Brinckiella elegans, 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 : 60-61

Brinckiella elegans n. sp.

( Figs. 1 H, 2M–N, 5A)

Type locality. Republic of South Africa: Western Cape, Matjiesrivier Nat. Res., Pienaarsvlak (32°30'33.4''S, 19°18'37.1''E), 880 m, 6.x.2008, coll. P. Naskrecki & C. Bazelet - female holotype ( SAMC)

Diagnostic description (female, male unknown). General characteristics as for the genus, diagnostic characters listed below. This species can be identified by the unique shape of the female subgenital plate ( Fig. 2 M) and the nearly straight and relatively long ovipositor.

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

Legs. Genicular lobes of front femur armed with single spines on both sides. Genicular lobes of mid femur armed with single spines on both side. Genicular lobes of hind femur unarmed.

Abdomen. Female subgenital plate roughly rectangular, about 1.3 times as wide as long, posterior lobes rounded ( Fig. 2 M.)

Ovipositor. Ovipositor almost straight, slightly curved in apical third, shorter than half of hind femur, dorsal edge of upper valvula parallel to lower valvula; apex pointed, with both valvulae smooth ( Fig. 2 N.)

Egg. Egg elongate, cylindrical in crosssection, straight.

Coloration. Coloration bright green ( Fig. 5 A), antennae concolorous; antennal scapus without markings. Face pale green; eyes uniformly colored. Pronotum green, with thin, dark and light stripes on upper edge of lateral lobe, continuous with those on thorax and abdomen. Legs unicolorous, green; abdominal sterna without markings; abdominal terga with horizontal, thin, light stripes laterally, area between stripes somewhat lighter then rest of abdomen; subgenital plate without markings; ovipositor green, apex brown.

Measurements (1 female). total body: 25; body: 18; pronotum: 3; hind femur: 17.5; front femur: 8; mid femur: 8; ovipositor: 8.3 mm.

Material examined. Republic of South Africa: Western Cape, Cederberg distr., Matjiesrivier Nat. Res., Pienaarsvlak, elev. 880 m (32°30'33.4''S, 19°18'37.1''E), 6.x.2008, coll. P. Naskrecki & C. Bazelet ( RSA _43A) - 1 female (holotype) ( SAMC).

Etymology. Named after the particularly elegant, slender appearance of this new species.

Remarks. The single collected specimen was found at night on a clump of unidentified Restionaceae .

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 5. Species of Brinckiella: A. B. elegans, female; B. B. serricauda, female; C. B. karooensis, female; D. ditto, male; E. B. arboricola, female, yellow form; F. fynbos vegetation near Clanwilliam (Western Cape), the habitat of B. wilsoni; G. Namaqualand Hardeveld biome of the Succulent Karoo (Goegap Nature Reserve, Northern Cape), the habitat of B. arboricola and B. karooensis.