Ephippithyta Serville

Rentz, Dcf, Su, You Ning & Ueshima, Norhiro, 2008, Studies in Australian Tettigoniidae: new Phaneropterine Katydids from Queensland Rainforests (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Phaneropterinae), Zootaxa 1964 (1), pp. 1-39 : 18-25

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.1964.1.1
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0387D06C-BF1C-FF90-CDA9-C4EFFBDC5567
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Ephippithyta Serville
status

Treatment

Ephippithyta Serville View in CoL

Serville, A. 1838[1839]. Histoire naturelle des insectes. Orthoptères.

Ochrida Walker, F. 1869 . Catalogue of the Specimens of Dermaptera Saltatoria in the Collection of the British Museum. 2:244.

Type species. Phaneroptera trigintiduoguttata Serville 1838 View in CoL by original designation.

Eades et al. (2007) list five species in Ephippithyta View in CoL several of which are obvious synonyms of the type species. Rentz and Balderson (1979:14) present notes on the types and type localities of most of these. Ochrida Walker View in CoL was originally described as a mecopodine but is based on a nymph of E. trigintiduoguttata View in CoL .

The type species and its synonyms are species of the dry country of central Australia. These katydids commonly come to lights and because of their large size and striking appearance, they attract public attention. It was of some considerable interest to discover a new distinctive species living in the Kuranda rainforest. It is quite different from the type species but easily recognizable as a species of Ephippithyta View in CoL on the basis of the shape of the pronotum and head, colour and pattern of body, tegmina and legs and the structure of the genitalia and ovipositor. See Figs. 10 View FIGURE 10 , 11 View FIGURE 11 .

Ephippithyta kuranda * 6 Rentz, Su, Ueshima sp. nov.

Figs. 10B, D View FIGURE 10 , 11A–C View FIGURE 11 , 12 View FIGURE 12 , 17E View FIGURE 17 , 21 View FIGURE 21 ; Table 3

Holotype male. Label “ 16°48’S. 145°38’E. ( GPS) Kuranda, (Top of the Range), 19 Butler Dr, 335m, 15–31 MAY 2007 DCF Rentz.” GoogleMaps

6. * Named with reference to the type locality.

Type locality. The type locality is a simple to complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest on moderately to poorly drained metamorphics (Regional Ecosystem 7.11.1 EPA, 2007). The type was attracted to lights at night.

Male. (Description in comparison with E. trigintiduoguttata )

General. Size moderate for genus, form robust ( Fig. 12 View FIGURE 12 ) ( Table 3).

Head. Head with fastigium of vertex narrow, elongate, sides undulating.

Thorax. Pronotum relatively broad ( Fig. 10B View FIGURE 10 ) with V-shaped median incision; surface of disk uniformly smooth, not rugose; lateral lobe broad ( Fig. 12 View FIGURE 12 ).

Wings. Tegmen short and broad ( Fig.17E View FIGURE 17 ), surface reticulate, veins not appreciably raised; radial area with the veins of the MA mostly perpendicular on each side and not divided in the inner part of the tegmen; stridulatory area with stridulatory vein thickened proximally.

Legs. Fore legs with flanges on anterior ventral margin of fore femora Fig. 10B View FIGURE 10 ); middle femur with a much smaller flange; hind femur with a moderate flange near apex.

Abdomen. Abdomen with tenth tergite ( Fig. 11C View FIGURE 11 ) smooth, apex truncate; cercus ( Fig. 11C View FIGURE 11 ) short, stout, tip blunt with 2 teeth, the outer of which is longer than the inner; supra-anal plate about half again as long as broad, apex evenly rounded; subgenital plate broadly scoop-shaped, apex with 2 elongate styles without a medial incision.

Female. Abdomen with tenth tergite not modified; supra-anal plate similar to that of male; subgenital plate very elongate, shallow, with a shallow median sulcus. Ovipositor distinctive, protruding slightly from tip of abdomen ( Fig. 11B View FIGURE 11 ), without any trace of armature.

Colour. Colour is species distinctive as follows: head mottled brown, occiput olive green; antenna with scape and pedicel light green, flagellum brown, without annulations; tegmen with a variable number of faint, ovoid spots of varying sizes, mostly concentrated along posterior margin; fore femur and tibia mottled brown, middle and hind femora tibiae light green; middle tibia with a broad creamish brown basal spot and a much smaller similar spot apically, these separated by a greenish area; hind tibia ( Fig. 10D View FIGURE 10 ) laterally and ventrally green, dorsal surface mottled brown with 3 distinctive creamish brown bands. Thorax uniformly light green; pronotum dorsally dark brown, this brown pattern continuing onto base of tegmina; lateral lobe uniformly light green. Abdomen green with a few brown spot basally on first few segments; base adjoining thorax bright pinkish purple ( Fig. 11E View FIGURE 11 ).

Eggs. The eggs are ovoid, flat, thin, black, well sclerotised. Measurements (5 eggs average): 4.1 x 2.3 mm.

