Listroscelis cyanotibiatus Mendes & Silva-Neto sp. nov.

Figures 1–7

Diagnosis. The turquoise blue coloring of tibiae and part of tegmina makes this katydid unique and easily differentiated from other species of Listroscelis (Fig. 6). Tegmina long, surpassing apex of cercus and subgenital plate, in lateral view (Fig. 1A). Cercus fang-shaped, apically with inward curved tip; apex of cercus not exceeding base of stylus (Figs. 1I–K).

Description. Holotype Male.

Head. Head laterally wide, with frons and gena rough, in frontal view (Figs. 1B–C); fastigium-vertex small and laterally compressed, in frontal view (Fig. 1B); Globular eyes (Figs. 1B and 1D). Scape and pedicel wide and cylindrical, in lateral view (Fig. 1D). Mandibles asymmetrical; left mandible very elongate, ensiform, acuminate and projecting forward; right mandible curved and not elongated (Figs. 1A–C).

Thorax. Pronotal disc rectangular, without carina, anteriorly slightly concave and posteriorly straight, in dorsal view (Fig. 1E); dorsal margin of pronotal disc with undulations, in lateral view (Fig. 1E); Dorsal-lateral suture curved and bifurcate (Figs. 1D–E). Furcal suture curved and concolorous with pronotal disc (Fig. 1E). Mesobasisternum triangular-shaped, anteriorly slightly concave and posteriorly narrow (Fig. 1E). Lateral lobes of mesobasisternum anterolaterally and laterally convex and posteriorly straight (Fig. 1E). Metabasisternum trapezoidal (Fig. 1E). Lateral lobes of mesobasisternum laterally slightly convex and posteriorly rounded (Fig. 1E). Mesobasisternum and metabasisternum with two rounded projections on each (Fig. 1E).

Wings. Tegmina narrow with rounded apex, with about 1/3 of the tegmina surpassing the apex of the cerci (Figs. 1A, 2A–B). Left stridulatory file sinuous; teeth apical minor in relation to middle teeth (Fig. 3A). Total length of left stridulatory file 4 mm, greater vein width of 0.2 mm and a total of 178 teeth (Fig. 3A). Right stridulatory file sinuous; teeth basal and apical shorter than middle teeth (Fig. 3B). Total length file of 2 mm, widest vein of 0.1 mm and total of 156 teeth (Figs. 3B).

Legs. Fore femur straight, with apex narrower than the base, presence of four ventral spines, a pair of apical spines and numerous small ventral spines, in lateral view (Fig. 1F). Fore tibia sinuous with six pairs of long spines in ventral region, in lateral view (Fig. 1F). Mid femur curved, with four pairs of large spines and numerous small spines on ventral margin, in lateral view (Fig. 1G). Mid tibia with enlarged basal half with six pairs of ventral spines and three dorsal spines, in lateral view (Fig. 1G). Hind femur enlarged at basal half, with several large ventral spines (Figs. 1A). Hind tibia straight, narrow, with several small ventral and dorsal spines (Figs. 1A). All legs with short bristles (Figs. 1A, F–G).

Abdomen. Cercus fang-shaped, apically with inward curved tip; apex of cercus not exceeding base of stylus (Figs. 1I–K). Subgenital plate trapezoidal and posteriorly bifurcated (Figs. 1I–K). Space concave between the base of stylus (Figs. 1I–K). Stylus long and narrow (Figs. 1I–K).

Internal male genitalia. Upper fold of ventral lobe large, asymmetric; margins slightly sinuous (Figs. 4A–D). Titillator with two large sclerites, parallel, inward curved and anteriorly exceeding the dorsal lobe (Figs. 4A–D). Sclerite of ventral fold of dorsal lobe with one large sclerite, sinuous, narrow medially and wide distally; apex acuminate (Figs. 4A–D). Lower fold of ventral lobe small, bilobed, posteriorly not exceeding the upper fold of ventral lob (Figs. 4A–B). Dorsal lobe anteriorly with median projection large elongated, anterolaterally with two convex projections, laterally and posteriorly slightly rounded (Figs. 4A–D). Dorsal fold asymmetric, elongated and narrow (Figs. 4C–D).

Coloration. Described based on photos of live specimens (Fig. 6). Scape, pedicel dark brown and antennal sclerite light brown. Eyes dark brown. Head, pronotal disc, fore leg and mid leg dark brown with some light brown areas. Jaws black. Tibiae with black brown base and apex and turquoise blue middle region, with black spines. Tarsi dark brown. Hind femur light brown with apex dark brown. Thorax light brown with some dark brown areas. Tegmina dark brown; basal region of the wing a large blue-white and posteriorly turquoise-blue spot slightly hyaline between the costal margin and the main branch of vein R. Stridulatory region of tegmina light brown. Abdominal segment dorsally dark brown with a turquoise blue lateral band. Cerci light green.

Female: Similar to male, except for the following features (Fig. 5):

Wings. Anal veins unmodified for sound production.

Abdomen. Cercus slightly inward curved with acuminate and inward curved apex (Figs. 5H–J). Cercus with long white bristles (Fig. 5H). Subgenital plate triangular, anteriorly straight and posteriorly slightly bilobate (Fig. 5I). Ovipositor slightly curved, without teeth, with enlarged base and subsequently narrow to the apex; apex of ovipositor triangular (Fig. 5J).

Coloration. Ovipositor with light brown base and other dark brown regions.

Etymology. The epithet is from Latin, cyano (blue) + tibia (tibia, leg) + atus (provided with), meaning “provided with blue tibia”, in reference to the striking and diagnostic blue coloration of the legs of this katydid.

Geographical records. Brazil: Bahia (Fig. 7).

Type material. Holotype ♁. BRASIL, Bahia, Cachoeira, Fazenda Vila Rial, 19.v.2018, D.M.M. Mendes & A.M.S. Neto leg. (INPA) . Paratypes: Idem, Itanagra, 19.ii.2021, A.M.S. Neto leg. (1♀ INPA); Idem, Santa Teresinha, Serra da Jiboia, Base Gambá, 12°52′19.8″S – 39°28′51.7″W, 08–10.v. 2018, 500 m de altitude, coleta manual, D.M.M. Mendes & A.M.S. Neto leg. (1♀ INPA) .

Measurements (mm). Holotype♁: TL: 52; TegL: 50; TegH: 8; WF: 4,5; PL: 5,3; PH: 3,2; FF: 10; FT: 10,5; MF: 6,7; MT: 7,5; HF: 16; HT: 18; Lplac: 3,5; LC: 2,8.

Paratypes ♀: TL: 52; TegL: 50; TegH: 8; WF: 4,5; PL: 5,3; PH: 3,2; FF: 10; FT: 10,5; MF: 6,7; MT: 7,5; HF: 16; HT: 18; Lplac: 3,5; LC: 2,8; OV: 3.

Comments. The state of Bahia currently has records of three species of Listroscelis: Listroscelis magnomaculata Fialho et al., 2014, Listroscelis monnei Fialho et al., 2014, Listroscelis cohni Fialho et al., 2014 . L. cyanotibiatus sp. nov. appears to be closer to L. magnomaculata (differentiating by long tegmina versus short tegmina, not exceeding the apex of cercus in L. magnomaculata).