Melanabropsis nightfury, Yin, 2024

Yin, Zi-Xu, 2024, Distribution of the mysterious Chevron Crickets Melanabropsis Wang & Liu, 2020, with a remarkable new species from Hainan, China (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae: Anabropsini), Zootaxa 5474 (1), pp. 81-93 : 82-86

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5474.1.8
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D3569CF9-ACA1-4D90-9D63-3DD1D82A7C90
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12527120
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A836DF13-FFC7-FFF0-FF71-FA47FDB3FA6A
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Melanabropsis nightfury
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Melanabropsis nightfury sp. nov.

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Figs. 1–6 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 , 10 View FIGURE 10 AB

Holotype. ♂, China, Hainan Province, Ledong Li Autonomous County, Jianfengling National Forest Park, Mingfenggu , Alt. 900 m, 2-VIII-2022, coll. Michael Lee and Zeyi Lyu.

Paratype. ♀, same location as in holotype, 20-VIII-2020, coll. Yunhu Mo.

Description. Body size small. Fastigium of vertex narrow, about half the width of the first antennal segment, without longitudinal furrow above ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 AC). Occiput with a faint longitudinal median suture ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Anterior margin of pronotum nearly straight, posterior margin broadly rounded ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Disc of pronotum with a distinct flat hind part, with a faint longitudinal median suture and a distinct transverse sulcus ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 AB). Prosternum unarmed, meso- and metasternum with widely tuberculous lobes ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Tegmen extending far beyond abdominal apex ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ). Veins of tegmen as in Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 AC.

Fore and mid coxae with a spine ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Genicular lobes of all femora without spines ( Figs. 1E View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 AB, 3AB). External surface of hind femur with distinct chevron ridges ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Distal one third of fore and mid tibiae distinctly slender than other parts ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 AB, 3AB). Tympana absent on fore tibiae ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 AB). Fore femur ventrally with 0~2 internal spinules; mid femur with 2~4 external spinules; hind femur with 0~3 internal spinules, with 6~10 external spinules. Fore tibia dorsally with 1 pair of spurs, ventrally with 4 pairs of moveable spines and 1 pair of spurs, both pairs of spurs with inner one longer ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 AB); mid tibia dorsally with 1~2 internal and 1 external moveable spines, ventrally with 3 internal and 4 external moveable spines, and apically with 1 pair of dorsal and 1 pair of ventral spurs of roughly equal length except internal dorsal one ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 AB); hind tibia dorsally with 8~10 internal and 7~9 external spines, and apically bearing 4 pairs of spurs; length of the 4 pairs of spurs: the second highest pair> the highest pair = the third highest pair> the lowest pair ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ).

Male ninth abdominal tergite prolonged and decurved at central posterior margin, width of this lobe almost equal to the distance between paired barbs which plate dorsal surface of tenth abdominal tergite, the area between these hooks collapsed downwards and extended backwards at middle of hind margin which is emarginate ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ABD). Epiproct rounded triangular ( Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 ); each paraprocts with a setose, elongate and upcurve portion, which exhibits a truncate apex and presents a small spine ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 AB). Cerci cylindrical, rugose and setose, gradually narrowing towards apex, longer than length of pronotum ( Figs. 5 View FIGURE 5 ABC). Male subgenital plate gradually narrows towards the apex, hind margin concave; styli large, compressed at base and swollen at distal part when alive, and deflated after preserved in ethanol ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ABCD). Female ovipositor arcuate-upcurved, gradually tapering towards the apex, dorsal valves are longer ( Fig. 5E View FIGURE 5 ).

Coloration. Body generally brown above and white underneath ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ABE). Face, antennas and wings brown ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ABC). Pronotum and compound eyes black ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 AB). Distal part of tibiae and proximal part of femora light grey but changed gradually ( Figs. 1D View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 AB, 3AB).

Measurements (mm). Body length (with wings): ♂ 27.2, ♀ 31.4; length of pronotum: ♂ 6.4, ♀ 7.0; length of tegmina: ♂ 18.5, ♀ 21.3; length of fore femur: ♂ 7.8~8.0, ♀ 7.9~8.0; length of mid femur: ♂ 7.9~8.0, ♀ 9.2~9.3; length of hind femur: ♂ 17.4~17.8, ♀ 20.2~20.6; length of fore tibia: ♂ 8.2~8.4, ♀ 8.4~8.5; length of mid tibia: ♂ 8.6~8.7, ♀ 9.5~9.6; length of hind tibia: ♂ 15.7~15.8, ♀ 18.4~18.6; length of ovipositor: 10.5.

Notes. Melanabropsis nightfury is unique, currently the only known macropterous species of the genus. It differs from all other known species of Melanabropsis by the large scale of wings. Based on the observation photo records from Taiwan Island ( Tab. 1 View TABLE 1 ), the unknown species found on Taiwan Island bears a closer resemblance M. nightfury compared to other species.

Etymology. This species is named after Night fury, a prominent character in the fantasy film series How to Train Your Dragon. The name is chosen to symbolize the male protagonist's efforts in altering humanity's perception of dragons, demonstrating that humans and nature can coexist in a state of harmony. Despite being small and insignificant compared to nature, humans are capable of showing respect and kindness towards nature, which will in turn reward us with benevolence.

Distribution. China (Hainan Island).