Procellator Kasalo, Skejo & Cambra, 2023

Kasalo, Niko, Buzzetti, Filippo Maria, Stancher, Gionata, Cambra, Roberto A. & Skejo, Josip, 2023, Contribution to the knowledge of Batrachideini (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae): description of two new flightless genera, Naskreckiana and Procellator, and revision of the status of Eotetrix, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 63 (2), pp. 279-292 : 284

Procellator Kasalo, Skejo & Cambra gen. nov.

( Figs 5–7 )

Type species. Procellator kai Kasalo, Skejo & Cambra sp. nov., here designated.

Diagnosis. Most similar to the Batrachideini genera with an elevated median carina of the pronotum: Cranotettix , Halmatettix , Plectronotus , and Naskreckiana . The following set of characters allow this genus to be separated from all other Batrachideini : (1) frontal costa bifurcation at the upper third of the eye height, (2) mid-line of the antennal grooves at the bottom margin of eyes, (3) anterior spine reaching far beyond the anterior level of eyes, (4) median carina of pronotum elevated throughout its length, highest in the anterior quarter of its length, strongly undulated.

Etymology. The word is coined from the Latin word procella, meaning storm, fused with the Latin suffix - tor used to form a third declension masculine agent noun (e.g., like gladiator, from gladius, sword). It represents a metaphor of the upcoming storm in the form of a revision of Batrachideini . “ procellator, -oris, m.” is thus a masculine gender noun.

Composition and distribution. The genus includes a single species, Procellator kai Kasalo, Skejo & Cambra sp. nov., for now known only from Panama.

Figures

Fig. 5. The holotype of Procellator kai gen. & sp. nov. with key diagnostic characters marked. Photographed by Kai Squires.

Fig. 6. An adult female of Procellator kai gen. & sp. nov. photographed in its natural habitat by Kai Squires.

Fig. 7. A nymph of Procellator kai gen. & sp. nov. photographed in its natural habitat by Kai Squires.