Dolichopoda karoutsosi Alexiou, 2024

Alexiou, Sotiris, Bakolitsas, Kostas, Di Russo, Claudio & Rampini, Mauro, 2024, Four new Dolichopoda species from Greece, one Troglophilus new to Greece and new locality records (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae), Contributions to Entomology 74 (1), pp. 103-111 : 103-111

Dolichopoda karoutsosi Alexiou sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 4 , 6

Type material.

Holotype: GREECE • ♂ ; Sterea Ellas, Nomos Etolias-Akarnanias, Aetos, Agios Nikolaos, cave Siko ; 38 ° 43.435 ' N, 21 ° 6.977 ' E ; 344 m a. s. l. ; 7 Aug. 2017 ; K. Bakolitsas leg. ( KMNH) . Paratypes: GREECE • 2 ♂, 1 nymph, same data as for holotype .

Diagnosis.

The new taxon presents one morphological character unique for the genus: the presence of a notch at the median process of the epiphallus (present at both dissected males). The shape of the lateral lobes of X tergum of the males shows resemblance to D. bakolitsasi , a species known from a cave a few km away. The elevated ridge at the posterior margin of the concavity of the X tergite and the rather slender median process of epiphallus connects the new species with the species of the south Ionian region, e. g. D. garparoi , D. ithakii , D. giachinoi and D. patrizii (Fig. 4 ).

Description.

Body pale brownish-yellow, legs elongated, hind femora unarmed. Fore tibiae with 4 spines on both sides of the ventral side, mid tibiae with 5 spines on both sides of the ventral side and hind tibiae with 19 spines on both sides of the dorsal side.

X tergum (last abdominal tergite) (Fig. 6 A ) with two lateral lobes, shallowly bilobed at apex. Bilobed apex very unequal, the external side elongated, cylindrical, pointing dorso-posteriorly. The two lobes are separated by a large concavity showing an elevated ridge on the posterior margin.

Subgenital plate convex, with a wide median incision that runs for 1 / 3 of the total length; lateral lobes rounded, styli short, inserted at the side of the lateral lobes.

Epiphallus sclerotized, median process rather slender and acute, the last ¼ curved inwards, an obvious notch is present at the beginning of the curve (Fig. 6 B, C ).

Measurements (length in mm): pronotum 3.6, fore femora 17, middle femora 18, hind femora 26, body 16.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

The new species is named after our friend, geologist Panos Karoutsos, a dear companion of the second author who visited the type locality and many other caves together.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality. Siko is a pit fall 7 m deep, with a spacious 8 × 7 m room at its base, without decoration and with high humidity. The entrance is about 0.5 × 1 m, facing east and on the floor there are many bones belonging to animals that have fallen from the cave entrance.

Figures

Figure 1. Geographic distribution of D. athosensis sp. nov., D. dirussoi sp. nov., D. karoutsosi sp. nov. and D. kotsabasi sp. nov.

Figure 4. Geographic distribution of Dolichopoda species at W Sterea Ellas and S Ionian Islands.

Figure 6. Dolichopoda karoutsosi sp. nov., male: A. X tergum, dorsal view; B. Epiphallus, dorsal view; C. Epiphallus, lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.