Brinckiella aptera, Naskrecki, Piotr & Bazelet, Corinna S., 2009

Naskrecki, Piotr & Bazelet, Corinna S., 2009, A species radiation among South African flightless spring katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae: Brinckiella Chopard), Zootaxa 2056, pp. 46-62 : 61-62

Brinckiella aptera n. sp.

( Figs. 1 I–J; 2 O; 3I)

Type locality. Republic of South Africa: Western Cape, Bredasdorp Div. Pearly Beach (34°39'S, 19°28'60''E) ix.1959, coll. SAMC staff - male holotype ( SAMC)

Diagnostic description (male, female unknown). General characteristics as for the genus, diagnostic characters listed below. This species is unique in the complete aptery of adult males.

Thorax. Lateral lobe of pronotum about twice as long as high ( Fig. 1 I); anterior margin of pronotum flat; broadly rounded; metazona flat, posterior edge of metazona straight ( Fig. 1 J); apterous.

Legs. Legs extremely long and slender. Genicular lobes of front femur armed with single spines on both sides. Genicular lobes of mid femur armed with single spines on both sides. Genicular lobes of hind femur unarmed.

Abdomen. Tenth tergite unmodified; epiproct small and rounded, unmodified; paraprocts unmodified. Cercus short and stout, bent inwards halfway its length; straight when seen from side; apex tapered, with apical tooth ( Fig. 3 I); phallus entirely membranous, without sclerotized elements. Subgenital plate elongate, narrowly trapezoidal, straight apically; styli cylindrical, more than 3 times as long as wide, parallel; separated by small gap ( Fig. 2 O.)

Coloration. Coloration probably green in live individuals, faded brown in dry, pinned ones, antennae concolorous; antennal scapus without markings. Pronotum with dark and light stripes on upper edge of lateral lobe, continuous with those on thorax and abdomen.

Measurements (1 male). body: 11; pronotum: 2.1; hind femur: 15.5; front femur: 8.5; mid femur: 7.9 mm.

Material examined. Republic of South Africa: Western Cape, Bredasdorp Div. Pearly Beach, (34°39'S, 19°28'60''E), ix.1959, coll. SAMC staff - 1 male (holotype) ( SAMC); Sneeuwgat Valley, Tulbagh Div., (33°8'S, 19°10'E), x.1934, coll. SAMC staff - 1 male (paratype) ( SAMC).

Etymology. Named in reference to the complete lack of wings in the male of this species.

Remarks. This unusual species is the first example of a complete aptery in the males of the Phaneropterinae . Despite the complete lack of wings, the tympanal organs on the front tibia in these insects are developed normally. The lack of stridulatory organs in B. aptera raises the question of how the females find males during the breeding season, and whether an alternative form of communication (e.g., tremulation or pheromonal communication) might have evolved in this species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Diagnostic characters of Brinckiella spp.: A. B. mauerbergerorum – male head and pronotum, lateral view; B. ditto, female; C. B. wilsoni - male head and pronotum, lateral view; D. ditto, female; E – F. dorsal views of the male, typical coloration patterns; G. B. arboricola - female head and pronotum, lateral view; H. B. elegans - female head and pronotum, lateral view; I. B. aptera - male head and pronotum, lateral view; J. ditto, dorsal view; K – N. male stridulatory files: K. B. mauerbergerorum; L. B. wilsoni; M. B. arboricola; N. B. karooensis.

FIGURE 2. Diagnostic characters of Brinckiella spp.: A. B. mauerbergerorum – female subgenital plate; B. ditto, ovipositor; C. B. viridis - female subgenital plate; D. ditto, ovipositor; E. B. arboricola - female subgenital plate; F. ditto, ovipositor; G. B. wilsoni - female subgenital plate; H. ditto, ovipositor; I. B. karooensis - female subgenital plate; J. ditto, ovipositor; K. B. serricauda - female subgenital plate; L. ditto, ovipositor; M. B. elegans - female subgenital plate; N. ditto, ovipositor; O. B. aptera - male subgenital plate; P. B. wilsoni - male subgenital plate; Q. B. karooensis - male subgenital plate.

FIGURE 3. Diagnostic characters of Brinckiella spp.: A – D. phallus: A. B. mauerbergerorum; B. B. karooensis; C. B. wilsoni; D. B. arboricola; E – I. male cercus: E. B. mauerbergerorum; F. B. karooensis; G. B. wilsoni; H. B. arboricola; I. B. aptera; J. tegmen, B. karooensis; K. the mid-section of the ovipositor, B. wilsoni; L. ditto, B. serricauda (note the distinct serration on the upper valvula); M – N. eggs: M. B. serricauda; N. B. wilsoni; O. B. arboricola; P. the position and size of the thoracic auditory spiracle, Poecilimon turcicus Karabag, female (the red arrow indicates vestigial tegmina); Q. ditto, B. arboricola.