Pterodichopetala monternach, Rocha-Sánchez, Aurora Yazmín, Barrientos-Lozano, Ludivina & Zaldívar-Riverón, Alejandro, 2015

Rocha-Sánchez, Aurora Yazmín, Barrientos-Lozano, Ludivina & Zaldívar-Riverón, Alejandro, 2015, Additional new species of the genus Pterodichopetala (Phaneropteridae: Phaneropterinae) from Northeastern Mexico, Zootaxa 3956 (3), pp. 301-344 : 303-309

Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp., Barrientos-Lozano & Zaldívar-Riverón

( Figs. 1 –16)

Type material. Holotype ♂, allotype ♀. Mexico, San Luis Potosí, Guadalcazar, Campamento Monternach , 1,567m, Lat. 22.65649N, Long. 100.38007W, 22.IX.2012, Alejandro Zaldívar-Riverón. Coll. L. Barrientos Lozano-ITCV.

Paratypes. 7 ♂ and 5 ♀ adults, 1 ♀ nymph. Mexico, San Luis Potosí, Road (rd.) Guadalcazar-Charco Blanco, Ej. Arrastradero, 1,800m, Lat. 22°37.501’N, Long. 100°26.473’W, 09.VIII.2014, Ludivina Barrientos- Lozano & Aurora Yazmín Rocha-Sánchez. Coll. L. Barrientos Lozano-ITCV.

Diagnosis. Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp., resembles P. cieloi at first sight ( Figs. 1 , 11 vs. 18, 27). It may be distinguished from the latter species because of its smaller size, male’s average 15.2 mm and females 17. 3 vs. 19.5 and 19.6 mm in P. cieloi males and females, respectively; shorter pronotum, average 2.8 mm in both males and females of P. monternach n. sp., vs. 3.6 and 3.2 mm in males and females of P. cieloi , respectively; different shape of the stridulatory area (Fig. 4 vs. 20), stridulatory file ( Fig. 5 ) with ca 111 teeth, 7.6 mm in length and 14.6 teeth/mm (13–18) vs. P. c i el o i stridulatory file ( Fig. 21 ) with ca 70 teeth, 7 mm in length and 10 teeth/mm (8–12); the last abdominal tergite’s distal process ( Fig. 6a vs. Fig. 22a ) is less produced, more robust, strongly emarginated and distally rounded (not so in P. ci e l o i); epiproct ( Fig. 6 b) sub-triangular, broad, bearing a sub-triangular depression at mid-portion, in P. cieloi is sub-rectangular wide u excised distally ( Fig. 22 b); cerci distinctive as shown in Figs. 6a , 7, 8 vs. 22a, 23, 24; subgenital plate ( Fig. 8 vs. 24) basally narrow with broad distal angles (in P. cieloi it is sub-rectangular, with distal angles more acute rendering a wide u-shape); internal genitalia as shown in Figs. 9 , 10 vs. 25, 26. Females may be separated, in addition to its smaller size, by the more prominent dark brownblack markings on posterior portion of occiput and proximal area of tegmina ( Fig. 11 vs. 27), the different shape of the ovipositor’s lobe and basal sclerites (Figs. 14, 15 vs. 29, 30) and different subgenital plate (Fig. 16 vs. 31).

Description of males (alive). General color green ( Fig. 1 ). Fastigium of vertex moderately compressed, subconical; frontal fastigium (in dorsal view) sub-conical, surpassing considerable the fastigium of vertex; antennae’s scape greenish, pedicel and flagellum’s half basal portion reddish-brown, distal portion of flagellum dark-brown, some white-black segments along flagellum, eyes rounded and prominent, occiput posteriorly dark-brown blackish; postocular band whitish-creme extending onto sides of pronotum. Pronotal disc ( Fig. 3 ) sub-pentagonal (in dorsal view), anterior and posterior margins reddish-brown, both margins slightly emarginated, carina media whitish-creme, conspicous; typical sulcus on pronotal disc shallow wide u shape, cutting the lateral carinae and extending to middle of lateral lobes in form of a groove; lateral lobes of pronotum ( Fig. 2) sub-rectangular (lateral view), humeral sinus absent. Stridulatory apparatus ( Figs. 1 , 4) with dark-brown black edge; stridulatory file ( Fig. 5 ) with ca 111 teeth, 7.6 mm in length, 14–15 teeth/mm (13–18). Tegmina’s proximal portion black (Fig. 4), surpassing the terminal tergite, with prominent venation, lower margins whitish-creme with dark brown spots above; hind wings vestigial. Terminal tergite projected distally into a broad structure, with edge dark brown folded strongly inwards. Cerci ( Figs. 6a , 7, 8 ) complex, made up of three processes: the proximal portion of the main shaft is slightly broader, then tapers gradually and bends inwards towards the rounded apex; beyond mid length of main shaft a short, stout, curved inwards, spike-like projection originates; the main shaft’s elongated arm (ventral view) splits proximal to the apex and gives rise to two process, the ventral process tapers gradually towards a spiky apex and it is embedded within the flabellate apex of the dorsal process. The subgenital plate ( Fig. 8 ) is moderately produced, sub-triangular, v excised distally, angles broadly acute. Internal genitalia as shown if Figs. 9 and 10.

