Muscuspina Mendes, 2024

Mendes, Diego M. M., Pádua, Diego G., Araujo, Rodrigo O., Mazariegos, Luis A. & Fernandes, Daniell R. R., 2024, New genus of Pleminiini Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Pseudophyllinae) from the Colombian Andes, Zootaxa 5437 (2), pp. 262-272 : 263-266

Muscuspina Mendes gen. nov.

Figures 1–6 and 8

Diagnosis. Pronotal disc with several long and sharp projections, having six of them distinctly longer than others: one anterior, two medial, two posterolateral and one posterior; posterolateral projections with anterior margin bearing a hook-shaped projection ( Figs. 1C–E ). Tegmina curved over the abdomen; apex of tegmina not exceeding the base of cercus ( Fig. 1A ).

Grammatical gender. Feminine.

Additional taxonomic notes. Muscuspina gen. nov. is unique compared to other genera of Pleminiini due to the morphology of the long and complex pronotal spines. The only Pleminiini with a slight resemblance to the new genus is Championica (Lipacophora) Beier, 1954 , with two species, that have a pattern of spines and projections shorter and simpler than those of Muscuspina gen. nov. Also, Muscuspina gen. nov. has short tegmina, not exceeding the apex of the cercus (vs. long tegmina exceeding the apex of cercus in Championica ).

Etymology. From Latin word muscus = moss + spina = spine. In reference to the impressive set of pronotal spines and the habitat where this katydid lives and camouflages itself, with abundant mosses (Bryophytes).

Distribution. Colombia (Antioquia).

Included species.

Muscuspina neblina Mendes sp. nov. ♁ (type species).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Muscuspina neblina sp. nov., holotype male. A: habitus, lateral view; B: head, frontal view; C–E: head and pronotum in frontal, dorsal and lateral view respectively; F: foreleg, lateral view; G: midleg, lateral view; H: thoracic sternites, ventral view; I–K: Terminalia in ventral, dorsal and lateral view respectively. Abbreviations: Mes: mesobasisternum; Met: metabasisternum; Cer: cerci; Sty: styli; Pl: subgenital plate.

FIGURE 2. Thoracic dorsal spines variation in Muscuspina neblina sp. nov. in dorsal view. A–B: Paratypes; C: Holotype.

FIGURE 3. Muscuspina neblina sp. nov., left stridulatory file of male.

FIGURE 4. Muscuspina neblina sp. nov., male specimen alive. A: habitus in lateral view; B: habitus in frontal view; C: Body in lateral view; D: habitus in dorsal view.

FIGURE 5. Color variation in males of Muscuspina neblina sp. nov.

FIGURE 6. Muscuspina neblina sp. nov., female specimen alive. A: habitus in lateral view; B: habitus in frontal view; C: habitus in dorsal view; D: habitus in antero-lateral view.

FIGURE 8. Map of Muscuspina neblina sp. nov. species geographical records.