Dolichopoda (Dolichopoda) giachinoi Rampini, Di Russo, 2008

Rampini, Mauro, Russo, Claudio Di, Pavesi, Francesca & Cobolli, Marina, 2008, The genus Dolichopoda in Greece. A description of new species from the Ionian Regions and Peloponnisos (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae), Zootaxa 1923 (1), pp. 1-17 : 7-10

Dolichopoda (Dolichopoda) giachinoi Rampini, Di Russo sp. nov.

( Figs 25–33 )

Diagnosis. Relatively large, slender, with very long legs and antennae. This species is different from the other Ionian species due to its pale yellowish in colour. The tenth tergite is bilobate with the upper edge which is thickened in the centre. It has prominent lateral crests. The epiphallus is long and slender. These characteristics place this new species nearest to the Dolichopoda geographically close to the Ionian islands: D. gasparoi (Lefkada) , D. ithakii (Ithaki) e D. patrizii (Petalas) .

Type locality. The Megalo Spilio cave is an old dried river which is very large. Its entrance is very narrow at 1000 metres a.s.l. at the beginning of a canal on the east side of Serekas Mount (Monastiraki). The entrance opens into a great chamber, which is full of speleotemi and clastic phenomena. The associated fauna is predominantly composed of: isopods, diplopods, pseudoscorpions, spiders, carabid and curculionid coleopterans.

Etymology. We are more than happy to dedicate this new species to our friend and colleague, Pier Mauro Giachino, who reported and collected various examples of Dolichopoda during his periodical biospeleological expeditions in Greece.

Material examined. Holotypus male: Aetolia-Akarnania, O. Serekas (Monastiraki), Megalo Spilio, 1000 m a.s.l., lat 38°46’ 06’’ N, long 20°57’ 22’’ E, 02.II.07 M. Rampini, L. Lustri, G. Pintus leg. Paratypes: same locality data and collectors as for holotype 1 male, 1 female, 1 male nymph ( MZUR, PCR) ; same locality of holotype, 29.V.06, Giachino leg. 4 males nymphs and 2 female nymphs ( PCR) ; 03.VI.07, Giachino & Vailati leg. 1 male nymph and 3 female nymphs ( PCR) .

Description. Male (holotype). Relatively large, with a uniformly yellow colouring and little pigmentation. Head with rostral tubercles of the vertex which are reduced and rounded, femora slender. Fore tibia with 0/2 spines on the superior edge and 5/5 spines on the ventral edge. Mid tibia with 4/5 short spines on the upper edge and 5/5 spines on the inferior edge. The hind tibia has 21/23 spines on the superior edge and 1/4 spines on the lower. From the 3 rd to the 8 th abdominal sternite, there are subconical protruberances which are covered in hair and rounded at the apex. From the 5 th to the 8 th abdominal tergite, the posterior edge is carinate in the central section, while on the 9 th it is very evident. The tenth tergite has two lateral lobes, which is separated by a cavity which is narrower than the length of each of the lobes. The lateral tubercles are particularly evident. They are cone-like in shape with an apex which bends forwards, and are connected by a thick crest on the upper margin ( Figs 25, 26 ). The subgenital plate is as in Fig. 27 and Fig. 28 . There are no styli. The epiphallus is scherotized, and has a slender and long median process with an acute apex which curves cephalad. From the rear ( Fig. 29 ), the basal processes appear partially schlerotized, wide and diverging. In lateral aspect ( Fig. 30 ), the median process is more thickened proximal one-third, and is more slender and curved in the distal onethird. The accessory apparatus: uneven dorsal piece is sclerotized, partially triangular, rounded at the apex and covered by hair; valves relatively triangular in shape.

Length (mm): body 18,0; pronotum 4,0; fore femora 15,0; mid femora 15,0; hind femora 23,5; for tibia 18,0; mid tibia 18,0; hind tibia 25,0; hind tarsus 11,5; 1 st article of hind tarsus 6,0.

Female. Length of the body is 20 mm (excluding the ovipositor). The general appearance and colour of the female are similar to the male. The 7 th sternite has a large partially rectangular protrusion. From the side, it is very prominent compared to the preceding sternites, which are all very similar in size and shape. Subgenital plate in the shape of a flattened triangle with thickened lateral edges and apex ( Figs 31, 32 ). Ovipositor 15 mm in length, not very wide at the base, almost straight, with superior valves which are narrow in the distal half. The apex is pointed and curved upwards. The inferior valves have 20 apical denticles ( Fig. 33 ).

Figures

FIGURES 25–33. Dolichopoda giachinoi male: 25– X tergite, dorsal view, 26– posterior view; 27– Genital plate, dorsal view, 28– lateral view; 29– Epiphallus, dorsal view, 30– lateral view; female: 31– Genital plate e VII sternite, dorsal view, 32– lateral view, 33– Ovipositor, lateral view. Scale bar: 1 mm.