Pseudonicsara (P.) uncinata, Ingrisch, 2009

Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2009, Revision of the genus Pseudonicsara Karny, 1912 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae: Agraeciini) 2185, Zootaxa 2185, pp. 1-122 : 45-46

Pseudonicsara (P.) uncinata sp. n.

Figs. 24, 71, 117, 152, 191, 224, 246, 271, 313, 356–357, 402, 436, 484, 516, map 1.

Holotype (male): Papua New Guinea, East Sepik: D. N. Guinea, Kaiserin Augustafl. Exp. 394, Mäanderberg [4° 5' S, 141° 39' E], 10–15.VIII.1913, Bürgers, depository: Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt- Universität , Berlin, Germany ( ZMB).

Paratypes: Papua New Guinea, East Sepik: 1 female, KAE 380, Mäanderberg, 670 m, 19–31.VIII.1913, Bürgers ( ZMB); 2 females, KAE 387, Mäanderberg , 1–10.VIII.1913, Bürgers ( ZMB); 5 females, KAE 389, Mäanderberg , 1–9.VIII.1913, Bürgers ( ZMB); 1 male, 6 females, KAE 394, Mäanderberg , 10–15.VIII.1913, Bürgers ( ZMB); 3 females, KAE 400, Mäanderberg , 10–20.VIII.1913, Bürgers ( ZMB); 1 female, KAE 402, Mäanderberg , 21–30.VIII.1913, Bürgers ( ZMB); 1 male, KAE 404, Mäanderberg , 21–30.VIII.1913, Bürgers ( ZMB); 1 female, KAE 250, Hauptlager bei Malu [4° 14' S, 142° 51' E], 30.I.1913, Bürgers ( ZMB); 1 female, KAE 67, Pionierlager [4° 19' S, 141° 55' E], 1.V.–30.VI.1912, Bürgers ( ZMB); 1 female, KAE 92, Aprilfluss [4° 29' S, 142° 29' E], 1–30.VI.1912, Ledermann ( ZMB); 1 female , Papua New Guinea, West Sepik Prov., Lumi, Bliri river [3° 29' S, 142° 4' E], VII.–VIII.1986, B. Oudmayer ( CW) .

Diagnosis. P. uncinata comes close to P. zugi and P. spatula in that the proper apex of the cercus is provided with a dorsal cone ( Fig. 152). It differs from those and other species by the shape of the male cercus, which has the baso-internal processes with the dorsal process closer to base than the ventral process ( Fig. 246), the dorsal process with a wide base and compressed obtuse projection ( Fig. 191), and the small, lamellar ventral process inserted little below dorsal margin ( Fig. 246). The apical parts of the titillators are broad bandshaped with nearly parallel margins and oblique apex ( Figs. 356–357). The females are characterised by the subgenital plate, which has a wide and deep median furrow, at each side a large baso-lateral groove seen laterally only ( Fig. 484), and the elevated areas form in ventral view wide half-rings with a short, acutely projecting latero-dorsal angle ( Fig. 436). Differences to other species are outlined in the key.

Description. Fastigium verticis in front of eyes 1.1–1.3 mm, from base 1.4–1.6 mm; dorsal eye length 1.6 mm; greatest diameter of eye 2.0 mm; index fastigium verticis from base: eye length 0.9–1.0. Face subrugose, more rugose towards genae, impressed dots shallow ( Fig. 24). Tegmen little surpassing hind knees; presubcostal area wide in basal two thirds, narrow in apical third. Femora with the following number of spines on ventral margins: fore femur 6–8 external, 4–7 internal; mid femur 6–7 external, 2–4 internal near base; hind femur 11–16 external, 5–11 minute internal in basal area and 0–2 in apical area. Knee lobes of hind femur often bi-spinose (exception within genus) with ventral spine distinctly smaller than dorsal, sometimes unispinose.

Male. Stridulatory file sinuate, 2.4–2.5 mm long; teeth at apex very dense and indistinct; with about 88– 92 teeth or 35.5–36.3 teeth per mm, in middle of file with 27.6–30.4 teeth per mm ( Fig. 71). Mirror narrowing posteriorly; fore and hind margins straight; 1.6–1.8 mm long, 1.4–1.6 mm wide; index length:width 1.1. Tenth abdominal tergite transverse, slightly globular in middle; apical margin roundly excised in middle, obtusely projecting at both sides of excision ( Fig. 117). Epiproct narrow with lateral margins greatly raised, surface deeply furrowed in between ( Fig. 152). Projection of paraproct obtuse. Cerci conical, slightly curved; internal surface with three projections: the first process at dorsal margin slightly before middle, compressed, with broad base and digitate apex; the second process little below dorsal margin in apical half compressed, semicircular; the third process at apex compressed, acute triangular, slightly curved with obtuse tip; apex of cercus obtuse with compressed cone at top ( Figs. 191, 224, 246). Subgenital plate with small, conical styli, inserting on ventral surface just before apex of apical lobes ( Fig. 271).

Titillators with apical part rather narrow, nearly parallel-sided; apex obliquely truncate; surface with clinging hairs, dark brown; margin projecting, granular ( Figs. 313, 356–357, 402).

Female. Ninth abdominal tergite with lateral apices swollen but not setose. Tenth abdominal tergite transverse, furrowed in midline or not; probably depending on conservation. Subgenital plate divided by a wide membranous zone into two short obtuse lobes; both lobes with a groove at base; dorso-lateral margin with a membranous projection ( Figs. 436, 484, 516). Ventral valves of ovipositor at very base and above that projection with an ovoid groove.

Coloration. Ochreous brown (discoloured?, probably partly green when alive). Face probably green when alive; shades of green remain in museum specimens at hand; fastigium frontis except for white ocellus, antennal scrobae, ventral side of scapus and base of pedicellus dark brown ( Fig. 24). Pronotum with an indistinct light spot before transverse sulcus. Tegmen with yellow veins and brown spots. Middle and hind knees brown. Fore tibia with dorsal surfaces infumate and with light spots at tympanal area and at apex. Ovipositor brown. – The coloration of the alive insects is probably as follows: Face light green with a dark brown band between compound eyes as above; clypeo-frontal suture dark brown or concolorous; mouthparts yellow; vertex pale olivaceus green. Disc of pronotum brown with a pale green spot before first transverse sulcus; paranota brown in dorsal, pale olivaceus green in ventral area. Tegmen dark brown with a network of pale green veins and veinlets. Legs green; mid and hind knees brown; fore tibia with dorsal areas brown with green spots at tympana and apex.

Measurements (3 males, 21 females): body male 29–36, female 26–37; pronotum male 8.7–8.9, female 8.5–9.5; tegmen male 29–30, female 29.0–33.5; hind femur male 19–20, female 19.5–22.0; antenna female 105–130; ovipositor 20–23 mm.

Etymology. Name derived from Latin uncinatus = hook-shaped, referring to the recurved apical tooth of the male cercus; proposal by C. Willemse in litteris.