Aptoceras iguassuensis Matiotti da Costa, n. sp.

(Figs. 1 A–1H)

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu (Iguaçu National Park) where these grasshoppers were first sampled.

Diagnosis. Combination of the following characteristics: (i) antennae filiform, with 19 antennomeres, the fourth, eighth and tenth antennomeres enlarged in width; (ii) epiproct subtriangular marked by a deep median longitudinal sulci in basal region and two black spots of irregular shape; (iii) furculae strongly protruding and sclerotized; (iv) cerci conical with a large internal apophysis full black and pubescent; (v) pallium salient; (vi) epiphallus with a concave bridge and ancorae fully sclerotized.

Description. Male Holotype (Fig.1A). Small size (body length 16mm). Macropterous. Body with rugose tegument. Head. Head slightly wider than the front edge of pronotum. The occiput short, slightly ascending. Frontal costa deep prominent between eyes. (Fig. 1E). Fastigium of the vertex subtriangular longer with two strong lateral projections in median position and rounded end and presence of granules; interocular space narrow; protruding eyes (Fig. 1 C–1E). Antennae filiform with 19 antennomeres, longer than the head and pronotum together; 4 th, 8 th and 10 th antennomeres enlarged in width. Thorax. Profile of pronotum sinuous and rugose; pronotum a little broader behind than in front, without lateral carinae. Pronotal disk with median carinae distinct in metazona; marked by three deeply impressed transversal sulci; anterior margin of pronotum rounded and posterior margin obtuse; metazona same size as prozona (Fig.1C). Pronotum with two dorsal bands, granulations salient and spots. Lateral lobes slightly sinuous, presenting (Fig. 1D). Prosternal spine conical; mesosternal space subquadrate and metasternal lobes distant. Rugosity and granules of the metathoracic episternum small and only slightly visible. Tegmen. Long, extending beyond end of abdomen; broad at the base and rounded apex; veins strongly impressed (Fig.1 A–1B). Legs. Hind femur slender and surpassing the abdomen tip, with upper and lower carinae serrate; hind knees dorsally with pair of spines; genicular lunules rounded. Granulations in the external medial face of the posterior femur, slightly protruding. Hind tibiae with seven external and six internal spines; anterior femur slender. Abdomen. Tympanum present. Epiproct subtriangular marked by deep median longitudinal sulcus in basal region and two spots of irregular shape; longer than wide; apex of the epiproct rounded and sides slightly undulate; furculae strongly protruding and sclerotized throughout basal region (Fig.1F). Subgenital plate pubescent, short and curved at top edge and directed upwards (Fig. 1G). Pallium salient (Fig.1G). Cerci conic and apex acuminate, a large internal apophysis and full black and pubescent (Fig.1H). Phallic complex. Cingulum with long apodemes; arch of cingulum developed; gonopore with a rectangular ventral projection (Fig. 2A); aedeagus long with upper and lower valves of the same size. Sclerites of aedeagus covered by the wide ectophallic sheath (Fig. 2A). Ectophallic plates, cingulum and aedeagal valves with sheath as seen in (Fig. 2B). Epiphallus with a concave bridge; ancorae and bridge highly sclerotized; ancorae very developed more than the anterior projections (Fig. 2C).

Male coloration. Body brown with greenish spots (Figs 1 A–1B). Head mostly green color over lateral ocelli. Fastigium of the vertex with ten dark granules. (Fig. 1C). Occiput with green spot. Genae, clypeus and labrum with greenish spots; labial and maxillary palpi of the first joints yellow and the other green; horizontal black band cutting the median region of the face (Fig. 1E). Pronotum brown with two dorsal bands light brown and dark brown spots well distinct; three black protrusions in between the sulci in the prozona; metazona greenish in the extremity, granulations salient and spots dark green; hind edge of the metazona dotted with black. Lateral lobes presenting distinct band brown, colored and marked with greenish spots (Fig. 1D). Tegmen with veins light brown (Figs1 A–1B). Dorsal carinae of hind femur with two large greenish spots; genicular lunules light brown. Black granulations in the external medial face of the posterior femur. Hind tibiae dark greenish. Coxae-trochanter, anterior-middle femora, hind femora and hind tibia of all legs light brown with greenish spots; first tarsomere yellow; ventral region of the hind femur reddish; medial area of the hind femur with small dark-colored granules. Abdominal tergites lightbrown. Abdominal side yellowish. Epiproct with two black spots of irregular shape; pallium yellowish (Fig.1G). Cerci black (Fig.1H).

