Dolichopoda (Dolichopoda) sutini Rampini & Taylan

Rampini, Mauro, Russo, Claudio Di, Taylan, Mehmet Sait, Gelosa, Arianna & Cobolli, Marina, 2012, Four new species of Dolichopoda Bolivar, 1880 from Southern Sporades and Western Turkey (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae, Dolichopodainae), ZooKeys 201, pp. 43-58 : 44-45

Dolichopoda (Dolichopoda) sutini Rampini & Taylan sp. n. Figures 1-5

Type-locality.

The Sütini cave is situated on the road from Selçuk to Sirince ( İzmir Province, Turkey).

Material examined.

Thirty-three specimens.

Type material.

Holotype male. Turkey, İzmir, Selçuk, Sütini cave, 27.06.2008, M.S. Taylan leg. (AUZM).

Paratypes: 5 males, 5 females, 1 nymph, same data and collector as for holotype; 1 male,12 females, 8 nymphs, Turkey, Aydın, Söke, Aşıkali cave, 13.07.2009, M.S. Taylan leg. (AUZM).

Differential diagnosis.

The size is relatively small with the hind legs strongly elongated. This species is close to Aegean species Dolichopoda naxia from Naxos, and Dolichopoda paraskevi from Crete but differs from them for the number of spines on the hind tibia (19); these are 25 in Dolichopoda naxia and 16 in Dolichopoda paraskevi . The tenth tergite differs from that of Dolichopoda naxia and Dolichopoda paraskevi for the shape and size of the lateral lobes and for the deeper medial incision. The male subgenital plate appears close to that of Dolichopoda paraskevi while it differs from Dolichopoda naxia ; here the lateral lobes are trapezoidal. The median process of the epiphallus, flattened and rather enlarged at the base, is very close to that of Dolichopoda paraskevi , while in Dolichopoda naxia it is narrow and more elongated. From a lateral view the median process differs from that of the other two species being more curved. The female subgenital plate, with rounded lobes, is similar to that of Dolichopoda paraskevi but differs from Dolichopoda naxia for the deeper medial incision between lobes. The ovipositor, similar in length and shape, is different only for the number of denticles on the inferior valves.

Description.

Male (holotype). Body colour pale-testaceous, uniform with the exception of the posterior margins of the tergites, which are darker. Legs long, slender and yellow-testaceous in colour with the femora unarmed. Fore tibia armed with 4/5 spines on both sides of the inferior edge and a pair of spurs of equal length on the apex. Mid tibia with 3/4 short spines on both sides of the upper edge, 4/5 spines on the lower edge and two apical spurs similar to those of the fore tibia. The hind tibia is longer with 18/19 spines of varying length on both sides of the upper edge and 1/3 homogeneous spines on the lower edge. Tenth tergite on the posterior edge with two prominent lateral lobes triangular in shape with rounded apex separated from one another by a deep median incision (Figure 1). Subgenital plate globular at the bottom, with a deep median incision that runs for half of the total length; the symmetrical lateral lobes, triangular in shape, hold two evident styli cylindrical in shape (Figure 2). The epiphallus is sclerotized and shows a median process relatively long, almost flattened and with an acute apex; it appears large at the base and without lateral constrictions; from the side, the median process is uniformly thickened and curved; the basal processes are rather developed and slightly divergent (Figure 3 a, b). The accessory apparatus is sclerotized and composed by an uneven Y shaped piece, showing strong spines at the base, and by even partially trapezoidal valves.

Length(mm): body 14.0; pronotum 3.0; fore femora 16.2; middle femora 16.5; hind femora 22.4; fore tibia 16.8; middle tibia 17.3; hind tibia 30.2; hind tarsus 10.2; 1st article of hind tarsus 5.0.

Female. The length of the body ranges between 14.8-15.9 mm (ovipositor excluded) and the general form of the female is similar to the male. The subgenital plate is triangular (Figure 4), with two prominent lobes deeply incised and rounded at the posterior edges. The ovipositor has an average length of 10 mm, rather enlarged at the base and little curved on the superior edge (Figure 5).

The superior valves have a pointed apex and curves upwards, whereas the inferior valves are a little shorter than the superior ones, are rounded at the apex and have 16-17 denticles.

Etymology.

The new species name refers to the Sütini cave in Selçuk ( İzmir Province).