Euparatettix dandakaranyensis, Gupta, Sunil Kumar, 2016

Gupta, Sunil Kumar, 2016, Euparatettix dandakaranyensis sp. nov. (Tetrigidae: Tetriginae) — a new pygmy grasshopper species from Central India, Zootaxa 4097 (1), pp. 118-124 : 119-121

Euparatettix dandakaranyensis sp. nov.

( Figs.1A –G)

Material examined (14 specimens).

(1/14) Holotype. 1♀Chhattisgarh, Bastar district, Metawada village, Indravati River, 19°08’27.4’’ N, 82°01’1.2’’ E, 551 m a.s.l., 3.II.2012., coll. R. P. Gupta & party, Reg. No13849/H5.

Paratypes (2–14/14): 1♂ + 12♀ Chhattisgarh, Bastar district, Metawada village, Indravati River, 19°08’27.4’’ N, 82°01’1.2’’ E, 551 m a.s.l., 3.II.2012., coll. R. P. Gupta & party, Reg. No13850/H5 to 13862/H5.

Diagnosis. Euparatettix dandakaranyensis sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from similar species of the genus Euparatettix by (i) median carina of vertex strong and extended up to the 1/3 posterior end of depression, (ii) lateral carinulae elevated up to the level of the upper margins of the compound eyes, (iii) frontal costa bifurcated above the paired ocelli, moderately sulcate, sinuate between antennae and (iv) paired ocelli placed between the eyes.

Description of a new species. General characters and coloration. Body small (10 mm length) ( Fig. 1 Alateral view), smooth, brown to light brown. Body color can vary from blackish to dark brown, almost always dark brownish. Pronotal tubercles usually dark brown. Distal part of all the tibiae and tarsi usually dark reddish ( Fig. 1 B-dorsal view). Head. In dorsal view, vertex slightly indrawn from the level of the distal margin of the compound eyes, in frontal view strongly concave. Median carina of the vertex present, strong, situated in the distal 1/3 of the length of the vertex ( Fig. 3A ), elevated. Fossullae present, deep. Lateral carinae of the vertex present, strongly elevated, without tubercles. Supraocular lobes absent. Vertex significantly narrower than a compound eye (1.3 times). Median ocellus situated far below the level of the lower margin of the compound eyes, in the place where facial carinae end. Lateral ocelli situated slightly below the level of the middle height of the compound eyes. Frontal costa in lateral view slightly produced from the level of the distal margin of the compound eyes. Frontal costa bifurcates into facial carinae above the paired ocelli and facial carinae run parallel to the median ocellus forming very narrow scutellum. Antennal grooves situated below the paired ocelli, slightly between the compound eyes, on the level of the lower margin of the compound eyes. Antennal grooves wider than scutellum, scape just as wide as antennal grooves and lateral paired ocelli are placed higher in E. dandakaranyensis than in E. sikkimensis . Eyes in frontal view elongated, ovoid, in lateral view sub-globular with rounded margin proximal to pronotum. In dorsal view elliptical. Eyes can be positioned slightly distant from the pronotum so the occipital area is visible. Pronotum. Pronotum bears medium size granules, smooth, projected far beyond the hind knees (for one third length of the hind tibiae), slender, anterior margin truncated. Median carina is continuous towards the whole length of pronotum, not present just by the anterior margin of the pronotum. Prozonal carinae strong, visible. Humeroapical carinae form with lateral carinae obtuse angle. Interhumeral carinae present, elevated. Lateral and interscapular areas barrow. Pronotum apex narrow, slightly crenulated. Two lateral pronotal lobes present, tegminal sinus small. Lateral lobes directed downwards. Distal paranotal apex blunt. Wings. Tegmina oblong, slightly rhomboid, apex rounded ( Fig. 3E,G ). Alae present, reaching or surpassing beyond the hind process of the pronotum (about 2.5 mm). Legs. All the femora finely serrated, smooth. Fore and mid femora laterally compressed ( Fig. 2A, B ). Length/width ratio of fore femora 3.5, of mid femora 2.8. Fore and mid tibiae slender. Tarsi of fore and mid femora with proximal segment significantly shorter than the distal one. Hind femora, with serrated and smooth surface. Genicular and antigenicular teeth visible, small ( Fig.2C ). tibia with 11 outer spines and 8 inner spines ( Fig. 2D ), 1st tarsal segment 1.3 times longer than the third segment ( Fig. 2E ). Abdominal apex. Female subgenital plate in ventral view rectangular. Ovipositor elongated ( Fig. 3C ). Epiproct in female as long as wide near the base. Cerci small, slender with rounded apex.

Comparative photographs of the type specimen of Euparatettix sikkimensis ( Hancock, 1915) are incorporated for a good comparison with a new species ( Figures 3B,D,F,H ).

Etymology. This species is named after the plateau of Dandakaranya in Chhattisgarh, India.

Measurements (all in millimeters). Body length (from the tip of the vertex to the end of the abdomen): 9.58; Vertex: 0.444. compound eye length: 0.655, width: 0.578. Pronotum length: 12.93, width: 2.97. Fore leg: femur length: 1.37, width: 0.39; tibia length: 1.62, width: 0.17; tarsus length (by segments): I: 0.08, II: 0.52; claw length: 0.319. Mid leg: femur length 1.51, width 0.53; tibial length 2.07, width 0.16; tarsus length: I: 0.16, II: 0.79; claw length 0.107. Hind leg: femur length: 5.97, width: 1.55; tibia length: 5.24, width: 0.243; tarsus length: I: 1.015, II: 0.138, III: 0.737; pulvilli length: I: 0.175, II: 0.228, III: 0.432; claw length 0.217. Wings: tegmen length: 1.99, width: 0.747; length between apex of pronotum to apex of alae: 2.689; Dorsal ovipositor valves length: 1.295, height: 0.317; ventral ovipositor valves length: 1.230, height: 0.230; cerci length: 0.36, width: 0.20.

There are six known species of the genus Euparatettix (as it is currently defined) inhabiting India. These are E. balteatus (Walker, 1871) [S. India], E. bengalensis Hancock, 1912 [known only from India: Bengal: Pusa, from type series only], E. nodulosus Hancock, 1912 [ Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh], E. parvus Hancock, 1904 [ Sri Lanka, S., C. India], E. sikkimensis ( Hancock, 1915) [ India: E Himalaya: Sikkim, known only from the type series] and E. dandakaranyensis Gupta sp.nov. [type locality only]

Figures

FIGURES 1 A – C. A, E. dandakaranyensis sp. nov. female, lateral view; B, dorsal view; C, head showing frontal region (ventral view).

FIGURES 3 A – H, A, E. dandakaranyensis sp. nov. head showing median carina of vertex (dorsal view); B, E. sikkimensis head showing median carina of vertex; C, E. dandakaranyensis sp. nov. ovipositor showing a large series of teeth; D, E. sikkimensis, ovipositor showing a large series of teeth; E, E. dandakaranyensis sp. nov. tegmenula; F, E. sikkimensis, tegmenula; G, E. dandakaranyensis sp. nov. separate sheet of tegmenula; H, E. sikkimensis sp. nov. separate sheet of tegmenula.

FIGURES 2 A – E. A, fore leg (external view); B, mid leg (external view); C, hind femur (external view); D, hind tibiae; E, tarsus and pulvilli.