Diponthus dilatatus, Pocco & Lange & Cigliano, 2023

Pocco, Martina E., Lange, Carlos E. & Cigliano, María Marta, 2023, Relationships and taxonomy of the genus Diponthus Stål (Orthoptera: Acridoidea Romaleidae), Zootaxa 5336 (1), pp. 33-81 : 50-51

Diponthus dilatatus sp. nov. Pocco, Lange & Cigliano

( Figs. 2k, l , 5g , 7a, b , 8i , 9a, b , 10k , 11k , 12a, b , and 13 ).

Type material. Holotype male, Bolivia, Santa Cruz, Pcia. Cordillera-Río Florida, Jan. 1967, Martínez leg., deposited in MLP. ( Fig. 2k, l ) . Paratypes: one female, same data of holotype, MLP ; one male and one female, Bolivia, Santa Cruz, 3–10 km SE Santa Cruz , 400 m., 08–09 March 1976, Ronderos & Roberts leg., MLP ; one male, Bolivia, Santa Cruz, Río Seco , Jan. 1964, MACN ; one male and two females, Bolivia, Santa Cruz, 3–10 km SE Santa Cruz , 400 m, 8–9 March 1976, R.A. Ronderos, RB, E.H., H. R Roberts leg., ANSP .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the expanded shape of the dorsal valves of aedeagus of males.

Diagnosis. Pronotal disk with a narrow mid-longitudinal band and two oblique spots between the transverse sulci yellow; lateral lobes of pronotum with a wide horizontal band on lower margin ( Figs. 2k, l , 5g , and 7a, b ). Tegmina with dark reddish background; apical area yellowish; longitudinal and transverse veins pink, delimiting small and oval cells ( Fig. 8i ). Hind wings red. Prosternal tubercle straight. Male epiproct with rounded edges, with tubercles on posterior margin; large furculae, acute ( Fig. 9b ). Male cerci short, conical, with acute tip, shorter than the tip of epiproct ( Fig. 9a ). Dorsal valves of aedeagus thick, widening towards the apex; apex expanded, not sclerotized, strongly down-curved ( Fig. 10k ). Valves of cingulum with anterior margin rounded, distal portion subcircular, posterior margin concave ( Fig. 10k ). Zygoma wide; cingulum wide U-shaped ( Fig. 11k ). Epiphallus with lophi placed perpendicular to the bridge, rounded, not extending towards the posterior processes of the lateral plates ( Fig. 12a, b ).

Description. Medium size insects ( Fig. 2k, l ). Male: integument of head impresso-punctuate. Head globose. Fastigium slightly excavated, apex straight. Interocular distance narrower than the apex of the fastigium. Eyes prominent and subcircular, reaching or just exceeding the level of the vertex in lateral view. Frons rounded; union front-fastigium rounded. Integument of pozona impresso-punctuate, slightly faveolated dorsally; integument of the metazona rugose to faveolated. Mid-dorsal longitudinal carina of pronotum slightly marked in metazoan. Pronotum with three transverse sulci, the main sulcus faintly marked. Prozona slightly longer than metazona; metazona slightly wider than prozona. Disc of pronotum with anterior and posterior margins straight. Prosternal tubercle straight, conical. Tegmina and wings not surpassing the end of abdomen. Tegmina with longitudinal and transverse veins delimiting small oval cells. Cerci short, not exceeding the epiproct, conical, with acute apex. Epiproct with rounded edges, with tubercles on the posterior edge; furculae acute and large. Phallic complex ( Figs. 10k , 11k , and 12a, b ): dorsal valves of aedeagus thick; apex expanded and not sclerotized, strongly curved downwards. Valves of cingulum with rounded anterior margin, subcircular distal portion, and concave posterior margin. Zygoma of cingulum wide; cingulum wide U-shaped. Epiphalus with lophi placed perpendicular to the bridge, rounded, not extended towards the posterior processes of the lateral plates.

Chromatic characters. General body color green and yellow, with reddish tegmina and wings ( Fig. 2k, l ). Head green with genae, antennal grooves, postocular area and a narrow mid-dorsal line yellow. Antennae light brown-yellowish; escape and pedicel green. Pronotum green, with a narrow band on the mid-dorsal longitudinal carina yellow. Prozona with two oblique yellow spots on either side of the midline. Lateral lobes of pronotum with a wide yellow band, less colorful in the metazona ( Fig. 7a, b ). Meso and metapleurae green with yellow spots. Front and middle legs green with yellow areas. Hind femur green with a yellow longitudinal band on outer face; ventral face yellow and green; upper genicular lobe black. Hind tibiae green, apical tip black; tarsi brown. Tegmina with a dark reddish background; apical region yellow; longitudinal and transverse veins pink, delimiting small oval cells ( Fig. 8i ). Hind wings red. Abdomen yellowish-ocher with green tints.

Females ( Fig. 5g ). Similar to males, but more robust. Tegmina barely reaching the tip of abdomen.

Measurements (in mm). Body length: males: 25.3 (24–27) from fastigium to the tip of abdomen; 24 (23.5–25) to tegmina apex; females: 35.5 (32–39). Hind femur length: males: 12.3 (12–13); females: 17.3 (16.5–18). Tegmina length: males: 17.3 (16–18.5); females: 22.3 (22–23).

Distribution. This species is found in Bolivia (Santa Cruz) ( Fig. 13 ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Diponthus species. Males, habitus lateral views (a, c, e, g, i, k) and dorsal views (b, d, f, h, j, l). Species as indicated. Scale bar= 1 cm. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 5. Diponthus new species. a–d, Diponthus colorbellus sp. nov., male (c, d) and females (a: color morph brown, b: color morph dark green). e. f, Diponthus paranaensis sp. nov. male (e), female (f). g, Diponthus dilatatus sp. nov, female. h, Diponthus salvadorii sp. nov., female

FIGURE 7. Head and pronotum, in lateral views (a) and dorsal views (b). Diponthus species as indicated. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 8. Tegmina, color pattern of venation. Diponthus species, as indicated. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 9. Male abdominal terminalia, in lateral views (a) and dorsal views (b). Diponthus species as indicated. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 10. Distal portion of aedeagal valves, lateral view. Diponthus species, as indicated.

FIGURE 11. Distal portion of aedeagal valves, dorsal view. Diponthus species, as indicated.

FIGURE 12. Epiphallus, dorsal views (a) and frontal views (b). Diponthus species, as indicated. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 13. Distribution map of Diponthus species.