Pycnoscelus sp. D

Lucanas, Cristian C. & Lit, Ireneo L., 2016, Cockroaches (Insecta, Blattodea) from caves of Polillo Island (Philippines), with description of a new species, Subterranean Biology 19, pp. 51-64 : 58

Taxon classification Animalia Blattodea Blaberidae

Pycnoscelus sp. D Figure 4A

Material examined.

3 females: Philippines; Polillo Island (Quezon Province): Cave 2, Sitio Puting Bato, Barangay Aluyon, Burdeos, 23.v.2013 (CC Lucañas, UPLBMNH BLA-00525-00526), v.2010 (JMA Encinares, UPLBMNH BLA-00527).

Description.

Size (mm): ♀ TL: 21.5 ± 0.71; BL: 18.5 ± 0.71; Pn: 6.5 ± 0.71 × 8.5 ± 0.71; Tg: 17.5 ± 0.71.

Male: Unknown

Female: Body generally convex. Vertex concealed. Ocelli present. Pronotum medially wider than long, black throughout except for yellow anterolateral markings, minutely punctate. Tegmina well-developed extending beyond abdomen, hyaline black-brown. Fore femur C1. Hind basitarsus longer than succeeding tarsal segments combined. Pulvilli present on four proximal tarsomeres. Arolium large. Tarsal claws symmetrical. Abdomen medially brown, darkening distally.

Ecology.

The species was collected on thick guano piles of mix bat populations in Cave 2. In contrast with Pycnoscelus striatus , the species was present only on the top layer of the guano and does not burrow much even if disturbed.

Remarks.

This species or form is closely similar to Pycnoscelus striatus and may prove to be only a variation. For now, it is treated separately because of its darker coloration, robust abdomen, rather convex body, large arolia and the presence of narrow anterolateral band on its pronotum. The absence of a male specimen hinders further identification.

Roth (1998) described unverified species of Pycnoscelus and temporarily assigned them as spp. A, B and C. In order to avoid confusion, this specimen is temporarily named as Pycnoscelus sp. D.