Thoradonta Hancock, 1909

Zha, Ling-Sheng, Wen, Ting-Chi, Kang, Ji-Chuan & Hyde, Kevin D., 2015, The genus Thoradonta in Thailand (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Scelimeninae) with description of two new species, Journal of Natural History 50, pp. 833-845 : 834-837

Genus Thoradonta Hancock, 1909

new for Thailand

Hancock, 1909, Trans . Entomol. Soc. London, p. 407; Günther, 1938, Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung, 99: p. 121; Zheng and Liang, 1991, Acta Entomologica Sinica 34(4): p. 453; Liang and Zheng, 1998, Fauna Sinica , Insecta, vol . 12, Orth ., Tetrigoidea , p. 56; Zheng, 2005, Fauna of Tetigoidea from western China, p . 59; Deng, Zheng and Wei, 2007, Fauna of the Tetrigoidea from Yunnan and Guangxi, p. 51.

Type species

Thoradonta dentata Hancock, 1909

Generic characteristics (updated)

Body size small, vertex equal to or wider than one eye, frontal ridge distinctly protruding between antennae. Antennae filiform, inserted between or below lower anterior margins of eyes. Eyes globular and prominent, lateral ocellus situated in or slightly below middle of anterior margin of eye. Distal segments of maxillary palpus slightly compressed. Pronotal disc covered with many nodules; mid-keel undulate, partially lamellate and erected before shoulders; pronotum slightly uplifted between shoulders; a pair of abbreviated carinae present between shoulders; hind process of pronotum wedgeshaped, not reaching, reaching or surpassing beyond apex of hind femur; posterior angle of lateral lobe of pronotum distinctly laminate and expanded, apex spine-like or acute dentate and extending transversely or obliquely backward, but few species truncate or subtruncate. Tegmina ovate, hindwing present or absent ( Thoradonta butlini ). First segment of hind tarsus generally longer than third.

Relationship to other genera

The genus Thoradonta Hancock was placed in Scelimeninae (Tetrigidae) based on: (1) filiform antenna; (2) in profile frontal ridge protruding in arch-like manner between base of antennae; (3) posterior angle of lateral lobe of pronotum lamellate and expanded, apex generally spine-like.

The genus Thoradonta is closely related to the genus Criotettix Bolivar, 1887 , the former differs from the latter mainly by: (1) lateral margins of pronotum behind humeral angles distinctly folded upwards; (2) partial mid-keel lamellate and erected before shoulders.

Key to species of the genus Thoradonta Hancock

1. Tegmen and wing absent. Distributed in Indonesia.. T. butlini Blackith and Blackith Tegmina and wings present. ......................................................................................................... 2

2. Apex of posterior angle of lateral lobe of pronotum truncate or slightly convex, not spined. .................................................................................................................................................... 3 Apex of posterior angle of lateral lobe of pronotum spined.......................................... 4

3. Body size large, hind process of pronotum surpassing far beyond apex of hind femur. Distributed in Nepal................................... .................................. T. aspinosa Ingrisch Body size small, hind process of pronotum shorter, only reaching apex of hind femur. Distributed in China................................. ................................ T. obtusilobata Zheng

4. Hind process of pronotum shorter, not reaching or reaching apex of hind femur 5 Hind process of pronotum longer, surpassing beyond apex of hind femur............ 8

5. Hind process reaching apex of hind femur; lower lobe of posterior angle of pronotum distinct and acute. Distributed in India, Bengal. T. bengalensis Shishodia Hind process not reaching apex of hind femur; lower lobe of posterior angle of pronotum indistinct or obtuse...................................................................................................... 6

6. Wings shorter, not reaching apex of hind process; third pulvillus of first segment of hind tarsus longer than second. Distributed in: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka................................... .................................. T. nodulosa (Stål) Wings longer, reaching apex of hind process; third pulvillus of first segment of hind tarsus equal to second in length................................................................................................. 7

7. Lateral lobes of pronotum with posterior angles obliquely dentate. Distributed in Malaysia....................................................... ...................................................... T. dentata Hancock Lateral lobes of pronotum with posterior angles acute spinose, spine transverse. Distributed in equinoctial Africa............................................................... T. spinata Hancock

