Pterodichopetala tuliensis, 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 : 313-318

Pterodichopetala tuliensis n. sp. Barrientos-Lozano & Rocha-Sánchez

( Figs. 32 –41; 42–47)

Type material. Holotype ♂ and allotype ♀, México, Tamaulipas, Road (Rd.) 66 Tula-Ocampo, km 15, 1,482 m, Lat. 22°56.867’N, Long. 99°36.267’W, 12.X.2013, Barrientos-Lozano L. & Rocha-Sánchez A.Y. Coll. L. Barrientos Lozano-ITCV.

Paratypes. 5 ♂, 4 ♀, data as type material.

Diagnosis. P. tuliensis n. sp., is morphologically similar to P. cieloi . However, it may be distinguished by the different shape of males’ stridulatory file ( Fig. 36 vs. 21) and different acoustic signals (Barrientos-Lozano et al. in prep.); the terminal tergite distal projection is less produced than in P. cieloi ( Fig. 37a vs. 22a); the cerci ( Figs. 37a , 38, 39 vs. 22a, 23, 24), the epiproct ( Fig. 37 b vs. 22b) and the subgenital plate ( Fig. 39 vs. 24) are different from P. cieloi analogous structures. In females the subgenital plate is sub-rectangular (in P. ci eloi is sub-quadrate) (Fig. 47 vs. 31). Females may also be differentiated by association to the collection site.

Description of males (alive). General color green ( Figs. 32 , 33), postocular band delicate, whitish-creme extending onto sides of pronotum; antennae’s scape mostly green, pedicel whitish-creme, flagellum basal half light brown-orange, distal half greenish, with white annuli; fastigium of vertex (in dorsal view) broad, sub-conical, profusely sulcate, almost touching the sub-conical frontal fastigium which is distally more produced; occiput with a posterior sub-triangular blackish-gray mark. Pronotal disc ( Fig. 34 ) sub-pentagonal (in dorsal view), anterior margin light brown-orange with blackish-gray shadow underneath, posterior margin light-brown-orange with blackish-gray shadow above, both margins slightly emarginated; carina media green and moderately prominent; typical sulcus on pronotal disc conspicuous, green, shallow wide u shape, cutting the lateral carinae and extending to middle of lateral lobes; lateral lobes of pronotum ( Fig. 33) sub-rectangular (lateral view). Stridulatory area (Fig. 35) green with blackish-gray and light brown-orange edge, extending to the apex. Stridulatory file ( Fig. 36 ) with ca 76 teeth, 8 mm in length and 9 teeth/mm (8–12). Tegmina ( Figs. 32 , 33) ovate and elongated, surpassing the terminalia, almost completely overlapped, in some specimens tergites 8th– 10th may be slightly exposed when at rest; venation prominent, upper margin whitish with light brown-orange above; lower margin whitish-creme; hind wings vestigial. Terminal tergite ( Figs. 37a , 38) projected posteriorly into a stout process, divided by a deep sulcus, v-excised distally forming two broad distal angles. Cerci ( Figs. 37a , 38, 39 ) made up of two processes, the main shaft is broader basally, then tapers gradually towards the acute apex, about 1/4 of the distal portion bends abruptly inwards; about mid length of the main shaft originates a secondary arm or process which bends inwards and tapers gradually towards the spike-like apex; epiproct ( Fig. 37 b) sub-circular, shallow truncated distally; internal genitalia as shown in Figs. 40 –41.

Measurements (mm) males. Body length from vertex to end of abdomen: 18.9 ± 0.8 (18.0–20.0). Pronotum length: 3.3 ±0.2 (3.0–3.5). Tegmen length: 11.0 ± 1.5 (11.1–12.1). Fore femur length: 4.9 ± 0.2 (4.7–5.2). Mid femur length: 5.9 ± 0.5 (5.2–6.4). Hind femur length: 13.3 ± 1.1 (11.6–14.3).