Female. Similar to male in color, but larger in size (mean body length: 25mm) (Figs 3 A-3B). Interocular space wider (Fig. 3C). Coloration of pronotum and body less intense than in males. Clypeus with less intense spots. Absence of dotted black in hind edge of the metazona (Figs 3C, 3D). Frontal costa less prominent between eyes (Fig. 3E). Clypeus with spots dark green less intense. Labial and maxillary palpi not colored (Fig. 3E). Ovipositor valves short, in lateral view straight (Fig. 3F). Superior margin of the dorsal valve of the ovipositor with five teeth and apical tooth of the external ventral valve of ovipositor not prominent (Fig. 3F). Cerci short, conical, not reaching tip of epiproct (Fig. 3G). Epiproct subtriangular with median sulcus well marked, interrupted transversely in the median region; black spots in the basal region and rounded apex. Subgenital plate long with posterior margin pointed. Tergites with black spots. (Fig. 3G).

Measurements (mm): Males (n=3): BL = 16.2 (14.2–16.2); PL = 3.4 (3.0–3.4); FL3 = 11 (10.8–11); TL = 17.2 (16.9–17.2). Females (n=19): BL = 25.4 (18.1–25.4); PL = 4.0 (3.0–4.0); FL3 = 14.1 (12.2–14.1); TL = 24.3 (20–24.3).

Type material. Holotype male: BRAZIL, Paraná, municipality of Céu Azul, sampled in the leaf litter of the edges of Iguaçu National Park (25°9’21.33”S– 53°50’55.09”W), 10.i.2018, N. Szinwelski leg. (MCTP-PUCRS) . Holotype condition: genitalia were extracted and maintained in holotype’s tube. Paratypes: 0 1 adult male and 0 2 adult females from Céu Azul—PR (25°6’47.71”S– 53°46’18.77”W), 16.xi.2017, V.M. Prasniewski leg. (MCTP- PUCRS); 0 3 adult females from Céu Azul—PR (25°6’47.71”S– 53°46’18.77”W), 10.i.2018, M. V.A. Borille & L.C. Macarini leg. (MCTP-PUCRS); 0 7 adult females from the same local of holotype, 10.i.2018, N. Szinwelski leg. (MCT-PUCRS); 0 3 adult females from Céu Azul—PR (25°6’47.71”S– 53°46’18.77”W), 05.v.2018, N. Szinwelski leg. (MCT-PUCRS); 0 1 adult male and 0 1 adult female from Serranópolis do Iguaçu—PR (25°27’32.6”S 54°01’31.6”W), 16.xi.2017, V.M. Prasniewski leg. (MCT-PUCRS); 0 2 adult females from Foz do Iguaçu—PR (25°38’02.3”S 54°26’59.1”W), 10.i.2018, N. Szinwelski leg. (MCT-PUCRS); 0 1 adult female from Braganey—PR, 09.v.2018, C.C. Cassarotto leg. (MCPT-PUCRS) .

Remarks. Habitat and habits. Individuals of A. iguassuensis n. sp. were collected during sunny days, exclusively on the leaf litter of the edges of the Iguaçu National Park and in a small fragment of Atlantic forest in the municipality of Braganey. The characteristics of the habitat and habits increase the difficulty of capturing these organisms. Additionally, the areas where A. iguassuensis n. sp. was sampled are surrounded by crop, with regular applications of agrochemicals. Moreover, bordering the Iguaçu National Park especially across the municipality of Céu Azul (Fig. 4), there is a highway (BR-277), with traffic around 15000 vehicle/day, according to Departamento de Estradas e Rodagem (DER-PR).