Morphna maculata ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865 )

Anisyutkin, Leonid N., 2018, Little known Epilamprinae (Dictyoptera: Blaberidae) from the collections of the Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Genève. Part 3, Revue suisse de Zoologie 125 (1), pp. 1-16 : 2-5

Morphna maculata ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865)

Figs 1-4 , 10-43

Material examined: BMNH; female syntype; “ Syntype ”, “ Sarawak. Shelford. 1900-117.”, “ Morphna maculata Brunner ” . – BMNH; 1 male (genital complex in prep. 220317/01); “ Malaya Bukit Kutu F.M.S. 28.III.1932, N.C.E. Miller. 1000 ft. ”, “ Morphna maculata Br. W. Det. B. Uvarov 1933 ” . – ZIN; 1 male (specimen No. 141012/03, genital complex in prep. 220317/02), 1 female (specimen No. 141012/04, genital complex in prep. 220317/03); Malaysia, Borneo I., Sarawak State , environs of Kuching City , environs of Bako National Park , on sea bank, lowlying forest and forest on hills; 18.- 22.03.2012; leg. A. Gorochov, M. Berezin, E. Tkatsheva, I. Kamskov. – ZIN; 1 male, 1 female; Malaysia, Pahang State, environs of Kuala Tahan Village on Tembeling River near Taman Negara (= National Park ); December 2014; leg. M. Berezin. – ZIN; 1 female; Malaysia, Fraser’s Hill near border with Selangor (17-18 km SW of Raub), 1000-1300 m; 15- 23.04.2016; leg. A. Gorochov, M. Berezin, E. Tkatsheva.

Redescription of female syntype ( Figs 1-2 , 10-18 ): General colour yellow-brown, with scattered dark dots ( Fig. 1 ). Colouration of head as in Fig. 2 , eyes dark brown, facial part of head with arrow-like black spot. Scapi brown, other parts of antennae broken off. Surfaces smooth and lustrous, head with transverse wrinkles ( Figs 2 , 10 ), weak punctuation present in proximal part of tegmina, mostly in costal field. Head longer than wide, with indistinct transverse impression between antennal sockets and eyes ( Figs 2 , 10 ); ocellar spots small; distance between eyes 0.5 times eye length; distance between antennal sockets about twice scape length (1.5 mm); approximate length ratio of 3rd-5th segments of maxillary palps 0.8: 1.0: 1.0. Pronotum as in Figs 1 , 11 . Tegmina and wings completely developed ( Fig. 1 ), surpassing abdominal apex. Tegmina with truncated apex, sclerotized in costal field; venation distinct; costal field wide; Sc thickened (well visible on ventral side of tegmen); R, M and CuP basally fused. Wings membranous, only with weakly sclerotized area of Sc and anterior rami of R. Fore tibiae not thickened distally. Anterior margin of fore femora of armed type B, with 6-7 spines, including 1-2 apical ones. Tibial spines well developed. Structure of hind tarsus ( Figs 14-15 ) (only left hind tarsus present): metatarsus slightly shorter than other tarsal segments combined, euplantula large, with two spines located on euplantula and one spine at margin of euplantula ( Figs 14-15 , spi.); euplantulae of 2nd-4th tarsal segments large; euplantulae of 1st-3rd tarsal segments with “additional spines” on their outside ( Fig. 15 , a.s.); claws symmetrical, simple; arolium distinct, about half as long as claw ( Fig. 16 ). Fore ( Fig. 12 ) and mid ( Fig. 13 ) tarsi similar to hind tarsi, but segments comparatively shorter and spines completely absent. Abdomen without visible glandular specializations; spiracle-bearing outgrowths of tergite VIII with sharp and attenuate posterolateral angles ( Fig. 17 , p.a.). Anal plate (tergite X) wider than long and widely rounded, with triangular medial incision on hind margin ( Fig. 17 ). Cerci slender, with distinct segments ( Fig. 17 ). Genital plate wide, without distinct emargination on hind margin ( Fig. 18 ).

