Odontembia jacobi Miller

Miller, Kelly B., 2008, Review of the genus Odontembia Davis, 1939 (Embioptera: Embiidae) with description of a new species, Zootaxa 1723, pp. 63-68 : 67

Odontembia jacobi Miller , sp. nov.

( Figs 7–13 )

Type information: Holotype: male, slide mounted, in the Division of Arthropoda, Museum of Southwestern Biology ( MSBC, K.B. Miller, curator) labeled “ Ghana: Volta Region, Nkwanta nr Wldlf. Div. office, on tree 08º15.542'N 000º31.137'E 13 Jun 2005 K.B. Miller, colr. KBM1306051/ HOLOTYPE Odontembia jacobi Miller, 2008 [red label].” Paratypes, 1 male, 1 female, in MSBC, slide mounted, same data as holotype.

Type locality: Ghana, Volta Region, Nkwanta, near Wildlife Division office, 08º 15.542'N 000º 31.137'E.

Diagnosis: This species differs from O. spinosa in having the process of the left hemitergite apically bifid with each branch acute (Figs 8,10,11). The right hemitergite is broader and apically more rounded than O. spinosa ( Fig. 8 ). Finally, LC I bears numerous very large teeth, several of which are arranged in a prominent carinate row along the dorsomedial side ( Fig. 8 ).

Description: Measurements (in millimeters): TL = 8.30; HL = 1.35; HW = 1.06; EW = 0.85; HW/EW = 1.25; FWL = 5.30; HWL = 6.11; FWW = 1.78; HWW = 1.92; FWL/FWW = 2.98; HWL/HWW = 3.18. Coloration. Head, meso- and metathorax, and abdomen yellow-brown; pronotum light yellow-brown; antennae, other head appendages and legs pale brown; wings gray. Structure. Head broad; eyes moderately large; anterior margin of labrum subtruncate ( Fig. 7 ); submentum relatively broad, distance between lateral margins slightly greater than distance between anterior and posterior margins, male with lateral margins slightly rounded, female with lateral margins more straight and with submentum relatively smaller; mentum apparently absent in male, small, laterally elongate in female. Hind basitarsus in both male and female with extensive field of spinous setae around base and with dense, irregular series along each side; ventral papillae located anteriorly and submedially. Male genitalia with tergite X entirely divided, left hemitergite smaller than right hemitergite ( Fig. 8 ); process of left hemitergite elongate, apically prominently bifid with each branch acutely pointed (Figs 8,10,11); right hemitergite broad and rounded, process short, lobe-like, extending medially, 10 RP II small, inconspicuous ( Fig. 8 ). LC1 with two medial lobes, a large subapical lobe and a smaller subbasal lobe (Figs 8,9); apical lobe bearing three prominent teeth, basal lobe with two prominent teeth (Figs 8,9); LC1 with prominent dentate carina along dorsal surface with five conspicuous teeth ( Fig. 8 ); LC1 also with few other scattered teeth on dorsal surface ( Fig. 8 ). Right basipodite partially fused to RC1 along apicodorsal margin, medially extending in lobe directed posteriorly ( Fig. 8 ). Left basipodite located laterally at base of LC1 ( Fig. 8 ). Hypandrium with broad apical lobe ( Fig. 9 ). Left paraproct with small, acute, curved process directed laterally ( Fig. 9 ). Female. Similar in coloration to male, body longer (TL = 10.69), head shorter and slightly broader (HL = 1.15, HW = 1.13) and eyes proportionately smaller (HW/EW = 0.89); female genitalia with lateral pigmented valvifers and medial pigmented plate separated by narrow unpigmented region, apical margin evenly rounded.

Etymology: This species is named jacobi , loosely named after philosopher Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi , a critic of the philosopher Benedictus de Spinoza, whose name is similar to the other specific epithet in the genus, spinosa .

Distribution: The species is known only from Nkwanta, Volta Region, Ghana.

Biology: The specimens were collected apparently as nymphs along with numerous nymphs of Oligotoma saundersii Westwood at the type locality 13 June 2005. They were found in the culture container on 04 June 2006 and on 01 August 2006. Numerous O. saundersii adults emerged in the culture at various times during the previous year. All specimens were collected from colonies found in a small, remote village on the surfaces of small trees in loose bark and cracks in the bark.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 13. Odontembia jacobi, new species. 7 — head, dorsal aspect; 8 — male genitalia, dorsal aspect; 9 — male genitalia, ventral aspect; 10 — left hemitergite, dorsal aspect; 11 — left hemitergite, left oblique aspect; 12 — left mesothoracic wing; 13 — left metathoracic wing. For abbreviations see caption for Figs 1 – 6.