Conversifastigia, Liu, Chun-Xiang & Kang, Le, 2008

Liu, Chun-Xiang & Kang, Le, 2008, Two new genera with descriptions of three new species of Phaneropterinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from China, Zootaxa 1830, pp. 47-56 : 54-55

Genus Conversifastigia gen. nov. (Figs. 9–11, 13, 15, 17, 36)

Type species: Conversifastigia gressitti sp. nov., here designated.

Diagnosis: Form robust. Head distinctly larger than normal for the Phaneropterinae (Figs. 9–11). Fastigium frontis inversely pyramidal. Fastigium verticis slightly narrower than first segment of antenna. Pronotum with surface of prozona smooth, without lateral carina. Tegmen translucent, slightly widened in middle, twice wider than length of pronotum; texture similar to that in Letana Walker , with an irregular network of veinlets between principal veins. Costa indistinct. Radical sector bifurcated. Anterior coxae armed; anterior tibiae with open tympanum on both sides (Fig. 13). Each femur with a lower spine and a middle tooth on genicular lobe (Figs. 13, 15, 17). Anterior and median femora with spines on ventro-anterior margin; posterior femur with spines on both ventral margins. Each tibia with dorsal spines on both sides (Figs. 13, 15, 17).

Description: Head robust, ovoid, occiput convex and smooth. Fastigium verticis well-produced, strongly deflexed, dorsally sulcate, slightly narrower than first segment of antenna, with apex approximately rounded (Figs. 9, 11). Fastigium frontis inversely pyramidal, with dorsal apex truncated, separated from fastigium verticis by a rather deep gap (Fig. 9). Compound eye rather small, compared with robust head; semi-global, obliquely set, distinctly prominent, ventral margin extending slightly above ventral margin of antennal scrobe (Figs. 9–11). Antenna thread-like, long and flexible. Pronotum cylindrical, hardly widened backwards, with lateral margin rounded and without lateral carinae; disc of pronotum with prozona smooth, flat, and metazona slightly elevated; anterior margin approximately straight, and posterior margin obtuse rounded (Figs. 10–11). Lateral lobe of pronotum as high as long, with distinct humeral sinus (Figs. 10–11). Prosternum unarmed. Meso- and metasterna more or less transverse, their lobes rather small, rounded. Anterior coxae armed with a distinct sharp spine; anterior tibiae dorsally sulcate, with open tympanum on both sides; widened at and gradually constricted below tympana (Fig. 13). Tegmen translucent, with irregular veinlets; costa indistinct; subcostal vein and radial vein joined at base, then separated but closely abutted almost to apex; radical sector bifurcated slightly before middle of tegmen; apex of tegmen rounded.

Female terminalia. Ovipositor rather wider than half of length of pronotum, sickle-shaped, slightly upcurved; lateral surface smooth, dorsal and ventral margins denticulate; apex rounded.

Male unknown.

Discussion: The new genus Conversifastigia is distinguished from other genera in the subfamily Phaneropterinae by the large head, inversely pyramidal fastigium frontis with truncated dorsal apex and tegminal structure. It resembles Letana Walker in the texture of tegmen, and Qinlingea Liu & Kang in the structure of the pronotum, tympana, and shape of the ovipositor, but it is difficult to infer its relationship with other genera due to the very different shape of the head.

Etymology: Conversifastigia is derived from the Latin word conversus, and fastigum, which refers to the distinctive fastigum of the new genus; feminine gender.

Distribution: China.

PLATE V, male and female abdominal apex. Figs. 30, 31, female of Parapelerinus ensatus sp. nov. (holotype); Figs. 32, 34, male of Parapelerinus ensatus sp. nov. (paratype from Bawangling Nature in Hainan Island); Figs. 33, 35, male of Parapelerinus emarginatus sp. nov. (holotype); Figs.36, female of Conversifastigia gressitti sp. nov. (holotype); Fig. 30, female subgenital plate in ventral view; Figs. 31, 36, female abdominal apex in lateral view; Figs 32, 33, male internal genitalia in enlarged dorsal view; Figs 34, 35, male subgenital plate in ventral view. (scale = 1 mm)