Variation of somatic characters of non-type females: The characterization of this species can be supplemented with the following details taken from other specimens examined. Eyes black in some specimens; ocellar spots yellow to orange; black spot on facial part of head in some specimens larger than in syntype. Complete antennae brown. Distance between eyes 0.5-0.6 times eye length; distance between antennal sockets about 1.7-2.0 times scape length (~ 1.5-1.8 mm); approximate length ratio of 3rd-5th segments of maxillary palps 0.8-1.0: 1.0: 1.0. Tegmina with truncated or widely rounded apices. Anterior margin of fore femora with 4-7 spines, including 1-2 apical ones. Structure of hind tarsus as in syntype, but in all other specimens spines situated along lower margin of metatarsus (including spines on euplantula) absent; arolium slightly shorter or longer than half of claw length. Hind margin of genital plate with distinct or weak emargination ( Fig. 19 ) or with sinuate invagination ( Fig. 20 ).

Ovipositor and adjacent structures of non-type females ( Figs 21-24 ): Intercalary sclerite absent. Tergal processes of abdominal segment VIII reduced, not reaching paratergites of tergite VIII ( Fig. 21 , teVIII.); tergal processes of abdominal segment IX fully developed ( Fig. 21 , teIX.). Gonangulum distinct, well sclerotized ( Figs 21-23 , gg.). All valves of ovipositor mostly membranous, only partly sclerotized. First valves large, membranous at apex, with numerous setae along inner side ( Fig. 22 , v.I.). Base of 2nd and 3rd pairs of valves as in Fig. 23 , sclerotized lobes well developed ( Fig. 23 , pl.). Anterior arch of second valvifer as in Fig. 23 , a.a. Second valves of ovipositor small, completely hidden under 1st ones ( Fig. 22 , v.II.). Third valves of ovipositor (gonoplacs) wide ( Figs 21-22 , v.III.). Basivalvula developed as slightly asymmetrical, widely rounded and partly sclerotized plates ( Figs 21-23 , bsv.). Vestibular structure sclerotized along with sides, with long lateral branches ( Figs 21-23 , vs.). Brood sac ( Fig. 21 , bd.s.) without sclerotized structures.

Somatic characters of males: Generally similar to female, but different in the following details. Head with eyes slightly larger ( Fig. 25 ); distance between eyes 0.5-0.6 times eye length; distance between antennal sockets about 1.4-1.5 times scape length (~ 1.8- 1.9 mm); approximate length ratio of 3rd-5th segments of maxillary palps 1.0: 1.0: 1.1-1.2. Pronotum less wide ( Fig. 26 ). Anterior margin of fore femora with 5-7 spines, including 1-2 apical ones. Tarsal spines (i.e. spines located along lower margin of segments, euplantulae, and “additional spines”) absent in some specimens. Shape of spiracle-bearing outgrowths of abdominal tergite VIII quite variable: posterolateral angles distinctly attenuated ( Fig. 17 , p.a.) or rounded ( Figs 27-28 ). Anal plate (tergite X) widely rounded, with triangular medial incision on hind margin ( Figs 27-28 ). Cerci longer ( Fig. 27 ) than in female. Paraprocts of blaberid-type ( Figs 28-29 , par.). Hypandrium nearly symmetrical, hind margin with weak median incision ( Fig. 30 ); styli short, cylindrical.

Male genitalia ( Figs 31-43 ): Right phallomere (R+N): caudal part of sclerite R1T well sclerotized, subrectangular in shape ( Figs 31-32 , c.p.R 1T ), densely covered with bristles; R2 angulate; R3 robust, widened caudally; R4 large, plate-like; R5 small, fused with R3. Sclerite L2D (L1) divided into basal and apical parts ( Fig. 33 ); basal part rod-like, weakly widened cranially; “apical sclerite” partly covered with recumbent bristles; “dorsal outgrowth” large ( Figs 34-39 , d.o.). Sclerite L3 (L2d) without basal subsclerite ( Fig. 40 ); “folded structure” distinct, with short bristles; apex of L3 with “small tooth” ( Figs 41-43 , s.t.); groove hge absent. Sclerite L4U (L3d) large.