Specimens examined paratypes: Queensland: 16°48’S . 145°38’E. ( GPS) Kuranda, (Top of the Range), 19 Butler Dr, 335m, 30.xi.2004 (3 males, 2 females); 31.xii.2004 (1 male; Cytol. prep. 2004-16); 31.i.2005 (2 males, 6 females); 15.ii.2005 (1 female); 28.ii.2005 (1 male); 15.iv.2005 (1 female); 15.iii.2005 (1 female); 15.xii.2005; (5 males, 2 females); 15.i.2006 (3 females); 31.i.2006 (1 female); 28.ii.2006 (1 male, 1 female); 15.iii.2006 (2 female); 31.iii.2006 (1 female); 15.xii.2006 (2 males); 31.xi.2006 (4 males, 3 females); 31.xii.2006 (1 male); 15.i.2007 (5 males, 1 female); 28.ii.2007 (4 females); 15.iii.2007 (1 female); 31.iii.2007 (1 female); 30.iv.2007 (1 female); 31.v.2007 (1 female); 15.xi.2007 (1 male; Cytol. prep. 2007-4); 15.xii.2007 (1 male; Cytol. prep. 2007-14); 15.i.2008 (2 females); 31.i.2008 (3 females); 15.ii.2008 (3 females); all collected by DCF Rentz. 16 O 49’S 145 O 37’E. ( GPS) Kuranda, 2 km NW on Kennedy Hwy, “Arona”, 3.i.2005 ( DCF Rentz, J. van Pelt, 1 male) .

Discussion. This species is commonly attracted to light. With continuous monitoring throughout the year it is possible to reveal with some accuracy that this species matures late in the dry season (November) and persists as adults throughout the wet with the last adults seen early in the dry season (May). Yet with all this information and the apparent abundance of the species, we have not seen adults during the daytime and have no idea of host preferences. The shape of the ovipositor and eggs suggests the species oviposits on twigs and stems or in bark cracks. E. trigintiduoguttata deposits series of eggs on twigs and stems.

Kurandoptera * 7 Gen. Nov.

ANIC Number Gen. Nov. P10

Type species. Kurandoptera purpura Rentz, Su, Ueshima View in CoL , here designated.

This genus is proposed to accommodate a single distinctive species that occurs in the rainforests of the Kuranda region of far north Queensland. It shows some similarities with Polichne species but is quite different from those in the development of the ovipositor. No Polichne species shows strong development of the ovipositor to the extent that we see here. They usually have short, bud-like ovipositors that are used to glue small, barrel-like eggs to twigs and stems. The single known species described here has a very differently shaped ovipositor obviously developed for a different purpose.

Differential diagnosis. This new genus seems most closely related to Polichne ( Figs. 13A, B View FIGURE 13 ). It bears a suite of characters that distinguishes it from that genus. The highly polished appearance of the entire body including the legs and wings, the usually unforked MA vein of the tegmen and absent, or poorly defined, radial sector vein of the tegmen and the disproportionately large ovipositor are unlike any other characters seen in other Australian Phaneropterinae .

General. Body of moderate size; form slender ( Table 4). General habitus that of Polichne species.

7. * Named with reference to the type locality; feminine gender.

Head. Fastigium of vertex broadly triangular, emarginate in lateral profile to the frontal fastigium. Scape and pedicel unduly large for size of insect; flagellum about 2.5 times length of body. Eyes globular, large, situated high on head ( Fig. 12B View FIGURE 12 ).

Thorax. Pronotum with surface mostly smooth, shining, pro- and mesozona with feeble V-shaped engraving, metazona feebly rugose; anterior margin not indented, posterior margin broadly obtuse; lateral lobe deeper than long, anterior margin indented dorsally, posterior margin also indented but dorsally and produced in median portion, ventral margin produced. Prosternum unarmed.

Legs. Legs very long, slender ( Fig. 13B View FIGURE 13 ). For and middle femora unarmed; fore tibia unarmed dorsally except for apical spine on anterior margin, ventral surface armed on anterior and posterior margins except for an apical spine on each side; middle tibia armed dorsally on posterior margin, apex with a large spine, ventral surface armed on both margins, apex with a spine on each side; hind femur armed on both sides of ventral surface with very small spines. Genicular lobes of fore and middle femora armed only on anterior margin with a single blunt tooth; hind femur armed on both sides with 2 sharp spines.

Wings. Tegmen long and slender ( Fig. 13A, B View FIGURE 13 ) reaching beyond apex of hind femur; hind wings extending well beyond tegmina. Costal field not expanded, costa scarcely discernable from adjacent veins; Sc and R close together and parallel for their entire length; radial sector absent, or, perhaps, only indicated by a very small vein; stridulatory area not well differentiated for other veins, stridulatory vein short, thick.

