Lithoxenus heptapotamicus subsp. minutus, 2024

Korsunovskaya, Olga, 2024, Drymadusini katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Tettigoniinae): intraspecific variability-morphs or subspecies?, Zootaxa 5403 (1), pp. 42-50 : 45-48

L. heptapotamicus minutus Korsunovskaya subsp.nov.

( Fig. 2D–F, H, I )

Description

Holotype. ♂. Description: body coloration light brown, uniform ( Fig. 2D ); abdominal tergites along posterior margin with stripe of dark spots; fastigium apex almost twice the width of the first antennal segment; lateral lobes of pronotum with a weakly defined humeral notch ( Fig. 2D ); a abbreviate tegmina dark brown, almost black, protruding from under the pronotum and almost reaching posterior edge of the second abdominal tergite; hind tibia with 16–20 spines along margins; last abdominal tergite transformed into supra-anal plate, its anterior half black ( Fig. 2E ), the semicircular recess on its posterior edge separates the light triangular lobes protruding from the sides; cerci in the distal third curved inwards at right angle. ( Fig. 2E ), their inward curved part elongated into the tapering tooth with darkened apex; subgenital plate with weak notch and short styles, twice as long as wide; titillators ( Fig. 2F ) more or less L-shaped, the basal part more massive than the distal part, the width is approximately twice the width of the distal half, apex of the titillator is slightly thickened and curved outward, with short inconspicuous denticles.

Body measurements are presented in Table 1 .

Paratype. ♀. Coloration like in male ( Fig. 2H ). Posterior margin of abdominal tergites with stripe of dark spots. Lateral lobes of pronotum with slightly noticeable humeral notch ( Fig. 2H ). The tegmina are completely hidden under pronotum. Hind tibia with 17–19 spines along the inner and outer edges. Supra-anal plate and ovipositor base black. Conical cerci lighter. Subgenital plate with two rounded lobes separated by a shallow triangular notch ( Fig. 2I ). Ovipositor straight, slightly curved upward in the apical third, 1.5 times the length of the pronotum ( Fig. 2H ).

Body measurements are presented in Table 1 .

Differential diagnosis

The specimens of the new subspecies differ from the holotype and topotypes of the nominative subspecies in their smaller sizes, more massive basal part of the titillators, and shorter female elytra, completely hidden under the pronotum.

Material examined

L. h. heptapotamicus

1♂ (holotype): Semiretshje ( Heptapotamia ), Sjugaty gorge, 23.VI. 1907, A. Jacobson leg.

L. h. minutus

1 ♂ (type), 1 ♀ (paratype) and 2 nymphs. Kyrgyzstan: SW Tersky Ala Too, 15 km E Koch Kerk , Ukakh river, 2000 m above sea level, 17–19 VIII. 1993. Dry steppe rocky meadows. A. Klimenko leg.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitus and details of body structure of Lithoxenus katydids. A—habitus of the male of L. h. heptapotamicus (holotype); B—pronotum of L. h. heptapotamicus (holotype), lateral view; C—male supra-anal plate and cerci of L. h. heptapotamicus (holotype), dorsal view; D—habitus of the male of L. h. minutus (holotype), lateral view; E—male supraanal plate and cerci of L. h. minutus (holotype), dorsal view; F—titillator of L. h. minutus (holotype); G—same of L. h. heptapotamicus (holotype); H—habitus of the female of L. h. minutus (paratype), lateral view; I—female subgenital plate of L. h. minutus (paratype). J—habitus of the male of L. miramae (Uzbekistan); K—habitus of the male of L. miramae (holotype), lateral viev; L—male stridulatory file (left tegmen) of L. miramae (holotype); M—male supra-anal plate and cerci of L. miramae (holotype), dorsal view; N—same of L. miramae (Uzbekistan); O—titillators of L. miramae (holoptype); P—same of males from Uzbekistan. Scale 5 mm (A, B, D, H, J, K), 1 mm (C, E–G, I), 500 µ (O, P).