Brachyamytta bombomensis, Heller, 2019

Heller, Klaus-Gerhard, 2019, Provisional checklist of the Tettigonioidea (Insecta: Orthoptera) from São Tomé & Príncipe with taxonomic remarks, bioacoustical data and the description of new taxa, Zootaxa 4563 (1), pp. 41-66 : 55-56

Brachyamytta bombomensis n. sp.

( Fig. 5 C , Fig. 9 A–C)

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:505233

Holotype: female, SAO TOME & PRINCIPE: Príncipe, near Bom Bom Island Resort (1°41'N, 7°24'E), 20 m a.s.l., 24–27 iv 2018, leg. Marianne Volleth, in ethanol, label ‘ CH 8588’, MfN.

From the 65 species and subspecies of Meconematinae known from West and West Tropical Africa (OSFO 12.06.2018) only six have short tegmina and a smooth ovipositor without teeth. Five of these six are known from one locality each only. Proamytta brevipennis Chopard 1945 (only one male known) is described as uniform light green as the East African Amytta (see Hemp & Heller 2017) and many other species, and thus not similar to our specimen. The females of Anepitacta (Anepitacta) wrightae Naskrecki, 2008b have relatively long, slender ovipositors (ratio length of hind femur/ovipositor 1.1) as it is typical for this genus, whereas our specimen has a much higher and shorter ovipositor (ratio length of hind femur/ovipositor 1.4). However, our specimen fits quite well the diagnosis of Brachyamytta Naskrecki, 2008b , although there are differences (size of ovipositor, colouration) to the described species. Members of this genus are not always uniform green, but may have black or brown markings or can even be completely brown/olive green (see fig. 7 in Naskrecki 2008b).

Diagnosis. Differs from the three known species of the genus by missing black markings at hind legs as observed in B. maculipes and B. mcculloughae and by lobes of subgenital plate not elongated as found in B. rapidoaestima .

Description (following the concept of Naskrecki 2008b).

General. Body small, slender; micropterous.

Head. Fastigium of vertex triangular, blunt apically, barely reaching base of scapus, flat dorsally; scapus unarmed; antennae about twice as long as body; frons convex, vertical; eyes globular, moderately protruding. Terminal segments of labial and maxillary palps strongly distended apically, cone-shaped.

Thorax. Pronotum surface smooth; lateral lobe wider than high ( Fig. 9 A ); humeral sinus of pronotum absent; anterior margin of pronotum flat; metazona moderately elongate, flat to weakly convex; posterior edge of metazona broadly rounded. Prosternum unarmed.

Legs. Legs long and slender. Front tibia unarmed dorsally, with 4 spines on posterior and 4 on anterior ventral margin; ventral spines on front tibia as long as tibia diameter, some longer; tympanum bilaterally open, oval, more than twice as long as wide; genicular lobes of front femur unarmed; front femur unarmed ventrally; front coxa armed with short spine. Mid tibia unarmed dorsally; with 3 spines on posterior and 5 on anterior ventral margin; mid femur unarmed ventrally; genicular lobes of mid femur unarmed. Hind femur unarmed ventrally; genicular lobes of hind femur unarmed.

Wings. Tegmen not reaching middle of abdomen, ending broadly rounded.

Abdomen. Female subgenital plate with two broad, rounded lobes on posterior margin ( Fig. 9 C ).

Ovipositor. Ovipositor as typical for the genus, slightly curved; shorter than hind femur (ratio femur/ovipositor 1.4); apex with both valves smooth; pointed, dorsal edge of upper valve parallel to lower valve ( Fig. 9 B )

Coloration. Coloration green (but not light green), with brown markings ( Fig. 5 C ); antennal scapus without markings; antennae concolorous; eyes uniformly red colored; face without dark markings; occiput with dark brown markings; pronotum laterally green, pro- and metazona brown; genicular lobes of front legs without markings; all legs green, without dark markings.

Measurements. Length of body 13 mm, pronotum 3.3 mm, tegmina 2.7 mm, hind leg 11.5, ovipositor 8.3 mm.

Etymology. Named bombomensis after the small island Bom Bom near to the type locality, adjective femininum.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Habitus. A Adapantus excavatus n. sp., B Conocephalus iris, var. guineensis, C Brachyamytta bombomensis n. sp.

FIGURE 9. Morphological details of Brachyamytta bombomensis n. sp. A female pronotum, B ovipositor, C female subgenital plate. Scale A, C 1mm, B 5 mm.