Obolopteryx truncoangulata, Barrientos-Lozano, Ludivina, Rocha-Sánchez, Aurora Y. & Correa-Sandoval, Alfonso, 2015

Barrientos-Lozano, Ludivina, Rocha-Sánchez, Aurora Y. & Correa-Sandoval, Alfonso, 2015, A new species of the genus Obolopteryx Cohn et al. 2014 and a conspecific gynandromorph (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae), Zootaxa 4028 (4), pp. 485-510 : 487-508

Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp. Barrientos-Lozano & Rocha-Sánchez

( Figs. 1–17)

Type material. Holotype ♂ and allotype ♀. México, Tamaulipas, Palmillas, Ejido (Ej.) Arrieros, 1,548 m, 27.VI.2013. Lat. 23°17.948’N, Long. 99°37.354’W. Barrientos-Lozano L. & Rocha-Sánchez A. Y.

Paratypes. Mexico, Tamaulipas: 20 ♂ and 15♀, same data as type material, coll. L. Barrientos-Lozano- ITCV; Jaumave, Ej. Conrado Castillo, 11 ♂ and 13♀, 724 m, 02.VIII.2013. Lat. 23°30.751’’N, Long. 99°20.700’’W. Barrientos-Lozano L. & Rocha-Sánchez A. Y., coll. L. Barrientos-Lozano-ITCV; Miquihuana, Paradero Luna Nueva, 2♀, 1,793 m, 18.VIII.2012. Lat. 23°25.689’’N, Long. 99°37.467’’W. Barrientos-Lozano L. & Rocha-Sánchez A. Y., coll. L. Barrientos-Lozano-ITCV.

Diagnosis. O. truncoangulata n. sp., may be compared with O. brevihastata . It may be separated of the latter species by the following characters: males’ pronotum slightly more constricted mesally and tegmina shorter than in O. brevihastata ( Fig. 3 vs. 19). Tenth abdominal tergite’s sub-triangular projection broadly bilobated distally, not so in O. brevihastata ( Figs. 4, 6 vs. 20, 22), this character = the semi membranous flap under distal end of tenth tergite of Cohn et al., 2014. Cerci of similar shape than in O. brevihastata but basally broader, the thumb and shaft are shorter and proximally more robust ( Figs. 4–6 vs. 20–22). Subgenital plate deep “U” shape emarginated distally, lateral angles conspicuously excised about mid portion; these characters are not so in D. brevihastata ( Fig. 7 vs. 23). Internal genitalia as shown in Figs. 8 , 9 vs. 24, 25. In females, the tegmina are pointed distally, not so in O. brevihastata ( Fig. 11 vs. 26) and the ovipositor slender ( Fig. 12 vs. 27), subgenital plate and basal sclerites as shown in figures 14 vs. 29.

Description of males (alive). Figs. 15–16. Body slender, general color reddish-brown-dorsally, ventrally green-yellowish. Face creme with a reddish-brown band on the front-between the fastigium frontalis and clypeus, antennae light-brown proximally-dark brown distally, eyes rounded and prominent, sub ocular bands white extending onto pronotum and abdomen sides, fastigium of vertex sub-compressed, projecting downwards distally, fastigium frontalis sub-conical, distally rounded in ventral view. Pronotum dark brown-reddish, constricted mesally, typical sulcus on pronotal disc shallow v-shaped over the metazone, lateral lobes of pronotum mostly green and slightly wider than deep, ventral margin white and weakly emarginated. Tegmina short, surpassing the posterior margin of first abdominal tergite, a broad ventral margin and veins white, remaining portions reddish or dark brown. Femur’s half-proximal portion green, then orange-reddish, a small distal portion black. Tibiae mostly black, except for a proximal orange-reddish ring, tarsi black. The abdomen is reddish-brown dorsally, with two broad dorso lateral white bands-one each side, abdominal tergites’ posterior margin white, disto-dorsal segment as shown in Fig. 4. Cerci, subgenital plate and internal genitalia as shown in figures 4–6, 7 and 8–9, respectively.

