Ripipteryx pasochoensis Heads

Heads, Sam W., 2010, A new species of Ripipteryx from the Ecuadorian Andes (Orthoptera: Tridactyloidea: Ripipterygidae), Zootaxa 2476, pp. 23-29 : 25-26

Ripipteryx pasochoensis Heads , sp. nov.

Figs. 1–3

Type material: Holotype, ɗ, ECUADOR: Pichincha, 20 km S Quito, Bosque Pasochoa 4000 m, 19 Dec 1989, T. C. MacRae [ INHS # 504312]. Paratypes, 1 ɗ [ INHS # 504313] and 3 [ INHS # 504314, # 504315, # 504316], same data as holotype. The Pasochoa Forest Reserve (Refugio de Vida Silvestre Pasochoa) is located at 0°26’14”S, 78°28’58”W.

Diagnosis. The new species is distinguished from congeners by the male subgenital plate with two distinctive median processes: the proximal process forming a keel-like structure with two laterally directed spines; and the distal process forming a vertical, boss- or knob-like protuberance bearing numerous strong setae. The species is also characterised by its distinctive antennal maculation, bearing teardrop-shaped, offwhite dorsal maculae on the first and second flagellomeres and a broad off-white band around the apical twothirds of the fourth flagellomere.

Description. Large, dark-coloured Ripipteryx with total body length (including hind wings) of 9.36–9.95 mm (n = 5). Colouration almost entirely black with distinctive off-white maculae present only on antennae; first and second flagellomeres with dorsal, teardrop-shaped maculae; fourth flagellomere with prominent offwhite band encompassing apical two thirds. Head typical of the genus with fine, evenly distributed frontal setae. Compound eyes large; interocular distance 0.91–0.98 mm; indistinct subocellar carinae present, beginning beneath the lateral ocelli and converging on the median ocellus. Antennae submoniliform, tensegmented; scape approximately twice as large as pedicel; flagellomeres all of roughly equal size, unmodified, widening towards apex. Pronotum uniformly black, without lighter markings. Tegmina 3.58–3.79 mm long; hind wings 6.62–7.70 mm long surpassing the end of the abdomen.

ɗ: Posterior margin of tenth abdominal tergum with lateral concavities into which the cerci fit. Epiproct broadly rounded apically ( Fig. 1 ), with promiment and slightly reticulated lateral lobes. Cerci fusiform, bearing numerous fine setae. Paraproctal hooks gently curved distally, lying either side of the epiproct. Paraproctal lobes ( Figs. 1, 2 ) robust, distinctly clavate, about twice as long as cerci, with distal patch of short setae; apex upturned, almost spoon-shaped. Subgenital plate with two prominent processes sitting along a pronounced median keel ( Figs. 1, 2 ); the proximal process forming a keel-like projection with two laterally directed spines; and the distal process forming a vertical, boss-like protubernace bearing numerous strong setae. Phallic complex ( Fig. 3 ) with a broadly spatulate basal plate and long, thread-like virga; apodemes of the cingulum elongate and strongly sclerotized; ventral valve membranous.

Ψ: Terminalia rather typical of the genus. Epiproct shorter than that of the male. Distal segment of the paraproct ovoid, somewhat elongate, with a fringe of long setae around the margins. Ovipositor of the typical ripipterygid type; dorsal valvulae marginally longer than the ventral valvulae, with small serrations apically; ventral valves bilobed, strongly curved apically. Subgenital plate bearing numerous short setae but lacking any surface sculpturing.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a reference to the Pasochoa forest, a nature reserve on the flanks of the extinct Pasochoa volcano and the type locality for this species.

Comments. The uniformly dark colouration of R. pasochoensis and the structure of the phallic complex (see Fig. 3 ) indicate its placement in the group comprising R.carbonaria Saussure, 1896 , R. ecuadoriensis Günther, 1962 , R. forceps Saussure, 1896 , R.nigra Günther, 1963 , R. processata Günther, 1969 and R. paraprocessata Günther, 1989 (hereafter referred to as the Forceps Group). Species of the Forceps Group are generally larger than most other Ripipteryx species and are consistently darker coloured, lacking almost entirely any white or off-white patches. Other characters supporting the monophyly of this group are the modification of the subgenital plate with various processes and protuberances, the phallus with a broad, spatulate basal plate, elongate cingular apodemes and a slender, thread-like virga. Ripipteryx pasochoensis appears most closely related to R. processata based on the structure of the subgenital plate. The pronounced keel-like process of R. processata is clearly bilobed in a similar fashion to that of R. pasochoensis but the lobes of the former are less well-defined. In R. pasochoensis , these lobes are present as distinct processes with the proximal bearing two strong, laterally projecting spines and the distal developed into a setose boss- or knob-like protuberance. The median keels of other Forceps Group species are never longitudinally bilobed as in R. processata and R. pasochoensis , nor are they as strongly produced, though R. ecuadoriensis does possess a large, clavate posterior process which is apically trilobed (see Günther, 1969).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Ripipteryx pasochoensis Heads, sp. nov. 1, dorsal view of male terminalia; 2, lateral view of male terminalia; 3, dorsal view of phallic complex.