Emsleyfolium, Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., Mendes, Diego Matheus De Mello & Alves-Oliveira, João Rafael, 2016

Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., Mendes, Diego Matheus De Mello & Alves-Oliveira, João Rafael, 2016, A new genus of katydid from the Amazon Rainforest (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Phaneropterinae; Steirodontini): Ninth contribution to the suprageneric organization of the Neotropical phaneropterines, Zootaxa 4150 (4), pp. 493-500 : 494-495

Emsleyfolium n. gen.

Diagnosis. Fastigium of vertex conical, extending considerably forward. Lateral margins of the pronotal disc finely serrated, lateral lobes of pronotum wider than long. Male macropterus, tegmina lanceolate. Tympanum of the foretibiae mostly covered, both inside and outside. Mid and hind femora latero-laterally flattened, basal half portion dilated. Tenth tergite modified into three lobes that covers the epiproctus and paraproctus. Cerci simple and curving inward. Subgenital plate without styli.

Type species: Emsleyfolium diasae n. sp., described below.

Description. Head ( Fig. 1 B–D). Head more or less elongated. Fastigium of vertex conical, longer than scapus and pedicellus together, being prolongated towards the front, moderately flattened latero-laterally and frontally ovoid (longer than wide), partially covered by the lower edge of the apex of the fastigium frontis (the fastigium of vertex is similar to the species of some genera of the subfamily Conocephalinae as Neoconocephalus Karny, 1907 and Bucrates Burmeister, 1838 ). Antennae filiform, longer than the body, scapus 2.5 times longer than the pedicellus. Ocelli rounded and conspicuous, lateral ocelli placed at the base of the fastigium of vertex; frontal ocelus in the middle of the lower margin of the antennal sockets, well defined and comparatively large. Eyes globose and middle sized relative to size of the head. Face longer than wide, frons slightly pronounced and smooth, genae delimited from the frons by the genal carinae; mandibles and clypeus symmetrical. Thorax ( Fig. 1 C–E).

Pronotum smooth; pronotal disc flat, metazona wider than prozona and mesozona; anterior margin of pronotal disc concave and posterior margin rounded; lateral carinae finely denticulate; principal transverse sulcus present and straight, across from the anterior to the posterior edge. Lateral lobes of pronotum slightly wider than width with a sulcus delimited the prozona and metazona. Humeral sinus developed. Thoracic auditory spiracle oval, covered in lateral view by the lateral lobe of pronotum. Prosternum unarmed, meso and metasternal lobes triangular and elongated, with lateral edges slightly elevated; meso and metasternal medial plate wider than high without tubercles. Wings ( Fig. 1 A). In male fully developed. Tegmina coriaceus, elongate, lanceolate, surpassing apices of hind femora; hindwings slightly protruding from the apex of tegmina. Legs ( Fig. 1 F–H). Coxal spine of the forelegs reduced, mid and hind coxae without tubercles or spines. Fore, mid and hind femora armed ventrally only on inner margin with small serrated denticulations; mid and hind tibiae laterally compressed and dilated in basal half. Tympanic opening of foretibia mostly covered on inner and outer sides with a narrow, straight slit. Abdomen ( Fig. 1 I–K). Dorsal surface of abdominal tergites smooth and unmodified.

Male. Tegmina longer than wide. MA vein extending a little more than half the total length of tegmina; Rs vein originating on half of the length of the tegmina, R vein with two additional branches near the apex. Tenth tergite modified with two lateral lobes of similar shapes and one additional central lobe, thinner and a little more pronounced that the other ones; the tenth tergite covers the epiproctus. Cerci simple, curved upwards and inwards, covered by numerous bristles. Epiproctus triangular, slightly longer than wide, with a rounded apex. Subgenital plate rectangular, longer than wide and without styles, instead has two pseudo-styli prolongations.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Distributed in amazon region from Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Brazil ( Fig. 3 ).

Etymology. The genus name is dedicated to Michael G. Emsley, in recognition of his valuable contribution in the study of the tribe Steirodiontini and other Phaneropterinae groups. The Latin word: - folium is added (as termination), which refers to the leaf shape of the tegmina of the species here described.

Comparison. Emsleyfolium n. gen. differs from other Steirodontini (except most Stilpnochlora species and the subgenus Steirodon (Frontinus) , lacking the well-developed spines or teeth in the pronotal disk, in addition of the conical shape of the fastigium of vertex (not present in the other Steirodontini genera). In general appearance it resembles Stilpnochlora . Besides that, the new genus has underdeveloped coxal spine of the forelegs, and differs in not having the whitish band across its face (common in Stilpnochlora species). Also the new genus is distinguished by having a more covered tibial auditory tympanum than Stilpnochlora species. In addition the tenth tergite is modified and the subgenital plate does not bear styles.

As to the modification of the terminalia, Emsleyfolium n. gen., has resembles Cnemidophyllum Rehn, 1917 species; but the new genus has pseudo-styli prolongation on its subgenital plate and the tenth tergite modified into three lobes, covering the epiproctus. In contrast, Cnemidophyllum species has only one species without styles on the subgenital plate, and the other species have the tenth tergite modified into a single prolongation.

Commentaries. This genus is distinguished by the characters provided in the diagnosis and description, but being a genus with only one known species, it is possible the discovery of new species, in which case the description and diagnosis should be amended or supplemented; for example, the shape of the tenth tergite of males and basal dilatation of the mid and hind tibiae, which may vary in size and shape, as in Cnemidophyllum species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Male Emsleyfolium diasae sp. nov. (holotype). A: habitus in dorsal view; B: head in frontal view; C: Head and pronotum in dorsal view; D: Head and pronotum in lateral view; E: Thoracic sternites in ventral view; F: Fore leg in lateral view; G: Mid leg in lateral view; H: Hind leg in lateral view; I – K: Terminalia in dorsal, ventral and lateral view respectively.

FIGURE 3. Map of Emsleyfolium diasae sp. nov. geographical record.