Diponthus colorbellus, Pocco & Lange & Cigliano, 2023

Pocco, Martina E., Lange, Carlos E. & Cigliano, María Marta, 2023, Relationships and taxonomy of the genus Diponthus Stål (Orthoptera: Acridoidea Romaleidae), Zootaxa 5336 (1), pp. 33-81 : 51-52

Diponthus colorbellus sp. nov. Pocco, Lange & Cigliano

( Figs. 3k, l , 5a–d , 7a, b , 8j , 9a, b , 10l , 11l , 12a, b , and 13 )

Type material. Holotype male, Bolivia, Santa Cruz, North Mairana (18º 06’27.8” S, 63° 57’ 6.7” W), 11 Apr. 2018, Pocco, Castillo & Scattolini leg., deposited in MLP. ( Fig. 3k, l ) . Paratypes: five males and seven females, same data of holotype, MLP .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the beautiful coloration of males and females. From Latin color (color) and bellus (beautiful, pretty).

Diagnosis. Short-winged insects ( Figs. 3k, l , and 5a–d ). Prozona with two oblique bands yellow (males) or cream color (females) extending up to the main transverse sulcus; posterior border of metazona red (males) or cream color/light brown (females) ( Figs. 3l, k , 5a–d , and 7a, b ). Tegmina short, not reaching the end of abdomen, with brownish background, longitudinal and transverse veins brown or greenish-brown, delimiting irregular cells, with conspicuous spots on the transverse veins ( Figs. 3l, k , 5a–d , and 8j ). Hind wings reduced, reddish colored. Prosternal tubercle straight. Male epiproct with rounded margins and with tubercles on posterior edge; furculae large, acute ( Fig. 9b ). Male cerci short, reaching the tip of epiproct, conical, slightly incurved and with acute apex ( Fig. 9a ). Dorsal valves of aedeagus short, narrowing towards the apex; distal third slightly curved downwards, apex slightly expanded and sclerotized ( Fig. 10l ). Valves of cingulum thin, with subcircular apical portion ( Figs. 10l , and 11l ); cingulum wide V-shaped; zygoma of cingulum wide ( Fig. 11l ). Epiphallus with lophi placed perpendicular to the bridge, rounded, not extended towards the posterior processes of the lateral plates ( Fig. 12a ).

Description. Medium size insects. Male: integument of head impresso-punctuate. Fastigium slightly excavated, apex straight. Interocular distance subequal to fastigium apex or slightly wider. Eyes prominent and subcircular, reaching the level of the vertex in lateral view. Frons straight or slightly rounded, union frons-fastigium rounded. Integument of pronotum faveolated. Mid-dorsal longitudinal carina of pronotum obsolete. Pronotum with three transverse sulci. Main transverse sulcus deep. Prozona slightly shorter than metazona or subequal; metazona slightly wider than prozona. Disc of pronotum with anterior margin straight to slightly rounded, and posterior margin wide V-shaped. Tegmina short, not reaching the end of abdomen, hind wings reduced (4 cm). Tegmina with longitudinal and transverse veins delimiting irregular cells. Prosternal tubercle straight. Cerci short, reaching the tip of epiproct, conical, slightly incurved and with acute apex. Epiproct with rounded margins and with tubercles on posterior edge; furculae large, acute. Phallic complex ( Figs. 10l , 11l , and 12a, b ): dorsal valves of aedeagus short, narrowing towards the apex; distal third slightly curved downwards, apex slightly expanded and sclerotized. Valves of cingulum thin, with subcircular apical portion; cingulum wide V-shaped; zygoma of cingulum wide. Epiphallus with lophi placed perpendicular to the bridge, rounded, not extended towards the posterior processes of the lateral plate.

Chromatic characters. General body color green ( Figs. 3k, l , and 5c, d ). Head green with parts of genae, postocular area and vertex yellow. Antennae black with the upper end of each segment yellow; escape and pedicel yellowish-green. Pronotum dark green, with two oblique yellow bands dorsally on prozona extending up to the main transverse sulcus; posterior border of metazona red. Meso and metapleurae mostly green. Front and middle legs green with yellow areas. Hind femur green on outer face, inferior margin of the outer face, ventral and inner face yellow; knee yellowish with upper genicular lobe black. Hind tibia bluish, apical tip yellow, basal tip bluish-green; spines light yellow with black tip. Hind tarsi mostly bluish. Tegmina with brownish background, longitudinal and transverse veins brown or greenish-brown, with conspicuous spots on the transverse veins. Hind wings reddish colored. Abdomen mostly yellowish-ocher.

Females. Similar to males, but more robust ( Fig. 5a, b ). Tegmina shorter, not reaching the 6 th abdominal segment. General body color brownish or greenish. Pronotum with two oblique cream-colored bands dorsally on prozona extending up to the main transverse sulcus; posterior border of metazona cream color/light brown. Hind femur light brown with a mid-longitudinal dark olive green line on outer face; dorsal face with two dark olive green transverse bands extending towards the inner face; apical tips tinted with dark pink color. Hind tibia and tarsi dark pink.

Measurements (in mm). Body length: males: 23.25 (22–25) from fastigium to the tip of abdomen; females: 33.7 (32–35). Hind femur length: males: 12.05 (11.8–12.5); females: 16.1 (15.5–17). Tegmina length: males: 11.5 (10.5–12); females: 15.6 (14.5–16).

Distribution. This species is found in Bolivia (Santa Cruz: Mairana).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Diponthus species. Males, habitus lateral views (a, c, e, g, i, k) and dorsal views (b, d, f, h, j, l). Species as indicated. Scale bar= 1 cm. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 5. Diponthus new species. a–d, Diponthus colorbellus sp. nov., male (c, d) and females (a: color morph brown, b: color morph dark green). e. f, Diponthus paranaensis sp. nov. male (e), female (f). g, Diponthus dilatatus sp. nov, female. h, Diponthus salvadorii sp. nov., female

FIGURE 7. Head and pronotum, in lateral views (a) and dorsal views (b). Diponthus species as indicated. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 8. Tegmina, color pattern of venation. Diponthus species, as indicated. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 9. Male abdominal terminalia, in lateral views (a) and dorsal views (b). Diponthus species as indicated. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 10. Distal portion of aedeagal valves, lateral view. Diponthus species, as indicated.

FIGURE 11. Distal portion of aedeagal valves, dorsal view. Diponthus species, as indicated.

FIGURE 12. Epiphallus, dorsal views (a) and frontal views (b). Diponthus species, as indicated. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 13. Distribution map of Diponthus species.