Abdomen. Male tenth tergite not or feebly indented; supra-anal plate unmodified, small and triangulate; sclerotised genitalia absent; subgenital plate small, elongate, lacking styles but with corners produced, appearing as styles, separated by a small gap. Female abdomen with tenth tergite unmodified, supra-anal plate broadly triangulate, subgenital plate broadly triangular, apex sharp ( Fig. 14A View FIGURE 14 ).

Ovipositor. Ovipositor large ( Fig. 14B View FIGURE 14 ) expanded apically, serrate on dorsal and ventral margins.

Colour. Colour distinctive. Overall coloration light green; tegmina and wings (unspread in natural habitus) with wings darker than other parts of body, tegmina shining green, area posterior to MA light brown; stridulatory region with membranous portion dark brown; wing light purple except apex of costal region green. Pronotum with a distinctive brown spot on each side of disk ( Fig. 13A, B View FIGURE 13 ); legs uniformly light green, tibial auditory tympanum and tarsi light brown. Abdomen with a dorsal reddish brown stripe extending to genitalia; ventral surface of abdomen, including subgenital plate green. Ovipositor dark green, tip brown, including dorsal and ventral margins.

Kurandoptera purpura * 8 Rentz, Su, Ueshima sp. nov.

Figs. 13 View FIGURE 13 , 14 View FIGURE 14 , 22 View FIGURE 22 ; Table 4

Holotype male. Label “ 16°48’S. 145°38’E. ( GPS) Kuranda, (Top of the Range), 19 Butler Dr, 335m, 1–15 December 2004 DCF Rentz.” GoogleMaps

Differential diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from Polichne species with which it might be confused, by the characters listed above, the male and female genitalia, the size and shape of the ovipositor ( Fig. 14B View FIGURE 14 ) and the markings on the pronotum ( Figs. 13A, B View FIGURE 13 ).

Legs. Fore tibia with 4 small spines on each margin of ventral surface; middle tibia with 9 spines on anterior margin, posterior margin with 7 spines. Hind femur with 5 small spines on each side of ventral surface.

Tegmina and wings. _ Tegmen with proximal veins from radius parallel, remainder diagonal; radial sector absent, or poorly defined. Stridulatory file straight to gently arching, the teeth very broad.

Abdomen. Abdomen slender, unmodified. Tenth tergite only feebly indented; cercus robust, gracefully incurved, tip with a single minute tooth (often broken in older specimens); subgenital plate with apex very narrow. No sclerotised portion of phallus.

Female. As for male except cerci somewhat thickened basally, the tapering to apex. Ovipositor ( Fig. 14B View FIGURE 14 ) large ( Table 4), very flat, ventral margin expanded subapically, serrated, colour mostly green except tip and dorsal and ventral margins near tip brownish.

Colour. Overall colour pale grey green. Colour in addition to characters listed above. Head uniformly shining lime green; median ocellus creamish yellow; eye dark brown. Antennal scape and uniformly green, pedicel reddish brown; flagellum olive green, not annulate. Pronotum with a single black mark on each side in metazonal area, this infrequently developed into a stripe, the area caudad to these marks brownish and highly translucent. Cercus mottled green and reddish brown, somewhat alternating in this pattern as a continuance of the reddish brown stripe of the dorsal surface of the abdomen. Entire ventral surface of abdomen, including subgenital plate, lime green.

Egg. Egg ovoid, flat, black, well sclerotised, probably inserted in cracks in bark, or, perhaps, laid in series on twigs.

Specimens examined paratypes: Queensland: 16°48’S . 145°38’E. ( GPS) Kuranda, (Top of the Range), 19 Butler Dr, 335m, 25–30.xi.2004 (2 males); 16–31.xii.2004 1 female); 31.i.2005 (1 male, 3 females); 15.ii.2005 (1 male, 1 female); 30.iv.2005 (1 female); 1–15.xii.2005 (1 male, 2 females); 16–31.xii.2005 (2 males); 1–15.i.2006 (1 male); 16–31.xii.2006 (4 males, 2 females); 1–15.i.2007 (1 males); 16–28.ii.2007 (2 males, 1 female); 1–15.iv.2007 (1 male, 1 female); 16–30.iv.2007 (1 male); 16–31.v.2007 (1 female); 1–15.xii.2007 (5 males; Cytol. preps. 2007-5, 13; 1 female); 1–15.i.2008 (1 male, 2 females); 28.ii.2008 (1 male, 1 female). All collected by DCF Rentz.

Discussion. This species has been found only at lights at night and not observed in nature. The collecting records indicate that it is mature in the wet season (late November) and continues as adult until the onset of the dry (May).

8. * Named with reference to the colour of the wings of both sexes.

This genus was proposed on the basis of the following characters which contrast it with Caedicia: Fastigium of vertex acuminate, tegmen becoming broad in apical third, radial branch forked near the base; fore tibiae sulcate on dorsal surface, unarmed except for apical spine on external margin; disk of pronotum flat. We know now that all known species possess a distinctive spot on the side of the first abdominal tergite and all have the fore and middle tibiae speckled. The shape of the tegmen is also distinctive.