Sathrophyllia irshadi, Sultana, Riffat, Panhwar, Waheed Ali, Wagan, Muhammad Saeed & Khatri, Imran, 2014

Sultana, Riffat, Panhwar, Waheed Ali, Wagan, Muhammad Saeed & Khatri, Imran, 2014, Systematic status of true katydids Sathrophyllia (Orthoptera, Tettigonioidea, Pseudophyllinae) from Pakistan, with description of two new species, ZooKeys 466, pp. 1-11 : 6-8

Taxon classification Animalia Orthoptera Tettigoniidae

Sathrophyllia irshadi sp. n. Fig. 4 a–f

Diagnosis.

This new species is closely related to Sathrophyllia rugosa but differs in coloration and body size: it has s brownish coloration and is also larger by 12.5 mm than rugosa . Furthermore, the tegmina of Sathrophyllia irshadi is of a peculiar texture with reddish patches on its surface. Body large in size; pronotum with numerous tubercles and tegmina well developed and much longer than the body length with reddish patches. Ovipositor wide, slightly tapering at apices thick at its basal part and but not serrated at apex (Fig. 4e).

Description.

Head rounded, ovoid at apices; pronotum with numerous tubercles (Fig. 4c, d); size large; antennae longer than the body length (Fig. 4a). Fastigium with brownish spots. Pronotum brown in color dorsally at anterior and posterior parts (Fig. 4a, b). Eyes ovoid, brownish in color. Body light brown in color; antennae yellowish at scapus with brownish spots; fastigium with brown spots; abdomen usually brown in color. Tegmina and wings fully developed; tegmina much longer than the total body length with reddish patches. Ovipositor wide, slightly tapers at apices thick at its basal part and but not serrated at apex (Fig. 4e, f). Ovipositor yellowish over-all and brownish at base.

Length measurements.

♀: pronotum 9.5 mm, tegmina 50 mm, femur 21.5 mm, tibia 16.5 mm, ovipositor 18 mm, total body length 38 mm.

Material examined.

Rawalakot, 1♀, 4.vi.2013, 33.51°N, 73.45°E (leg Riffat S & Waheed AP).

Remarks.

The new species is like that of Sathrophyllia rugosa but differ in body size and coloration. Furthermore, the specimen has been collected from Rawalakot which occurs above sea level whilst Sathrophyllia rugosa was collected from low altitude (24.7400° N, 69.8000° E) from Tharparker.

Ecology.

This species inhabits especially nutrient-rich grasslands. The surrounding plantations were covered by Desmostachya - Brachiaria cynodon , which were found to be dominant over this habitat. Moreover, the valleys were comprised of different plant communities i.e., Achyranthus aspera , Alhagi maurorum , Dactyloctenium aegypticum , Cenchrus ciliaris and Cynodon dactylon .

Derivatio nominis.

This new species is named in the honor of Muhammad Irshad Entomologist, NARC Islamabad, for his great contributions in the field of entomology.