Measurements (mm) males. Body length from vertex to end of abdomen: 15.2 ± 1.1 (14.0–16.5). Pronotum length: 2.8 ± 0.26 (2.4–3.0). Tegmen length: 10.0 ± 0.6 (9.1–10.8). Fore femur length: 4.0 ± 0.3 (3.7–4.4). Mid femur length: 4.7 ± 0.26 (4.4–5.0). Hind femur length: 10.6 ± 0.9 (9.3–11.5).

Description of females (alive). Similar to the males ( Figs. 11 , 12), almost completely green; occiput dark brown-black posteriorly; tegmina surpassing the terminal tergite, proximal portion black, upper and lower margins whitish-creme with feeble brown spots above. Ovipositor (Fig.14) longer than head and pronotum together, evenly curved upward, lower margin almost straight on basal 3/4, distal fourth lower and distal half upper margins spinulated; basal lobe of ovipositor sub-circular with undulated margin ( Fig. 15). Subgenital plate (Fig. 16) subelliptical, projected distally and divided by a median suture; basal sclerites large, sub-triangular.

Measurements (mm) females. Body length from vertex to end of abdomen: 17.3 ± 0.35 (16.9–17.6). Pronotum length: 2.8 ± 0.0. Tegmina length: 11.7 ± 0.25 (11.4–11.9). Cephalic femur length: 4.5 ±0.15 (4.4–4.7). Mid femur length: 5.4 ± 0.26 (5.1–5.6)). Caudal femur length: 11.7 ± 0.4 (11.2–11.9). Ovipositor: 8.8 ± 0.7 (8.0– 9.4).

Distribution ( Fig. 112 ). Collected in two localities in San Luis Potosí: Campamento Monternach and Ej. Arrastradero, municipality of Guadalcazar.

Habitat ( Fig. 17 ). The municipality of Guadalcazar is located north of the State of San Luis Potosí, in northeastern Mexico, it is part of the Mexican highlands “Altipano”. Guadalcazar, its main town, is set at an elevation of 1,640 m. Although “plateau” or altiplano might indicate that this region is flat, it is far from it. High mountains, canyons and valleys are found throughout the Altiplano. This municipality is characterized by two main mountain ranges occurring southearnly: Álvarez and Guadalcazar mountains. The climate in the area is semi-warm towards the northwestern and eastern portions, while the southwestern is semi-dry. The average annual temperature is 18.1°C, with a maximum of 27 and a minimum of 7°C. The average annual rainfall is 355 mm. A variety of vegetation types make up the landscape, such as desert scrub, prickly, microphyllous shrubland, nopalera, Izotal and grassland. P. monternach n. sp., inhabits on secondary vegetation and grassland at the footh hills of the Alvarez Mountain.

Etymology. Species named after type locality, Monternach camping site, in Guadalcazar, San Luis Potosí.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp. Male alive.

FIGURE 3. Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp. Male head and pronotum in dorsal view. FIGURE 4. Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp. Male stridulatory area.

FIGURE 5. Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp. Male’s stridulatory file on underside of left tegmen.

FIGURE 8. Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp. Male’s cerci and subgenital plate, ventral view.

FIGURE 9. Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp. Male’s titillators, dorsal view. FIGURE 10. Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp. Male’s titillators, lateral view.

FIGURE 11. Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp. Female alive.

FIGURE 17. Habitat of Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp. Grassland and shrubland at the footh hills of the Alvarez

FIGURE 21. Pterodichopetala cieloi Buzzetti, Barrientos & Rocha, 2010. Male’s stridulatory file on underside of left tegmen.

FIGURE 112. Distribution of Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp., P. c i e l oi Buzzetti, Barrientos & Rocha, P. tuliensis n. sp., P. geovanyi n. sp., P. alfredoi Barrientos & Rocha., P. rob e r t oi n. sp., P. pityophyla Cohn, Swanson & Fontana.

FIGURE 6 a. Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp. Male’s cerci and terminal tergite, dorsal view. FIGURE 6 b. Pterodichopetala monternach n. sp. Male’s epiproct, frontal view.

FIGURE 22 a. Pterodichopetala cieloi Buzzetti, Barrientos & Rocha, 2010. Male’s cerci and terminal tergite, dorsal view. FIGURE 22 b. Pterodichopetala cieloi Buzzetti, Barrientos & Rocha, 2010. Male’s epiproct, frontal view.