8. Body size stout; hind process of pronotum surpassing slightly beyond apex of hind femur ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 Body size slender; hind process of pronotum surpassing far beyond apex of hind femur..................................................................................................................................................... 12

9. Anterior margin of vertex nearly as wide as posterior margin; spine of posterior angle of lateral lobe of pronotum extending distinctly obliquely backward. Distributed in China...................................................................................... T. yunnana Zheng Anterior margin of vertex distinctly narrower than posterior margin; spine of posterior angle of lateral lobe of pronotum extending transversely or slightly obliquely backward ....................................................................................................................... 10

10. Spine very long; wings reaching apex of hind process of pronotum. Distributed in China................................................................................................ T. longispina Zheng and Xie Spine shorter; wings not reaching apex of hind process of pronotum................... 11 11. Antenna inserted between lower margins of eyes, length of longest segment four times its width; first segment of hind tarsus 1.75 times as long as third. Distributed in China, India............................................... .............................................. T. spiculoba Hancock Antenna inserted decidedly below lower margins of eyes, length of longest segment six times its width; first segment of hind tarsus only 1.3–1.4 times as long as third. Distributed in Thailand;......................... ......................... T. spiculobaoides sp. nov.

12. Spine of posterior angle of lateral lobe of pronotum pointing laterally ............... 13 Spine of posterior angle of lateral lobe of pronotum pointing obliquely backward. ............................................................................................................................................ 15

13. Vertex 2.0 times as wide as one eye; wings not reaching apex of hind process. Distributed in India, Vietnam................................................... T. centropleura Podgornaya Vertex not more than 1.5 times as wide as one eye; wings reaching or surpassing beyond apex of hind process..................................................................................................... 14

14. Spine slender; length of pronotum 2.4–3.0 times as long as length of hind process which is beyond hind femora; wings surpassing apex of hind process. Distributed in China.................................................................................... T. longipenna Zheng and Liang Spine shorter; length of pronotum 3.3–4.0 times as long as length of hind process which is beyond hind femora; wings reaching apex of hind process. Distributed in China........................................................ ....................................................... T. transspicula Zheng

15. Vertex wider, 1.5–2.0 times as wide as one eye. ............................................................... 16 Vertex narrower, 1.18–1.35 times as wide as one eye. ................................................... 20

16. Wings longer, surpassing far beyond apex of hind process; disc of pronotum black. Distributed in China........................................................ T. nigrodorsalis Zheng and Liang Wings shorter, not reaching or surpassing slightly beyond apex of hind process; pronotum and body in the same colour ............................................................................. 17

17. Length of pronotum not less than 5.0 times as long as hind process which is beyond apex of hind femur ...................................................................................................... 18 Length of pronotum not more than 4.0 times as long as hind process which is beyond apex of hind femur ...................................................................................................... 19

18. Lateral keels parallel; wings not reaching apex of hind process. Distributed in China......................................................................................................................... T. lancangensis Zheng Lateral keels distinctly contracted backward; wings surpassing apex of hind process. Distributed in: China..................................... T. dianguiensis Deng, Zheng and Wei

19. Antenna inserted between lower margins of eyes; lateral keels parallel; mid-keel complete between two highest lamellate protrusions; humeral angle widely rounded. Distributed in China, India................................................... T. lativertex Günther Antenna inserted decidedly below lower margins of eyes; lateral keels distinctly contracted backward; mid-keel interrupted between two highest lamellate protrusions; humeral angle obtuse angled. Distributed in Thailand............................................. ............................................................................................................... T. lativertexoides sp. nov. 20. Vertex 1.25–1.35 times as wide as one eye; body surface smooth; length of hind process which is beyond apex of hind femur 3.0– 3.4 mm. Distributed in Philippines........................................................................................................................ T. palawanica Günther Vertex nearly equal to one eye in width; body surface coarsely; length of hind process which is beyond apex of hind femur 1.5–2.0 mm. Distributed in India, China....................................................... ....................................................... T. apiculata Hancock

Species of the genus Thoradonta Hancock in Thailand