Pseudonicsara (Cercana) halmahera, Ingrisch, 2009

Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2009, Revision of the genus Pseudonicsara Karny, 1912 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae: Agraeciini) 2185, Zootaxa 2185, pp. 1-122 : 54-55

Pseudonicsara (Cercana) halmahera sp. n.

Figs. 9–10, 30, 52, 468, 503, 536, 548, map 4.

? Salomona raffrayi (nec Brongniart 1897) Brunner 1898: 199.

Pseudonicsara raffrayi C. Willemse 1966 , Publ. natuurh. Genoot. Limbung 16: 8 (female only; misidentification).

Holotype (female): Indonesia, Moluccas: Halmaheira [? 1° 50' N, 127° 50' E], 1894, W. Kükenthal (also labelled "? raffrayi Brogn. Brunner v.W. det." and " Pseudonicsara raffrayi Brongniart 1897 det. C.Willemse, plesiotype"), depository: Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main, Germany ( SMF).

Other material studied: Indonesia: 1 female, Java, Soekaboemi , VIII.1936, ex coll. Le Moult [probably wrong locality as Sukabumi was the residence of the collector on Java] ( ZMUH) .

Diagnosis. P. halmahera is unique for the characteristic shape of the female subgenital plate that has at base two large obtuse lateral processes at both sides, separated by a deep furrow; a median carina is only expressed at base, crossing a subbasal transverse furrow ( Figs. 468, 503, 536). Differences to other species are outlined in the key.

Description. Face rugose ( Fig. 30). Tegmen surpassing hind knees, with margins tapering towards rounded apex ( Figs. 9–10). Prosternum with two very short spinules ( Fig. 52). Femora with the following number of spines on ventral margins: fore femur 6–7 external, 5–7 internal; mid femur 6–7 external, 2–3 internal near base; hind femur 10–11 external, 3–6 small internal near base.

Male unknown.

Female ( Figs. 9–10). Tenth tergite with apex largely fissing in middle, and slightly, roundly projecting on each side of fissing area. Subgenital plate with a large baso-lateral swelling at each side, swelling divided into a larger, sacculiform internal and a carinate external part; central part of subgenital plate with a short median carina and depressed on both sides of carina; apical area greatly fissing into two lobes; lobes with internoapical margin broadly rounded and forming an obtuse, externo-apical angle ( Figs. 468, 503, 536). Ovipositor rather narrow, margins smooth, apex acute ( Fig. 548).

Coloration (type). Uniformly pale brown. Face reddish brown, area around clypeo-frontal suture and mandibles darkened. Fore tibiae with an indistinct spot below tympana. – Female in ZMUH: Face medium brown, a vertical band in middle, area around clypeo-frontal suture and mandibles almost black. Posterior area of pronotum except narrow margin blackish brown. Tegmen medium brown with yellowish brown veins and veinlets. Fore tibiae with a blackish brown spot at lower margin of tympana.

Measurements (2 females): body 27; pronotum 7.5–8.0; tegmen 22–24; hind femur 15–16; ovipositor 13–14 mm.

Discussion. The holotype of the species was originally identified with a question mark as Salomona raffrayi by Brunner (1898). Later, Willemse (1966) formally described it as plesiotype of the latter species. Indeed, coloration of the types of P. raffrayi and P. halmahera is very similar. However, the face of P. raffrayi is oval, in P. halmahera distinctly narrower. Thus it is unlikely that both belong to the same species. Moreover, P. halmahera shows the typical characteristics of the subgenus Cercana , while P. raffrayi should belong to Wasiorana . Unfortunately, P. raffrayi is only known from two males, P. halmahera from two females. Thus the opposite sexes from the type localities are necessary to finally settle the question.

The geographical coordinates of the type locality are those for Galela as all the Orthoptera of Kükenthal's collection from Halmahera in SMF are either labelled "Halmahera 1894" without precise locality or " Halmahera Galela 1894 ". The second female, labelled as from Java, may also come from Halmahera. As the true locality is uncertain, it is not included in the type series .

Etymology. Named after the type locality; noun in apposition.