Dimensions (in mm): Head length: male 6.7-7.2, female 6.7-7.6 (7.1); head width: male 5.8-6.2, female 6.1-6.9 (6.3); pronotum length: male 11.2-11.8, female 11.7- 12.4 (11.8); pronotum width: male 16.5-16.7, female 16.5-18.2 (18.2); tegmen length: male 38.0-39.0, female 38.0-40.0 (40.0); tegmen width: male 16.0, female 14.0- 17.5 (16.0). Measurements in parenthesis are those of syntype.

Figures

Figs 1-9. Photos of Morphna maculata (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865) (1-2: female, syntype, 3-4: male), Morphnodes goliath (Shelford, 1906) (5-6: male), Pseudocalolampra inexpectata Roth & Princis, 1971 (7: male), Colapteroblatta compsa Hebard, 1919 (8: male, 9: female). (1, 3, 5) Dorsal view of entire specimen. (2, 4, 6-9) Facial part of head. Abdominal apex removed in Fig. 3. Scale bars 10 mm: a = 1, b = 3, c = 5. Other photos not to scale.

Figs 10-20. Morphna maculata (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865), females (10-18: syntype, 19-20: specimen No. 141012/04). (10) Facial part of head. (11) Pronotum, dorsal view. (12-13, 15) Fore (12), mid (13) and hind (15) tarsus, prolateral view. (14) Hind metatarsus, ventral view. (16) Hind pretarsus, distal view. (17) Abdominal apex, dorsal view. (18) Genital plate, outlines of hind margin. (19) Genital plate, ventral view. (20) Genital plate, outline of medial part of hind margin, posterior view. Dotted areas show membranous parts (not shown for metatarsus in Figs 14-15). Abbreviations: a.s., p.a., spi. – see paragraph “abbreviation used in figures”; for details see text. Scale bars 1 mm: a = 10, b = 11, c = 12, d = 13, e = 14-15, f = 16, g = 17, h = 18, i = 19-20.

Figs 21-24. Morphna maculata (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865), female specimen No. 141012/04. (21) Abdominal apex, ventral view, genital plate removed. (22) Ovipositor and adjacent structures, ventral view. (23) Basal part of ovipositor, dorsal view. (24) Vestibular sclerite. Dotted areas show membranous parts, except for valves of ovipositor. Abbreviations: bd.s., bsv., gg., par., pl., teVIII., teIX., v.I., v.II., v.III., vs. – see paragraph “abbreviation used in figures”; IX, X - abdominal tergites IX-X; for details see text. Scale bars 1 mm: a = 21, b = 22, c = 23, d = 24.

Figs 25-43. Morphna maculata (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865), males (25-26, 33, 37-43: specimen in BMNH, 27-32, 34-36: specimen in ZIN, No. 141012/03). (25) Facial part of head. (26) Pronotum, dorsal view. (27) Abdominal apex, dorsal view. (28) Abdominal apex, ventral view (only right sides of VII and VIII tergites are shown). (29) Paraprocts, posterior view. (30) Hypandrium, ventral view. (31) Right phallomere, ventral view. (32) Same, dorsal view. (33) Sclerite L2D, dorsal view, bristles not shown. (34, 37) Posterior part of sclerite L2D, lateral view. (35, 38) Same, dorsal view. (36, 39) The same, contralateral view. (40) Sclerite L3. (41-43) Apex of sclerite L3. Dotted areas show membranous parts. Abbreviations: c.p.R1T, d.o., par., R2, R3, R4, R5, s.t. – see paragraph “abbreviation used in figures”; VII, VIII, IX, X - abdominal tergites VII-X; for details see text. Scale bars 1 mm: a = 25, b = 26, c = 27, d = 28-29, e = 30, f = 31-32, g = 33, h = 34-36, i = 37- 39, j = 40, k = 41-43.