Rhabdoblatta maculosa Guo et Che, 2024

Guo, Lin, Zhang, Zhi-Yu, Cai, Jin-Zhuo, Wang, Zong-Qing & Che, Yan-Li, 2024, Establishment of three new species of Rhabdoblatta Kirby, 1903 (Blattodea, Blaberidae, Epilamprinae) from China on the basis of molecular and morphological data, Zootaxa 5463 (4), pp. 545-558 : 550-552

Rhabdoblatta maculosa Guo et Che , sp. n.

Figs 2A–O

Type material. Holotype. Male; Guangdong Prov., Zhongshan City, Longtang Villa ; 28 Apr. 2018; Ke-Liang Wu leg. Paratypes. 1 female; same collection data as holotype ; 2 males; Guangdong Prov., Zhongshan City, Longtang Villa ; 5 May 2018; Ke-Liang Wu leg.

Differential diagnosis. The male of this species resambles R. elegans Anisyutkin, 2000 , but can be distinguished from R. elegans : 1) the former has translucent yellow-white maculae scattered along costal field and radial field of the tegmina, but the latter has no maculae; 2) the former has no stripes on the posterior margin of each sternum, the latter has blackish-brown stripes; 3) in the former the posterior margin of subgenital plate is convexly arched, in the latter the posterior margin of subgenital plate is almost truncate.

Description. Measurements (mm). Overall length: male 35.9–38.8, female 42.3; pronotum length × width: male 7.5–8.0 × 8.9–9.8, female 8.8 × 11.0; tegmen length × width: male 31.1–34.2 × 9.2–10.5, female 36.1 × 11.1.

Male. Head black except yellowish white ocelli, labrum and clypeus yellowish brown; maxillary palps dark brown; antennae with about basal 14 segments black, the rest dark brown ( Fig. 2B ). Pronotum dark brown with lateral areas varying from yellowish brown (sparse spots also present) to nearly dark ( Fig. 2E, F ). Tegmina dark brown with translucent yellow-white maculae scattered along costal field and radial field. Hind wings with costal field, radial field, mediocubital field dark brown, and anal field brown ( Fig. 2I, J ). Legs reddish brown, the caudal femora and tibiae and tarsi dark. Abdominal terga and sterna reddish brown. Supra-anal plate and subgenital plate yellowish brown, cerci and styli dark brown ( Fig. 2B ).

Vertex slightly exposed ( Fig. 2B ). Distance between eyes approximately equal to the interocellar width, narrower than the space between antennal sockets ( Fig. 2B ). Pronotum with anterior margin gently arc-shaped, lateral margins convexly rounded, middle of posterior margin obtusely produced, widest about the middle ( Fig. 2E, F ). Tegmina and wings fully developed extending well beyond end of abdomen, the former with thickened subcosta vein. Hind wings shallowly concave at apex; venation distinct, all main veins (Sc, R, and CuP) present ( Fig. 2A, B, I, J ). Anteroventral margin of front femur Type B 2 ( Fig. 2G ). Hind metatarsus nearly equal to the remaining segments combined, with two equal rows of ventral spines; pulvilli present on all tarsomeres apically; tarsal claws symmetrical and unspecialized, with large arolia ( Fig. 2H ). Abdominal tergites unspecialized. Supraanal plate symmetrical with small bristles; the middle of the hind margin slightly concave with a cluster of long bristles, lateral margins slightly arc-shaped. Paraprocts asymmetrical, left paraproct with a finger-like bulge bending inward. Cerci distinctly segmented and densely covered with bristles ( Fig. 2K ). Subgenital plate asymmetrical with small bristles near the posterior margin, the base of the inner plate bifurcated, styli flat, apically rounded ( Fig. 2O ).

Male genitalia. Right phallomere with caudal part of sclerite R1T nearly rectangular and comparatively narrow; end of the sclerite R2 rounded; R3 interlinked with R 5 in caudal part; R4 existed independently ( Fig. 2L ). The basal part of sclerite L2D slender; the apical part irregular, with chaetae-covered membrane ( Fig. 2M ). Sclerite L3 hooked and deeply bent, outer-lateral margin smooth with low carina; inner margin smooth, with a tooth-shaped convexity at apex ( Fig. 2N ).

Female. There is a sexual dimorphism existed in this species. Females slightly larger than males and have different body color, body yellowish brown. Tegmina without translucent yellow-white maculae. Head to abdomen reddish brown ( Fig. 2C, D ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from Latin word “ maculosus”, which refers to the maculae on the tegmina.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Rhabdoblatta maculosa Guo et Che, sp. n. A, B, E–N male; C, D female; A holotype, dorsal view; B holotype, ventral view; C paratype, dorsal view; D paratype, ventral view; E, F pronotum, dorsal view; G front femur, ventral view; H hind tarsi, ventral view; I tegmen; J wings; K supraanal plate, ventral view; L right phallomere, dorsal view; M median phallomere (sclerite L2D), dorsal view; N left phallomere (sclerite L3), dorsal view; O subgenital plate, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 cm (A–D, I, J); 2.0 mm (E, F, H); 1.0 mm (G, K–O).