Rhaphidophora equalispina, Li & Bian, 2024

Li, Shan & Bian, Xun, 2024, Contribution to the Chinese subfamily Rhaphidophorinae Walker, 1869 (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) VII: New descriptions of Rhaphidophora from Yunnan and Guangxi, Zootaxa 5405 (2), pp. 246-264 : 258-263

Rhaphidophora equalispina sp. nov.

ḚNJẍDz

Figures 10–11

Description. Male. Body medium. Head and pronotum as other species of the genus. Fore coxae with 1 spine; femora with 1 short ventral spine on internal margin; tibiae with 1 internal and 2 external spines ventrally, apices with 1 pair of spines on ventral surface. Middle femora with 1 pair of apical spines on ventral surface; tibiae dorsally with 2 pairs of spines, ventral surface with 1 internal and 2 external spines, apices with 1 pair of spines on dorsal and ventral surfaces separately. Hind femora with 1 short ventral spine on internal margin; tibiae dorsally with 18–19 internal spines, 20–22 external spines and 1 pair of small subapical spines; tibial apices with 1 pair of dorsal and 2 pairs of ventral spines; basitarsi with 4–5 small spines and 1 apical spine on dorsal surface along the midline ( Fig. 10D ).

Posterior margin of tenth abdominal tergite concave. Epiproct with basal margin straight; lateral margins of basal half convex, then prolonged into 1 pair of processes, between the processes triangular ( Fig. 10G, H ); before of the processes with 1 pair of spines, which equal length ( Fig. 10H, I ); basal half of dorsal surface concave, apical half with median furrow ( Fig. 10H ); ventral surface of epiproct nearly rectangular, the lateral margins raised with subbasal areas concave, and terminating into 1 pair of spines at apical area, the posterior margin between the spines almost straight ( Fig. 10K, L ). Paraprocts prolonged into a short spine, apex acute ( Fig. 10E ). Subgenital plate wider than long, lateral margins convex, posterior margin arched projecting between styli; styli conical, apical area sclerotized and incurved, inserted on posterolateral area of the plate ( Fig. 10J ).

Female. Posterior margin of tenth abdominal tergite semi-ovally concave in middle ( Fig. 11H ). Epiproct longer than wide, lateral margins convex, dorsal surface concave with apical area furrowed along the midline, the lateral sides obtuse ( Fig. 11H ). Cerci slender, apices subacute. Subgenital plate wider than long, lateral margins convex, posterior margin widely rounded with 1 small angle in middle ( Fig. 11I ). Ovipositor slightly shorter than hind femora, moderately upcurved, apices acute; dorsal margins smooth, subapical area of ventral margins serrate ( Fig. 11J ).

Coloration. Body brown with irregularly black patterns, terga with small black-brown spots, sterna yellowish brown.

Measurements (mm). BL: ♂ 18.04–19.41, ♀ 17.88–19.48; PL: ♂ 6.17–6.42, ♀ 6.22–6.59; FFL: ♂ 6.36–7.16, ♀ 7.35–7.36; MFL: ♂ 7.37–7.75, ♀ 7.49–7.83; HFL: ♂ 16.17–16.62, ♀ 17.83–18.51; HBL: ♂ 3.28–3.40, ♀ 2.93–3.89; OvL: 14.49–14.79.

Material examined. Holotype: male, Yakou, Nangunhe, Cangyuan , Yunnan, August 14, 2023, coll. by Siyu Pang and Ting Luo . Paratypes: 3 males and 7 females, the other information as holotype; 3 males and 2 females, Yakou, Nangunhe, Cangyuan , Yunnan, August 15, 2023, coll. by Siyu Pang and Ting Luo .

Distribution. Yunnan (Cangyuan).

Discussion. The new species differs from other species of Rhaphidophora by male epiproct prolonged with 1 pair of spines at subapical area and 1 pair of processes at apical area ( Fig. 10G, H ), ventral surface subrectangular with 1 pair of spines at apical area ( Fig. 10K, L ); male paraprocts prolonged into a short spine ( Fig. 10E ); male subgenital plate with apical area sclerotized; female subgenital plate angularly projected in middle at posterior margin ( Fig. 11I ).

Etymology. The name of the new species refers to the middle area of male epiproct dorsally with 1 pair of spines which equal in length; from Latin word “ equal ” and “ spin ”.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Rhaphidophora equalispina sp. nov. Male: A. head in frontal view; B–C. head and thoraces in dorsal view; D. tarsus of hind leg in lateral view; E–L. apex of abdomen: E, I. lateral view, F. dorsal and lateral view, G. dorsal and slightly lateral view, H, J. apical view, K. ventral and apical view, L. ventral view.

FIGURE 11. Rhaphidophora equalispina sp. nov. Female: A. head in frontal view; B, D. head and thoraces: B. dorsal view, D. lateral view; C. head and pronotum in dorsal view; E–F. apex of hind femur: E. internal view, F. external view; G. tarsus of hind leg in lateral view; H–J. apex of abdomen: H. dorsal view, I. ventral view, J. lateral view.