Yunnantettix nanensis Zha & Wen

Zha, Lingsheng, Wen, Tingchi, Boonmee, Saranyaphat & Eungwanichayapant, Prapassorn D., 2016, Notes on the genus Yunnantettix Zheng (Tetrigidae: Cladonotinae), with descriptions of two new species from Thailand, Zootaxa 4205 (4), pp. 373-385 : 377-380

Yunnantettix nanensis Zha & Wen , sp. nov.

Figs 2–5

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:492438

Material examined. Holotype—female, Thailand: Nan Province, Doi Phu Kha National Park , 19°12′0.48′′N, 101°4′54.85′′E, 1254 m, 13 April 2016, coll. Lingsheng Zha. Paratypes: 2 males and 1 female, same data as holotype.

Description. Female. Body size small and stout. Face and vertex covered with small, low and irregular bulges and numerous fine granules. Vertex 3.6 times as wide as an eye, in dorsal view anterior margin broadly rounded and low, distinctly surpassing anterior margins of eyes; lateral carinae of vertex not elevated; median carina conspicuous in anterior half, not projected forwards, absent in posterior half, paired fossulae distinct, vertex irregularly protruding behind fossulae; in lateral view face vertical, vertex together with frontal costa arcuate, frontal carinae smooth, slightly arched and protruding forward between antennal grooves, at last concave at median ocellus; in frontal view, frontal carinae distinctly divergent, scutellum shallow, triangular, and very wide, between antennae 2.7 times as wide as diameter of scapus. Antennae filiform and short, 16-segmented, inserted slightly below lower margins of eyes, 9–11th segments longest, 5.0 times as long as wide. Eyes globose, very low, not reaching up to lateral margins of vertex; lateral ocelli situated lower 1/3 (slightly below middle) of inner margins of eyes. ( Fig 3 )

Pronotal disc extremely coarse and not flattened, covered with many bulges and numerous fine granules. Pronotum distinctly uplifted and a little irregularly roof-like in anterior half, the following quarter a little uplifted and the last quarter nearly at a same level (almost flat). Median carina in anterior half erected, continuous and a little lamellate before tegmina, followed by conspicuously lamellate part and declined rapidly at the level of tegmina, in lateral view arcuate, between shoulders lower; the posterior half low, undulate and somewhat interrupted. Anterior margin of pronotum truncated, projected slightly over level of vertex, extralateral carinae conspicuous. In prozona, pronotum distinctly uplifted; prozonal carinae distinct, erected, and parallel, terminal part slightly contracted inward; on rear between prozonal carinae, pronotum a little irregularly uplifted. Between sulci, pronotum distinctly concave on both side of median carina, and median carina with very swollen base. Humeral angles obtusely angled, depressed, between shoulders pronotum distinctly uplifted, between humeral angles paired interhumeral carinae presented on both side of median carina, beside them other very short keels presented, or oblique or parallel; humero-apical carina interrupted before humeral angles, external lateral carina reaching apex of hind process and strongly folded upward behind humeral angles. Posterior angle of lateral lobe of pronotum extending oblique backwards, apex truncate and anterior margin of apex rounded, posterior margin of each lateral lobe with two concavities. Hind process wedged, reaching knees of hind femora, apex wide and straight, a little concave in the middle. ( Fig 2 , 3 )

Tegmen partly exposed, hardly visible, ovate, translucent, apex sharp, 2.5 times as long as wide, reaching 1/3 of second abdominal segment; visible part of tegmen narrow and long, 5.0–5.5 times as long as wide and 4.5–5.0 times narrower than width of mid femur; hind wing vestigial and hidden beneath the tegmen, triangular, translucent, base wide and apex sharp, 2.5 times shorter than tegmen. ( Fig 4 a–c)

Fore and mid femora conspicuously compressed, margins serrate, upper margin of fore femur weakly undulate, upper margin of mid femur and lower margins of fore and mid femora strongly undulate. Hind femur stout, 2.7 times as long as wide; upper and lower margins serrate, upper margin before antegenicular denticle present a triangular denticle which is obtuse and distinctly lower than antegenicular denticle, terminal part of lower margin with 2–3 small denticles ( Fig 2 ); antegenicular denticle triangular, apex sharp (1♂ 1♀) or right angled (1♂ 1♀); genicular denticle a little surpassing knee and apex obtusely rounded; hind tibia a little enlarging from base to terminal part, outer/inner side with 7–8/4 (male 6–7/4–5) spines, margins serrate; first segment of hind tarsus 2.0 times as long as third segment, three pulvilli nearly equal in length, apex of third pulvillus obtuse, apices of first and second pulvilli a little sharp.

