Sentia communa, Hemp & Heller, 2019

Hemp, Claudia & Heller, Klaus-Gerhard, 2019, Orthoptera (Tettigoniidae and Acridoidea) from Miombo woodlands of Central Tanzania with the description of new taxa, Zootaxa 4671 (2), pp. 151-194 : 187-188

Sentia communa n. sp. Hemp C.

( Figs. 41–43 )

Holotype. Male. Tanzania, near village Gulwe, Mpwapwa District, Dodoma Region, small hill covered by Miombo woodlands, in herbaceous vegetation and bushes along forest edge, 1000 m, March 2017 . Paratypes 3 males, Changalawe Hill ( UTM 37 M 0173513 9236795), Mpwapwa District, Dodoma Region, Miombo woodlands on small hill; in herbaceous vegetation along forest edge, March 2015 . 1 female, 12 males, same data as holotype. Depository: Collection C. Hemp .

Description. General colouration. Predominantly green with brown markings around stridulatory area and along margins of tegmina ( Fig. 41 ). Antennae. Antenna thin, green, about as long as body. Legs. Fore and mid femora with 3–4 tiny outer spines, unarmed on inner side or with one tiny spine near joints with tibiae. Hind femora with few pairs of tiny spinules near joints with tibiae. Fore tibiae without spurs, mid tibiae with one ventral pair of small spurs, dorsally unarmed. Hind tibiae with a pair of dorsal and a double pair of ventral spurs. Stridulatory file with numerous densely set teeth, slightly curved ( Fig. 42 F ). Area of stridulatory area on left tegmen marked brown, also area around mirror brown ( Fig. 41 E ). Processes of 10 th tergite laterally compressed and slightly twisted; a ridge of dark and sclerotized teeth is present along the upper side of these processes ( Fig. 42 A–C). Cerci long and evenly curved with a tiny club-shaped tip ( Fig. 42 B ). Male subgenital plate elongated and narrowing along its length; apex broadening with u-shaped small gap at apex ( Fig. 42 D ).

Female. Subgenital plate as in Fig. 36 B , tri-angular middle part with v-shaped median gap at tip and lateral flanges. At base of ovipositor on each side two bowl-like structures ( Fig. 43 A, B ).

Measurements, males (mm) (N=5). Total length of body (including subgenital plate) 18.8– 21.6; Median length of pronotum 3.8–4.1; Length of hind femur 16.4–17.8; Length of elytra 24.4–26.8.

Measurements, females (mm) (N=1). Total length of body 22.1; Median length of pronotum 4.5; Length of hind femur 20.2; Length of elytra 28.9; Length of ovipositor 13.2.

Habitat. In herbaceous vegetation and on bushes and small trees along Miombo woodland edges.

Distribution. Central Tanzania, Dodoma Region.

Etymology. From Latin— communa , common, since this species is very likely widely distributed in suitable habitats in Central Tanzania.

Figures

FIGURE 36. Stridulatory files of Melidia species A. M. laminata, Wajir District, Kenya B. M. laminata, Tanzania, Kilimanjaro; note differences in number of teeth between specimen from the Wajir District and Kilimanjaro C. M. brunneri Mashonaland, Salisbury (BMNH) D. M. adfinia n. sp.

FIGURE 41. Male of Sentia communa n. gen. n. sp. at its type locality on a hill covered by Miombo woodlands near Gulwe, Mpwapwa District.

FIGURE 42. Morphological details of male Sentia communa n. gen. n. sp. Lateral (A), semilateral (B) and dorsal (C) view on male apex D. Subgenital plate E. Stridulatory area of left wing and mirror area of right wing F. Stridulatory file.

FIGURE 43. Female Sentia communa n. gen. n. sp. A. Ovipositor B. Subgenital plate.