Tachycines (Gymnaeta) shuangcha, Feng & Huang & Luo, 2020

Feng, Xueli, Huang, Shihui & Luo, Changqing, 2020, Three new cave species of the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) (Orthoptera Rhaphidophoridae: Aemodogryllinae) from northern Guizhou, China, Zootaxa 4820 (3), pp. 563-571 : 566-568

Tachycines (Gymnaeta) shuangcha sp. nov.

( Figs. 3 , 4 )

Description. Male. Body small size ( Figs. 3 A–C). Vertex of head divided into two small conical tubercles, bases of the tubercles drawn together, obtusely rounded apices separated ( Fig. 3D ). Eyes normal, not reduced.

Anterior margin of pronotum straight, posterior margin protruding caudad, ventral margin arc-shaped; posterior margin of mesonotum protruding caudad; posterior margin of metanotum straight.

Legs long and slender. Coxae with small medial projections. Fore femur about 2.4 times longer than the pronotum, ventrally unarmed, internal genicular lobe with 1 small spine, external genicular lobe with 1 long spine; fore tibia ventrally with 1 inner spine and 2 outer spines, apex with 1 small outer spine on dorsal surface and 1 pair of long spines on ventral surface, between the paired ventral spines with 1 small spine. Middle femur ventrally unarmed, internal and external genicular lobes with 1 long spine respectively; middle tibiae ventrally unarmed, apex with 1 pair of dorsal spines and 1 pair of ventral spines, between the paired ventral spines with 1 small spine. Hind femur ventrally unarmed; hind tibia dorsally with 23–25 inner spines and 28–30 outer spines, arrange in groups, ventral and dorsal surface with a pair of small subapical spines respectively, apex with 1 pair of long dorsal spines and 1 pair of long ventral spines; the longest dorso-apical spine not exceeding the dorso-apical spine of hind metatarsus ( Fig. 3E ). Hind metatarsus keeled beneath.

Abdominal sternites with short ventral projections. Epiphallus of male genitalia like the shape of a dumbbell; median lobe of genitalia with 2 pairs of apical lobules; paired lateral sclerites distinct; dorsal and ventral pairs of lateral lobes almost equal in length ( Figs. 3F, G ).

Female. General appearance similar to that of male ( Figs. 4 A–C). Ovipositor about half the length of hind femur; base of ovipositor broad, narrowing to apex; apex pointed and slightly curved upwards; small denticles on ventral edge of distal part of inferior valves ( Fig. 4D ). Subgenital plate with a projection in the middle part of hind margin ( Fig. 4E ).

Coloration. Body and legs dark brown and without distinct stripes. Face without distinct longitudinal bands.

Material examined. Holotype: 1♂, Shuangcha Cave, Mayanghe National Nature Reserve, Yanhe Tujia Au-tonomous County , Tongren City , Guizhou Province, 17.VII.2019, coll. Changqing Luo & Xueli Feng. Paratypes: 7♂, 5♀, same data as the holotype .

Measurements (mm). Body: ♂ 8.69–10.32, ♀ 9.47–11.01; pronotum: ♂ 3.52–3.71, ♀ 3.31–3.58; fore femur: ♂ 8.18–9.77, ♀ 8.18–8.64; hind femur: ♂ 13.50–16.56, ♀ 13.68–15.69; ovipositor: ♀ 7.11–8.30.

Distribution. China (Guizhou).

Discussion. The species T. (G.) shuangcha sp. nov. is different from all other species of the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) by the shape of the epiphallus and the shape of the apical lobules of the median lobe.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the Shuangcha Cave where this species occurs.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Tachycines (Gymnaeta) shuangcha sp. nov. (male). A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, lateral view; C. habitus, ventral view; D. vertex of head, showing conical tubercles; E. hind tarsus, lateral view; F. genitalia, dorsal view; G. genitalia, ventral view.

FIGURE 4. Tachycines (Gymnaeta) shuangcha sp. nov. (female). A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, lateral view; C. habitus, ventral view; D. ovipositor, lateral view; E. subgenital plate, ventral view.