Kamabrachys pedemontana gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B275F5B0-736C-4D93-87BF-79AB574F6B08

Figs 5A, 40–45

Diagnosis

The species can be recognized by the following combination of characters:

(1) posterior margin of the lateroventral lobes of the pygofer (lvl) oblique and slightly sinuate in lateral view (Fig. 42A) and tapering towards the posterior in ventral view (Fig. 42C), inner margin of lobes straight in ventral view (Fig. 42C), ventral margin rounded in caudal view (Fig. 42E);

(2) posterior margin of laterodorsal process of gonostylus (ldg) moderately emarginate, leaving an open angle between laterodorsal process and ventral process of gonostylus (vp) in lateral view (Fig. 42A);

(3) crest of furcate process of periandrium (cfp) only along distal portion and not merging basally (Fig. 44D), in lateral view, tapering towards the posterior in distal portion and apically pointed (Fig. 44E);

(4) laterodorsal process of periandrium (ldp) tapering in distal portion and curved laterodorsad, apically pointing dorsally and slightly shorter than lateroventral process (lvp) (Fig. 44D–E);

(5) lateroventral process of periandrium (lvp) dorsoventrally flattened in a rather long basal portion and curved dorsolaterad distally (Fig. 44D–F);

(6) apicodorsal process of aedeagus (adp) strongly sinuate, rather wide and stocky then tapering distally and shorter than apicoventral process (avp) (Fig. 44A–C);

(7) posterior wing with rather weakly marked whitish marking along sutural margin (Fig. 40A).

Etymology

The species epithet is formed from the Latin ‘ pes, pedis ’ meaning ‘foot’, and ‘ montanus ’ meaning ‘mountain’. It refers to the foot of a mountain; in this case, the foot of Blackdown Tableland plateau where the type series was collected.

Type material

Holotype AUSTRALIA • ♂; Queensland, Blackdown Tableland National Park; 23°42′48″ S, 149°07′06″ E; 11 Dec. 2019; light trap; J. Constant, F. Martoni, M. Moir and L. Semeraro leg.; “Australia, Qld, Blackdown Tableland N.P., 23°42’48”S 149°07’06”E, 11.xii.2019, light trap, leg. J. Constant, F. Martoni, M. Moir & L. Semeraro”; QM.

Paratypes AUSTRALIA • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; QM • 1 ♀; same locality as for holotype; 11 Dec. 2019; on Eucalyptus sp.; J. Constant, F. Martoni, M. Moir and L. Semeraro leg.; “Australia, Qld, Blackdown Tableland N.P., 23°42’48”S 149°07’06”E, 11.xii.2019, Eucalyptus sp., leg. J. Constant, F. Martoni, M. Moir & L. Semeraro”; QM • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same locality as for holotype; 11–12 Mar. 2020; [sweeping lower vegetation in open Eucalyptus forest at night]; J. Constant and L. Semeraro leg.; “Australia, Qld, Blackdown Tableland N.P., 11-12 Mar 2020, 23°42’48”S 149°07’06”E, leg. J. Constant & L. Semeraro, Leopold III Funds Expedition”; RBINS .

Description

MEASUREMENTS AND RATIOS. LT: ♂ (n = 2): 10.39 mm (10.24–10.54), ♀ (n = 3): 11.09 (10.71–11.53); BV/LV: ♂ (n = 1): 3.89, ♀ (n = 1): 3.38; BF/LF: ♂ (n = 1): 1.39, ♀ (n = 1): 1.35; LP+LM/BT: ♂ (n = 1): 0.79, ♀ (n = 1): 0.80; LM/LP: ♂ (n = 1): 2.93, ♀ (n = 1): 3.21; LTg/BTg: ♂ (n = 1): 2.86, ♀ (n = 1): 2.81; LW/BW: ♂ (n = 1): 1.79, ♀ (n = 1): 1.73.

HEAD (Figs 40A–D, 41A–D). Slightly narrower than thorax. Vertex brown irregularly, rather densely, variegated with black; about 3.4–3.9 times as broad as long, concave with all margins slightly carinate; anterior and posterior margins rounded, nearly parallel. Frons brown very densely variegated with black, more densely black than vertex and mostly black in dark specimens; paler along lateroventral margins and with a pale spot in middle, at level of half height of eyes; dorsal angles marked with a small, yellow-brown subtriangular marking; about 1.3–1.4 times as broad as long, slightly convex, slightly rugulose with peridiscal carina slightly marked; upper margin of frons slightly rounded in perpendicular view of frons; lateral margin incurved above lateral projection of frons, straight under the projection. Clypeus brown with median line and regular oblique lines on each side of postclypeus dark brown to black, anteclypeus brown with sides black along outer margin and with median pale reddish-brown line on carina; clypeus reaching mesocoxae, elongate, with median carina on anteclypeus prolongated with obsolete carina on postclypeus; base of clypeus rounded. Labium dark brown, reaching metacoxae, with apical segment as long as broad, acuminate, shorter and slightly more slender than penultimate. Genae brown with pale yellow-brown band along anterior margin. Ocelli absent. Antennae brown, not surpassing eye, not visible from above; scape about as long as broad, pedicel subcylindrical, elongate, narrowing towards apex.

