Eurycotis sp. 2

Lu, Wenhua, Valentine, Barry D., Perez-Gelabert, Daniel E. & Gutiérrez, Esteban, 2014, Ecology and Diversity of Cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattaria) from the Virgin Islands, Insecta Mundi 2014 (349), pp. 1-32 : 24

22. Eurycotis sp. 2 ( Fig. 18 ), NEW RECORD

Diagnosis. Adults 18–19 mm, with small, full, widely separated tegmina in both sexes that are rounded-triangular and barely surpass the mesonotal posterior margin, no transverse discal grooves, no hindwings; dorsum totally blackish brown, shiny, without punctures or wrinkles, with a fine, median, longitudinal carina on each notum, only visible at certain light angles; head dark without any marking; pronotum broader than long; anteroventral margin of fore femur with a row of 13 progressively decreasing spines and 3 larger distal spines (Type A 3); tarsomeres 1–5 each with a pale apical pad, that of 5 much smaller and partly hidden by 4; each pulvillus forming a ventral pad, which appears bilobed on metatarsi; abdominal segments slightly lighter anteriorly than posteriorly, supra-anal plate sub-trapezoidal with apical emargination and rounded angles.

Comments. Eurycotis sp. 2 may be a new species closely related to E. gurneyi Gutiérrez (1999b) described from Puerto Rico; further comparative study of both will determine its taxonomic status. It does not come to light and is a nocturnal ground-dweller ( Table 1). We found them by sweeping dead vegetation, in rotten Agave in daytime, and at night active on the forest floor in the wet zone of Sage Mountain. This is the first report for the Virgin Islands; E. improcera (Species 21) was thought to be the only Virgin Islands species in the genus until the discovery of this species.

Specimens examined. BDVC — 2 males / 2 female nymphs, BVI, Tortola Is., Sage Mt. , 11.X.2007 / 28.X.2008, W. Lu ; 1 male nymph, BVI, Tortola Is., Sage Mt. , 22/ 28.X.2009, S. Valentine-Cooper .

Figures

Figures 17–20. Blattidae. 17) Eurycotis improcera adult from Guana Island. 18) Eurycotis sp. 1 adult from Tortola Island. 19) Periplaneta americana adult from Guana Island. 20) Periplaneta australasiae adult from Guana Island (all specimens in BDVC).