Pseudepitettix convexa Deng, 2021

Huang, Chao-Mei & Deng, Wei-An, 2021, Description of a new species of the genus Pseudepitettix Zheng (Orthoptera Tetrigoidea: Cladonotinae) from China, Zootaxa 4990 (1), pp. 182-191 : 184-187

1. Pseudepitettix convexa Deng , sp. nov.

( Figures 1–3 )

Description. Female. Small size, short, body surface interspersed with coarse protuberances and carinae.

Head. Head and eyes not exserted above pronotal surface. Fastigium of vertex short; in dorsal view, width of vertex between eyes 2.2–2.5 times width of compound eye; anterior margin of fastigium straight, slightly surpassing anterior margin of eye; median carina visible anteriorly and slightly lamellar; lateral margins turned backward; vertex uneven with paired fossulae. In lateral view, frontal ridge and vertex form obtuse rounded angle, frontal costa slightly concave between lateral ocelli, protruded anteriorly and broadly rounded between antennal grooves. In frontal view, frontal costa bifurcated above lateral ocelli, scutellum (longitudinal furrow) widely forked between antennae, the rami strongly divergent, width of longitudinal furrow of frontal ridge 2.2 times antennal groove diameter. Antennae short, filiform, antennal grooves inserted between inferior margin of compound eyes, 14-segmented, the 10th and 11th segment are the longest, about 3 times longer than its width. Eyes globose, lateral (paired) ocelli located middle of compound eye height.

Thorax. Pronotum with coarse dorsum; in dorsal view, anterior half of pronotal disc compressed, median carina lamellate elevated and tectiform; posterior half of pronotal disc suddenly depressed to flat, with coarse protuberances and notchs. Pronotum with nearly truncate anterior margin; median carina entire and distinctly arch-like before shoulders and suddenly depressed to straight behind shoulders in profile; lateral carinae of prozona distinct and slightly contracted backward; humeral angle indistinct; hind pronotal process wide, reaching knee of hind femur and its apex broadly rounded or nearly truncate. Lower margin of hind process curved, lateral carinae of metazona curved too, width of the area between the two is 0.8 mm. Posterior angles of lateral lobes produced outwards, end of posterior angles slightly truncate, posterior margins of lateral lobes of pronotum only with ventral sinus. Tegmina and hind wings absent.

Legs. Fore and middle femora slightly compressed, margins finely serrated, with carinated and undulated ventral margins. Hind femora robust and short, 2.2 times as long as wide; with carinated and margins smooth; antegenicular denticles and genicular denticles acute. Outer side of hind tibia with 5–6 spines, inner side with 7–8 spines. Length of first segment of posterior tarsi distinctly longer than third, three pulvilli of first segment of posterior tarsi are increased in turn, apices acute.

Abdomen. Ovipositor narrow and long, length of upper valvulae 2.7 times its width, upper and lower valvulae with slender saw-like teeth. Length of subgenital plate longer than its width, middle of posterior margin of subgenital plate triangular projecting.

Coloration. Body dark brown; antennae dark brown. Hind black, with two light rings in the middle.

Male. Similar to female, but smaller and narrower. Width of vertex between eyes 2.0 times width of compound eye. Subgenital plate short, cone-shaped, apex bifurcated.

Measurements (mm). Length of body: ♂ 6.5–7.0, ♀ 7.5–8.0; length of pronotum: ♂ 6.0–6.5, ♀ 6.5–7.0; length of hind femur: ♂ 3.8–4.0, ♀ 4.2–4.5.

Type material. Holotype: ♀, China, Yunnan prov., Pingbian (Daweishan), 22°56ʹ33ʹʹ N, 103°41ʹ25ʹʹ E, 1700m alt., 15 June 2020, collected by Wei-An DENG, GNUMBD . Paratypes. 1♂, 2♀, same data, GNUMBD ; 2♂, China, Yunnan prov., Yuangyang (Niujiaozai), 23°10ʹ7ʹʹ N, 102°38ʹ9ʹʹ E, 1850m alt., 16 June 2020, collected by Wei-An DENG, GNUMBD .

Diagnosis. New species can be easily distinguished from other species of the genus by median carina of pronotum distinctly arch-like before shoulders and suddenly depressed to straight behind shoulders in profile. Traits allowing to determine species of Pseudepitettix and diagnosis of Pseudepitettix convexa Deng , sp. nov. are summarized in Table 1.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from “ convexa ”, meaning median carina of pronotum distinctly arch-like convex before shoulders.

Distribution. P. R. CHINA: Yunnan.

Note: V/E: Vertex wide/eye diameter; AMFV:Anterior margin of fastigium of vertex; SFV: Shape of frontal ridge and vertex; FRE: Frontal ridge before eyes; PS: Pronotal surface; MCPP: Median carina of pronotum in profile; AMPD: Anterior margin of pronotum in dorsal view; SAHPP: Shape of apex of hind pronotal process; ICP: Interhumeral carinae of pronotum; LMHPP: Lower margin of hind process of pronotum; LCP: Lateral carinae of prozona; VMMF: Ventral margins of middle femora.

Figures

FIGURE 1A–E. Pseudepitettix convexa Deng, sp. nov., holotype female. A—body, lateral view; B—the same, dorsal view; C—head and anterior part of pronotum, dorsal view; D—the same, lateral view; E—head, frontal view.

FIGURE 2A–F. Pseudepitettix convexa Deng, sp. nov., holotype female. A—left fore femur, lateral view; B—left mid femur, lateral view; C—left hind femur, lateral view; D—left hind tibia, lateral view; E—right posterior tarsus, lateral view; F—subgenital plate of female, ventral view.

FIGURE 3A–B. Pseudepitettix convexa Deng, sp. nov., paratype male: A—body, lateral view; B—body, dorsal view.