THORAX (Figs 40A, C, 41A, C). About 1.25 times as broad as combined length of pro- and mesonotum. Pronotum brown rather densely and irregularly variegated with black, mostly like vertex; disc weakly wrinkled, carina parallel to anterior margin and 2 obsolete impressed points on disc usually included in a dark marking; slightly excavate behind middle portion of anterior margin; paranotal lobes brown more densely variegated with black than disc of pronotum. Mesonotum brown rather densely, irregularly variegated with black, generally slightly darker than pronotum; disc weakly wrinkled, median and peridiscal carinae weakly marked; median carina stopped before scutellum. Tegulae bicolour with ventral half black and dorsal half pale brown.

TEGMINA (Figs 40A, C, 41A, C). Pale brown irregularly variegated with black markings, slightly paler after nodal line; distal portion darker often with very small white apical spot extending on 2–3 cells; anteapical transverse white line, usually incomplete, reduced to 2 white triangles along margins; sometimes a black marking in middle of clavus; sometimes more or less aligned black markings forming a hardly distinct transverse band at basal ⅓. Flat, elongate, about 2.8–2.9 times as long as broad; costal margin weakly rounded along basal fifth, then straight or very weakly rounded to nodal line; apex rounded.

VENATION. Veins ScP+RA and RP separated close to base; first fork of MP very basal, at the level of ScP+RA–RP separation; first fork of CuA slightly before apex of clavus; clavus closed; Pcu and A1 fused at about ¾ of clavus length; Pcu+A1 reaching apical angle of clavus; numerous cells along posterior half of costal margin; numerous cross-veins on apical third delimitating small elongate cells.

POSTERIOR WINGS (Figs 40E, 41E). Basal half yellow-orange narrowly marked with red basally, distal portion and band along posterior margin blackish brown; sometimes a brownish marking extending towards base along vein MP; anal lobe grey-brown; whitish marking along sutural margin between A1 and cubital fold. Well developed, as broad as tegmina, about 1.7–1.8 times as long as broad, rounded apically; anal area well developed; sutural margin weakly trilobous; not reaching apex of tegmina at rest. All main veins visible from base, forked at or after nodal line and forming a few closed cells; few transverse veinlets delimiting elongate cells on apical ¼; veins A1 and A2 sometimes with 2 terminals.

LEGS (Figs 40A–D, F, 41A–D, F). Pro- and mesofemora reddish brown densely variegated with black, turning to nearly completely black towards apex; pro- and mesotibiae ventrally brown variegated with black, dorsum of protibiae blackish brown, dorsum of mesotibiae slightly paler; pro- and mesotarsi paler than corresponding tibia but darker, brownish black, apically; metafemora brown to reddish brown basally, turning darker towards apex, metatibiae and tarsi coloured as apex of femora, with apex of tibial and tarsal spines darker. Pro- and mesofemora and tibiae dorsoventrally flattened, elongate and slender; metatibiae with 3 lateral and 10 apical spines; first metatarsomere ventrally with grey pad of microsetae at internoapical angle and two rows of 5 spines. Metatibiotarsal formula: (3) 10/4/0.

