Lichenomorphus Cadena-Castañeda, 2011

Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., Braun, Holger & García, Alexander García, 2022, The tribe Dysoniini part VI: Phylogeny, biogeography and evolutionary trends of the lichen katydid genera (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae). Eleventh contribution to the suprageneric organization of Neotropical phaneropterines, Zootaxa 5166 (1), pp. 1-93 : 60-62

Lichenomorphus Cadena-Castañeda, 2011

Diagnosis. Coloration white with black spots, frons black or white; thorax ventrally always black; base of fore femora brown, distal portion of tegmina black or grayish ( Fig. 34A ). Head elongated with elevated fastigium, wide in lateral and frontal view. Vertex with a granule or evagination at the margin of each eye ( Fig. 3B ). Antennae nodose. Pronotum elevated at rear end, expanding laterally in dorsal view. Tegmina apically broadened at the anal margin, costal margin curved ( Figs. 34A , 35A ). Spines of hind femora moderately broadened and flattened. Male cerci with a robust base and armed with two thin and sclerotized branches (most common shape) ( Fig. 34D ) or with the outer branch prolonged and much longer than the inner branch ( Fig. 35B ). Male subgenital plate lamellar and flexible, longer than length of the cerci ( Fig. 34C, E, G, I, K ). Ovipositor robust, curving gently from middle to apex, edges delicately serrate.

Type species. Lichenomorphus montealegrezi Cadena-Castañeda, 2011 , by original designation.

Distribution. From northern Mexico to northern Argentina ( Maps 17–18 ).

Comments. L. nigriventer ( Piza, 1981) n. syn., is proposed as a synonym under L. puntifrons ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878) . When comparing the structure of the male terminalia of the type specimens of both species no differences are found.

Lichenomorphus pirani ( Costa Lima & Guitton, 1961) n. comb., originally assigned to genus Dysonia , is transferred to Lichenomorphus , as it agrees much better with the diagnostic characters of this genus. L. pirani has the peculiarity of having the outer branch of the male cerci noticeably elongated and flattened.

A key to species is provided below ( L. sinyaevi Gorochov, 2012 , only known from a female, is not included).

Key to species of Lichenomorphus

1. Frons predominantly black; male cerci hook-shaped, apex sclerotized, usually the outer branch curved inward, almost over the inner branch, with some exceptions like L. oscari ; male subgenital plate is mostly flattened, flexible, and longer than the cerci............................................................................................... 2

- Frons predominantly white or very light brown; male subgenital plate and cerci variable in shape...................... 6

2. Outer branch of the male cerci curved inward, almost over inner branch.......................................... 3

- Branches of the male cerci similar in size and curved to opposite sides (divergent) ( Fig. 34B )..... L. oscari Gorochov, 2012

3. Styli of the male subgenital plate conspicuous and well-developed.............................................. 4

- Styli of the male subgenital plate absent ( Fig. 34E ).......................... L. montealegrezi Cadena-Castañeda, 2011

4. Face mostly black or brown like the rest of the ventral surface of the body; styli of male subgenital plate conical and mediumsized............................................................................................... 5

- Face except clypeus and labrum white, the rest of the lower margin of the body black; styli of male subgenital plate cylindrical and elongated ( Fig. 34G )......................................................... L. berezini Gorochov, 2012

5. Face black, male cerci with outer and inner branches of similar length and shape ( Fig. 34H )....................................................................................................... L. ocraceithorax ( Piza, 1951)

- Face light brown, male cerci with inner branch longer than the outer one, and with a hook-shaped curvature at the apex ( Fig. 34J )............................................................ L. fuscifrons ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878)

6. Male cerci mostly hook-shaped.......................................................................... 7

- Male cerci well exceeding the length of the subgenital plate, outer branch flattened and spatula-shaped ( Fig. 35B )..................................................................... L. pirani ( Costa Lima & Guitton, 1961) n. comb.

7. Pronotal disc without prominent spots..................................................................... 8

- Pronotal disc with a prominent, triangular black marking, with its tip at the anterior margin and extending across the metazona.......................................................... L. nigrosignatus ( Costa Lima & Guitton, 1960)

8. Inner branch of male cerci is distinctly longer than the outer one................................................ 9

- Branches of male cerci almost similar in length, or the outer branch a little longer than the inner one.................. 10

9. Fastigium of the vertex exceeding in length of scapus and pedicellus, curved forward and apically pointed................................................................................................. L. ypsilon ( Piza, 1951)

- Fastigium of the vertex not exceeding the length of scapus and pedicellus, straight and with rounded apex.............................................................................. L. punctifrons ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878)

10. Lamellar spine of hind femur dorsally white, inner branch of cerci with pointed apex, without denticulations ( Fig. 35H ).................................................................... L. paulistanus ( Costa Lima & Guitton, 1960)

- Lamellar spine of hind femur dorsally black, inner branch of cerci with truncated apex and small distal denticulations ( Fig. 35J )........................................................................ L. carlosmendesi ( Piza, 1950)

Figures

FIGURE 3. Characters used for the phylogeny (mainly head and thorax): A, B. Supra and infraocular evaginations: A. Paraphidnia gallina Giglio-Tos, 1898. B. Lichenomorphus montealegrezi Cadena-Castañeda, 2011. C–H. Head and pronotum: C. Dissonulichen simplicipes simplicipes (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878). D. Dysonia alipes (Westwood, 1844). E. Lichenodentix dentatithorax (Piza, 1951). F. Apolinaria hygracantha (Karsch, 1896). G. Markia hystrix (Westwood, 1844). H. Lichenodraculus matti Braun, 2011. I, J. Sternum: I. L. montealegrezi J. Machimoides sofiae Cadena-Castañeda, 2013. K. Denticles of the crest: Anaphidna gracielae (Cadena-Castañeda, 2012).

Map 17. Distribution map of Lichenomorphus species.

Map 18. Distribution map of Lichenomorphus species in Southeast Brazil and Argentina.

FIGURE 34. Lichenomorphus species. Cerci and subgenital plates. A, D, E. L. montealegrezi. Habitus in lateral view, cerci and subgenital plates. B–C. L. oscari. F–G. L. berezini. H–I. L. ocraceithorax. J–K. L. fuscifrons. (Figs. H–K. after Costa-Lima & Guitton, 1961).

FIGURE 35. Lichenomorphus species. Cerci and subgenital plates. A, D, E. L. nigrosignatus. B–C. L. pirani. F–G. L. ypsilon. H–I. L. paulistanus. J–K. L. carlosmendesi. (Photo A D. Mendes. Figs. F–K after Costa-Lima & Guitton, 1961).