Diestramima ligula Zhu & Shi, 2025

Zhu, Qidi, Xu, Hao, Yang, Ruigang & Shi, Fuming, 2025, Notes on the genus Diestramima Storozhenko, 1990 (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae) with description of three new species from China, ZooKeys 1231, pp. 119-132 : 119-132

Diestramima ligula Zhu & Shi sp. nov.

Fig. 1

Material examined.

Holotype: China • ♂, Yunnan Province, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Maguan County , 22.8576 ° N, 104.0042 ° E, alt. 1790 m, 19. VI. 2024, Hao Xu leg. Paratypes: 1 ♂ 1 ♀, same data as for holotype .

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar to Diestramima major Gorochov, 1998 , but it can be easily distinguished from the latter by the shape of the seventh abdominal tergite and the paraproct of male. Posteromedian process of the seventh abdominal tergite of male rather long, surpassing apex of paraproct, basal half slender, paralleled on both sides, apical half slightly wider, apical area with a notch. Male paraproct digitiform, basal half broad, apical half slender, pointing upwards.

Description.

Male. Body medium-sized. Fastigium verticis with 2 conical tubercles, apices separated, obtusely rounded, pointing forwards. Eyes ovoid, protruding forwards; median ocellus oval, located between antennal sockets, lateral ocelli nearly circular, situated on lateral surface of basal rostral tubercles. Apical segment of maxillary palp obviously longer than subapical one, apex truncated. Pronotum broad, anterior margin of disc straight, posterior margin arcuate; lateral lobe longer than high, ventral margin arched. Mesonotum and metanotum short, posterior margin of mesonotum arcuate, posterior margin of metanotum straight. Fore coxa with 1 small spine; femur unarmed on ventral surface, internal genicular lobe with 1 small spine, external genicular lobe with 1 long spine; tibia with 2 inner spines and 2 outer spines on ventral surface, apex with 1 outer spine on dorsal surface and 1 pair of spines on ventral surface, between the paired ventral spines with 1 small spine. Middle femur unarmed on ventral surface, internal and external genicular lobes with 1 long spine respectively; tibia with 2 inner spines and 2 outer spines on ventral surface, apex with 1 pair of dorsal spines and 1 pair of ventral spines, between the paired ventral spines with 1 small spine. Hind femur with 12 inner spines on ventral surface, internal genicular lobe with 1 small spine, external genicular lobe unarmed; tibia with 22–25 inner spines and 26 or 27 outer spines on dorsal surface, subapex with 1 pair of dorsal spines, apex with 1 pair of dorsal spines and 2 pairs of ventral spines, intero-dorsal spine obviously shorter than hind basitarsus; hind basitarsus with 1 dorsal spine. Posterior margin of sixth abdominal tergite straight. Posteromedian process of seventh abdominal tergite rather long, surpassing apex of paraproct, basal half slender, paralleled on both sides, apical half slightly wider, apical area with a notch. Paraproct digitiform, basal half broad, apical half slender, pointing upwards. Cercus narrow, conical, apex acute. Genitalia with 8 membranous lobes, apical area of dorso-median lobe with a distinct notch, dorso-lateral lobes shorter than dorso-median lobe, ventro-lateral lobes divided into 2 lobes, ventro-median lobe short, apical area with a notch. Subgenital plate transverse and broad, posterior margin rounded. Female. Appearance is similar to male. Posterior margin of seventh abdominal tergite with a small process. Ovipositor narrow and long, slightly curved upwards, dorsal margin smooth, apical areas of ventral margin denticulate. Subgenital plate ligulate, apex rounded.

Coloration. Body light brown. Apical area of fastigium verticis and eyes yellow. Face with 4 longitudinal black stripes. All tibia with ring-like yellowish-brown stripes, basal half of hind femur with penniform yellowish-brown stripes.

Measurements (mm). Body length: ♂ 23.74, ♀ 20.46–22.02; length of pronotum: ♂ 5.18, ♀ 5.10–5.38; length of fore femur: ♂ 13.60, ♀ 13.66–14.04; length of hind femur: ♂ 22.16, ♀ 23.42; length of hind tibia: ♂ 26.28, ♀ 26.66; length of hind basitarsus: ♂ 4.04, ♀ 4.32; length of ovipositor: 23.56–26.82.

Etymology.

The name of the new species refers to the ligulate subgenital plate of female. Latin “ ligul - ” referring to ligulate.

Distribution.

Yunnan (Maguan County).

Figures

Figure 1. Diestramima ligula Zhu & Shi, sp. nov. A – F, I ♂ A – C head and pronotum A frontal view B lateral view C dorsal view D – F apex of abdomen D lateral view E dorsal view F ventral view I hind tarsus in lateral view G, H ♀ G subgenital plate H ovipositor in lateral view.