MALE TERMINALIA (Figs 42–44). Pygofer (Py) rather short, as high as long and oblique in lateral view, abruptly and rather strongly narrowing in uppermost portion in lateral view (Fig. 42A), about 2.1 times as wide as high in caudal view (Fig. 42E); basal apodeme (bap) slightly elongate, well developed and sclerotized, sinuate in dorsal view (Fig. 42A–C); dorsal portion narrow (Fig. 42A–B); lateroventral lobe (lvl) projecting posterolaterally and rounded but tapering towards the anterior and posterior in dorsal view, more strongly posteriorly (Fig. 42B); in ventral view, tapering and moderately narrowly rounded anteriorly, narrowly rounded posteriorly, rather broadly rounded laterally with posterior portion oblique, inner margin straight (Fig. 42C); in lateral view mostly obliquely truncate posteriorly, with posterior margin sinuate and ventral ¼ strongly projecting posterad and forming a slightly acute angle narrowly rounded apically, anteroventral angle more or less angularly rounded, ventral margin broadly rounded on anterior half, weakly sinuate on posterior half (Fig. 42A); ventral portion of pygofer separated from lateroventral lobe by a well-marked, rather deep depression (Fig. 42C, E); ventral lamina (vlp) about 3.1 times as broad as long with anterior and posterior margins subparallel in ventral view, posterior margin slightly bisinuate with posterolateral angles rounded and weakly projecting posterad (Fig. 42C). Anal tube (An) about 1.1 times as broad as long, dorsoventrally flattened (Fig. 42A), subcircular with apical margin indented in middle (Fig. 42B); paraprocts (pa) at basal ¼, well developed. Gonostyli (G) 1.35 times as broad as long in ventral view (Fig. 42C); ventral process (vp) in ventral view subtriangular, rather short with lateral margin weakly excavate, then rounded apically (Fig. 42C); laterodorsal process (ldg) narrowly visible in ventral view (Fig. 42C), sinuate in caudal view with mediolateral angle (mla) well-marked (Fig. 42E), mediolateral angle weakly projecting laterally (Fig. 42A, D), posterior margin emarginate on ventral half in lateral view (Fig. 42A); dorsal hook (dhg) curved in lateral view, with anterior margin concave and posterior margin rounded then angularly curved and tapering near apex (Fig. 42A), apically curved dorsocephalad (Fig. 42B), projecting more or less dorsad in caudal view (Fig. 42E). Connective (cv) strongly developed, about 1.5 times as long as aedeagus s. lat., with anterior pair of lateral apodemes forming a broad lateral lamina directed posterolaterad and rounded apically; posterior pair of apodemes ribbon-like, well developed laterally and sinuate (Fig. 43A–D). Aedeagus s. lat. rather strongly upcurved with periandrium reaching more or less level of apex of aedeagus s. str. posteriorly (Fig. 43E–I). Aedeagus s. str. (Fig. 44A–C) with apical processes about 6.8 times as long as broad at mid-length; apicoventral process (avp) smoothly tapering towards the posterior and narrowly rounded apically; apicodorsal process (adp) in dorsal view (Fig. 44A) rather strongly sinuate, rather strongly inflated, elongate, rather regularly tapering towards apex in a blunt point, and shorter than apicoventral process. Dorsal periandrium (Fig. 44D–F) with laterodorsal processes (ldp) rather flattened dorsoventrally and with lateral margins subparallel on basal half, then curved laterad and tapering before curving dorsad and tapering into an acute point directed dorsad; lateroventral processes (lvp) dorsoventrally flattened on basal ⅔, broadening from base to first ¼, gently tapering to + / 5 of length, then curved laterodorsad and tapering on distal 1 / 5 towards acutely pointed apex, projecting laterodorsally well beyond laterodorsal processes; basomedian processes (bmp) apically roundly blunt in dorsal view and with sides parallel in ventral view; median furcate process (mfp) with furca slightly shorter than shaft (Fig. 43I) and strongly upcurved in lateral view (Fig. 44E), dorsal crest (cfp) on distal half of arms of furca, slightly reflexed, nearly vertical in dorsal view (Fig. 44D), crest abruptly broadening basally then tapering with dorsal margin more or less rounded towards pointed apex and with dorsal margin slightly irregular in lateral view (Fig. 44E), inner and outer lateral walls of furca slightly granulose (Fig. 44D).

FEMALE TERMINALIA (Fig. 45). Abdominal sternite VI (As VI) with sides upcurving in posteroventral view (Fig. 45C); posterior margin in ventral view (Fig. 45B) projecting posteriorly on sides; median subquadrate emargination wide (Fig. 45B); subtriangular processes rather elongate, apically rounded and directed mesad and posterodorsad (Fig. 45B–C); emargination between subtriangular processes and lateral projection deeply rounded (Fig. 45B–C); processes of furca of sternite VI (FAs VI) pointed, diverging, moderately developed and curved posterodorsad(not visible on Fig.). Inner portion of gonocoxa VIII (Gx VIII) curved dorsad (Fig. 45C); posterior margin of gonapophysis VIII (Gy VIII) moderately projecting posterad and lateroapically rounded (Fig. 45A). Lateroventral excavate membranous fold of gonocoxae VIII between sternite VI and gonapophysis VIII in posteroventral view rather widely open (Fig. 45C). Inner portion of gonapophysis VIII, subtriangular processes and adjacent part of posterior margin of sternite VI, and processes of furca of sternite VI (FAs VI) densely covered in short strong setae (Fig. 45B–C). Gonoplacs (Gp) unilobed, large and semicircular, mostly hiding the anal tube (Fig. 45D – deformed during drying process in illustrated specimen). Gonocoxal bases IX (Gb IX) projecting laterally (Fig. 45B–C). Gonapophysis IX (Gy IX) flattened laterally, roundly reflexed posterodorsad and strongly tapering apically (Fig. 45B–D). Anal tube (An) elongate and narrow, curved posteroventrad, v-shaped in cross section beyond anus, lanceolate in dorsal view (Fig. 45A–D).

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM. Female 6–7% larger than male.

Distribution and biology

The species is currently recorded from a single location in southeastern Queensland, Blackdown Tableland National Park (Fig. 5A). Bioregion: Brigalow Belt South.

All the examined specimens were collected in the same area down the hill near the park entrance, in open Eucalyptus woodland by light trapping and by sweeping lower vegetation at night; one specimen was sitting on a trunk of Eucalyptus sp. near the light trap, making it unclear whether it was on its actual host tree or whether it was attracted to light and randomly landed on this tree. Collecting at daytime on the plateau did not provide any specimen of this species despite an intensive visual scanning of the Eucalyptus tree trunks (J. Constant & L. Semeraro pers. obs., Mar. 2020). The specimens were collected during the months of December and March.