Diastella Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878

Rentz, Dcf, Su, You Ning & Ueshima, Norhiro, 2008, Studies in Australian Tettigoniidae: new Phaneropterine Katydids from Queensland Rainforests (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Phaneropterinae), Zootaxa 1964 (1), pp. 1-39 : 25-32

Diastella Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878

Eades et al. (2007) list three species in Diastella . D. flexosocercata Brunner and D. maculata occur in New Guinea and have not been found in Australia. The type species, D. latifolia Brunner , was described from “Moreton Bay” which is now the greater Brisbane area. The type is in the Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, and has been examined by DCFR. It represents a species larger in size than the one described below and has different markings on the fore and middle tibiae. It lacks any trace of markings on the tegmina but has a distinctive “ Y ”-shaped mark on the pronotum as is present on other species of the genus. We describe a species reminiscent of Hebard’s D. latifolia from two mountainous localities. This species, and one other, are from the rainforests of Kuranda and are described below. We know of at least one other from southeastern Queensland which we choose not to describe here due to lack of comparative material.

Diastella kuranda * 9 Rentz, Su, Ueshima sp. nov.

Figs. 15 , 17G , 23 ; Table 5

Holotype male. Label “ 16°48’S. 145°38’E. ( GPS) Kuranda, (Top of the Range), 19 Butler Dr, 335m, 15 November 2007 DCF Rentz.”

9. * Named with reference to the type locality.

Type locality. The type locality is a simple to complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest on moderately to poorly drained metamorphics (Regional Ecosystem 7.11.1 EPA, 2007). The type was attracted to lights at night.

Differential diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from others in the genus by its smaller size, the salt-and-pepper coloration of the fore and middle tibiae ( Fig. 15C ), the large spot on the side of the first abdominal tergite ( Fig. 15A–C ) and the absence of spots on the tegmina.

General. Size small for genus ( Table 5). Stance in nature distinctive ( Fig. 15C ).

Legs. Fore femur with 2–4 tooth-like spines on the anterior margin of the ventral surface, posterior margin unarmed; fore tibia hairy on dorsal surface, unarmed except for a minute apical spine on posterior margin, ventral surface with 5–7 spines on both margins; middle tibia quadrate, dorsal surface sulcate, unarmed, ventral surface with up to 5 smaller spines on both margins, ventral surface with 7 small spines on each margin, including an apical spine on each side; hind femur with 9–10 spines on ventral margin of outer surface; middle tibia subcylindrical, armed dorsally with a single minute apical spine on posterior margin, similar to anterior tibia, ventral surface with 6 spines on anterior margin, posterior margin with 1–3 spines; hind tibia armed dorsally at apex with 2 spines, ventral surface with 4 apical spines.

Tegmina and wings. Tegmen ( Fig. 17G ) with costal region reticulate, costa scarcely visible; MA sort, apically bent posteriorly; Rs with very short stem before fork. stridulatory file feeble, with many narrowly lamellar closely spaced teeth.

Abdomen. Typically slender and unmodified; tenth tergite feebly excavate, the corners not well produced; cercus elongate, slender, gracefully incurved, apex feebly but distinctly inflated and bearing 2 minute teeth; subgenital plate lacking distinct styles but with peg-like projections, each separated by a narrow gap. No sclerotised portion of phallus.

Colour. Overall coloration typical “phaneropterine green” except fore and middle tibiae greyish brown, speckled, this often extending onto adjacent femur; hind tibia greenish yellow surface of pronotum often with a few yellow stripes, often in the shape of a horseshoe. Tegmen uniformly dark green; wing translucent green, apex somewhat darkened. Abdomen with side of first tergite with a large spot ( Fig. 15A–C ), this yellow or dark purple, reasons for this variation unknown, remainder of abdomen with a few minute purple spots on each tergite and a narrow mid-dorsal brownish stripe; ventral surface of abdomen greenish yellow, with a series of small purple spots; supra-anal plate brown, a continuation of the brown dorsal stripe; cercus green proximally, bulbous apex brown. Ovipositor greenish yellow.

Female. As for male except supra-anal plate much longer than broad, tongue-like; cercus elongate, feebly directed dorsad; subgenital plate minute, about as long as broad, apex feebly indented. Ovipositor short, protruding only slightly beyond apex of abdomen, not serrate.

Egg. The egg is translucent yellow, quadrate in shape and very poorly sclerotised when laid.

Specimens examined paratypes: Queensland: 16°48’S . 145°38’E. ( GPS) Kuranda, (Top of the Range ), 19 Butler Dr , 335m, 25–30.xi.2004 (3 males); 1–15.xi.2005 (1 female); 1–15.xii.2005 (1 female); 1–15.iii.2006 (2 males, 1 female); 1–15.vi.2006 (2 males, Cytol. prep. 2006-3); 15–30.ix.2006 (2 males, Cytol. preps. 2006-8, 9); 1–15.x.2006 (1 male); 1–15.xii.2006 (1 male, 1 female); 16–31.xii.2006 (1 male); 16–28.ii.2007 (1 male); 1–15.iii.2007 (1 male); 16–31.iii.2007 (1 male); 1–15.iv.2007 (2 males, 1 female); 16–30.iv.2007 (1 male); 1–15.vi.2007 (1 male, 1 female); 16–30.ix.2007 (1 male); 16–30.xi.2007 (1 male); 1–15.x.2007 (1 male); 1–15.xii.2007 (1 male, Cytol. prep. 2007-6, 1 female); 1–15.i.2008 (1 male); 1–15.ii.2008 (3 males, 1 female) all collected by DCF Rentz . 17°17’S. 145°27’E. ( GPS) 4 km SW of Atherton, Carrington Rd., Block 160, 770m, 26.xii.2005 ( DCF Rentz, AM McKinnon, stop 15, 1 male) . Cardstone, Tully Falls , 23.i.1965 ( J. G. Brooks, 1 male, ANIC) .