Description of females. Similar to the males ( Figs. 42 , 43), almost completely green. Tegmina ventral margin whitish-creme with feeble light-brown spots above. Ovipositor (Fig.45) longer than head and pronotum together, evenly curved upward, lower margin straight on basal 3/4, distal fourth spinulated on upper and lower margins; basal lobe of ovipositor (Figs. 45, 46) robust, sub-trapezoidal; subgenital plate (Fig. 47) represented by a large subrectangular structure projected distally and divided by a median suture, proximal portion sculptured with transversal grooves; basal sclerites sub-triangular.

Measurements (mm) females. Body length from vertex to end abdomen: 20.5 ± 2.5 (18.7–22.2). Pronotum length: 3.4 ± 0.4 (3.1–3.7). Tegmina length: 11.9 ± 0.6 (11.5–12.8). Cephalic femur length: 5.2 ± 1.2 (4.3–6.0). Mid femur length: 6.0 ± 1.4 (5.0–7.0). Caudal femur length: 13.5 ± 2.4 (11.8–15.2). Ovipositor: 8.1 ± 0.2 (7.9–9.0).

Distribution ( Fig. 112 ). Species collected only at type locality, Rd. 66 Tula-Ocampo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Elevation 1,482 m.

Habitat ( Fig. 48 ). P. tuliensis n. sp., inhabits the tropical forest near the town of Tula, in southwest, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Tula’s municipality is set at the highlands of the Eastern Sierra Madre (ESM), and represents a transition zone between the desert and the forest. Climate in the central and eastern portion is semi-warm, steppe in the western and dry steppe in the south portion. Maximum temperature ranges 42–43ºC and minimum between 0–4°C. Rainfall is the main factor that determines changes in climate, minimum rainfall occurs in the central portion with an average of 400 mm annually; it rises in the west, north and east averaging 500–700 mm; the maximum precipitation occurs in the East where the ESM is located, averaging 700 to 1,000 mm per year. Average annual temperature is 20.1°C, while the mean annual precipitation is estimated in 424 mm. Xeric or scrub rosette vegetation are predominant (Rzedowski 1978, González-Medrano, 2003). Most common species are Larrea tridentata (D.C) Coville ( Zygophyllaceae ), Yucca filifera Chabud 1876 (Asparagaceae) , Prosopis laevigata (W. & B., ex Will M.C. Jonhst.) ( Fabaceae ), Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. (Leguminosae), Agave lechuguilla Torr. , A. striata Zucc. , A. montana Villarreal (Agavaceae) . Towards the eastern portion, xeric and scrub rosette vegetation disappear to give rise to the Oak forest ( Quercus spp.). P. tuliensis n. sp., lives on secondary vegetation in the oak forest, mains host plants are Lantana hirta Graham (Verbenaceae) and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp. (Fabaceae) . It has been collected on the slopes of the mountain, at 1400–1500. Similar to congeneric species P. tuliensis n. sp., is camouflaged with its host plants ( Fig. 32 ).

Etymology. Species named after type locality, Tula. This is considered a “magic town” located at an elevation of 1,200 m in southwest Tamaulipas, at the foothills of the ESM.

Figures

FIGURE 32. Pterodichopetala tuliensis n. sp. Male alive.

FIGURE 34. Pterodichopetala tuliensis n. sp. Male head and pronotum in dorsal view. FIGURE 35. Pterodichopetala tuliensis n. sp. Male stridulatory area.

FIGURE 36. Pterodichopetala tuliensis n. sp. Male’s stridulatory file on underside of left tegmen.

FIGURE 39. Pterodichopetala tuliensis n. sp. Male’s cerci and subgenital plate, ventral view.

FIGURE 40. Pterodichopetala tuliensis n. sp. Male’s titillators, dorsal view. FIGURE 41. Pterodichopetala tuliensis n. sp. Male’s titillators, lateral view.

FIGURE 42. Pterodichopetala tuliensis n. sp. Female alive.

FIGURE 48. Habitat of Pterodichopetala tuliensis n. sp. Oak forest. Tula, Tamaulipas. Mexico.

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 37 a. Pterodichopetala tuliensis n. sp. Male’s cerci and terminal tergite, dorsal view. FIGURE 37 b. Pterodichopetala tuliensis n. sp. Male’s epiproct, frontal view.