Phlesirtes laikipiaensis Hemp

Hemp, Claudia & Heller, Klaus-Gerhard, 2017, The genus Phlesirtes Bolivar, 1922 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae, Conocephalini; Karniellina), a review of the genus with data on its bioacoustics and the description of new species, Zootaxa 4244 (4), pp. 451-477 : 468

Phlesirtes laikipiaensis Hemp n. sp.

( Fig. 5 G; Fig. 11 E, F; Fig. 16 )

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:496070

Holotype male. Kenya, Laikipia District, ADC Mutara Ranch, 18–1900 m, Themeda-Pennisetum grassland, September 1986, coll. D. K. Olson. Depository EDNMK.

Paratypes. 2 females, same data as holotype. Depository EDNMK.

Description. Male. Colour mix of brown and green. Abdomen. Last abdominal tergite with two processes, leaving a rhombic space between them; the whole median area of posterior margin with processes down-curved ( Fig. 11 E) Cerci differentiated into two branches, outer one blunt and short, inner one comparatively short, curved inwardly, slender ( Fig. 11 F). Subgenital plate shallow and broadly incised between styles.

Female. Ovipositor typical for genus. Subgenital plate broader than long, broadly incurved at posterior margin with vertical orientated shallow median groove and thus very similar to other Phlesirtes species with a shield-like subgenital plate ( Fig. 5 G).

Diagnosis. Well characterized by the rhombic gap formed between the processes of the 10th abdominal tergite. P. ngorongoroensis n. sp. has also a rhombic gap between the processes but the inner branch of the male cerci is somewhat inflated before the tip while in P. laikipiaensis n. sp. the inner branch of the male cerci is of normal shape, evenly tapering to its tip. Also P. kilimontanus n. sp. has a rhombic gap but is of much smaller body size and also restricted to the montane and subalpine zone on Mt Kilimanjaro.

Measurements male (mm) (N=1). Length of body 8.3, length of pronotum 4.7, length of anterior femur: missing, length of posterior femur: missing, visible part of elytra from above 1.1.

Measurements female (mm) (N=2). Length of body 11.2–12.2, length of pronotum 4.0, length of anterior femur 2.6, length of posterior femur 10.6, ovipositor 11.0–12.2.

Habitat and distribution. Kenya, Laikipia plateau in montane Themeda-Pennisetum grasslands, 1800–1900 m.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Subgenital plates of female Phlesirtes species A – N and O. Lateral view on ovipositor of P. gladiolus n. sp. A. P. chyuluensis n. sp. B. P. elgonensis n. sp. C. P. gladiolus n. sp. D. P. hanangensis n. sp. E. P. keniensis n. sp. F. P. kinangopa n. sp. G. P. laikipiaensis n. sp. H. P. limuru n. sp. I. P. melanocercus n. sp. J. P. merumontanus, northern Kilimanjaro K. P. ngongensis n. sp. L. P. ngorongoroensis n. sp. M. P. nou n. sp. N. P. timboroa n. sp.

FIGURE 11. Detail images of last abdominal tergites and cerci of male Phlesirtes species. A, B. P. keniensis n. sp. C, D. P. kinangopa n. sp. E, F. P. laikipiaensis n. sp. G, H. P. latifrons I, J. P. limuru n. sp. K, L. P. mauensis n. sp.

FIGURE 16. Distribution of Phlesirtes species in East Africa with major mountains and mountain ranges indicated.