Pseudothaumaspis furcocercus Wang & Liu

Wang, Hanqiang, Liu, Xianwei & Li, Kai, 2014, A synoptic review of the genus Thaumaspis Bolivar (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Meconematinae) with the description of a new genus and four new species, ZooKeys 443, pp. 11-33 : 17-19

Taxon classification Animalia Orthoptera Tettigoniidae

12. Pseudothaumaspis furcocercus Wang & Liu sp. n. Figs 46-55

Materials.

Holotype♂ (# 14086640), China, Guangxi, Wuming, Damingshan, Alt. 1250m, 2013.VII.19-25, coll. W.B. Zhu, X.W. Liu, H.Q. Wang, H.G. Zhang. Paratype1♂ (# 14088762) 1♀ (# 14088763), same data as holotype (SEM).

Description.

Male. Body form small and slender. Fastigium of vertex short, without dorsal groove, face slightly oblique (Fig. 48), compound eyes subglobular, last segment of maxillary palpi slightly longer than preceding. Pronotum saddle shaped in lateral view, paranota with concave dorsal margins, ventral margin rounded, humeral sinus absent, transverse sulcus distinct especially posterior one, metazona short, rather pointed at the posterior tip; auditory foramina of thorax small and exposed. Tegmina shoter than pronotum by one third, apex truncate; hind wings degenerate. Legs very long and rather thin (Fig. 46), fore tibiae with ventral spines armed 4, 4 (1, 1), lower lobe of the hind knee without spine, hind tibiae with 21- 29 dorsal teeth either margin above and 2 pairs of apical spurs. Posterior median edge of 10th abdominal tergite elongate with a deep apical incision forming 2 small lobes (Fig. 49), lower area bearing a pair of ventral arms, not elongate and apex oblate (Fig. 52). Slim cerci branched at a half, incurved, lower branch longer. Subgenital base broad, apical one third narrow and up curved, styli very long (Figs 50-52).

Female. Body form similar to that of male. Fastigium of vertex little longer and more slender, a shallow furrow on the dorsum, last segment of maxillary palpi much longer than preceding. Paranota of pronotum subacute at inferior margin, transverse sulcus distinct as in male, but metazona even shorter. Tegmina short as in male, pointed at apex, inferior margin obliquely truncated, veins conspicuous. Posterior margin of 9th abdominal tergite straight, cercus slender, fusiform, apex thin and acute (Fig. 54); subgenital fig downward swell, trilobed at hind margin, mesolobe prominently convex. Ovipositor short, base upcurved, ventral valve without apical hook.

Coloration.

In life of male. Body lightish green, emerald green and lightish yellow variegated. Flagella pale brown with darkish rings, scape and pedicel consistent with body color. Compound eyes vivid yellow. Both lateral rims of pronotum emerald green, but posterior edge vivid yellow, dorsum with green longitudinal stripes and patches. Each abdomen tergite with a pair of bright yellow oval patches and posterior edge darkish green. Hind tibiae, Tarsi and cerci terminal pale brown.

Dry specimen. Body brownish, antennae with inconspicuous darks rings, forma and tibia darkened around the knee joint. Male unicolor; female abdomen largely blackish brown, ventral surface totally black including subgenital fig, abdomen tergites each compact with a pair of large pale patches dorsally, base of ovipositor darkened.

Measurement.

(length in mm) Body, ♂7.4-8.7, ♀10.2; pronotum, ♂3.2-3.6, ♀3.8; tegmina, ♂1.9, ♀1.5; hind femora, ♂8.3-8.9, ♀9.5; ovipositor, ♀4.5.

Etymology.

The specific epithet from Latin ‘forca’ + ‘cercus’, corresponding the feature of male bifurcate cerci. The gender of the epithet is masculine.

Discussion.

Bearing those unique arms, clearly it is a Pseudothaumaspis , but tegmina terminal, lower lobe of hind knee, small lobes of posterior edge of last abdominal tergite are quite different from previous species.

Distribution.

China (Guangxi).