Pseudonicsara (P.) gugusu, Naskrecki, Piotr & Rentz, David C. F., 2010

Naskrecki, Piotr & Rentz, David C. F., 2010, Studies in the orthopteran fauna of Melanesia: New katydids of the tribe Agraeciini from Papua New Guinea (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae), Zootaxa 2664, pp. 1-35 : 12-13

Pseudonicsara (P.) gugusu n. sp.

( Figs. 4 F–L)

Type locality. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Western Province, Muller Range, Gugusu (5°43'45.3''S, 142°15'47.8''E), 515 m, 3–10.ix.2009, coll. P. Naskrecki & D.C.F. Rentz—male holotype ( ANSP)

Differential diagnosis. This new species resembles P. uncinata Ingrisch in the shape of the male cercus and titillators, but can be identified by the lack of an internal bulge on the inner side of the cercus, above the basal process, and the lower position of the subapical process on the cercus ( Fig. 4 I); the apical parts of the titillators in the new species are proportionately larger and more heavily sclerotized ( Fig. 4 G) than those in P. uncinata . The face coloration of P. uncinata lacks the black, vertical band on the frons present in the new species. The female subgenital plate of P. gugusu lacks the deep incision present in P. uncinata ; it is somewhat similar to that of P. (Wasiorana) curvata Ingrisch , from which it differs in the coloration of the face (black in P. c u r v a t a) and the front tibia with a single dorsal ridge along their entire length (tibia flattened dorsally in the apical quarter in all species of the subgenus Wasiorana.)

General. Body cylindrical, of medium size, robust; macropterous ( Fig. 4 F).

Head. Frons flat, weakly oblique; nearly smooth, gena weakly rugose ( Fig. 4 H). Fastigium of vertex triangular, strongly flattened laterally, as wide as 1/6–1/5 of scapus, barely reaching base of scapus. Eyes globular, moderately protruding; median ocellus large, conspicuous; lateral ocelli present, circular; antennae about twice as long as body.

Thorax. Pronotum surface smooth; anterior margin of pronotum straight, flat; metazona slightly raised, posterior edge of metazona straight; lateral lobe almost 1.7 times as long as high; marginal fold of pronotum very narrow, smooth; auditory swelling present, extending caudat well beyond thoracic auditory spiracle. Thoracic auditory spiracle narrowly oval, completely hidden under pronotum. Sternum slightly concave; prosternum armed with two long spines, spines longer than half of front coxa; mesosternum posterior lobes slightly extended into oblique, short, triangular processes; metasternum unarmed.

Legs. Front coxa armed with long spine; front femur with 6 spines on anterior and 8 spines on posterior ventral margin; genicular lobes of front femur with single spine on both sides; front tibia with single dorsal edge, triangular in cross-section along its entire length, with 9 spines on posterior and 7 on anterior ventral margin; tympanum bilaterally closed, with narrow, forward facing slits; ventral spines on front tibia slightly longer than tibia diameter Mid coxa armed with small but distinct spine; mid femur with 6 spines on anterior and 4 minute spines on posterior ventral margin; genicular lobes of mid femur with single spine on both sides; mid tibia with 10 spines on posterior and 11 on anterior ventral margin. Hind femur with 10–13 spines on anterior and 3-6 minute spines on posterior ventral margin, genicular lobes of hind femur with 2 spines on anterior side (lower spine shorter), one spine on posterior side; hind tibia armed on both dorsal and ventral margins, spines on ventral margins smaller and more sparsely distributed.

Wings. Tegmen slightly surpassing apex of hind femur ( Fig. 4 F); anterior margin weakly sinuous; apex broadly rounded; costal field clearly widened at base and gradually tapering towards apex. Veins Rs, M, and Cu diverging towards apex of tegmen; vein Rs branching off in apical fourth of tegmen, vein Rs with 1 apical branch; right stridulatory area with large, fully developed mirror; mirror nearly square, stridulatory file weakly sinuous, 2.5 mm long, 0.24 mm wide, with 95 teeth.

Abdomen. Tenth tergite unmodified. Cercus distinctly bent, with one, long basal process and one subapical process ( Fig. 4 I); epiproct slightly elongate, nearly rectangular, slightly invaginated dorsally. Phallus with well developed, paired titillators; titillators distended and flattened apically, apico-lateral margins undulate, apical part distinctly more sclerotized than basal part ( Fig. 4 G). Subgenital plate broadly trapezoidal, with deep, semicircular incision; styli cylindrical, about 5 times as long as wide. Female subgenital plate nearly twice as wide as long, with broadly rounded posterior lobes, and distinct median furrow ( Fig. 4 L).

Ovipositor. Ovipositor about as long as hind femur (ratio femur/ovipositor 0.98–1.07), apex with both valvulae smooth, dorsal edge of upper valvula parallel to lower one; apex pointed ( Fig. 4 K).

Coloration. Coloration light olive green, with grass green and dark brown markings ( Fig. 4 F); face light olive green, with wide, black, vertical band; upper part of clypeus also black; lower part of clypeus and labrum light brown ( Fig. 4 H); occiput with pair of small, irregular dark patches. Pronotum olive green with irregular, grass green and brown patches. Legs without distinct markings, except for dark spot below tympanum and faint, darker stripe on hind femur. Tegmen dark brown, with grass green venation, especially in costal field.

Measurements (3 males, 3 females). body w/wings: male 40–44 (41.7±2.1), female 49–54.5 (51.5±2.8); pronotum: male 9–9.5 (9.2±.3), female 8.5–9 (8.8±.3); tegmen: male 28.3–32 (29.8±2), female 31–33 (31.7±1.2); hind femur: male 19.5–22 (21.2±1.4), female 22–23 (22.5±.5); ovipositor: 22–24.5 (23.2±1.3) mm.

Material examined (6 specimens). Papua New Guinea: Western Province, Muller Range, Gugusu , elev. 515 m (5°43'45.3''S, 142°15'47.8''E), 3–10.ix.2009, coll. P. Naskrecki & D.C.F. Rentz— 3 females, 3 males (incl. holotype, 5 paratypes) ( ANSP, MCZ).

Etymology. This new species is named after its type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Pseudonicsara fascifrons n. sp.: A. holotype male; B. titillators; C. face; D. male cerci, dorso-lateral view; E. male cerci and subgenital plate; P. gugusu n. sp.: F. holotype male; G. titillators; H. face; I. male cercus, dorsal view; J. male cerci and subgenital plate; K. ovipositor; L. female subgenital plate.