Rhaphidophora disparispina, 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 : 253-256

Rhaphidophora disparispina sp. nov.

异NJẍDz

Figures 6–7

Description. Male. 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; tibiae dorsally with 19–21 internal spines, 19–20 external spines and 1 pair of small subapical spines; tibial apices with 1 pair of dorsal and 2 pairs of ventral spines; basitarsi with 2–3 small spines and 1 apical spine on dorsal surface along the midline ( Fig. 6F ).

Posterior margin of tenth abdominal tergite concave. Epiproct with basal half of lateral margins convex and then terminating to apex, roughly triangular in dorsal view ( Fig. 6H ), dorsal surface faintly concave, the apical area with 1 small spine and followed by 1 large spine ( Fig. 6H, I ), ventral margins of the apical area of the triangle rectangularly prolonged with 1 pair of spines at apex ( Fig. 6H ); ventral surface of epiproct with 1 large process, which longer than wide, dorsal surface concave, the surrounding margins sclerotized, posterolateral angles swollen and then prolonged into a spine on each side, which faintly incurved inserted at the middle area between styli ( Fig. 6K, L ). Subgenital plate deformed, wider than long, lateral margins convex; styli stout at basal area, then terminating into a depressed spine, upcurved behind basal third area ( Fig. 6J ), apical areas sclerotized, apices acute, inserted on posterolateral area of the plate ( Fig. 6K ).

Female. Posterior margin of tenth abdominal tergite concave in middle ( Fig. 7H ). Epiproct longer than wide, lateral margins convex, dorsal surface concave with median furrow, the lateral sides of the furrow raised ( Fig. 7H ). Cerci slender, apices subacute. Subgenital plate wider than long, lateral margins convex, posterior margin arched concave with small angular projecting in middle ( Fig. 7I ). Ovipositor slightly shorter than hind femora, gradually upcurved behind basal area, apices acute; dorsal margins smooth, subapical area of ventral margins serrate ( Fig. 7F ).

Coloration. Body brown, terga with small black-brown spots, sterna yellowish brown.

Measurements (mm). BL: ♂ 19.69–23.50, ♀ 21.03–23.27; PL: ♂ 5.99–6.52, ♀ 6.33–7.30; FFL: ♂ 6.92–7.75, ♀ 7.42–7.80; MFL: ♂ 7.86–8.01, ♀ 7.56–8.03; HFL: ♂ 18.10–18.94, ♀ 18.61–19.32; HBL: ♂ 3.75–2.95, ♀ 2.97–3.90; OvL: 16.17–16.24.

Material examined. Holotype: male, Xiaohaoping, Tengchong , Yunnan, August 10, 2023, coll. by Siyu Pang and Ting Luo . Paratypes: 2 males and 5 females, the other information as holotype.

Distribution. Yunnan (Tengchong).

Discussion. The new species differs from Rhaphidophora equalispina sp. nov. by male epiproct roughly triangular in dorsal view, the apical area with 1 small spine and 1 large spine along the midline ( Fig. 6H, I ), ventral margins of the triangle with 1 pair of spines at apex ( Fig. 6H ), the sclerotized ventral process longer than wide with large apical spines ( Fig. 6K, L ); male subgenital plate with styli stout at basal area and then terminating into a depressed spine; posterior margin of female subgenital plate arched concave with small angular projecting in middle ( Fig. 7I ).

Etymology. The name of the new species refers to the male epiproct with 1 large spine and 1 smaller spine along the midline on dorsal surface; from Latin word “ dispar ” and “ spin ”.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Rhaphidophora disparispina sp. nov. Male: A. head in frontal view; B, D. head and thoraces: B. dorsal view, D. lateral view; C. head and pronotum in dorsal view; E, G. apex of hind femur: E. external view, G. internal view; F. tarsus of hind leg in lateral view; H–L. apex of abdomen: H. apical view, I. apical and slightly dorsal view, J. lateral view, K. apico-ventral view, L. apical view.

FIGURE 7. Rhaphidophora disparispina 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. tarsus of hind leg in lateral view; F. apex of abdomen in lateral view; G. apices of ovipositor in lateral view; H. apex of abdomen in dorsal view; I. seventh abdominal sternite and subgenital plate in ventral view.