Tomias (Semiophygas) gerriesmithae, Naskrecki, Piotr, 2008

Naskrecki, Piotr, 2008, Sylvan katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Pseudophyllinae) of the Guinean Forests of West Africa hotspot: an overview and descriptions of new species, Zootaxa 1712, pp. 1-41 : 7-8

15. Tomias (Semiophygas) gerriesmithae sp. n.

( Figs. 2 A–E; 6A–B;10A–C)

Type locality.— GHANA: Eastern Region, Mamang Forest Reserve (6°15'1.4''N, 1°2'25.4''W), 130 m, 30.viii.– 5.ix.2006, leg. P. Naskrecki, V. Awotwe-Pratt and M. Bakowski—male holotype ( ANSP)

Differential diagnosis.— T. gerriesmithae can be identified by a unique combination of the shape of the tegmen and its venation, the shape of the male styli, and coloration. From T. arescus it differs in the shape of the tegmen (apical part of the tegmen rounded in the new species, obliquely truncate in T. arescus ) and coloration of the tegminal veins (dark in T. arescus .) From T. hadrus it differs in the shape of the male tegmen (the apex strongly narrowed in T. hadrus ) and the shape of the male styli, and from T. stenopterus it differs in the shape of the male tegmen (strongly truncated apically in T. stenopterus .)

General. — Body of medium size, robust.

Head. — Antennae as long as body; antennal scapus with apical spine. Fastigium of vertex triangular, reaching or slightly surpassing apex of antennal sockets; flat. Frons flat, strongly oblique (fig. 2A).

Thorax. — Humeral sinus of pronotum present, but weakly developed; lateral lobe about as long as wide; marginal fold of pronotum with distinct, granular protuberances along its entire length; metazona flat; posterior edge of metazona broadly rounded; pronotum surface strongly granulate (fig. 2B). Prosternum unarmed.

Legs. — Legs short, robust; genicular lobes of all femora unarmed; all tibia unarmed dorsally.

Wings. — Tegmen distinctly surpassing apex of abdomen; apical third broadly rounded; anterior margin rounded; vein Rs branching off slightly past middle of tegmen; veins Sc and R parallel along their entire length. Left stridulatory area coriaceous, without mirror (fig. 6A); right stridulatory area without distinct, clearly developed mirror (fig. 6B); stridulatory file nearly straight, bent in proximal fifth, flat, with 135 lamelliform teeth, 2.5 mm long, 0.16 mm wide. Hind wing rudimentary, about as long as fifth of tegmen (fig. 2E)

Abdomen. — Cercus with apical tooth, nearly straight, bent in apical fourth; apex tapered (fig. 2C). Styli flattened and elliptical, about twice as long as wide. Supraanal plate small, triangular. Subgenital plate elongate, narrowly trapezoidal, with small, narrowly triangular apical incision (fig. 2D). Female subgenital plate narrowly triangular, with small apical incision; posterior lobes rounded.

Ovipositor. — Apex with small dentitions on both lower and upper valvulae, pointed; ovipositor slightly curved, slightly shorter than hind femur (ratio hind femur/ovipositor 1.2) (fig. 2A).

Coloration. — Abdominal sterna yellow in male, white in female, without any markings. Coloration light green; face without darker markings; hind wing hyaline; occiput without markings; subgenital plate without markings; tegmen with narrow, white strip along entire anterior edge, and with regularly distributed, small, dark spots; pronotum with sparsely distributed, small, white dots along entire marginal fold.

Measurements (1 male, 1 female). — body w/wings: male 29, female 35; body w/o wings: male 24, female 28; pronotum: male 5.5), female 7; tegmen: male 21, female 29; hind femur: male 9.5, female 12; ovipositor: 10 mm.

Material examined.— Ghana: Eastern Region, Mamang Forest Reserve, elev. 130 m (6°15'1.4''N, 1°2'25.4''W), 30.viii–5.ix.2006, leg. P. Naskrecki, V. Awotwe-Pratt and M. Bakowski (Camp 2)— 1 male, 1 female (holotype and paratype) ( ANSP).

Etymology. — This species in named in honor of Gerrie Smith in recognition of her valuable support for biodiversity conservation

Natural history. — This species occurs sympatrically with T. hadrus , and individuals of both species can be found feeding on the same plants (unidentified Solanaceae ) along the edge of a secondary lowland forest, adjoining a cocoa plantation.

Typical of the members of the Phyllomimini these insects are strictly nocturnal, and are excellent horizontal leaf mimics. During the day they rest on leaves with their tegmina broadly flattened against the surface of the leaf, eliminating any shadows cast by the body. Their mid and hind legs are completely hidden under the wings (in some cases the tarsi may protrude), whereas the front legs are held parallel, stretched out in front of the head.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Tomias gerriesmithae sp. nov.: A. female, lateral view; B. male head and pronotum, dorsal view; C. male cerci, dorsal view; D. male subgenital plate, ventral view; E. male right wings; T. hadrus Karsch: F. male cerci, dorsal view; G. male subgenital plate, ventral view; H. male right wings.