Fig. 31 ); apex of L2D in shape of convoluted thorn ( Figs 32-34 ). Sclerite L3 (L2d) without basal subsclerite, “folded structure” and bristles present ( Figs 35-37 , f.s.); apex of L3 blunt; “apical crest” and groove hge absent. Sclerite L4U (L3d) distinct, triangular.

Female (not studied by the author): Widely ovoid in shape, with tegmina and wings shortened, not reaching abdominal apex (Saussure, 1895, fig. 12).

Measurements (in mm): Head length 3.2, head width 2.9; pronotum length 5.3, pronotum width 8.2; tegmen length 19.2, tegmen width 7.0.

Note: This species was described in the genus Epilampra based on female specimens (at least two specimens – the number seen is unclear from the original description) from Zanzibar (Saussure, 1895).

Later E. punctipennis was transferred into the genus Rhabdoblatta by Princis (1967).

Figures

Figs 24 - 37. Africalolampra punctipennis (Saussure, 1895), male. (24) Facial part of head. (25) Pronotum, dorsal view. (26) Abdominal apex, dorsal view. (27) Paraprocts, ventral view. (28) Hypandrium, ventral view. (29) Right phallomere, dorsal view. (30) The same, ventral view. (31) Sclerite L 2 D, dorsal view. (32, 33) Caudal part of sclerite L 2 D. (34) The same, caudal view. (35 - 37) Apex of sclerite L 3. Dotted areas show membranous parts. Abbreviations: f. s., pl. s., R 2, R 3, R 4?, R 5 - see chapter “ abbreviation used in figures ”, for details see text. Scale bars 1 mm: a = 24, b = 25, c = 26, d = 27, e = 28, f = 29, 30, g = 31, h = 32 - 34, i = 35 - 37.