Formosatettix serrifemora Deng, 2019

Wei, Shi-Zhen, Deng, Wei-An & Lu, Xiang-Yi, 2019, Pygmy grasshoppers of the genus Formosatettix Tinkhamı 1937 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Tetriginae), Journal of Natural History 53 (17), pp. 1001-1022 : 1010-1013

Formosatettix serrifemora Deng sp. nov.

( Figures 1 and 2 )

Description

Female (holotype). Size small, body robust and short. Fastigium of vertex in dorsal view distinctly surpassing the anterior margin of eyes, 1.6 – 2.0 times wider than width of one eye from above; anterior margin of fastigium arcuate, median carina of fastigium reaching the middle of eyes, fossula slightly deep; frontal ridge in lateral view rounded angle and distinctly concave before eyes, protruding anteriorly and arcuate between antennae sockets. In frontal view, frontal carinae diverged above lateral ocelli, width of longitudinal furrow of frontal ridge distinctly narrower than diameter (width) of antennal socket. Antennae filiform, located slightly below the eyes, 14-segmented, mid segments 2.5 – 3 times as long as wide. Eyes globose; lateral ocelli placed between lower third of inner margins of eye.

Pronotum compressed, its surface smooth and with sporadic small tubercles. In dorsal view, anterior margin of pronotum acute angle protruding and reaching vertex between the middle of eyes; lateral carinae of prozona slightly constricted backwards and inconspicuous; the apex of pronotum obtuse-rounded, not bilobate, reaching 3/4 – 4/5 of hind femur. In profile, median carina of pronotum arch-like; lower margin of hind process curved, lateral carinae of metazona also curved, width of the area between the two is 1.0 – 1.5 mm. Posterior angles of lateral lobes turned downwards, apex of posterior angles obtuse rounded, posterior margins of lateral lobes of pronotum with only lower sinus. Tegmina and hind wings absent. Lower carinae of fore femora sinuate and with 1 – 2 inconspicuous teeth, lower carinae of mid femora sinuate and with 2 – 3 inconspicuous teeth. Hind femur stout, 3.4 times as long as wide; lower outer keel with 3 – 4 small teeth; upper carinae gentle lamellate and slightly sinuate behind the middle; lower carinae also lamellate and with 5 – 7 small teeth; antegenicular denticles acute and genicular denticles right angled. Outer side of hind tibia with 7 – 8 spines, inner side with 6 – 7 spines. Length of first segment of hind tarsi 1.8 times longer than third, first pulvillus shorter than second and third, apices of all pulvilli obtuse. Ovipositor stubby, length of upper valvulae 3.2 times its width, upper and lower valvulae with slender saw-like teeth. Length of subgenital plate nearly equal to its width, middle of posterior margin of subgenital plate with a triangular projection.

Body dark brown, some individuals with two blackish spots behind shoulder. Fore and mid femora and tibiae brownish grey with two transverse black stripes. Hind femur dark brown, some individuals with two inconspicuous blackish spots on the outer side. Hind tibia black, with two light rings in the middle.

Male. Similar to female, but smaller and narrower. Width of vertex 2 times the width of eye, width of the area between lower margin of hind process and lateral keels of metazona is 0.8 – 1.1 mm. Subgenital plate brief cone-shaped, apex bifurcated.

Measurements (mm). Length of body3 8.0 – 10.0, ♀ 10.8 – 12.8; length of pronotum 37.2 – 7.5, ♀ 8.0 – 8.5; length of hind femur 3 5.5 – 6.2, ♀ 6.5 – 7.0.

Type material. Holotype: 1♀, 18 August 2017, collected by Wei-An DENG, EMHU . Paratypes: 234♀, same data, type locality, collected by Xiang-Yi LU and You-Ming YAO, EMHU . 234♀, same data, type locality, 16 August 2016, collected by Wei-An DENG and Ya-Zhen CHEN, EMHU; 1♀, China, Guizhou prov ., Suiyang (Kuankuoshui), 28.240°N, 107.191°E, 1300 m alt., collected by Xiang-Yi LU, EMHU.

Type locality. China, Guizhou prov., Liupanshui (Yushe), 26°27.8301 ʹ N, 114°48.4459 ʹ E, 2000 m alt .

Diagnosis

The new species is similar to Formosatettix baishuijiangensis Zheng, 1999 ( Zheng et al., 1999) from which it differs in width of vertex 2.0 times the width of the eye (width of vertex 3.6 times the width of the eye in F. baishuijiangensis ); lateral ocelli placed between lower third of inner margins of eye (lateral ocelli placed between upper third of inner margins of eye in F. baishuijiangensis ); lower carinae of fore and middle femora sinuate (lower carinae of fore and middle femora straight in F. baishuijiangensis ); lower carinae of hind femur with 5 – 7 small teeth and sinuate (lower carinae of hind femur straight in F. baishuijiangensis ).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from ‘serri’ and ‘femora’, meaning lower carinae of hind femur with 5 – 7 small teeth.

Distribution

P. R. CHINA: Guizhou .

Figures

Figure 1. Formosatettix serrifemora Deng sp. nov., holotype female. (a) body, lateral view; (b) the same, dorsal view; (c) head and anterior part of pronotum, dorsal view; (d) the same, lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 2. Formosatettix serrifemora Deng sp. nov. holotype female. (a) head, frontal view; (b) antenna, lateral view; (c) left fore femur, lateral view; (d) left mid femur, lateral view; (e) left hind femur, lateral view; (f) left hind tibia, lateral view; (g) left posterior tarsus, lateral view; (h) subgenital plate of female, ventral view. male, paratype: (i) body, lateral view; (j) apex of abdomen, lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.