Tachycines (Gymnaeta) zaoshu, Feng & Huang & Luo, 2020

Feng, Xueli, Huang, Shihui & Luo, Changqing, 2020, Three new cave species of the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) (Orthoptera Rhaphidophoridae: Aemodogryllinae) from northern Guizhou, China, Zootaxa 4820 (3), pp. 563-571 : 564-566

Tachycines (Gymnaeta) zaoshu sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 , 2 )

Description. Male. Body medium 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.

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 1 inner 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 35–40 inner spines and 44–47 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 with bristles beneath.

Abdominal sternites with short ventral projections. Epiphallus of male genitalia trapezoidal, the lower end slightly notched; median lobe of genitalia with 1 pair of apical lobules, divided by a shallow notch; paired lateral sclerites rather small; membranous ventral lateral lobes of genitalia shorter than dorsal ones ( Figs. 1F, G ).

Female. General appearance similar to that of male ( Figs. 2 A–C). Ovipositor shorter than the half 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 nearly triangular and the apex blunt ( Fig. 2E ).

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

Material examined. Holotype: 1♂, Zaoshu Cave, Mayanghe National Nature Reserve, Yanhe Tujia Autono-mous County , Tongren City , Guizhou Province, 18.VII.2019, coll. Changqing Luo & Xueli Feng. Paratypes: 11♂, 5♀, same data as the holotype . Other specimens: 3♂, 4♀, Zhu Cave, Mayanghe National Nature Reserve , Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County, Tongren City , Guizhou Province, 18.VII.2019, coll. Changqing Luo & Xueli Feng ; 5♂, 3♀, Zhujia Cave, Mayanghe National Nature Reserve , Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County, Tongren City , Guizhou Province, 18.VII.2019, coll. Changqing Luo & Xueli Feng ; 4♂, 3♀, Liangqiao Cave, Mayanghe National Nature Reserve , Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County, Tongren City , Guizhou Province, 18.VII.2019, coll. Changqing Luo & Xueli Feng ; 8♂, 5♀, Shuangkou Cave, Mayanghe National Nature Reserve , Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County, Tongren City , Guizhou Province, 17.VII.2019, coll. Changqing Luo & Xueli Feng ; 6♂, 4♀, Bianfu Cave, Mayanghe National Nature Reserve , Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County, Tongren City , Guizhou Province, 17.VII.2019, coll. Changqing Luo & Xueli Feng ; 1♂, 6♀, Men Cave, Mayanghe National Nature Reserve , Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County, Tongren City , Guizhou Province, 17.VII.2019, coll. Changqing Luo & Xueli Feng.

Measurements (mm). Body: ♂ 10.91–15.62, ♀ 12.60–13.49; pronotum: ♂ 4.48–6.33, ♀ 5.45–5.57; fore femur: ♂ 10.27–11.63, ♀ 9.91–10.63; hind femur: ♂ 19.75–23.56, ♀ 18.97–21.12; ovipositor: ♀ 6.09–11.34.

Distribution. China (Guizhou).

Discussion. This species is different from all other species of the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) by the shape of the epiphallus and the rather small lateral sclerites of the male genitalia.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the Zaoshu Cave where this species occurs.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Tachycines (Gymnaeta) zaoshu 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, lateral view; F. genitalia, dorsal view; G. genitalia, ventral view.

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