Pseudonicsara (Wasiorana) alces, Ingrisch, 2009

Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2009, Revision of the genus Pseudonicsara Karny, 1912 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae: Agraeciini) 2185, Zootaxa 2185, pp. 1-122 : 64-65

Pseudonicsara (Wasiorana) alces sp. n.

Figs. 8, 18, 26, 37, 42, 46, 79, 126, 164, 199, 218, 252, 289, 331, 385, 420, 462, 531, 539, 545, map 3.

Holotype (male): Indonesia, Papua: Wasior (Wandammen) [2° 43' S, 134° 30' E], 18–25.VII.1928, E. Mayr, depository: Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany ( ZMB).

Paratype: 1 female, same data as holotype ( ZMB) .

Diagnosis. P. alces differs from all other species of the genus by the characteristic shapes of the male cerci, the titillators, and the female subgenital plate. The apical process of the male cercus is strongly curved inwards ( Figs. 199, 252), broad, compressed, obtuse, has the internal surface concave and is divided into two branches, the main branch at apex with two spines, the ventral branch band-shaped with one ventral and two acute apical teeth ( Fig. 199); the dorsal baso-internal processes of the cercus is short obtuse, the ventral is long, compressed and expanded in basal half, digitiform in apical half ( Fig. 252). The apical parts of the titillators are broad with concave ventral and strongly convex dorsal surface; the margin is regular and at caudal angle spinulose ( Figs. 331, 385). From both other species of the subgenus Wasiorana , P.curvata and P. raffrayi , it also differs by the prosternal spines being longer than half the length of the fore coxa. The female is characterised by the shape of the subgenital plate having basal grooves much longer than half the length of the subgenital plate, a median carina, and triangular apical lobes ( Figs. 462, 539).

Description. Fastigium verticis in front of eyes 1.2 mm, from base 1.8 mm; dorsal eye length 2.2 mm; greatest diameter of eye 2.3 mm; index fastigium verticis from base: eye length 0.8 ( Fig. 37). Face rugose; with a facial carina above lateral angles of clypeus ( Fig. 26). Tegmen distinctly surpassing hind knees; costal field widened in about basal two thirds, narrow in apical third; between radius and cubitus with parallel and almost evenly spaced transverse veinlets ( Figs. 8, 18). Prosternal spines longer than half the length of the fore coxa, rather thin. Femora with the following number of spines on ventral margins: fore femur 6–9 external, 6 internal; mid femur 6–7 external, 3–4 internal near base; hind femur 10–17 external, 8–11 minute internal in basal area and 0–1 in apical area. Knee lobes of hind femur bi-spinose on external, uni-spinose on internal side (male) or bi-spinose on both sides (female).

Male ( Fig. 8). Stridulatory file slightly sinuate, 2.8 mm long; teeth at very base rather widely spaced, at apex very dense and indistinct; with 98 teeth or 35.5 teeth per mm, in middle of file with 27.6 teeth per mm ( Fig. 79). Mirror narrowing posteriorly; fore margin straight; hind margin oblique; 2.2 mm long, 1.9 mm wide; index length:width 1.1. Tenth abdominal tergite transverse but slightly globular in middle; apical margin roundly excised in middle and roundly projecting on both sides of excision; central and apical area setose ( Fig. 126). Epiproct rounded; rather flat but somewhat curved in specimen at hand with a faint median sulcus in basal half ( Fig. 164). Projection of paraproct large and wide, rounded ( Fig. 164). Cerci very short with internal surface concave and modified: behind base with a short obtuse dorsal and a long, compressed, twisted and in apical half narrow process ( Fig. 218); at apex with a compressed and high internal process with broad apex that carries two acute spines; in about half of its length, the process gives rise to a narrow, curved, ventral branch, which carries a tooth behind basal third and has the apex ending into two spines ( Figs. 199, 252). Subgenital plate with styli longer than excised area ( Fig. 289).

Titillators with basal parts very broad; apical parts with apical margin broadly rounded and lateral margin triangular; surface brown with clinging hairs towards centre and brown granular towards margin; margin hyaline granular ( Figs. 331, 385, 420). Lateral of apical parts of titillators, phallus membranes brown, irregularly structured.

Female ( Fig. 18). Subgenital plate with a strong median carina becoming higher towards apex, surface on both sides of carina slightly convex; apical area suddenly raised to level of median carina, apex bilobate ( Figs. 462, 531, 539). Ovipositor strongly curved in basal two thirds only, with nearly parallel margins ( Fig. 545).

Coloration. Uniformly medium brown. Face, anterior part of genae and mandibles blackish brown to black; clypeus and labrum yellow. Pronotum with or without a brown band between first and second transverse sulcus; second transverse sulcus also darkened. Tegmen brown with network of light veins little conspicuous.

Measurements (1 male, 1 female): body male 38, female 39; pronotum male 11, female 10.2; tegmen male 36.5, female 36; hind femur male 21.5, female 23.5; ovipositor 23 mm.

Etymology. Named for the peculiar shape of the male cerci resembling horns of alces; noun in apposition.