Obolopteryx nigra, Barrientos-Lozano, Ludivina, Rocha-Sánchez, Aurora Y., Zaldívar-Riverón, Alejandro & Correa-Sandoval, Alfonso, 2016

Barrientos-Lozano, Ludivina, Rocha-Sánchez, Aurora Y., Zaldívar-Riverón, Alejandro & Correa-Sandoval, Alfonso, 2016, Additional new species of the genus Obolopteryx Cohn et al. 2014 (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae) from Northeastern Mexico, Zootaxa 4168 (3), pp. 401-452 : 410-415

Obolopteryx nigra n. sp., Barrientos-Lozano & Rocha-Sánchez

Figs. 33–50

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:491293

Type material. Holotype ♂ and allotype ♀. Mexico, Tamaulipas, Tula-Ocampo , Rd. Tam. 66, Km 2, 1,203 m, 12.X.2013, Lat. 23°00.453’N, Long . 99°41.644’W, Barrientos-Lozano L. & Rocha-Sánchez A.Y.

Paratypes. Mexico, Tamaulipas, 5 Ƌ, 6 ♀, same data as holotype, Barrientos-Lozano L. & Rocha-Sánchez A.Y.; 2 Ƌ, Tula , Rancho el Salitre, 1,226 m, 12.X.2013, Lat. 22°59.416’N, Long . 99°40.446’W, Barrientos-Lozano L. & Rocha-Sánchez A.Y.

Diagnosis. At first sight, this species resembles O. castanea (Rehn & Hebard, 1914) . It may be separated from O. castanea by the very dark-brown-black color on dorsum (head, antennae, pronotum, abdomen, and legs) ( Figs. 33–34 , 43–44 , 48–49 ). Fastigium of vertex distally more acute and produced (Fig. 35a vs. 19a). Fastigium frontalis (Fig. 35b vs. 19b) compressed, more so distally, in O. castanea it is broader and sub-conical. Pronotum and tegmina ( Fig. 34 vs. 18) slightly shorter, average 3.1 (2.7–3.4) and 2.7 (2.6–2.9), respectively vs. O. castanea average 3.9 (3.1–4.8) and 3.4 (2.9–3.8), respectively. Stridulatory file ( Fig. 36 vs. 20) of different shape and size, in O. nigra n. sp., the length of the stridulatory file is 7.9 mm, with ca. 150 teeth and 19 teeth mm (9–34); the length of analogous structure in O. castanea is 8.3 mm, ca. 147 teeth and 18 teeth mm (8–35). Tenth abdominal tergite’s membranous projection posterior margin deep V–shape forming two broad lobes, epiproct broadly excised distally (Fig. 38); these characters are not so in O. castanea (Fig. 22). Cerci ( Figs. 37, 39–40 vs. 21, 23–24) with dorsal thumb more robust and not angulated, i.e., almost adjacent to the shaft, in dorsal view, the ventral shaft broader proximally and more produced distally. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 40 vs. 24) excised shallow U-shape distally, lateral angles posterior margin slightly truncated about mid portion, less produced and more robust than in O. castanea . Internal genitalia as shown in Figs. 41– 42 vs. 25–26. Females may be separated by the shorter pronotum, average 3.6 mm (3.4–3.7) vs. 4.8 mm (4.0–5.3) in O. castanea ( Fig. 44 vs. 27). Ovipositor less produced, average length 6.2 mm (5.3–6.8), unlike 7.9 mm (7.5–8.1) in O castanea (Fig. 45 vs. 28). The inter-tegmina space is smaller, 0.8 mm (0.7–1.0) vs. 1.3 mm (1.1–1.4) in O. castanea ( Fig. 44 vs. 27). Subgenital plate represented by two robust sub– rectangular structures, each with broad external distal angle, basal sclerites broad sub-rectangular with a moderate protuberance projected towards the ovipositor’s lobe. This set of characters are no so in O. castanea (Figs. 45–47 vs. 28–30).

Description of males (alive). Medium size compared to congeneric species. Body slender, general color darkbrown-black ( Fig. 48 ). Face greenish-creme with three broad dark-brown bands, one each side beneath the eyes and one beneath the fastigium frontalis. Eyes ( Fig. 34) sub-circular and prominent. Fastigium of vertex white compressed, in contact with the fastigium frontalis, in dorsal view. Fastigium frontalis as shown in Fig. 35b. Vertex and occiput dark-brown-black, except for the head’s mid-line carina which is white for about the proximal 3/4; antennae’s sockets white, scape and pedicel light-brown, flagellum dark-brown-black with brownish joints; white post ocular band extending onto pronotum and abdomen sides. Pronotum ( Figs. 34, 48 ) dark brown-black, constricted mesially, anterior margin feebly emarginated, posterior margin emarginated with white marks; typical sulcus on pronotal disc shallow U-shape over the metazone; lateral lobes of pronotum ( Figs. 33 , 48 ) wider than deep, ventral margin white undulated and slightly emarginated. Tegmina surpassing slightly the first abdominal tergite posterior margin, almost entirely dark-brown-black, except for the ventral margin and veins which are white. Femora ( Fig. 48 ) exhibit color variations, in some males the fore and mid femora proximal area is green, next blackish, then green-orange, followed for a black portion, and distally orange-reddish. Hind femora proximal half green, with black marks dorsally and ventrally, then orange-reddish, the distal fourth black, orange-reddish knees. Tibiae with a proximal orange-reddish ring, external face black, inner face yellowish. In some males the fore and mid femora proximal half is green and the distal half orange-reddish, hind femora proximal half green, then orange-reddish, last portion black. Abdomen dorsally dark–brown–black, tergites’ posterior margin with conspicuous white marks, two white dorso lateral bands, one each side. External and internal genitalic characters as described in Diagnosis.