Description of females (alive). Figs. 16–17. Similar to the males, but more robust. General body color reddish-brown dorsally, ventrally green-yellowish, or almost entirely olivaceous-green. Antennae light brown blackish with whitish-creme joints; scape, pedicel and basal 4–5 segments orange. Pronotum reddish-brown or green, constricted mesally, posterior margin reddish-brown, with white marks, white post ocular band extending onto sides of pronotum and abdomen. Tegmina very short, sub-triangular, posterior apex pointed, widely separated from each other, about twice broader than long, almost entirely white. Ovipositor short and evenly curved, length about head and pronotum combined, entire dorsal margin with a brownish-orange band and 10 spines distally, distal ventral margin with 10–11 spines. The subgenital plate ( Fig. 14 ) proximally broad and rounded, distally strongly U excised forming two acute angles, in some specimens the angles’ apex is black. Ovipositor’s lobe sub triangular ( Figs. 12–13 ); basal sclerites sub-triangular, projected ventrally ( Fig 14 ). Abdomen with tiny brown spots dorsally and ventrally.

Color remarks. O. truncoangulata n. sp., females exhibit three color variations: a brown form almost entirely brown dorsally, occasionally with a green dorso-abdominal portion along mid line; a dark-green form, with reddish-brown color on occiput, dorsum of pronotum and dorso-lateral abdominal bands-one each side; and a light green form with reddish-brown tinges on both sides of head, anterior portion of pronotum and narrow lateral bands on abdomen sides. Males present only the brown form. All three-color variation females mated freely with males.

Measurements (mm). Males: Body length from vertex to end of abdomen: 14.1±1.1 (12.5–15.5). Pronotum length: 2.9 ± 0.2 (2.6–3.1). Tegmina length: 2.8±0.1 (2.5–2.9). Cephalic femur length: 7.0±0.7 (6.5–8.1). Mid femur length: 7.3±0.8 (6.8–8.8). Caudal femur length: 15.6±1.0 (14.3–17.1). Females: Body length from vertex to end of abdomen: 16.4±1.5 (14.7–17.9). Pronotum length: 3.8±0.2 (3.4–4.0). Tegmina length: 0.7±0.2 (0.4–0.9). Cephalic femur length: 6.6±0.5 (5.7–6.9). Mid femur length: 7.1±0.6 (6.2–7.8). Caudal femur length: 16.4±1.0 (14.6–17.1). Ovipositor: 6.3±0.2 (6.0–6.6). Inter-tegmina space: 1.2±0.4 (0.9–1.9).

Distribution ( Fig. 30 ). Species collected at three localities in northeastern Mexico, State of Tamaulipas: Jaumave, Palmillas and Miquihuana ( Fig. 30 ). All three collection sites are set on the Mexican highlands or “Altiplano”. Altitudinal range: 700–1,800 m.

Habitat ( Fig. 31 ). O. truncoangulata n. sp., inhabits the Eastern Sierra Madre (ESM) Biogeographic Province. Climate at the three collection localities is humid subtropical (dry winter, hot summer). A subtropical dry forest bio-zone characterizes the highest peaks of the “Mexican Highland”, while the “Tamaulipan mezquital” dominates the lowlands. The average annual precipitation ranges between 500–700 mm and the mean annual temperature is 20–22°C. Soils are calcareous and support a thick sub-montane shrub land vegetation, dominated by Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) D.C., ( Mimosaceae ), Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd., (Leguminosae), Hechtia glomerata Zucc. (Bromeliaceae) , Yucca filifera (Chabaud, 1976) (Liliaceae) , Opuntia spp., ( Cactaceae ), Agave spp., (Amarilidaceae), Helietta parvifolia (Grant) Benth. , ( Rutaceae ), Ebenopsis ebano (Berland.) Barneby & J.W. Grimes (Fabaceae) , and Cordia boissieri A. DC., ( Boraginaceae ), amongst others. O. truncoangulata n. sp., inhabits the lowland “Tamaulipan mezquital”, feeding on P. juliflora , A. farnesiana , C. boissieri and E. ebano . It has been found also on secondary vegetation at the three aforementioned localities.

