Oncodopus brongniarti, Ünal, Mustafa & Beccaloni, George W., 2017

Ünal, Mustafa & Beccaloni, George W., 2017, Revision of the Madagascan genera Oncodopus Brongniart and Colossopus Saussure (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae; Euconchophorini), with description of Malagasopus gen. nov., Zootaxa 4341 (2) : 202-204

Oncodopus brongniarti sp. nov.

( Figs. 30–39 , 110 , 114–116 )

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid:Orthoptera.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:499686

Type locality. Madagascar, Toliara Province, S. Morondava, Belo Sur Mer. Holotype male ( NHMUK).

Description. Male (Holotype): Body size average for genus ( Tab. 2 ) (in one male body size quite large). Fastigium of vertex ( Figs. 30, 31 ) simple, conical, forming a short horn, upper surface flattened with a narrow longitudinal median furrow, 2.3 times longer than diameter of eye, basal part 1.4 times wider than antennal scape. Fastigium of frons ( Fig. 31 ) with a spiniform slightly downcurved tooth. Face flattened, strongly granulated; each tubercle like a small tooth, of which the lower two are larger. Pronotum (30, 31) long, 3.2 times longer than its height and 1.2 times longer than its width; anterior margin convex; posterior margin with an angular, large median incision; upper surface slightly concave in lateral view; prozona 1.9 times longer than metazona. Prothoracic auditory spiracle large, oval; a small portion of its opening concealed under pronotum. Mesothoracic auricle small, short; its opening almost triangular; ventral lobe short. Prosternum with two long, V-shaped spines, reaching to level of ventral margin of fore coxa; widely separated towards to apex. Fore coxa with a short spine projecting forward. Femora without dorsal spines. Fore femur ( Fig. 30 ) with a large inner spine on anterio-lateral margin; with 6 inner spines ventrally. Fore tibia ( Fig. 30 ) with 5 inner and 5 outer spines ventrally. Mid femur with 2 ventral spines on outer margin. Hind femur with 2 outer spines ventrally (1–4 spines in other males). Fore and mid tibia without dorsal spines. Hind tibia with 7 dorsal spines on inner margin (other males with 5–6 spines); with 4 apical spurs ventrally, inner 2 slightly smaller than outer ones; without apical spurs dorsally. All tibia with ventral spines on both margins. Tegmina ( Figs. 30, 31 ) concealed under pronotum, its apex visible from the posterior incision of pronotum in dorsal view, reaching to half of metanotum. Last tergite ( Fig. 33 ) wider than long, posterior margin with a shallow, wide, rounded median incision. Cercus ( Fig. 34 ) stout, apical part with a very small tooth (which is not spiniform) on its ventral margin; inner arm very long, its apex slightly bent backward, pointed with a distinct tooth. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 35 ) almost as long as wide, its styli distinctly longer than depth of median incision.

Female: Face as in male. Fastigium of vertex ( Fig. 36 ) short, 1.8 times longer than diameter of eye, its basal part 1.5 times wider than antennal scape. Pronotum ( Figs. 36, 37 ) as wide as long; posterior margin with a large rounded incision; pronotum 2.9 times longer than its height; prozona 3 times longer than metazona. Tegmina ( Fig. 37 ) strongly reduced, scale like laterally, reaching to half of mesonotum. Prosternal spines V-shaped, slightly shorter than that of male. Fore femur ( Fig. 36 ) with 6–7 ventral spines on inner margin and a large inner spine on anterio-lateral margin. Tibial spines as in male. Mid femur with 2 outer spines ventrally, in other females with 2–4 spines. Hind femur with 2 ventral spines on outer side. Last tergite very short and wide, its posterior incision distinct. Cercus stout, basal part broad, apical third strongly and sharply narrowed, its apex slightly incurved and pointed. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 39 ) almost triangular with a median carina, its apex with a small rounded incision. Ovipositor ( Fig. 38 ) clearly longer than hind femur, slightly upcurved.

Colour (dry specimens). Body milky brown with distinct transverse dark reddish-brown bands. Head reddish brown. Eye, fastigium of vertex, labrum, maxillary and mandibulary palps slightly lighter. Anterior part of pronotum milky brown, posterior part (metazona) very dark with reddish-brown. In female metazona dark brown. All tibiae milky brown. Apical part of each femur dark, with a large black or reddish-black band. Posterior half of first abdominal tergite in male and the whole of it in the female dark, black or reddish brown; posterior part of each abdominal tergite with transverse dark band, black or reddish brown. All sternites, cerci and subgenital plate yellowish milky brown. Ovipositor milky brown in basal 1/3, reddish brown in remaining part.

