Deflorita protecta, Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2011

Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2011, New taxa of Mirolliini from South East Asia and evidence for an abdominal gland in male Phaneropterinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), Zootaxa 2943, pp. 1-44 : 6-7

Deflorita protecta sp. n.

Figs. 1A–B, 2A, 3F–G, 4A, 5A–E, 8C–E, 10A–C

Holotype (male): East Malaysia, Sabah: Mesilau Camp [6°10'N, 116°39'E], 1524 m, 11.iv.1964, leg. S. Kueh., Royal Soc. Exped., depository: The Natural History Museum London ( BMNH).

Paratypes. East Malaysia, Sabah: 2 males, same locality as holotype, 1.iv.1964 ( BMNH); 1 male,

East Mesilau River, 1.ii.1964, leg. J. Smart, Royal Soc. Exped. ( BMNH); 1 male, Mt. Kinabalu, Mesilau, 2.ii.1964, leg. J. Smart, Royal Soc. Exped. ( BMNH); 1 male, same locality, 8.ii.1964, ( BMNH); 1 male, same locality, 13.ii.1964, ( BMNH).

Other material. East Malaysia, Sabah: 1 female, Mt. Kinabalu, 1524 m, leg. K.M. Guichard ( BMNH).

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to Deflorita pulchra Gorochov, 2008 , with which it shares in males the prolonged and bulging second abdominal tergite and the long projection of the eight abdominal tergite together with the elongate subgenital plate. A combination of characters that occurs so far known only in these two species of Deflorita . D. protecta differs from D. pulchra by the process of the eight tergite being broader, shorter, completely flat and at apex weakly angular; it is outlined from eighth tergite proper by a faint angle. The male subgenital plate has the narrow apical part parallel-sided, not narrow at base, with a medial furrow instead of being flat, and the lateral margins at apex upcurved forming a groove, narrowly excised in between in apical view, not widely excised. The black marks at the tegmen also show some small but distinct differences between both species. The female differs from related species by a distinct colour pattern and the subgenital plate having an obtuse, not at all excised apex and a very wide medial carina with a basal furrow.

Description. Fastigium verticis furrowed, gradually sloping anteriorly, with a minute tubercle at tip; separated from fastigium frontis by a gap (Figs. 1A–B). Fastigium frontis triangular; apex subobtuse. Pronotum with anterior margin straight; posterior margin broadly rounded, subtruncate in middle; paranota little higher than long; humeral sinus distinct. Anterior tibia with internal tympanum conchate, external tympanum open. Tegmen narrow, apex rounded; hind wings projecting (Fig. 2A).

Male. Stridulatory area of tegmen oval; stridulatory vein straight, narrow, little bulging on dorsal side; dorsal area of tegmen with a gap behind stridulatory area (Fig. 3F). Stridulatory file on underside of left tegmen slightly concave, 1.29–1.41 mm long; teeth wide but very dense throughout; with 117–125 teeth, equating 86–91 teeth per mm (Fig. 4A). Mirror on right tegmen nearly rounded, anterior-external angle produced; in anterior area deeply depressed; 1.39–1.42 mm long, 1.26–1.39 mm wide; index length: width 1.02–1.13 (Fig. 3G).

Second abdominal tergite with a huge and third tergite with a short lobiform apical projection (Figs. 8C–E), forming a cave between second and third tergites, in which some glutinous stuff was found (Fig. 8D). Eight abdominal tergite with central area largely prolonged behind reaching to apex of subgenital plate (Figs. 5A, C). Ninth abdominal tergite little prolonged, with shallow dorsal groove followed by a transverse subapical elevation, both hidden under projection of eight tergite. Tenth abdominal tergite of normal length; dorsal surface shallowly furrowed in midline. Epiproct with subparallel lateral margins; shortly before apex bent in a 90°-angle apicad and rounded. Cerci little surpassing apex of subgenital plate, curved, narrowest in about middle, widening towards base and apex; apex with compressed acute tooth at external angle, and short subacute tooth at internal angle (Fig. 5B). Subgenital plate with long extended central area not completely reaching projection of tenth abdominal tergite; at apex narrowly split (Figs. 5C–E). Phallus membranous.

Female. Tegmen with dorsal field anterior area oval-elongate, in further course narrow; lateral area moderately wide; apex rounded. Epiproct triangular; only faintly furrowed; apex obtuse. Cerci little curved, narrow; apex obtuse. Subgenital plate about triangular with central area raised; apex obtuse (Fig. 10A–B). Ovipositor falcate (Fig. 10C).

Coloration. Male yellowish brown; probably green when alive. Vertex white with dark brown spot in middle from which two oblique red bands run to hind margin; with two black bands behind compound eyes; at hind margin of genae with a black spot; antennae with black annules. Pronotal disc with black fore and hind margins interrupted in middle, that of fore margin little bent behind on both sides. Tegmen with black hind margin, a band of black dots in front of it. Abdominal tergites 2 to 7 in lateral areas white, partly with black margins; eighth tergite light yellow, projection brown. Fore and mid femora with black spot on tip. Anterior tibia with black stroke in tympanal area on external side and a black dot at ventral margin of tympanum on internal side. Fore and mid tibiae with a black preapical spot. Hind femur with rows of black spots in dorsal area. Hind tibia black at very base and at apex. Hind tarsal segments one to three black; fourth segment black in ventral area only. Fore and mid tarsi with third segment black; fourth segment black on ventral side.

Female green when alive. Antennae annulated. Fastigium verticis and fastigium frontis white. Vertex with narrow black bands behind compound eyes and a suffused black spot in middle. Disc of pronotum with anterior margin black and a short black line on both sides; hind margin with black lateral angles. Tegmen with anterior dorsal area white with black margin, narrow area black with very margin white; dorsal area of lateral field with a band of black dots, interrupted shortly before apex; apical and ventral areas and projecting part of hind wings with piles of indistinct black dots. Abdominal tergites 2–3 and 7 with a large, 4–6 with a smaller ivory white spot above lateral margins; areas above with little distinct red or brown flecks or lines; tergites 8–10 and epiproct completely white. Intersegmental membrane with a black band along abdominal sternites. Base of ovipositor blackish brown; dorsal margin on ventral valve blackish near base.

Etymology. The name is derived from Latin protectare = to protect; it refers to long projection of the eighth abdominal tergite covering the remaining abdominal apex.

Measurements (4 males, 1 female). Body w/wings: male 30–32, female 32; body w/o wings: male 15.0–18.5, female 15; pronotum: male 3.3–3.6, female 3.2; tegmen: male 20.0–21.5, female 22; hind wing: male 25–27, female 28; hind femur: male 12.0–12.5, female 12.2; ovipositor: female 6 mm.