Rhaphidophora quadrispina Liu & Bian, 2021

Liu, Jing, Li, Zhimin & Bian, Xun, 2021, Contribution to the Chinese subfamily Rhaphidophorinae Walker, 1869 (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae: Rhaphidophorinae): One new species of Rhaphidophora, Zootaxa 5027 (4), pp. 597-599 : 597-599

Rhaphidophora quadrispina Liu & Bian sp. nov. (Chinese name: Ʊflẍễ)

Figure 1

Description. Male. Body medium. Fastigium verticis projecting forward, dorsal surface with a longitudinal furrow in the midline, divided fastigium verticis into 2 distinct rostral tubercles with the apical area separated from each other ( Fig. 1B ).

Eyes protruding outward. Lateral ocelli large, nearly occupying all the lateral margins of rostral tubercles; median ocellus smaller than lateral ocelli, oval, situated under antennal sockets ( Fig. 1A–B ). Apical segment of maxillary palpi nearly equal to subapical segment, apices slightly inflated. Anterior and posterior margins of pronotum projected, lateral lobes longer than high, ventral margin arched ( Fig. 1C ). Fore coxae obviously inflated, with 1 spine; femora with 1 short ventral spine on internal margin; tibiae with 1 internal and 2 external spines ventrally, apices with 1 pair of spines on ventral surface. Middle femora with 1 pair of apical spines on ventral surface; tibiae armed dorsally with 2 pairs of spines, ventral surface with 1 internal and 2 external spines, apices with 1 pair of spines on dorsal and ventral surfaces separately. Hind tibiae with 22–23 internal spines and 19–21 external spines dorsally, with 1 pair of small subapical spines on dorsal surface, 1 pair of dorsal apical spines and 2 pairs of ventral spines; basitarsi with 6–7 spines and 1 apical spine on dorsal surface along the midline ( Fig. 1K ). Abdominal tergites without any processes. Epiproct directed downwards and slightly forwards, with 2 pairs of spines ( Fig. 1D–I ). Cerci slender, conical, apices acute. Subgenital plate wider than long, posterior margin almost straight; styli long, cylindrical, its apices obtuse, inserted on posterolateral area of subgenital plate ( Fig. 1H–J ).

Measurement (mm). BL: ♂ 18.8; PL: ♂ 5.8; FFL: ♂ 6.3; MFL: ♂ 6.5; HFL: ♂ 17.7; HBL: ♂ 3.2.

Material examined. Holotype: male, Mangku, Banhong, Cangyuan , Yunnan (99.05 E, 23.19 N), Alt. 1485.68 m, June 2, 2021, coll. by Jing Liu.

Distribution. Yunnan (Cangyuan).

Discussion. The species differs from all other congeneric species of Rhaphidophora in: male epiproct with 4 spines directed downwards.

Etymology. Named for the male epiproct with 2 pairs of spines; from Latin word “ quadr ” and “ spin ”.

Rhaphidophora sichuanensis Liu & Zhang, 2002 (Chinese name: Ʊ川ẍễ)

Rhaphidophora sinica Bey-Bienko, 1962 (Chinese name: 中华ẍễ)

Rhaphidophora xishuang Gorochov, 2012 (Chinese name: ƋṞẍễ)

Rhaphidophora taiwana Shiraki, 1930 (Chinese name: 台ĕẍễ)

Sinorhaphidophora Qin, Jiang, Liu & Li, 2018 (Chinese name: 华ẍễh)

Sinorhaphidophora hainanensis Bian & Shi, 2016 (Chinese name: 海南华ẍễ)

Figures

FIGURE 1. Rhaphidophora quadrispina Liu & Bian sp. nov. Male: A. head in frontal view; B. head and thorax in dorsal view; C. head and pronotum in lateral view; D–I. apex of abdomen: D. lateral view, E. lateral and slightly apical view, F. apico-dorsal view, G–H, I. apico-ventral view, J. ventral view; K. tarsus of male hind leg in lateral view; L. habitus in lateral view.