Eurycorypha stalmansi, Naskrecki & Guta, 2019

Naskrecki, Piotr & Guta, Ricardo, 2019, Katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) of Gorongosa National Park and Central Mozambique, Zootaxa 4682 (1), pp. 1-119 : 96-98

Eurycorypha stalmansi sp. n.

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:506816

( Figs. 42 A–F, 56J–L)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D1027640-E4F3-4B0D-8B17-1A1FD88FC2B5

Type locality. MOZAMBIQUE: Sofala, GNP, Chitengo, E.O. Wilson Lab (-18.977722, 34.351333), 48 m, 15– 18.xii.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki—male holotype ( EOWL)

Differential diagnosis. This new species is unique in the development of the male 10 th tergite, which bears a pair of sharp, downwards pointing spines ( Figs. 42D, E ), and the structure of the call ( Figs. 56 J–L). From the superficially similar E. ligata Hemp, 2017 it differs in the shape of the 10 th tergite and the cercus (cercus more evenly tapered in the new species). E. resonans Hemp, 2013 has distinctly longer processes and dense pilosity on the 10 th tergite. This new species can also be identified by the unique structure of the call.

General. Body of medium size for the genus.

Head. Fastigium of vertex barely reaching base of scapus; antennae shorter than body; antennal scapus unarmed; eyes oval, moderately protruding. Fastigium of vertex very wide, about 3.5 times as wide as scapus, flat dorsally. Fastigium of frons touching equally wide fastigium of vertex. Frons flat, vertical, smooth; fronto-lateral carinae well developed.

Thorax. Pronotum surface smooth, anterior margin of pronotum flat, straight; metazona flat, posterior edge of metazona broadly rounded; lateral carinae of pronotum well developed, forming smooth, sharp edges, nearly straight when seen from above, weakly converging towards anterior margin; humeral sinus of pronotum present. Thoracic auditory spiracle narrowly oval, completely hidden under pronotum; auditory swelling absent.

Legs. Front coxa armed with distinct, downward pointing spine; front femur distinctly shorter and more robust than middle femur, armed on anterior margin with 3 small spines; front tibia unarmed dorsally, with 5 spines on anterior and 4 on posterior ventral margin; apex of front tibia 1 pair of ventral spurs and single dorsal spur on posterior margin; tympanum bilaterally open, oval, about twice as long as wide. Mid coxa unarmed; mid femur armed with 3 spines on anterior ventral margin; mid tibia unarmed dorsally, with 6 spines on posterior and 9 on anterior ventral margin; apex of mid tibia with 1 pair of dorsal and 1 pair of ventral spurs. Hind femur armed on both ventral margins in distal half with 4–5 small spines; genicular lobes of hind femur unarmed; hind tibia armed on both dorsal and ventral margins; dorsal spines of hind tibia consecutive spines of similar size; apex of hind tibia 1 pair of ventral spurs and single dorsal spur on posterior margin.

Wings. Right stridulatory area with large, fully developed mirror ( Fig. 42B ); mirror narrowly triangular; left stridulatory area coriaceous, without mirror ( Fig. 42A ), stridulatory file weakly sinuous, flat, 2.2 mm long, 0.14 mm wide, with 119 teeth ( Fig. 42C ); veins Sc and R close together, parallel along their entire length until apical divergence of R; hind wing slightly longer than tegmen, with transversely folded apical field ( Fig. 42F ).

Abdomen. Tenth tergite with posterior edge slightly elevated and forming two widely separated, short but sharp spines ( Fig. 42D ). Epiproct unmodified; paraprocts unmodified. Cercus long and slender, narrowed towards apex, bent inwards; slightly bent upwards when seen from side; apex tapered ( Fig. 42E ). Phallus entirely membranous, without sclerotized elements. Subgenital plate broadly trapezoidal, with narrow incision apically; styli absent.

Coloration. Coloration uniformly green; face pale green; eyes with vertical yellow band continuous with that on face and pronotum, antennae unicolored. Legs without distinct markings; abdominal terga without markings. Tegmen without markings; major veins lighter than rest of wing ( Fig. 42F ).

Bioacoustics. The call of E. stalmansi consists of short (0.49– 0.65 s), 26–34 syllable echemes followed by a pair of short impulses; mean syllable duration is 0.0095 s (SD=0.00093, n=56); the peak frequency of the call is 14.6–17.5 kHz ( Figs. 56 J–L). The call is readily audible from a few meters away.

Distribution and natural history. This species has been recorded from Gorongosa in Mozambique, and Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal provinces in South Africa. In Gorongosa it is common in lowland woodland savanna and is usually found on dense bushes and in crowns of deciduous trees. Adults are seen mostly during the wet months, between December and May.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of ecologist Dr. Marc Stalmans for his numerous and significant contributions to research and conservation in Gorongosa National Park.

Measurements (4 males, 2 females). body w/wings: male 30.3–34.3 (32.12), female 36.7–37.2 (37.4); body w/o wings: male 17.1–19.2 (18.4.9), female 24.5–25 (24.8.4); pronotum: male 4.6–5.5 (5.4), female 4.8–5 (4.9.1); tegmen: male 23.9–28.6 (25.72.2), female 30–30.8 (30.4.6); hind femur: male 11.4–14.5 (13.51.4), female 15.1–15.3 (15.2.1); ovipositor: 6.6–7 (6.8.3) mm.

Material examined (10 specimens). Mozambique: Sofala, Gorongosa , GNP, Chitengo , elev. 40 m (-18.9806, 34.351567), 1–25.i.2017, coll. R. Guta— 1 male (paratype) ; GNP, Chitengo, E.O. Wilson Laboratory, elev. 48 m (-18.977722, 34.351333), 15–18.xii.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 males (holotype and paratype) ; same locality, 1– 8.i.2019, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 males (paratypes) ; Gorongosa Dist., Wilson Laboratory, GNP, Chitengo, (-18.97775, 34.351333), 27–30.v.2014, coll. M. Stalmans— 1 female (paratype) ( EOWL) ; Republic of South Africa: KwaZulu Natal, Durban, Glenwood , 16.v.2004, coll. A.C.M. Cuortois— 1 male (paratype) ( SANC); same locality, 15.vi.2004, coll. A.C.M. Cuortois— 1 female (paratype) ( SANC); Mtunzini, (-28.96667, 31.75), 6–10.i.1982, coll. R. Toms— 1 male (paratype) ( TMSA); Mpumalanga, Skukuza, Kruger National Park , (-25, 31.583333), IX–X.1971, coll. H.D. Catling— 1 male (paratype) ( SANC) .

Figures

FIGURE 42. Eurycorypha stalmansi: A. base of male left tegmen; B. base of male right tegmen; C. stridulatory file; D. male abdominal apex, dorsolateral view; E. male abdominal apex, lateral view; F. male, lateral view.

FIGURE 56. Oscillograms and power spectra of Mozambican Phaneropterinae: A–C. Eurycorypha lesnei; D–F. E. parkeri; G–I. E. cereris; J–L. E. stalmansi.