Aptera fusca ( Thunberg, 1784 )

Anisyutkin, Leonid N. & Yushkova, Olga V., 2017, New data on cockroaches of the subfamily Epilamprinae (Dictyoptera: Blaberidae) from India and Sri Lanka, with descriptions of new species and the genital complex of Aptera fusca (Thunberg, 1784), Zootaxa 4236 (1), pp. 41-64 : 43-46

Aptera fusca ( Thunberg, 1784)

( Figs. 1 A, B, 2A–G)

Material. SOUTH AFRICA, "620 73 Cap b. sp. Mr. Brady", " Perisphaeria cingulata Burm. ♀ ", "Brady, Cap.", genital complex in prep. 250814 /01 —1 female (MHNG).

Description. Female. Specimen generally corresponded to the previous description ( Anisyutkin 2015). It can be complemented by the following details.

Abdomen without visible specializations. Caudo-lateral outgrowths of tergite VIII poorly expressed, spiracles located on the lateral margins of tergite ( Fig. 2 A, B, E, spr.). Anal plate (tergite X) transverse, caudal margin widely rounded ( Figs. 1 A, 2A). Cerci strongly shortened, conical, traces of segmentation very poorly visible on a large magnification only ( Figs. 1 A, 2A, B, E), densely covered with bristles from below ( Fig. 1 A). Paraprocts large and rounded, uniformly sclerotized ( Figs. 1 A, 2D, E, par.), with poorly expressed membranous area at the craniomedial angles ( Fig. 2 D, m.a.). Genital plate transverse, caudally projected ( Fig. 2 C).

Ovipositor and adjacent structures ( Figs. 1 A, B, 2D–G). Intercalary sclerite absent. Tergal processes of abdominal segment VIII absent; those of abdominal segment IX fully developed, heavily sclerotized and curved ( Figs. 1 A, B, 2D, E, G, teIX). Gonangulum distinct, heavily sclerotized ( Figs. 1 A, B, 2D, F, G, gg.). All valves of ovipositor look like membranous lobes; first valves large, without distinct rows of setae along the inner side (small setae visible at a large magnification only) and sclerotized parts ( Figs. 1 A, B, 2F, D, v.I.); second valves slightly shorter than first or third, not hidden under third pair of valves ( Figs. 1 A, B, 2F, D, v.II.); third valves not widened ( Figs 1 A, B, 2, F, D, v.III.); 2nd and 3rd pairs of valves with slender rod-like sclerites fused at base of valves ( Fig. 2 F, D, rod. s.); sclerotized lobes look like thin sclerites ( Fig. 2 F, pl.). Anterior arch of second valvifer heavily sclerotized, as in Fig. 2 F, G, a.a. Basivalvulae transformed into two asymmetrical heavily sclerotized sclerites ( Figs. 1 A, B, 2D, G, bsv.). Vestibular sclerite and other sclerotized structures absent. Brood sac large, without sclerotized structures.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Aptera fusca (Thunberg, 1784), female (A, B) and A. brindlei sp. nov., male, holotype (C – F). A—structures of abdominal apex and female genitalia from below, genital plate removed; B—female genitalia from below; C—facial part of head; D—anterior part of body from above; E—VI and VII abdominal tergites from above; F—hypandrium and male genitalia from above. Out of scale.

FIGURE 2. Aptera fusca (Thunberg, 1784), structures of abdominal apex and female genitalia. A—abdominal apex from above; B—right side of abdominal apex from above; C—genital plate from below; D—structures of abdominal apex and female genitalia from below, genital plate removed; E—right side of abdominal apex and teIX from below, oblique view, genital plate removed; F—structures of ovipositor from above and caudal; G—basal part of ovipositor from within. Dotted area shows membranous parts. Punctured lines on Fig. C show light spots. Abbreviations: ƑIII – X — 8 th – 10 th abdominal tergites respectively, a. a., bsv., gg., m. a., par., pl., rod. s., spr., teIX., vI., vII., vIII. — see text. Scale bar 1 mm: a = A; b = B; c = C; d = D; e = E; f = F; g = G.