Tachycines (Tachycines) nigrocorporis, Hong & Huang & Luo, 2022

Hong, Ben, Huang, Shihui & Luo, Changqing, 2022, Description of a new species of the subgenus Tachycines (Tachycines) (Rhaphidophoridae: Aemodogryllinae: Aemodogryllini) from Guizhou, China, Zootaxa 5209 (4), pp. 497-500 : 498-499

Tachycines (Tachycines) nigrocorporis sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Description. Male. Body large-sized ( Figs. 1A–C ). Vertex of head divided into two conical tubercles, bases of the well-developed tubercles drawn together, obtusely rounded apices separated ( Fig. 1D ). Eyes oval, protruding forward; median ocellus distinct, situated between antennal sockets ( Fig. 1D ).

Anterior margin of pronotum straight, posterior margin slightly protruding backward, ventral margin arcshaped; posterior margin of mesonotum distinctly protruding backward; posterior margin of metanotum slightly protruding backward ( Fig. 1E ).

Legs long and slender; coxae with small medial projections.Fore femur about 1.8 times longer than the pronotum, ventrally unarmed, internal genicular lobe with 1 long spine, external genicular lobe with 1 small spine; fore tibia ventrally with 2–3 inner spines and 1 outer spine, 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 tibia 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 with 3–4 inner spines and without outer spine; hind tibia dorsally with 64–66 inner spines and 61–64 outer spines, arrange in groups, ventral and dorsal surface with a pair of small sub-apical 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. 1F ). Hind metatarsus keeled beneath ( Fig. 1F ).

Epiphallus of male genitalia rectangular and with many denticles on surface, the anterior angles of epiphallus slightly extended, the posterior angles obviously extended and elongated; median lobe of genitalia with 2 pairs of apical lobules and distinct lateral sclerites, dorsal surface with 1 large triangular sclerite; membranous ventral lateral lobes of genitalia slightly longer than dorsal ones ( Figs. 1G, H ).

Female. General appearance similar to that of male ( Figs. 2A–C ), but hind femur ventrally with 4–5 inner spines. Ovipositor shorter than 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 rather small, with hind margin rounded ( Fig. 2E ).

Coloration. Body uniformly black without distinct stripes. Face light brown with 2 black longitudinal stripes under eyes and antennas; antennal flagellum yellowish-brown. Legs brown with black stripes.

Material examined. Holotype: 1♂, Tianba Town, Fenggang County, Zunyi City , Guizhou Province, 21.IX.2021, coll. Ben Hong, Bing Li, Kesong Yin. Paratypes: 1♂, 2♀, same data as the holotype.

Measurements (mm). Body: ♂ 25.21–30.31, ♀ 26.52–27.04; pronotum: ♂ 7.99–8.08, ♀ 7.91–8.30; fore femur: ♂ 12.95–15.45, ♀ 14.90–15.15; hind femur: ♂ 28.42–28.61, ♀ 29.61–30.50; hind tarsus: ♂ 10.65–12.24, ♀ 11.76– 11.97; ovipositor: ♀ 10.70–12.38.

Distribution. China (Guizhou).

Discussion. This new species is unique in the subgenus Tachycines (Tachycines) due to the following character of male genitalia: the dorsal surface of the median lobe with 1 large triangular sclerite. This morphological feature of male genitalia can be applied to distinguish this new species from all other species of Tachycines (Tachycines) .

Etymology. The name of the new species refers to the black coloration of the body.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Tachycines (Tachycines) nigrocorporis sp. nov. (male). A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, lateral view; C. habitus, ventral view; D. head, frontal view; E. thorax, dorsal view; F. hind tarsus, lateral view; G. genitalia, dorsal view; H. genitalia, ventral view.

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