Australiagraecia minuta Rentz, Su and Ueshima, 2021

Rentz, Dcf, Su, You Ning & Ueshima, Norihiro, 2021, Studies in Australian Tettigoniidae: New short-winged Agraeciini from Australia (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Conocephalinae; Agraeciini), Zootaxa 5059 (2), pp. 1-72 : 11-12

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5059.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:55EFABBA-F43C-4AA5-8B50-776C46DEB1B5

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5914257

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03AB6566-5949-7270-E592-FA91FAA7FDDC

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Australiagraecia minuta Rentz, Su and Ueshima
status

Gen. et sp. nov.

Australiagraecia minuta Rentz, Su and Ueshima View in CoL Gen. et sp. nov.

( Fig. 1C View FIG ; Figs 3 View FIG A-C; Fig. 20B View FIG ; Fig. 22a F View FIG ; Table 1 View TABLE 1 , Map 3 View MAP )

3 Named with reference to the species’ small size.

Common name. Small Heath-loving Katydid

Holotype male. (In alcohol). 1. “ 29 o 49’S 114 o 59’E 27 km W. of Eneabba , 9.ix.1981 (DCF Rentz, Stop 70, 1 male ” 2. “collected as nymph, matured in laboratory 12.x.1981 Cytol. prep. 81-253”. 3. “ ANIC database #14008743.” GoogleMaps

Paratype. 29 o 33’S 115 o 06’E 32 km NNW of Eneabba , 24.x.1984 GoogleMaps (DCF Rentz, Stop 63, 1 female, collected as nymph, matured in laboratory 12.xii.1984, ANIC) .

Type locality. At the time of collection, the type locality was typical of the Sand Plain country with dense low shrubbery, scattered tall trees and an abundance of seasonal wildflowers. The condition of this site at this writing is unknown. This site area was used by many of the students of WJ Bailey, University of Western Australia, Dept. of Zoology , for many of their studies of tettigoniid acoustics, individual spacing and territorial home ranges .

Differential Diagnosis. Size small for genus, form robust. Prothorax with processes short, robust; meso- and metathoracic processes robust, tuberculate. Male cercus elongate, directed posteriorly and weakly directed downwards ( Fig. 3A View FIG ); apex of tenth tergite undulating ( Fig. 3A View FIG ) paraprocts undeveloped; phallus a small bilobed, membranous structure ( Fig. 3C View FIG ), no sclerotised rods at base; subgenital plate with styles elongate, but shorter than length of one side of median incision ( Fig. 3A View FIG ).

Female. Differs from male in following: tenth tergite not modified; cercus very elongate; subgenital plate broadly triangulate, much broader than long, apex with narrow notch. Ovipositor very elongate, much longer than length of specimen, gracefully upcurved.

Distribution. Known only from the vicinity of the type locality ( Fig. 1B View FIG ) ( Map 3 View MAP )

Habitat. This katydid lives on or near the ground in the dense tangle of twigs and leaf litter. It would seem to be very susceptible to wildfire and clearing.

Seasonal occurrence. As with other in the genus, adults can be expected from mid spring and into the summer months.

Stridulatory file. Fig. 20B View FIG . 41 teeth. Largest teeth at proximal end, gradually decreasing in size to tip.

Song. Unknown.

Karyotype. 2n male =31 (30T+Xt), Fig. 22a F View FIG Holotype karyotype.

Recognition. Recognised by the small size ( Table 1 View TABLE 1 ) and the small, bilobed phallus lacking any sclerotization. Females with the ovipositor much longer than the length of the individual.

Discussion. Known only from 2 specimens but males with distinctive cerci and phallic complex.

ANIC

Australian National Insect Collection

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