Tachycines (Gymnaeta) lalinus, Feng & Huang & Luo, 2019

Feng, Xueli, Huang, Shihui & Luo, Changqing, 2019, A new species of the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) from karst caves of southern Guizhou, China, Zootaxa 4674 (4), pp. 491-495 : 492-494

Tachycines (Gymnaeta) lalinus sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Description. Male. Body large size ( Figs. 1 A–C). Vertex of head divided into two conical tubercles, bases of the well-developed tubercles drawn together, obtusely rounded apices separated ( Fig. 1D ). Eyes normal, not reduced, ocelli visible.

Anterior margin of pronotum straight, posterior margin protruding caudad, ventral margin arc-shaped; posterior margin of mesonotum protruding caudad; posterior margin of metanotum straight.

Legs long and slender. Coxae with small medial projections. Fore femur about 2 times longer than the pronotum, ventrally unarmed, internal genicular lobe with 1 small spine, external genicular lobe with 1 long spine; fore tibia ventrally with 1inner spine and 2 outer spines, apex with 1 small outer spine on dorsal surface and 1 pair of long spines on ventral surface, between the paired ventral spines with 1 small spine. Middle femur ventrally unarmed, internal and external genicular lobes with 1 long spine respectively; middle tibiae ventrally with 1 inner spine and 1 outer spine, apex with 1 pair of dorsal spines and 1 pair of ventral spines, between the paired ventral spines with 1 small spine. Hind femur ventrally unarmed; hind tibia dorsally with 50–61 inner spines and 50–59 outer spines, arrange in groups, ventral and dorsal surface with a pair of small subapical spines respectively, apex with 1 pair of long dorsal spines and 1 pair of long ventral spines; the longest dorso-apical spine not exceeding the dorso-apical spine of hind metatarsus ( Fig. 1E ). Hind metatarsus keeled beneath.

Abdominal sternites with short ventral projections. Epiphallus of male genitalia like the shape of “H”; median lobe of genitalia with 1 pair of apical lobules, divided by a very shallow notch; paired lateral sclerites rather large ( Figs. 1F, G ).

Female. General appearance similar to that of male ( Figs. 2 A–C). Ovipositor about half the length of hind femur; base of ovipositor broad, narrowing to apex; apex pointed and slightly curved upwards; almost indistinct denticles on ventral edge of distal part of inferior valves ( Fig. 2D ). Subgenital plate with 3 nearly triangular lobes, median lobe large and the apex pointed, paired lateral lobes small and the apex blunt ( Fig. 2E ).

Coloration. Brown-yellow colour with distinct dark stripes on the posterior margins of the tergites and the hind femora. Face with 2 deep brown longitudinal bands under eyes and with 2 deep brown longitudinal bands under antennas.

Material examined. Holotype: 1♂, Lalin Cave, Lalin Town , Dushan County, Duyun City , Guizhou Province, 03.IX.2017, coll. Shihui Huang & Changqing Luo. Paratypes: 11♂, 4♀, same data as the holotype. Other speci- mens : 11♂, 4♀, Daohua Cave, Lalin town , Dushan County, Duyun City , Guizhou Province, 03.VI.2017, coll. Shihui Huang & Changqing Luo.

Measurements (mm). Body: ♂ 13.32–16.14, ♀ 13.40–17.51; pronotum: ♂ 6.00–6.70, ♀ 5.97–6.75; fore femur: ♂ 12.00–15.07, ♀ 12.74–14.61; hind femur: ♂ 21.72–24.75, ♀ 22.70–24.91; ovipositor: ♀ 11.09–12.08.

Distribution. China (Guizhou).

Discussion. This new species is rather similar to T. (G.) zorzini which also occurs in caves in Guizhou Province, but can be separated from the latter by several morphological features. The shape of the lateral sclerites of male genitalia is different between the two species, and the lateral sclerites of T. (G.) lalinus sp. nov. are more developed than in T. (G.) zorzini . In addition, T. (G.) lalinus sp. nov. is distinguished from T. (G.) zorzini by its spotted coloration (uniform brown-yellow colour in T. (G.) zorzini ) and the slightly higher number of spines on the hind tibiae.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the Lalin town where this species occurs.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Tachycines (Gymnaeta) lalinus sp. nov. (male). A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, lateral view; C. habitus, ventral view; D. vertex of head, showing conical tubercles; E. hind tarsus, dorsal view; F. genitalia, dorsal view; G. genitalia, ventral view.

FIGURE 2. Tachycines (Gymnaeta) lalinus sp. nov. (female). A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, lateral view; C. habitus, ventral view; D. ovipositor, lateral view; E. subgenital plate, ventral view.