Acanthacara incisa, Braun & Morris, 2022

Braun, Holger & Morris, Glenn K., 2022, New species of awl-head katydids, Cestrophorus and Acanthacara, from the Andes of Ecuador (Orthoptera, Conocephalinae, Cestrophorini), Journal of Orthoptera Research 31 (2), pp. 143-156 : 143

Acanthacara incisa sp. nov.

Figs 3 , 9F , 10F , 18 , 19

Gymnacoustes unizip (' Gymnacoustes unizip ' Morris 1987, field name: Baños Blackface)

Material examined. -

Holotype: ECUADOR • ♂; Tungurahua; 25 Jul. 1985; G.K. Morris leg.; MLP . Paratypes: ECUADOR • 1 ♂; Tungurahua; 25 Jul. 1985; G.K. Morris leg.; SN-5, 85-5, Rec.; ANSP • 2 ♂♂; Tungurahua; 26 May 1983; G.K. Morris leg.; ANSP .

Etymology. -

Referring to the significant midline emargination of the posterior margin of abdominal tergite IX. In an excess of caution, we are careful to avoid a species name relating to song- e.g., Gymnacoustes unizip , as given in the ISV poster-for both the preceding A. ortoni and A. incisa . The two sing in earshot of each other and solitary vs. doubled zips easily distinguish their songs, but some confusion in field naming might have led to misapplication of song to these species.

Diagnosis. -

Similar to previous species. Tegmina almost twice as long as pronotum. Pronotum with blackish spot on prozona and posteriorly diverging blackish spot on metazona, both spots connected by more narrow dark coloration in between. Last tergite with deep narrow cleft, wider in distal portion, and the lobes formed by this division with inward-directed tips sporting tiny teeth. Cerci with obtuse dorsal tip as in previous species; below that, with curved inward-directed process; ending also sort of two-tipped, with the lower tip developed as short spinule. Styli almost twice as long as wide.

Measurements. -

Pronotum 5.0 mm, tegmina 6.3 mm, hind tibiae 8.4 mm.

Figures

Fig. 3. A live male of A. incisa collected roadside just below the small settlement Pondoa on northern aspect of Volcan Tungurahua, July 1985. Locality in a field name is a bad idea: when what you have christened " Baeza Blackface " is apparently taken later near Banos and you have to reference it as Banos' Baeza Blackface, confusion is likely, especially when these specimens sort into more species later.

Fig. 9. Acanthacara spp. male genitalia compared.

Fig. 10. Acanthacara adult males compared in dorsal aspect.

Fig. 18. Song of A. incisa. A. Two single-lisp calls, seconds apart, taken from a sustained sequence; B. At higher time resolution, each call is seen to be a train of 5 - 6 pulses of fading intensity; C. A single pulse at very high resolution reveals its sinusoidal nature; D. The power spectrum suggests higher Q generator components with a strongly high-Q peak near 13 kHz and some lesser but significant ultrasonics of 20 - 28 kHz.

Fig. 19. One call of A. incisa; 7 pulses in a waterfall display.