Ovipositor: upper valva 3.2 times as long as wide, sub-base widest, outer margins of upper and lower valvae serrate. Subgenital plate nearly as long as wide, posterior margin truncate, in the middle with a broad triangular protrusion. ( Fig 4 d, e)

Coloration. Body grey brown. Antennae brown, color of the border between segments light, distal 2–3 segments darker; median carina in anterior half marked with black spots; lateral pronotum just behind humeral angles maculated with black; fore and mid femora maculated with yellowish brown; fore and mid tibiae with 3 yellowish brown rings each; lower outer side of hind femur black; lower margin of hind femur spotted with yellowish brown; hind tibia mainly brown, but at base with a distinct yellowish brown ring. ( Fig 2 )

Male. Distinctly smaller than female. Vertex 3.17 times as wide as one eye ( Fig 2 c); antennae 15-segmented, 8–10th segments longest; subgenital plate very short, cone-shaped, nearly as long as wide, apex fissured, upper apex on both sides forming into a pair of very short and small spines ( Fig 4 f, g). Other structures and coloration same as female.

Measurements (in mm). Length of body: male 8.9–9.2, female 12.1–12.5; length of pronotum: male 7.6–7.8, female 8.8–9.1; length of hind femur: male 5.0, female 5.8–6.1.

Distribution. Thailand (Nan province).

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to Yunnantettix thaicus Storozhenko & Pushkar, 2015 , but differs in: 1) vertex 3.17(♂) or 3.6 (♀) times as wide as one eye (2.8(♂) or 2.7 (♀) times in Y. thaicus ); 2) antennae inserted slightly below lower margins of eyes, lateral ocelli situated lower 1/3 of inner margins of eyes (antennae inserted between lower margins of eyes and lateral ocelli situated middle of inner margins of eyes in Y. thaicus ); 3) external lateral carina reaching apex of pronotum (not reaching apex of pronotum in Y. thaicus ); 4) female upper valvula slender than that of Y. thaicus , sub-base widest with serrate margin (margin of sub-base smooth, middle widest).

Etymology. The epithet ‘ nanensis ’ is named after Nan Province, Thailand, its type locality.

Ecology and habitats. Individuals of Yunnantettix nanensis sp. nov. were collected in the grass under shades of trees close to a stream, and the ground of the habitat was somewhat dry and covered by rich fallen leaves. Surroundings were rich in shrubs and trees ( Fig 5 ). Body surface of the individuals were covered by a lot of sandy soil that was not easily washed off ( Fig 2 c). One mating pair was collected.

Having extremely degenerate wings, individuals of the new species are flightless. They have strong hind femora for jumping into the grass when disturbed. Coloration is cryptic. Concerning their poor dispersal ability, it is to be expected that the species does not occupy large geographic area. According to the habitat type (a little dry, and mosses, algae and lichens had not been found) we believe they mainly feed on humus. Covered by sandy soil, together with their very coarse and uneven body surfaces, cryptic coloration and extremely reduced wings, we infer most of their life time they may conceal their bodies in sandy soil to avoid bad environments such as low temperature, being preyed, rain, drought etc.; when temperature is high and light is suitable, they may crawl out for feeding and mating ( Zha et al., 2016). Generally in Northern Thailand, dry season lasts from January to May, while rainy season from June to November. According to the mating time and their living by the stream, inevitably their eggs or nymphs will suffer from floods.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Yunnantettix nanensis sp. nov.. a) lateral view of male body; b) lateral view of female body; c) dorsal view of female body. Pale maculation covered on body surfaces is sandy soil. Scale bars 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Yunnantettix nanensis sp. nov., female. a) frontal view of head; b) lateral view of head and anterior pronotum; c) dorsal view of head; d) dorsal-lateral view of head and anterior pronotum. Scale bars 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Yunnantettix nanensis sp. nov.. a) lateral view of a female tegmen; b) lateral view of a male tegmen after uncovering pronotum; c) lateral view of a male hind wing after uncovering the tegmen on it; d) lateral view of female subgenital plate and ovipositor; e) ventral view of female subgenital plate; f) lateral view of male subgenital plate; g) posterior view of male subgenital plate. Scale bars a – c 0.5 mm, d – g 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Ecology environment of Yunnantettix nanensis sp. nov.. a) the habitat; b) the habitat is located border of a stream. Pictures were photographed by Lingsheng Zha in Thailand, Nan Province, Doi Phu Kha National Park (19 ° 12 ′ 0.48 ′′ N, 101 ° 4 ′ 54.85 ′′ E, 1257 m) in April 13, 2016.