Diagnosis. Based on the colour pattern (with distinct transverse dark bands), the male cercus with a long inner arm, and the shape of the ovipositor this new species appears to be most closely related to O. zonatus . It differs from it by the absence of a distinct apical spine on the male cercus, the larger median incision of the last tergite in both sexes, the more pronounced tubercles of the face and the female cercus. It is recognized by the shape of the male cercus and the last tergite.

Material examined. Madagascar, Toliara Province, Belo Sur Mer ( South of Morondava ), 20 ° 44'53.63" S, 43 ° 59'36.97" E, 22.11.2007, Coll. G.W. Beccaloni, 2 males (including Holotype) , 2 females, under bark of dead tree; Madagascar, S. Centr . Madagascar, 1 male [no more data] ; Toliara province, Forest near village of Mangily , c. 27 km N. of Toliara, (-23.15, 43.60) [23 ° 8'60'' S, 43 ° 36'0'' E], 11.11.2004, Coll. G.W. Beccaloni, 1 female, under bark of dead tree ; Madagascar, Foret de Zombitsy [Zombitse-Vohibasia N.P.], near Sakaraha , 650 m, 16.12.1959, 1 female (leg. E. S. Ross) (all in NHMUK).

Measurements (mm). Holotype (male): Body length: 40.3; pronotum length: 14.2; width of pronotum: 12.1; fore femur length: 14.5; width of fore femur: 5.7; fore tibia length: 13.3; hind femur length: 15. See Table 2 for the range of measurement of the other specimens including females.

Etymology. This species name is dedicated to Charles Brongniart who was the first to discover this group of insects in 1897. He is the author of the genus Oncodopus and the species Oncodopus zonatus and Colossopus redtenbacheri .

Distribution. South-west and south-central Madagascar ( Fig. 110 ). Toliara Province: Toliara, Mangily, Foret de Zombitsy [Zombitse-Vohibasia N.P.], Morondava.

Habitat. This species is known from spiny forest, dry costal scrub and dry deciduous forest. It has been found under the bark of dead trees.

Phenology. Adults have been found in November and December.

Remarks. The body size is variable as in above 2 species (see under the Remarks section for O. zonatus and Table 2 ).

Figures

FIGURES 30 – 39. Oncodopus brongniarti sp. nov. Male: 30 forelegs, head and pronotum, dorsal view, 31 head and pronotum, lateral view, 32 habitus, dorso-lateral view, 33 last abdominal tergite, 34 cercus, 35 subgenital plate. Female: 36 forelegs, head and pronotum, dorsal view, 37 head and pronotum, lateral view, 38 habitus, dorso-lateral view, 39 subgenital plate. Scale bars 1 mm.

FIGURES 109 – 111. Maps. 109 map of Madagascar, 110 distributions of Oncodopus spp., 111 distributions of Malagasopus spp. and Colossopus spp.

FIGURES 112 – 119. Living specimens. 112 Oncodopus zonatus, adult male, natural resting posture, Zombitse – Vohibasia National Park, Toliara Province. 17.11. 2004. © G. W. Beccaloni, 113 Oncodopus janetae, adult female, Mangatsiaka parcel, Andohahela National Park, Toliara Province. 30.11. 2004. © S. Stammers, 114 Oncodopus brongniarti, adult female, near village of Mangily, Toliara Province. 11.11. 2004. © G. W. Beccaloni, 115 Oncodopus brongniarti, threat display of adult female, near village of Mangily, Toliara Province. 30.12. 2015. © M. Bader, 116 Oncodopus brongniarti, adult pair, natural resting postures, Belo Sur Mer, Toliara Province. 22.11. 2007. © J. Beccaloni, 117 Oncodopus saussurei, adult female, beside R. N. 7 south of Ambohimahasoa, Fianarantsoa Province. 13.11. 2004. © S. Stammers, 118 Malagasopus desutterae, male nymph, 80 km north of Tulear, near village of Ankililoaka, Toliara Province. 6.2008 © O. Pronk, 119 Colossopus grandidieri, eggs: newly laid eggs lower right; older (swollen) eggs upper left. Captive stock. © G. J. N. González.