Tapiena denticulata Tan, Liu, Artchawakom

Tan, Ming Kai, Liu, Chunxiang & Artchawakom, Taksin, 2015, Taxonomic review of Tapiena (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae: Phaneropterinae), with key to species and new species from Thailand, Zootaxa 3920 (1) : -

Tapiena denticulata Tan, Liu, Artchawakom new species

( Fig. 6 )

Material examined. Holotype (male): Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima, Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, open area with light trap, N14.50765, E101.92772, 446.7 ± 9.7 m, dry evergreen forest, attracted to light trap, coll. M. K. Tan, H. Yeo & S. T. Toh, 27 June 2014, 2220 hours ( SERS.14.117) ( ZRC).

Paratypes: 2 males. Same locality as holotype: open area with light trap, N14.50788, E101.92765, elev. 413.9 ± 5.6 m, dry evergreen forest, attracted to light trap, coll. M. K. Tan, H. Yeo & S. T. Toh, 23 June 2014 ( SERS.14.13); open area with light trap, N14.50765, E101.92772, 446.7 ± 9.7 m, dry evergreen forest, attracted to light trap, coll. M. K. Tan, H. Yeo & S. T. Toh, 27 June 2014, 2220 hours ( SERS.14.124) (all ZRC).

Diagnosis. This species is typical of the genus but differ from all other species by apex of male cercus bladelike, acute and sclerotized, with dorsal margin denticulate. This species is very similar to Tapiena cerciata Hebard, 1922 and Tapiena stylata Bey-Bienko, 1935 by highly modified male cercus, forming a blade-like structure but differs by male subgenital plate deeply excised between apical lobes and modifications in male cercus.

Description. Habitus as shown in Fig. 6 A, typical of genus. Generally similar to T. sakaerat sp. n. but is slightly larger (mean BWL = 48.4 mm, n = 3) and differ by: head with length circa 0.4 times of pronotum length (n = 3); pronotum circa 1.3 times longer than wide (n = 3), with anterior margin of dorsal plate slightly concave (instead of straight in T. sakaerat sp. n.) and lateral lobe circa as tall as long (n = 3) ( Fig. 6 B); mesosternum triangular but stouter and with more rounded apex. Also differ slightly from T. sakaerat sp. n. in tegmen venation: radius sector (Rs) originates before middle, with fork only slightly longer than stem.

Male. Stridulatory file of left tegmen generally similar to T. sakaerat sp. n. in shape but differ in measurements and counts: substraight, feebly crescent-shaped, circa 3.1 mm (n = 1, paratype) in length; file with about 24 (n = 1) stout and more widely spaced teeth at the posterior end, with circa 116 (n = 1) densely and evenly spaced elongated teeth (more closely packed at the sides than in the middle) ( Figs. 6 C, 6D). Tenth abdominal tergite forms a setose plate apically; plate wider than long, with lateral margins converging inwards and apical margin truncated and slightly emarginated in the middle ( Figs. 6 E, 6F). Epiproct concealed beneath tenth abdominal tergite, slightly exposed at the apex; apex tongue-shaped. Cercus elongated and setose; curved dorso-ventrally (when viewed laterally) and inwards (when viewed dorsally) after middle ( Figs. 6 E, 6F); apex blade-like, acute and sclerotized, with dorsal margin denticulate ( Figs. 6 E–6G). Subgenital plate slender, longer than broad; apical half forms an elongated and narrow shaft; apical margin very narrowly and deeply excised in the middle, laterally produced into two cylindrical lobes ( Fig. 6 G); styli long and slender, slightly curved inwards apically, with apex subacute ( Figs. 6 F, 6G).

Female. Unknown.

Colouration. Generally green when alive, very similar to T. sakaerat sp. n. ( Fig. 6 A).

Measurements. See Table 1 .

Etymology. This species name refers to the denticulated margin at the apex of male cercus; derived from the Latin word denticulata (= denticulate, feminine).

Life history. This species inhabits dry evergreen forest and is attracted to light at night.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Tapiena denticulata sp. n.: habitus of male holotype in lateral view (A); head and pronotum in lateral view (B); male tegmen in dorsal view (C); stridulatory file of left tegmen in ventral view (D); male abdominal apex in dorso-posterior (E), lateral (F) and ventral (G) views. Scale bars: 10 mm (A), 1 mm (B, C, E – G), 0.5 mm (D).