Elbenia fraser, Tan, Ming Kai, 2014

Tan, Ming Kai, 2014, Short taxonomic review of little-known Phaneropterinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from Malay Peninsula, Zootaxa 3826 (2), pp. 329-340 : 333-337

Elbenia fraser , new species

( Fig. 5 )

Material examined. Holotype (male): Peninsular Malaysia, Pahang, Bukit Fraser , along Ledegham Road, N03.71717, E101.73931, elev. 1280 ± 5.2 m, on leaf of shrub, coll. M. K. Tan, S. T. Toh & H. Yeo, 7 December 2013, 1452 hours ( ZRC).

Diagnosis. Similar to E. smedleyi from Sumatra in male tenth abdominal tergite with distinct apical lobes short and truncated, not bifurcated distally but differ by male tenth abdominal tergite with apical lobes rectangular, truncated distally, without tooth along apical margin when viewed laterally; male cercus with a distinct long and curved laterally-flattened tooth at apex. Similar to E. bispinosa from Peninsular Malaysia and E. javanica from West Java by male subgenital plate shaft-like and emarginated at the apex but differ by apical lobes of male tenth abdominal tergite not spine-like. Differ from other species from Peninsular Malaysia by male abdominal apex: differ from E. nigrosignata and E. robinsoni from Selangor by apical lobes of male tenth abdominal tergite not spine-like and male subgenital plate not deeply excised; differ from E. fissa from Kedah and E. fusca by male subgenital plate not triangular and with posterior margin excised; differ from E. pendleburyi from Perak by male subgenital plate not deeply excised and male cercus with apical tooth curved internally.

Description. Habitus typical of this genus ( Fig. 5 A). Head small, with length 0.5 times (n = 1) of pronotum length. Fastigium narrowly triangular, protruding, furrowed medially, narrower than antennal scapus, with apex obtuse ( Fig. 5 B). Eye prominent. Frons smooth. Pronotum smooth, 1.5 times longer than wide (n = 1); dorsal plate with anterior margin substraight, feebly emarginated in the middle; with posterior margin rounded; lateral keel not distinct; lateral lobe 1.1 times taller than long (n = 1), ventral margin roundly angulated and posterior margin very broadly rounded. Tegmen and hind wing fully developed. Tegmen narrow basally, widens gently medially and with apex rounded. Tegminal venation as shown in Fig. 5 C: Radius Sector (Rs) originates before middle, bifurcate towards apex, running parallel to Radius. Hind wing surpassing tegmen. Anterior tibia with external and internal tympana, internal tympanum swollen and conchate, external tympanum open and oval; with 3 inner spines and 1 outer spine.

Male. Stridulatory file of left tegmen elongated, about 1.9 mm (n = 1), substraight; with circa 31 teeth per mm (n = 1) densely and mostly evenly spaced throughout ( Fig. 5 D). Abdominal apex as shown in Figs. 5 E, 5F. Tenth abdominal tergite with basal part raised into a narrowly V-shaped plate; apex with two rectangular lobes from each side of the medial depression; apical lobe longer than wide, setose, apex truncated. Epiproct concealed under the prolongation of tenth abdominal tergite, apex appears broadly rounded. Cercus elongated and curved; apex rounded, with a long and curved laterally-flattened tooth ( Figs. 5 E, 5F). Subgenital plate narrow and elongated; basal margin excised, basal area tapering into narrow shaft; apex folder inward, with two roughly rounded apical lobes, narrowly emarginated at base; lobe with apex bulbous, with internal margin concave and an internal apical tooth ( Figs. 5 E, 5F).

Female. Unknown.

Colouration. Pale green in general. Head with vertex, dorsal part of scapus, palpi pale green; otherwise, including fastigium, ventral side of scapus, frons, mouth parts and gena bluish white. Pronotum generally pale green with tint of bluish white; dorsal plate with posterior margin brown; lateral lobe more bluish white. Tegmen green, slightly hyalinous; with basal half of anal field infumated black. Hind wing mostly hyaline, with projecting area green, not hyaline. Abdomen mostly very pale green to bluish white. Legs generally pale green, with basal half of femur more bluish white and coxa bluish white; fore femur with basal part orange; hind femur basal half with tiny black spots on dorso-external surface. Male abdominal apex pale green; base of subgenital plate bluish white; teeth at apex of cercus and apical lobes of subgenital plate dark brown.

Measurements (holotype, in mm). BL: 24.7; BWL: 48.4; PL: 4.5; PW: 3.1; TL: 38.9; HWT: 5.5; HFL: 21.5; HTL: 21.5.

Etymology. The species is named after the type locality, Bukit Fraser ; noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Elbenia fraser sp. n.: habitus of male holotype in dorso-lateral view (A); head in dorsal view (B); male left tegmen in dorsal view (C), stridulatory file on left tegmen in ventral view (D), male abdominal apex in dorsal (E), and lateral (F) views. Scale bars: 1 mm (B, D – F); 5 mm (C).