Rhaphidophora brachyta, Li & Bian, 2024

Li, Shan & Bian, Xun, 2024, Contribution to the Chinese subfamily Rhaphidophorinae Walker, 1869 (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) VII: New descriptions of Rhaphidophora from Yunnan and Guangxi, Zootaxa 5405 (2), pp. 246-264 : 248

Rhaphidophora brachyta sp. nov.

短NJẍDz

Figure 2

Description. Female. Body medium. Head and pronotum as other species of the genus. Fore coxae with 1 spine; femora with 1 short ventral spine on internal margin; tibiae with 1 internal and 2 external spines ventrally, apices with 1 pair of spines on ventral surface. Middle femora with 1 pair of apical spines on ventral surface; tibiae dorsally with 2 internal and 3 external spines, ventral surface with 1 internal and 3 external spines, apices with 1 pair of spines on dorsal and ventral surfaces separately. Hind femora with 1 short ventral spine on internal margin ( Fig. 2G ); tibiae dorsally with 17–20 internal spines, 20–21 external spines and 1 pair of small subapical spines, apices with 1 pair of dorsal and 2 pairs of ventral spines; basitarsi with 3–6 small spines and 1 apical spine on dorsal surface along the midline ( Fig. 2F ).

Posterior margin of tenth abdominal tergite projected in middle, with narrow and deep concavity ( Fig. 2H ). Epiproct ligulate, dorsal surface concave, apex rounded ( Fig. 2H ). Cerci slender, apices subacute. Subgenital plate wider than long, the lateral margins obliquely narrowing and terminating into a small spine at apex ( Fig. 2I ). Ovipositor slightly shorter than hind femora, moderately upcurved, dorsal margins smooth, apices acute; ventral margins with small teeth at apical areas ( Fig. 2D ).

Male. Unknown.

Coloration. Body brown. Head brownish, below eyes with black spots, fronto-clypeal suture with 1 pair of black spots. Apices of hind femora black.

Measurements (mm). BL: ♀ 26.08; PL: ♀ 6.88; FFL: ♀ 7.92; MFL: ♀ 7.86; HFL: ♀ 19.33; HBL: ♀ 3.46; OvL: 16.08.

Material examined. Holotype: female, Xima, Yingjiang , Yunnan, August 15, 2023, coll. by Weizong Yang.

Distribution. Yunnan (Yingjiang).

Discussion. The new species differs from Rhaphidophora digitata Lu & Bian, 2022 by lateral margins of female subgenital plate obliquely narrowing, posterior margin with longer spine ( Fig. 2I ). While in Rhaphidophora digitata Lu & Bian, 2022 , the posterior margin of female subgenital plate widely arched ( Lu et al., 2022: Fig. 4F ), the median spine short.

Etymology. The name of the new species derives from Greek word “ brachy ” referring to the female subgenital plate with 1 short spine at posterior margin.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Rhaphidophora brachyta sp. nov. Female: A. head in frontal view; B–C. head and thoraces: B. dorsal view, C. lateral view; D. ovipositor and right hind femur in lateral view; E. apex of left femur in external view; F. tarsus of hind leg in lateral view; G. apex of abdomen in lateral view; H. apex of abdomen in dorsal view; I. seventh abdominal sternite and subgenital plate in ventral view.

FIGURE 4. Rhaphidophora cylindra sp. nov. Female: A. head in frontal view; B, D. head and thoraces: B. dorsal view, D. lateral view; C. head and pronotum in dorsal view; E. apex of hind femur in internal view; F. tarsus of hind leg in lateral view; G–H. apex of abdomen: G. dorsal view, H. lateral view; I. seventh abdominal sternite and subgenital plate in ventral view.