Phaloria nr. aspersa Gorochov, 1996

(Figs. 1H–K, 2G, 3G, 4H, 4I, 5M, 5N)

Phaloria aspersa Gorochov, 1996: 68 (original description)

Phaloria (Papuloria) aspersa — Gorochov, 2005: 34 (new locality record in Supiori Island, West Papua); Gorochov, 2018: 62 (new locality record in Faowi and Nabire in Papua New Guinea); Cigliano et al. 2021 ( Orthoptera species file Online)

Material examined (photographs from OSF). Holotype (male, DORSA BG00040S01), “Holl. N. Guinea, Pauwi-Samberi”, 17–20.vi.1910, coll. Moszkowski, S. G. (MfN)

New material examined. 1 male (LEN2014 -TR609), New Guinea, Indonesia, West Papua, Kumawa, S4.0646111, E133.037111 (KUM3), 82 m .a.s.l., forêt littorale sur karst, ligne de crête [littoral forest on karst, ridge line], 13–15.xi.2014, jour [day], B. Framento (MNHN); 1 female (LEN2014 -TR620), Kumawa, S4.0555, E133.066333 (KUM4), 47 m .a.s.l., forêt littorale karstique sur pente [karst coastal forest on slope], 16.xi.2014, nuit [night] (MNHN); 1 female (LEN2014 -TR235), Lobo, S3.7141944, E134.069333 (LOBO7), 377 m .a.s.l., forêt proche PK8/ route Lobo-Kaimana, forêt primaire entre camp et falaise [forest near PK8 / Lobo-Kaimana road, primary forest between camp and cliff], 21–30.x.2014, nuit [night], molecular sample P6, T. Robillard (MZB.Orth.21845) .

Remarks. This species has a very unique habitus among congeners, distinct from most species by larger size and slender habitus (with distinctly elongated FWs), pale coloured with distinct dark patterns on head, pronotum and legs (Figs. 1H–K, 2G, 3G, 4H, 4I). Our specimens from Kumawa and Lobo show similarity in the male genitalia as the holotype (Figs. 5M, 5N), but differ slightly in shape of ectophallic apodemes and pseudepiphallic parameres as well as colouration of the pronotum and face: pronotum dark-coloured only in apical third, anterior margin with some dark patterns and spots (instead of more dark parts with some light patterns); lateral lobe with dorsal, posterior and ventral areas dark, pale coloured in the centre (instead of more dark parts). Since this species is widely distributed across New Guinea, we should examine the conspecific variations more closely before considering the differences observed in our specimens as species differences.