Markia White, 1862

Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., Braun, Holger & García, Alexander García, 2022, The tribe Dysoniini part VI: Phylogeny, biogeography and evolutionary trends of the lichen katydid genera (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae). Eleventh contribution to the suprageneric organization of Neotropical phaneropterines, Zootaxa 5166 (1), pp. 1-93 : 32-37

Markia White, 1862

Diagnosis. Vertex elevated, developed as a vertical, slightly forward-directed spine ( Figs. 20A, K , 21A ). Frons delimited between the genae by a suture. Pronotum smooth, with two flattened spine-like projections on the pronotal disk: one at the anterior margin and another higher and slightly curved on the rear margin ( Figs. 20A, K , 21A ). Fore tibiae with two dorsal spines at the lower margin of the tympana. Hind femora and tibiae with elongated and curved spines. Mesosternum narrower than metasternum, constricted and almost square; lateral lobes partially covering bases of coxae, hind margin touching the metafurcal groove, which is small, rounded, and deep. Tegmina undulate and with a broadly truncate tip. Male cerci bifurcate ( Figs. 20D, Q , 21G ). Ovipositor long, curved upward, with apical region slightly serrulate.

Type species. Phaneroptera hystrix Westwood, 1844 , by original monotypy.

Distribution. Andes from Venezuela to Peru, few species in the Amazon region, and others ranging from the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena ecoregion across Central America to Mexico, in particular the Hystrix and Sarriai species groups ( Map 5 ). Species of the Erinaceus group are found in Guyana and the northern Andes, as well as the adjacent Amazon ( Map 6 ). It seems evident that the cordilleras became an effective barrier which caused vicariance and split the species into different groups ( Cadena-Castañeda 2013a, b).

Key to species of Markia

2. Medium-sized (50–54 mm), pronotal spines moderately long and broad; internal branch of male cerci with denticulations on the ventral margin or at the tip........................................................................... 2

- Larger (60–65 mm), pronotal spines clearly longer than vertex spine, male cerci with both branches sclerotized, pointed, not denticulate.......................................................................... Erinaceus Group …6

3. Pronotal spines elongated, metazonal spine longer than the vertex spine; leg spines elongated; hind femora armed with seven or eight spines on the outer ventral margin, projecting laterally, usually with the sixth spine projecting toward the dorsal margin..................................................................................... Hystrix Group …3

- Pronotal spines shorter, not exceeding vertex spine ( Fig. 20A–B ); leg spines moderately developed, hind femur with five slightly laterally-projecting spines on outer ventral margin......... Sarriai Group and M. sarriai Cadena-Castañeda, 2013

4. Vertex spine inclined ( Fig. 20E ); outer branch of male cerci sickle-shaped, thin and elongated, three times as long as internal branch ( Fig. 20G ).................................................... M. major ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878)

- Vertex spine straight; branches of male cerci similar in length and slightly pointed.................................. 4

5. Prozonal spine of the pronotum straight and similar in length as the metazonal spine; male cerci not as described below.... 5

- Prozonal spine of pronotum curved forward ( Fig. 20H ); outer branch of male cerci 0.7 times as long as inner branch, slightly curved; inner branch with sclerotized dorsal margin, dilated at the base and with five denticulations at the apex ( Fig. 20J )........................................................................ M. espinachi Cadena-Castañeda, 2013

6. Vertex spine 0.6 times as long as prozonal spine, metazonal spine with posterior margin almost straight, anterior margin very slightly concave ( Figs. 20K, L ); outer branch of male cerci 0.8 times as long as internal branch, slightly curved; inner branch with sclerotized dorsal margin, dilated at the base and with eight denticulations at the apex ( Fig. 20N ).......................................................................................... M. nicolasi Cadena-Castañeda, 2013

- Vertex spine 0.9 times as long as prozonal spine, metazonal spine with posterior margin curving forward, anterior margin concave ( Fig. 20 O ), male cerci pincer-shaped, branches moderately developed and thin, outer branch slightly curved and hookshaped, internal branch with denticulate ventral margin, apex smooth ( Fig. 20Q )............ M. hystrix ( Westwood, 1844) .

7. Prozonal spine of pronotum straight....................................................................... 7

- Prozonal spine of pronotum curved forward............................................................... 10

8. Distance between pronotal spines at bases 1.8–2.2 mm and at apices 5.0– 7.5 mm ................................... 8

- Distance between pronotal spines at bases 1.3–1.5 mm and at apices 5.2–5.5 mm ( Fig. 21E ); male cerci with the outer branch 1.8 times as long as the inner branch ( Fig. 21G ). ………………………. M. erinaceus Cadena-Castañeda & Gorochov, 2013

9. Distance between pronotal spines at bases 1.8–2.0 mm and at apices 5.7–6.0 mm ( Fig. 21B ); branches of male cerci similar in shape ( Fig. 21D )........................................................... M. arizae Cadena-Castañeda, 2013

- Distance between pronotal spines at bases 2.0– 2.2 mm and at apices 5.0– 7.5 mm; outer branch of cerci longer than inner branch.............................................................................................. 9

10. Metazonal spine 1.5 times as long as vertex spine, posterior margin slightly curved in lateral view, anterior margin concave; distance between pronotal spines at bases 2.0– 2.2 mm and at apices 5.0– 5.5 mm ( Fig. 21H ); male cerci with conical outer branch three times as long as inner branch ( Fig. 21J )................................... M. gaianii Cadena-Castañeda, 2013

- Metazonal spine 1.7 times as long as vertex spine, posterior margin straight, anterior margin undulate; distance between pronotal spines at bases 2.5 mm and at apices 7.5 mm ( Fig. 21K ); male cerci with outer branch twice as long as inner branch, cylindrical and thin ( Fig. 21L )............................................. M. agudeloi Cadena-Castañeda, 2013

11. Vertex spine straight, prozonal spine dilated, with posterior margin curving forward in the middle, anterior margin only little concave; metazonal spine longer and twice as broad as prozonal spine ( Fig. 21M ); male subgenital plate with shallow V-shaped emargination, digitiform styli 2.5 times as long as depth of emargination ( Fig. 21N ).. M. guerreroi Cadena-Castañeda, 2013

- Vertex spine inclined, prozonal spine more slender and gradually curving forward with both anterior and posterior margin uniformly curved, metazonal spine slightly longer and three times as broad as prozonal spine ( Fig. 21P ); apex of male subgenital plate slightly expanding, emargination deeply U-shaped and the cylindrical styli 1.8 times as long as depth of emargination ( Fig. 21Q )........................................................... M. bolivarensis Cadena-Castañeda, 2013

Figures

Map 5. Distribution map of Markia species (Hystrix and Sarriai groups).

Map 6. Distribution map of Markia species (Erinaceus group).

FIGURE 20. Markia species (Sarriai and Hystrix groups). A–D. M. sarriai. E–G. M. major. H–J. M. espinachi. K–N. M. nicolasi. O–Q. M. hystrix. A, K. Male habitus in lateral view. B, E, H, L, O. Head and pronotum in lateral view. C, F, I, M, P. Subgenital plates. D, G, J, K, Q. Cerci.

FIGURE 21. Markia species (Erinaceus group). A–D. M. arizae. E–G. M. erinaceus. H–J. M. gaianii. K–L. M. agudeloi. M–O. M. guerreroi. P–R. M. bolivarensis. A. Male habitus in lateral view. B, E, H, K, M, P. Head and pronotum in lateral view. C, F, I, N, Q. Subgenital plates. D, G, J, L, O, R. Cerci.