Phryganogryllacris laoshanica sp. nov.

(Figs. 1–5)

Holotype: ³, China, Shandong Province, Qingdao City, Laoshan District, Mount Lao (36°16′55″N, 120°33′30″E, Alt. 330), 2-IX-2020, coll. Guo-li Wang, Shang Qu & Liang-xu Zhao.

Paratype: 1³, same data as in holotype.

Description. Male. Small and slender species, normal size for the genus. Occiput smooth; fastigium of vertex about 1.4 times as broad as scape; pedicel about half length of scape (Fig. 2 AB). Eyes ovoid (Fig. 2A). Ocelli ovoid, all similar in shape and size; median ocellus sharply marginated and directed forwards, lateral ocelli facing laterally (Fig. 2A). Anterior margin of pronotum slightly projecting in the middle, posterior margin nearly straight; lateral lobes longer than deep, ventral margin straight (Fig. 1; Fig. 2B). 2 nd and 3 rd abdominal tergites each with two rows of large serried stridulatory pegs on both sides (Fig. 2D).

Tegmina extending to the seventh abdominal tergite (Fig. 3B). R releases RS in apical fourth of tegmen, RS forks near tip; MA intermittently fused with R in basal area; CuA with a single branch that forks into two veins in about basal third, the anterior branch (CuA1) and MP, fused at base, for a short distance, while the posterior branch (CuA2) without further division; CuP undivided, free throughout; with three Anal veins (Fig. 3B). In holotype, MA completely fused with R until basal two fifth, MP completed fused with CuA1 (Fig. 3A). Hind wings slightly shorter than tegmina; longitudinal veins distinct; cross veins faint (Fig. 2C) .

Fore coxa with a spine at fore margin (Fig. 1B); fore and mid femora unarmed (Fig. 1 AB); fore tibiae dorsally unarmed, mid tibiae dorsally with an internal apical spur (Fig. 2E), fore and mid tibiae ventrally with 4 pairs of large spines and one pair of smaller spurs; hind femora ventrally with 4 external and 2–3 internal spinules; hind tibiae dorsally with 5 spines and an apical spur on both sides (Fig. 2F), ventrally with 2 preapical spines and an apical spur on both sides.

Eighth abdominal tergite prolonged (Fig. 4 AB). Ninth abdominal tergite smooth and vaulted; in lateral view hind margin bent down roundly; ventral margin truncate; ventral area of baso-lateral surface on both sides with a rather large sturdy projection incurved basally and excurved apically (Fig. 4). Cerci elongate (Fig. 4 AB), curled when dry. Subgenital plate semicircular; posterior margin with a v-shaped incision (Fig. 4C). Styli short and stout (Fig. 4C).

Female. Unknown.

Coloration. Body yellowish brown. Fastigium verticis and scapus dark brown. Ocelli yellowish. Pronotum yellow with brown dots, ventrally margin of lateral lobe black. Tegmen veins dark brown. Eighth and ninth abdominal tergite black. Spines on tibiae and hind femora black.

Measurements (mm). ³. Body (from head to tip of abdomen): 19.8–20.2; pronotum: 4.5–4.7; tegmen: 9.1– 10.2; hind wing: 6.4–6.9; fore femur: 6.2–6.4; median femur: 6.2–6.5; hind femur: 11.8–12.1; fore tibia: 6.7–6.8; median tibia: 6.6–6.9; hind tibia: 10.9–11.4.

Notes. Phryganogryllacris laoshanica is currently the only known mesopterous species of the genus. It differs from all other species of Phryganogryllacris by the scale of wings. There are some veins cling or even fusing together owing to degeneration of wings, and vary in details between individuals or even between left and right wings of the same individual.

Etymology. The species is named after its type locality Laoshan.

Distribution. Shandong, China. Known only from the type locality.