Etimology. The species name refers to the male subgenital plate distal angles, both truncated about mid portion on posterior margin.

Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., gynandromorph. ( Figs. 32–40). Mexico, Tamaulipas, Jaumave, Ej. Conrado Castillo, 02.VIII.2013. Lat. 23°30.751’’N, Long. 99°20.700’’W. Barrientos-Lozano L. & Rocha-Sánchez A. Y., coll. L. Barrientos-Lozano-ITCV. This is most likely a case of bilateral gynandromorphism, since the right side structures correspond to a male and the left to a female. Head ( Figs. 32–33) apparently normal, except for the different color of the antennal sockets, the right is yellow color and the left green. Pronotum ( Fig. 34 ) slightly distorted, more evident on metazone and posterior margin; tegmina ( Figs. 32, 34–35 ) asymmetric, the right side corresponds to a normal male tegmen with scraper, mirror and venation; the left side as a female tegmina but posterior margin rounded, in normal females the posterior apex of tegmina is pointed ( Fig. 11 ). Abdomen ( Fig. 32) most similar to that of a normal female ( Fig. 17a), but slender, distorted on distal segments; dorsal right side brown-black, left side green along midline, remaining portion brown-black; tenth tergite and underneath flap ( Fig. 36 ) modified along midline, the right side corresponds to a male and the left to a female. Cerci ( Fig. 36 ) apparently fully developed the right as in a normal male cercus and the left as in a female. Subgenital plate ( Figs. 37–38 ) deformed, a male subgenital plate partially developed on the right side and an incomplete and amorphous female subgenital plate on the left side. Ovipositor ( Fig. 39–40 ) deformed, with dorsal valvae more developed than the ventral one. The internal genitalia was not found, may have it did not developed. Comparing the gynandromorph’s morphometry (see measurements) with normal males and females, the male-right side body length and pronotum are slightly larger than the average in normal males, all other structures are shorter or equal the average of normal males. Regarding the left-feminine side, only the tegmen is slightly larger than the average in normal females, all other structures are below the average in normal females.

Measurements (mm). Male-right side. Body length from vertex to end of abdomen: 16.0. Pronotum length: 3.3. Tegmina length: 2.6. Cephalic femur length: 6.9. Mid femur length: 7.0. Caudal femur length: 15.6. Femaleleft side. Body length from vertex to end of abdomen:15.0. Pronotum length: 3.5. Tegmina length: 1.0. Cephalic femur length: 6.2. Mid femur length: 6.8. Caudal femur length: 15.1.Ovipositor: 6.1.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Male of Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., head and pronotum in dorsal view.

FIGURE 6. Male of Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., tenth abdominal tergite’s semi-membranous projection and epiproct, in frontal view.

FIGURE 7. Male of Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., subgenital plate in ventral view.

FIGURE 8. Male of Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., internal genitalia, in dorsal view.

FIGURE 9. Male of Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., internal genitalia, in lateral view.

FIGURE 11. Female of Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., head and pronotum in dorsal view.

FIGURE 12. Female of Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., ovipositor in lateral view.

FIGURE 14. Female of Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., subgenital plate and basal sclerites, in ventral view.

FIGURE 30. Distribution map of Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., and O. brevihastata.

FIGURE 31. Habitat of Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., Mexico, Tamaulipas, Palmillas, Ej. Arrieros.

FIGURE 34. Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., gynandromorph, head and pronotum in dorsal view.

FIGURE 36. Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., gynandromorph, terminalia in dorsal view.

FIGURE 37. Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., gynandromorph, masculine-right side subgenital plate, in lateral view.

FIGURE 38. Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., gynandromorph, masculine-right side and feminine-left side subgenital plate, in ventral view.

FIGURE 39. Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., gynandromorph, feminine-left side ovipositor, ovipositor’s lobe and basal sclerite, in lateral view.

FIGURE 40. Obolopteryx truncoangulata n. sp., gynandromorph, feminine-left side ovipositor’s lobe and basal sclerite, in lateral view.