Nocticola baiguensis, Li & Liu & Chen & Wei & Yue & Qiu, 2025

Li, Ting-Ting, Liu, De-Xing, Chen, Jian, Wei, Xiao-Ya, Yue, Qiao-Yun & Qiu, De-yi, 2025, Three new species of the cockroach genus Nocticola Bolívar, 1892 (Blattodea, Corydioidea, Nocticolidae) from China, ZooKeys 1232, pp. 267-284 : 267-284

Nocticola baiguensis sp. nov.

Figs 3 A – M , 4 A – F

Type material.

Holotype: China • 1 ♂; Guangxi Province, Guilin City, Yanshan District, Wangjia Village, Baigu Cave ; 25°13.85'N, 110°20.52'E; 162 m; 1 November 2023, Hao-fei Fan leg; ZSCTC - LI 0001 . Paratype: China • 9 ♂; same data as for holotype; 14 March 2024, Ting-Ting Li leg; ZSCTC -LI-0002 - LI-00010 • 8 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 14 March 2024, De-Xing Liu leg; ZSCTC -LI-00011 - LI-00018 • 6 nymphs; same collection data as for preceding; 14 March 2024, Ting-Ting Li leg; ZSCTC -LI-00019 - LI-00024 • 1 ♂; Guangxi Province, Guilin City, Xiangshan District, Guilin National Forest Park in Guanxi ; 25°13.93'N, 110°13.92'E; 148 m; 18 March 2024, Hao-fei Fan leg; ZSCTC -LI-0025 • 1 ♂; Guangxi Province, Guilin City, Diecai District, Baiyun Temple , 25°18.75'N, 110°22.38'E; 526 m; 28 March 2024, Hao-fei Fan leg; ZSCTC -LI-0026 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 28 March 2024, Hao-fei Fan leg; ZSCTC -LI-0027

Diagnosis.

The absence of a specialized abdominal tergal gland places the new species into the simoni species group. This species is similar to N. baumi Lucañas, Blaha, Rahmadi & Patoka, 2021 , N. bolivari Chopard, 1950 , N. brooksi Roth, 1995 , N. cockingi Trotter, McRae, Main & Finston, 2017 , N. gonzalezi Lucañas & Lit, 2016 , N. leleupi Chopard, 1966 , N. quartermaieni Trotter, McRae, Main & Finston, 2017 , and N. termitophila Silvestri, 1946 as all these species are apterous. It can be distinguished by its eyes reduced to a few ommatidia narrowly grouped near antennal sockets (Fig. 3 D ), while in N. baumi , N. bolivari , and N. cockingi eyes are absent. In addition, the tegmina of this species are distinctly longer than the end of the abdomen, while in N. brooksi , N. gonzalezi , N. leleupi , N. quartermaieni , and N. termitophila tegmina do not extend beyond the end of abdomen.

Measurements (mm).

Male, pronotum: length × width: 0.80–1.01 × 1.09–1.30, tegmen: 2.29–2.32, overall length (including tegmen): 2.99–3.02, body length (the length from the tip of vertex up to the tip of abdomen): 2.85–3.35. Female, pronotum: length × width: 0.96–1.15 × 1.30–1.51, body length (the length from the tip of vertex up to the tip of abdomen): 3.16–3.67.

Description.

Small size. Nymphs whitish (Fig. 4 F ), adult yellowish. Male. (Figs 3 A, B , 4 E ). Head: vertex of head exposed; eyes reduced to a few ommatidia narrowly grouped near antennal sockets (Fig. 3 F ); ocelli absent (Fig. 3 F ). Pronotum suboval, both sides of posterior margin with weak invagination, anterior margin and lateral margin with 12 setae (Fig. 3 E ). Tegmina and hind wings: tegmina extending beyond the end of abdomen (Fig. 3 A, B ), veins reduced in number, densely pubescent (Fig. 3 H ). Lateral portions of metanotum pubescent, somewhat produced, suggesting a wing surface, but this region not separated from metanotum. Legs: legs long and slender (Fig. 3 I ). Anteroventral margin of front femur Type C 1 (Fig. 3 G ); the first tarsus of the hind leg longer than the sum of the remaining tarsi; tarsal claws symmetrical and unspecialized (Fig. 3 L ), arolium and pulvillus absent (Fig. 3 N ). Abdomen and genitalia: abdominal tergal gland unspecialized. Supra-anal plate symmetrical, middle of the hind margin triangular concave. Cerci with 11 segments; ventral surface of segments without spinous setae (Fig. 3 J ). Subgenital symmetrical, middle of the hind margin concave (Fig. 3 K ). Style absent. Male genitalia: genital hook (L 3) elongate, ventral to hook with approximately 17 strong setae; accessory hook-like phallomere (L 4 N), apex short and with double-hook, heavily sclerotized; L 2 narrow, L 1 elongate, process long spine-like; R 1 membranous, distal capitate-like; R 2 sinuate protrusion of central part, surface with scale-like tubercles; R 3 membranous; R 1 H reduced, rounded margin (Fig. 3 M ).

Female: Apterous (Fig. 4 C, D ). Supra-anal plate triangular, transverse of hind margin, middle with U-shaped invagination. Subgenital lobate (Fig. 3 C, D ). Cerci with 11 segments; ventral surface of segments without spinous setae.

Etymology.

The specific name baiguensis is derived from the cave called Baigu Cave (Fig. 4 A, B ), which is the first collection site of this species.

Distribution.

China (Guangxi).

Figures

Figure 3. Nocticola baiguensis sp. nov.: adult male A dorsal view B ventral view; adult female C dorsal view D ventral view E male pronotum F male head G forefemur H tegmen I hindwings J supra-anal plate, ventral view K subgenital plate, ventral view L tarsal claw N hind tarsus; male genitalia M phallomeres. Abbreviations: L 1, L 2, L 3, L 4 G, L 4 N, L 4 M: sclerites of the left phallomere (L 1 situated in the central dorsal wall; L 2 arch-shaped sclerite situated in the ventral to L 1; L 3 situated in the left wall protrudes a large hook-process; L 4 G situated in the posterior ventral wall of the ventral lobe; L 4 N accessory hook-like phallomere; L 4 M situated in the ventral wall); R 1, R 2, R 3, R 1 H: sclerites of the left phallomere (R 1 situated in the dorsal or ventral walls, or in the posterior part of dorsal and ventral wall; R 2 a ridge on the ventral margin; R 3 plate-like situated in the anteriormost ventral wall; R 1 H a larger lobed situated in the dorsal wall, with extensions into the ventral wall).

Figure 4. Habitats of Nocticola baiguensis sp. nov. from China A, B external environment of the Baigu Cave C, D N. baiguensis sp. nov. found on stone, surrounded by some animal feces E N. baiguensis sp. nov. found on rotting branch F nymphs of Nocticola baiguensis sp. nov.