Gwynnagraecia perplexa Rentz, Su and Ueshima, 2021

Rentz, Dcf, Su, You Ning & Ueshima, Norihiro, 2021, Studies in Australian Tettigoniidae: New short-winged Agraeciini from Australia (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Conocephalinae; Agraeciini), Zootaxa 5059 (2), pp. 1-72 : 21-22

Gwynnagraecia perplexa Rentz, Su and Ueshima Gen. et sp. nov.

Figs 11 A-K; Fig. 20F ; Table 3 , Map 5

Common name. Gwynne’s Confusing Katydid

This species is most unusual. In its overall appearance it resembles many of the species of Australiagraecia Gen . Nov. (p, 8). However, its size and colour pattern masque its true identity. It bears the distinctive cercus and elongate extensions of the tenth tergite ( Fig. 11B, H ) of G. viridis sp. nov. (p. 20) but the body form and colour pattern of Australiagraecia Gen . Nov. species ( Figs 2A , 4A , 5F ).

Holotype male. ( In alcohol). 1. “ 33.50S 119.48E 35 km SW. by S. of Ravensthorpe, Fitzgerald River Nat. Park, 1 November 1984 D. C. F. Rentz Stop 84”. 2. “Collected as nymph, matured 12.xii.84”. 3. “ ANIC database #14008751” . Holotype in Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra. Specimens examined. Paratypes. Western Australia. Fitzgerald River Nat. Park, Sepulcralis Hill , 16.v.1989 (K.G. Heller, M. Volleth, 1 male, ANIC). 39 o 50’S 119 o 48’E Fitzgerald River Nat. Park , 35 km SW by S of Ravensthorpe, 1.xi.1984 (DCF Rentz, Stop 84 1 female, collected as nymph, matured in laboratory 1.xi.1984, ANIC) .

Type locality. The type locality comprised mostly low heath vegetation. The holotype was found on the ground amongst low shrubs.

Measurements. Table 3

13 The name refers to the odd colour pattern of the species which is similar to that of Australiagraecia Gen . Nov. species (p. 8).

Differential Diagnosis. Male. ( Fig. 11A ) Antenna about twice the length of the body. Eye ovoid, large for size of head. Hind tibia armed dorsally with numerous spines, some alternating in lengths; apex with a pair of small spurs, positioned somewhat subapically, ventral surface with fewer spines along the entire length of the tibia, apex armed with a pair of much larger spurs. Prothorax with a pair of short, widely spaced pegs; meso- and metathorax with a pair of short erect pegs. Tegmen short ( Fig. 11A ); stridulatory file ( Fig. 20F ) positioned on a blister ( Fig. 11G ). Cercus heavy, “L”-shaped, surface clothed with stiff long brown setae. Abdomen with tenth tergite with soft shallow median impression, hardly distinguished from rest of tergite; supra-anal plate broadly triangular ( Figs 11D, H ); paraprocts short, barely protruding; phallic complex almost wholly membranous, base with a poorly defined somewhat triangular sclerite on each side ( Fig. 11H ). Subgenital plate much longer than broad, with a shallow Vshaped median incision, style elongate, much longer than one side of median incision ( Fig. 11E ). Phallic complex with minute sclerites at base ( Fig. 11K ).

Female. differs from male in following cercus very elongate, clothed with long, dark brown setae; supra-anal plate triangular, poorly defined. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 11I ) broader than long, sides carinate, apex with a shallow U-shaped median incision. Ovipositor much longer the body ( Table 3 ), gracefully upcurved; blister at base caudally obtuse.

Colouration. Colour and pattern more like that of Australiagraecia species (see p. 8, Figs. 2A , 4A ). Longitudinal stripe on pronotum broader and less intense. Colour and pattern of female faded but similar.

Distribution. Known only from Fitzgerald River National Park, Western Australia.

Habitat. Occurs on the ground amongst grasses and low shrubs.

Seasonal occurrence. Adults known from spring through to autumn.

Stridulatory file. Fig. 20F .The file comprises 21 teeth, those at the proximal end peg-like, those beyond lamellar.

Song. Unknown.

Recognition. Brown colouration similar to that found in Australiagraecia species. Males are distinctive in the heavy L-shaped cercus and the arrow-shaped extension of the tenth tergite ( Fig. 11D ). Females bear a distinctive subgenital plate and an elongate ovipositor ( Table 3 ).

Comments. The convergence in overall appearance with Australiagraecia species needs further investigation.

Figures

FIG. 11. Gwynnagraecia perplexa. A. Adult male, dorsal view. B. Male, tip of abdomen, lateral view. Note extension of tenth tergite. C. Male, cerci and subgenital plate, ventral view. D. Male, tip of abdomen ventral view. E. Male, subgenital plate, ventral view. F. Male, left tegmen, dorsal view. G. Male tegmen, ventral view. Note stridulatory file. H. Male tip of abdomen, dorsal view showing structures in natural position. I. Female tip of abdomen, ventral view showing subgenital plate. J. Female, lateral view apical abdominal tergites. Note groove. K. Phallic complex. Note minute sclerites at base.

FIG. 20. Stridulatory files. A. Australiagraecia spina holotype. B. Australiagraecia minuta. C. Ganiagraecia karwnia, Cytol. prep. 85-19. D. Ganiagraecia karwinia, S-363. E. Gwynnagraecia viridis, Kerragullen. F. Gwynnagraecia perplexa, Fitzgerald River. G. Latitatagraecia kalamaya, Cytol. prep. 2001-1. H. Latitatagraecia vulgivaga, Cytol. prep. 88-66. I. Cooloolagraecia wallum, paratopotype. J. Cooloolagraecia gubbi, paratopotype. K. Kokominiagraecia dicra, S-373. L. Coptaspis sp. 2. M. Timabarragraecia samneilli, paratopotype.

MAP. 5.

FIG. 2. Australiagraecia spina WA. A. Adult female, dorsal view. B. Adult female, ventral view of thorax. Note armature of thoracic segments. C. Adult female, lateral view of head and pronotum. Note transverse sulcus. D. Adult female, ventral view subgenital plate. E. Adult male, tip of abdomen. Note elongate supra-anal plate with median sulcus. Anus and phallic complex slightly everted. F. Left cercus, adult male. G. Left tegmen, male. Note, setation. The brown area is part of the median stripe that extends for the entire length of the insect. H. Phallic complex. Note divided minute rods at base. I. Adult male, tip of abdomen. J. Adult female, tip of abdomen, dorsal view.

FIG. 4. Australiagraecia helleri. A. Holotype male, dorsal view. B. Holotype male, tip of abdomen. Note broad supra-anal plate. C. Left male cercus. D. Holotype male, tip of abdomen ventral view. Note elongate styles of subgenital plate. E. Phallic complex. Note divided rod-like sclerites at base.

FIG. 5. Australiagraecia torndirrupa. A. Male abdomen, dorsal view. Note broad supra-anal plate with broad median depression. B. Male abdomen, left cercus removed. Note lateral tooth of cercus and paraprocts. C. Left male tegmen. D. Left male cercus, internal view. E. Left male cercus, dorsal view. F. Dorsal view holotype male, left cercus removed. G. Phallic complex. Note shagreened apex of median lobe. H. Male abdomen ventral view. Note short styles of subgenital plate. I. Right hind tibia internal view. Note spurs and spines.