Description of females (alive). Similar to the males, but more robust. General body color dark-brown-black dorsally ( Figs. 43 , 49 ), sides of abdomen dark green with tiny dark-brown spots, ventrally yellowish-green. Face green, antennae’s proximal segments orange-brownish, most of flagellum yellowish or dark brown, with whitishcreme joints. Pronotum dark brown-black with white marks on posterior margin, constricted mesially, white post ocular band extending onto sides of pronotum and abdomen. Tegmina ( Figs. 44, 49 ) very short, reaching the caudal margin of metanotum, about twice broader than long, mostly brown except for the broad ventral band which is white. Ovipositor short and smoothly curved. Its length about head and pronotum combined, ventral margin greenyellowish, dorsal margin dark brown. Distal dorsal margin with 7–8 pair of spines, distal ventral margin with 8–9 pair of spines. Ovipositor’s lobe, basal sclerites, and subgenital plate as described in diagnosis and shown in Figs. 45–47.

Measurements (mm). M ales: Body length from vertex to end of abdomen: 16.0±0.7 (15.1–16.8). Pronotum length: 3.1±0.3 (2.7–3.4). Tegmina length: 2.7±0.2 (2.6–2.9). Fore femur length: 6.8 ± 0.7 (5.7–7.3). Mid femur length 7.3 ± 0.7 (6.1–7.8). Hind femur length: 16.4±1.5 (13.8–17.8). Females: Body length: 19.0±1.1 (17.1–19.9). Pronotum length: 3.6±0.1 (3.4–3.7). Tegmina length: 0.9±0.1 (0.8–1.0). Fore femur length: 6.2 ± 0.3 (5.9–6.5). Mid femur length: 6.9 ± 0.2 (6.7–7.1). Hind femur length: 16.7±0.4 (16.1–17.2). Ovipositor length: 6.2±0.6 (5.3– 6.8). Inter–tegmina space: 0.8±0.1 (0.7–1.0).

Distribution ( Fig. 130 ). O. nigra n. sp., is known from two localities at Tula, Tamaulipas, Mexico: Cd. Tula and El Salitre farm. Elevation: 1200–1230 m.

Habitat ( Fig. 50 ). O. nigra n. sp., inhabits the surroundings of the city of Tula, Tamaulipas. The municipality of Tula lies at the highlands of the Eastern Sierra Madre (ESM), in southwest, Tamaulipas, and represents a transition zone between the forest and the desert. Climate in the central and eastern portion is semi-warm, steppe in the western and dry steppe in the south portion. Average annual temperature is 18°C; extreme temperature occurs and ranges between 42–43ºC as maximum and 0–4°C as minimum. Annual media precipitation averages 424 mm. Minimum rainfall occurs in the central portion where it averages 400 mm annually; it rises towards north and west averaging 500–700 mm annually; maximum rainfall occurs in the East where the ESM is located, average 700 to 1,000 mm per year. 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, xeric and scrub rosette vegetation disappear to give rise to the Oak forest ( Quercus spp.). O. nigra n. sp., lives at the xeric portion of type locality, mains host plants are Prosopis laevigata (W. & B., ex Will M.C. Jonhst.) ( Fabaceae ), Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd, annual grasses and/or thorn shrub vegetation. It has been collected towards the East, between 1,200–1,230 m. O. nigra n. sp., is a very striking insect because of its very dark brown– black body color and large size.

Etymology. The specific name “ nigra ” refers to the intense dark brown-black general body color.

Figures

FIGURE 33. Obolopteryx nigra n. sp. Male habitus.

FIGURE 36. Obolopteryx nigra n. sp. Male stridulatory file on underside of left tegmen.

FIGURE 39. Obolopteryx nigra n. sp. Male cerci, in lateral view.

FIGURE 43. Obolopteryx nigra n. sp. Female habitus.

FIGURE 48. Obolopteryx nigra n. sp. Male alive.

FIGURE 49. Obolopteryx nigra n. sp. Female alive.

FIGURE 50. Habitat of Obolopteryx nigra n. sp., grassland and shrubland. Tula, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

FIGURE 130. Distribution map. Obolopteryx eurycerca n. sp., O. nigra n. sp., O. tamaholipana n. sp., O. castanea, O. huastecana n. sp., O. poecila, O. tanchipae n. sp., and O. truncoangulata.