Neduba sequoia Cole, Weissman, and Lightfoot, 2021

Cole, Jeffrey A., Weissman, David B., Lightfoot, David C., Ueshima, Norihiro, Warchałowska-Śliwa, Elżbieta, Maryańska-Nadachowska, Anna & Chatfield-Taylor, Will, 2021, A revision of the shield-back katydid genus Neduba (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae: Nedubini), Zootaxa 4910 (1), pp. 1-92 : 68-70

Neduba sequoia Cole, Weissman, and Lightfoot sp. n.

Fig. 19 (distribution), Fig. 29 (male and female habitus, calling song, male and female terminalia, karyotype), Plate 3 F–G (live habitus), Plate 5I (male calling song), Plate 8 F–H (male ventral sclerite), Plate 10I (male titillators), Plate 12G (female subgenital plate).

Common name. Big Trees Shieldback

History of recognition. Likely confused with N. sierranus .

Type material. HOLOTYPE MALE: USA, CA, Tulare Co., Coy Flat Campground , Sequoia National Forest , 0.5 miles south of Camp Nelson off SR190, 36.1269N, 118.6183W, 1524 m., 30-31-VII-2012, JA Cole, DNA67 [tissue], SING357 [DNA extraction], JCR120914_00 [recording], genitalia in vial below specimen, deposited in CAS, Entomology type #19714 . PARATYPES (n = 29): Tulare Co., 9♁, 1♀, same data as holotype, LACM ; 1♁, same data as holotype JAC ; 2♁, same data as holotype except, 20-VIII-2006, DB Weissman, DC Lightfoot, CAS ; 11♁, 3♀, South Fork Campground , Sequoia National Park, 36.35029N, 118.76511W, 1112 m, 12-13-VIII-2015, JA Cole, LACM ; 1m, same data except JAC ; 1♁, Hwy 190 7 mi. E Springville, 36.156806N, 118.724278W, 707 m, 5-V-2011, DB Weissman, DBW .

Measurements. (mm, ♁n = 23, ♀ n = 5) Hind femur ♁17.48–24.26, ♀ 22.03–24.14, pronotum total length ♁8.36–10.66, ♀ 9.50–10.05, prozona length ♁3.34–5.40, ♀ 4.78–5.96, metazona dorsal length ♁4.08–6.05, ♀ 3.79– 4.72, pronotum constriction width ♁2.15–3.15, ♀ 2.57–2.96, metazona dorsal width ♁5.40–6.97, ♀ 5.85–6.65, head width ♁4.45–5.72, ♀ 5.10–5.90, ovipositor length ♀ 14.68–17.42.

Distribution. Western slope of the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains between the Kaweah River and Tule River watersheds, in the vicinity of Sequoia National Park.

Habitat. Understory of mixed conifer forests, especially in riparian habitats and mesic areas. At the South Fork localities, many adults were feeding on green leaves of mountain mahogany ( Cercocarpus ). Singing males at this locality were observed and recorded in young dead cedars at the forest edge.

Seasonal occurrence. Adults from late July (27-VII-1986, DJ Burdick, CAS) through August (20-VIII-2006, DB Weissman, CAS). Nymphs from May through mid-June.

Stridulatory file. (n = 18) length 2.7–3.7 mm, 152–203 teeth, tooth density 57.5 ± 3.4 (47.5–61.6) teeth/mm.

Song. (n = 19) A continuous series of alternating MPT and OPT as in other Sequoia Group species (except N. inversa ). The PTR of 3.0 ± 0.5 s- 1 is significantly faster than N. prorocantans , which is distributed to the south, and is half the rate of syntopic N. duplocantans . PTdc of 75.1 ± 8.7% is significantly higher than all other Sequoia Group species (ANCOVA, P = 3.75×10 -4). PTF is 14.3 ± 1.0 kHz.

Karyotype. (n = 4) Unique. 2n♁ = 22 (2m + 18t + XtYt). T06-12, S06-80, paratopotype.

Recognition. This is a plastic species that is difficult to recognize. A higher stridulatory file tooth density (55– 59 teeth/mm) as well as larger body size will separate this species from the lower density (47–52 teeth/mm) of both N. prorocantans distributed to the south and N. duplocantans , with which it is sympatric. To the north, N. inversa has a greater stridulatory file tooth density (64–68 teeth/mm). The song PTR is faster than that of N. prorocantans but half that of N. duplocantans , whereas N. inversa sings with numerous OPT between MPT as in Sierranus Group taxa. The karyotype is unique. N. sequoia inhabits an area between the Kaweah River and Tule River watersheds, a range that it shares only with N. duplocantans .

Etymology. Named after Sequoia National Park and Sequoia National Forest of the southern Sierra Nevada of California.

Notes. This species is common at all localities where collected. Taxidermy of South Fork specimens showed the gut contents to be full of Cercocarpus . Collections were also made at oatmeal trails.

Material examined. DETERMINED (n = 2): Tulare Co., in addition to type material (above), 1♀, Ash Mountain , Kaweah Power Station 3, 36.48606N, 118.83586W, 27-VII-1996, DJ Burdick, CAS ; 1♀ nymph, Ash Mountain , Kaweah Power Station 3, 36.48606N, 118.83586W, 3-VI-1984, DJ Burdick, CAS. QUESTIONABLE PLACEMENT (n = 8) : Tulare Co., 2♀ nymphs, Sequoia National Park , Potwisha Campground, 36.517446N, 118.799821W, 13-VI-1923, EC VanDyke, CAS ; 3♀ nymphs, same data except 13-VI-1929, EC VanDyke, CAS ; 1♀ nymph, same data except 27-V-1928, EC VanDyke, CAS ; 1♁, 1♀ nymphs, same data except 8-V-1931, EC VanDyke, CAS .

Figures

PLATE 3. Live habitus of the Sequoia Group. A. N. radocantans paratype male, B. N. arborea paratopotype male, C. N. inversa paratype male, D. N. prorocantans paratype male, E. N prorocantans paratype female, F. N. sequoia paratype male, G. N. sequoia paratype female, H. N. duplocantans paratopotype male singing.

PLATE 5. Male calling songs of the Castanea, Lucubrata, Sierranus, and Sequoia Groups. A. N. castanea, B. N. macneilli, C. N. lucubrata, D. N. sierranus, E. N. radocantans, F. N. arborea, G. N. inversa, H. N. prorocantans, I. N. sequoia, J. N. duplocantans. Left column shows 4 s oscillogram windows, right column are 1 s windows.

PLATE 8. Ventral sclerites: Sierranus and Sequoia Groups. A. N. sierranus, B. N. radocantans, C. N. arborea, D. N. inversa, E. N. prorocantans, F–H. N. sequoia.

PLATE 10. Titillator arms of Propsti (A), Castanea (B–C), Lucubrata (D), Sierranus (E–F), and Sequoia (G–I) Group species.

PLATE 12. Female subgenital plates of Lucubrata (A), Sierranus (B–D), and Sequoia (E–H) Group species.

FIGURE 19. Distribution of Propsti, Castanea, Lucubrata, Sierranus, and Sequoia Group species mapping records reported in this work.

FIGURE 29. N. sequoia male and female habitus, calling song, male and female terminalia, karyotype.