Discussion. This species is very common at lights in Kuranda and can be found on adjacent vegetation during the day in its peculiar stance that appears to be a shadow-reducing technique. It differs from D. latifoilia from the Brisbane area in its smaller size and the colour pattern of the fore and middle tibiae. The type species has the markings extending onto the fore femur and the Y-shaped yellow mark of the pronotum is wider than seen on the new species.

MAP 3. Known distribution of two species of Diastella . [The type species Diastella latifolia Brunner was described from Moreton Bay (Brisbane)]., D. kuranda Rentz, Su & Ueshima , new species., D. hilleri Rentz, Su & Ueshima , new species.

Diastella hilleri * 10 Rentz, Su, Ueshima sp. nov.

Figs. 16 , 23 (Bottom); Table 5

10. * Named in honour of Mr Tony Hiller who collected the paratypes. Holotype male. Label 1. “ 23.46S 149.06E 2km S. of Horseshoe Lookout, Blackdown Tableland SW. of Dingo, Qld., 1–2.ii.1981 D. C. F. Rentz, D. T. Gwynne Stop 7”. 2. “Cytol. prep. 81-25”.

Type locality. The type locality is the site where the “Dingo Monster” ( Cooloolidae ) was collected, see Rentz (1986). The type locality is on deep sandy loam soil with mixed low to tall eucalypts and Forest-oak ( Casuarina torulosa Aitken ) along streamside. Exposed slopes were vegetated by Kangaroo Grass ( Themeda australis (R. Brown) Stapf. ) and Blady Grass ( Imperata cylindrica ( L.) Beauvois var. major (Nees) C. E. Hubb ) with stands of Bracken Pteridium esculetum (Forst. f.) Cockayne). The type was found on low vegetation after dark. The area is regularly burned and this may contribute to the species’ rarity at this locality.

Differential diagnosis. This large species is distinguished from all others by the patterns on the tegmina, the pattern of spots on the fore and middle femora, the small patch of spots on the base of the hind femur, the rosy pink abdomen ( Fig. 16A ) and the robust male cercus with the bulbous tip. Females are not known.

General. Size large for genus ( Table 5), fore and middle legs dark, speckled.

Legs. Fore femur with 6 robust spines on anterior margin of ventral surface ( Fig. 16B ), posterior margin unarmed; fore tibia quadrate, expanded slightly apically, ventral surface with 7 spines one apical on posterior margin; fore tibia greatly expanded in region of auditory tympanum, surface sparsely hirsute, armed dorsally with a single small spine in the middle and an apical spine on posterior margin; middle tibia quadrate, with 7 small spines on posterior margin of dorsal surface one apical in position, anterior margin unarmed; ventral surface with 8 spines on each margin, only the anterior margin with a spine apical in position; hind femur with 12 spines on ventral margin of outer surface; hind tibia with 2 apical spines dorsally, 4 apical spines ventrally.

Tegmina and wings. Tegmina ( Fig. 16A ) with costal region feebly reticulate, the costa absent; MA feeble, extending about one-third of the length of the tegmen, RM with very shot stem before the fork; stridulatory file elongate, with many closely spaced teeth, narrowly lamellar.

Abdomen. Robust, unmodified; tenth tergite with a broadly U-shaped median incision; cercus elongate, apically feebly curving inward, with 3 apical teeth arranged in linear sequence; subgenital plate with peg-like projections, each separated by a narrow gap. No sclerotised portion of phallus.

Colour. General colour pale to lime green. Pronotal disk with broad Y-shaped central mark; fore tibiae with dense speckles, the dorsal surface with a black stripe emphasising the sulcus; fore femur more densely speckled, the apical speckles forming a vague band ( Fig. 16A ); middle tibiae similarly speckled, the speckles forming 2 vague bands; speckles extending onto adjacent femur for a short distance, base of middle femur with a small patch of speckles. Hind tibia with 2 broad, brown bands; femur with a single, small brown preapical patch. Tegmen light green, with characteristic brown pattern ( Fig.16A ), posterior margin of costal region with a narrow brown stripe; wing faintly green, highly translucent, apex darker green. Abdomen with dorsal surface rosy pink; side of first tergite with a broadly oval faintly darkened area; cercus basically green, apex reddish pink.

Female. Unknown.

Specimens examined paratype: Queensland: Mt Glorious, 635 m, 22 km NW. of Brisbane , rainforest, 27.i.1979 ( A. J. Hiller, 1 male, at light, ANIC) .

Figures

FIGURE 15. Diastella kuranda Rentz, Su & Ueshima, new species. A, B, adult males. C, Adult female. Note variation in size and colour of abdominal spot.

FIGURE 16. Diastella hilleri Rentz, Su & Ueshima, new species. A, Holotype male; B, same specimen, forelegs, note pattern.

FIGURE 17. Left tegmina of some Phaneropterine species. A, Caedicia webberi Rentz, Su & Ueshima, new species; B, C. kuranda Rentz, Su & Ueshima, new species; C, C. flexuosum Brunner; D, Ephippithyta trigintiduoguttata Serville; E. E. kuranda Rentz, Su & Ueshima, new species; F, Currimundria delicata Rentz, Su & Ueshima, new genus and species; G.Diastella kuranda Rentz, Su & Ueshima, new species.

FIGURE 23. Diastella kuranda Rentz, Su & Ueshima, new species. a, karyotype; b, first metaphase; c, second metaphase with X; d, second metaphase without X. Scale 10 µm.