Pseudonicsara (P.) minuta, Ingrisch, 2009

Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2009, Revision of the genus Pseudonicsara Karny, 1912 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae: Agraeciini) 2185, Zootaxa 2185, pp. 1-122 : 35

Pseudonicsara (P.) minuta sp. n.

Figs. 444, 483, 517, map 3.

Holotype (female): Papua New Guinea, West Sepik: D. Neu-Guinea, Sepik Berg [near 4° 49' S, 141° 15' E], 1570 m, IX.1910, Schultze, depository: Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany ( ZMB).

Remark: The locality could be traced from the Deutsches Kolonial-Lexikon (1920): "1910 L. Schultze penetrated with the 'German-Dutch Grenzexpedition' [border expedition] from the sea along the western border to 3° 20' S and 140° 55' E, from there he travelled on the 'Kaiserin-Augustafluss' [Sepik] to about 4° 49' S and 141° 15' E." … "where Leonhard Schultze climbed a 1570 m high mountain" [translated from German].

Diagnosis. The shape of the female subgenital plate is unique within the genus. It has the basal area long with a curved pair of carinae and laterally with pair of deep grooves; the apical lobes are acute triangular ( Figs. 444, 483, 517). Differences to other species are outlined in the key.

Description. Fastigium verticis in front of eyes 0.8 mm, from base 1.1 mm; dorsal eye length 1.1 mm; greatest diameter of eye 1.3 mm; index fastigium verticis from base: eye length 1.0. Face subsmooth in middle, little rugose towards genae. Slightly brachypterous; tegmen covering abdomen but not reaching apex of hind femur. Femora with the following number of spines on ventral margins: fore femur 6–7 external, 6 internal; mid femur 5–6 external, 2 internal near base; hind femur 10–11 external, 3–4 small internal in basal area.

Male unknown.

Female. Ninth abdominal tergite with ventro-lateral apical area slightly swollen. Tenth abdominal tergite transverse, furrowed in middle. Subgenital plate elongate, with a pair of median carinae curved laterad at base and here forming the top of a basal cavity at each side that opens posteriorly; apex of subgenital plate divided into two long-triangular lobes with obtuse tip ( Figs. 444, 483, 517).

Coloration. Yellowish brown (discoloured as originally conserved in alcohol). Face with a blackishbrown median band from fastigium to clypeus, slightly widening ventrad and with ventral margin sinuate; antennal scrobae, all of scapus, very base of pedicellus, and apex of mandibles also blackish-brown. Pronotum with a broad, irregular, brown, median band, interrupted in middle. Tegmen dark brown with a network of pale veins and veinlets. All legs with genicular area (apex of femur and base of tibia) brown. Fore tibia with dorsal margin, two small spots at base and two large spots below tympana brown. Hind tibia with dorsal spines sitting on brown spots.

Measurements of female: body 19.5; pronotum 7.2; tegmen 15.2; hind femur 15; ovipositor 15 mm.

Etymology. Name refers to the small size of the species.