Saiva constanti Jiaranaisakul sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CC51996C-C1CF-4534-A31B-2577B9E452AC

(Figs 1, 6A–C, 7, 8A–B)

Etymology. The species epithet is a patronym dedicated to the Belgian entomologist, Jérôme Constant, for all his support to the first author.

Diagnosis. The species can be separated from all other species of Saiva by the following combination of characters: (1) posterior wings pale blue (Fig. 1A); (2) cephalic process elongated, slender and slightly flattened laterally (Fig. 1D–E); (3) thorax with 5 black spots: 3 spots on pronotum, 2 spots on mesonotum (Fig. 1D); (4) tegmina green with yellow spots and partly black edges (Fig. 1A–C); (5) short anteocular black line (Fig. 1C).

The new species is very close to Saiva cardinalis (Butler, 1874) (Fig. 8C–D), S. nodata Distant, 1906 (Fig. 8E–F) and S. virescens (Westwood, 1842) (Fig. 8G–H) from which it can be separated by the three black spots on pronotum and two black spots on mesonotum (six spots on pronotum in S. cardinalis, four spots on pronotum in S. nodata and no black spots on pronotum in S. virescens) (Fig. 8B, D, F, H), by the anteocular black line (absent in S. nodata and S. virescens), and by the color of compound eyes in live specimen, yellowish brown in the new species (reddish brown in S. cardinalis and S. virescens, and black in S. nodata) (Fig. 8A, C, E, G). The new species is also somewhat similar to Pyrops cultellatus (Walker, 1857) and P. itoi (Satô & Nagai, 1994), but can be separated from these species by the posterior wings pale blue in S. constanti sp. nov. (posterior wings bright yellow or orange in P. cultellatus and P. itoi), the pronotum with three black spots and two black spots on mesonotum in S. constanti sp. nov. (no black spots on thorax in P. cultellatus and P. itoi) and the short anteocular black line extending to anteocular carina in S. constanti sp. nov. (black line extending to half of cephalic process in P. cultellatus and no black line in P. itoi).

Description. Measurements and ratios. TL: ♀ (n = 4): 27.5 mm (25.5–28.5 mm); TL+process: ♀ (n = 4): 40.7 mm (38–42 mm); LTg/BTg = 2.63; BF/BPrH = 4.66; LPr/LF = 4.76; LPr/BPrH = 21.43.

Head. green with very short black line over eyes extending to anteocular carina and irregular small spots of white wax; eyes yellow brown; clypeus with smooth median carina (Fig. 1E). Cephalic process elongated, slender and slightly upcurved towards apex; apex slightly pointed and flattened in lateral view, black apically (Fig. 1C– D); more than 1.32 times as long as frons and clypeus combined in perpendicular view of frons (Fig. 1E). Two longitudinal carinae on frons extending on sides of cephalic process up to apex; median, ventral carina on apical half of cephalic process (Fig. 1E). Frons subquadrate.

Thorax (Fig. 1A, C–E). Pronotum green with 3 black spots, middle one bigger; ventrolateral lobe under lateral carina with one black spot on each side (Fig. 1E); mesonotum with 2 black spots, about the size of the middle spot on pronotum. Pro- and mesonotum slightly wrinkled; carinae of pro- and mesonotum well marked. Tegulae green with a rather large black marking.

Tegmina (Fig. 1A) green with sparse yellow spots, posterior margin of some spots with incomplete black rim; costal margin with 5–6 yellow spots (Fig. 1A). Tegmina elongate, broadening from base to nodal line, then slightly tapering, rather narrow, with costal margin broadly rounded, apical margin oblique and apical angles rounded.

Hind wings (Fig. 1A) uniformly pale blue. Broader than tegmina.

Legs (Fig. 1B). All legs green; tibiae same color or darker than femur, base and apex of pro- and mesotibiae dark brown; pro- and mesotarsi dark brown; coxae yellow. Metatibiae entirely green, with 5–6 lateral spines, metatarsi green.

Abdomen (Fig. 1A–B). Terga pale blue; sterna yellowish orange; genital segments pale blue.

Type material. Holotype, ♀ (Fig. 1): [Thailand: Ratchaburi Prov., Suan Phueng Dist., 13°33'05.2"N 99°12'16.3"E, 630 m., 2.X.2020, K. Jiaranaisakul leg.] [KJ02-00175] (THNHM).

Paratypes: 1♀: [Thailand: Ratchaburi Prov., Suan Phueng Dist., 13°33'05.2"N 99°12'16.3"E, 630 m., 19.XI.2020, K. Jiaranaisakul leg.] [KJ02-00176] (THNHM) ; 1♀: [Thailand, Chiang Mai Prov., Doi Inthanon, 18°32'50.5"N 98°30'44.1"E, 1,350 m., 3.XI.2022, N. Makbun leg.] [KJ02-00330] (RBINS) ; 1♀: [Thailand: Chiang Mai Prov., Doi Inthanon, 18°32'50.5"N 98°30'44.1"E, 1,350 m., 3.XI.2023, N. Makbun leg.] [KJ-FUL-0001] (EQSBG)

Material examined from photographs. 1 ex (Fig. 6B): Thailand, Uthai Thani Province, Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, 13.XI.2023, © S. Naksaeng; 1 ex (Fig. 6C): Thailand, Chiang Mai Province, Chom Thong District., Doi Inthanon National Park, 2.XII.2023, © P. Daengrassamee .

Distribution. Thailand.

Notes. The specimens were observed and collected on Dimocarpus longan Lour. ( Sapindaceae) in Ratchaburi Province and unidentified tree in the family Rutaceae in Chiang Mai Province. The species was found between 630–1,350 m in altitude.