Pharmacus notabilis, Hegg & Morgan-Richards & Trewick, 2022

Hegg, Danilo, Morgan-Richards, Mary & Trewick, Steven A., 2022, High alpine sorcerers: revision of the cave wētā genus Pharmacus Pictet & de Saussure (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae: Macropathinae), with the description of six new species and three new subspecies, European Journal of Taxonomy 808 (1), pp. 1-58 : 39-41

Pharmacus notabilis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C181B24B-F2EC-4E23-87C8-C795AA133604

Figs 1–2 , 6 , 8H , 9E , 10J–L , 12J–L , 15C , 16D , 18D

Diagnosis

A mid-sized cave wētā found in the low alpine regions of The Remarkables and Hector Mountains, east of Lake Wakatipu, at elevations between 1200 m and 1600 m. Body colour is chequered turquois/ grey and eye colour is blue/grey. A prolateral apical spine on the fore femur is always present in males, occasionally in females.

The sympatric Pharmacus cochleatus rawhiti subsp. nov. is mainly found at higher elevations and is easily differentiated by its brown tergites and reddish legs and antennae.Two other species of Rhaphidophoridae share the habitat with P. notabilis sp. nov., these are Talitropsis chopardi and Macropathus sp. . The former has shorter legs and fewer, larger spines on the hind tibiae, and unarmed hind tarsi; the latter has uniform brown colour and much longer legs, which give the insect a very slender appearance.

Etymology

‘ Nŏtābĭlis ’ is Latin for ‘remarkable’, after the location where the species was first discovered, The Remarkables near Queenstown. Pharmacus notabilis means ‘remarkable sorcerer’.

Material examined (see also Supp. file 1: Table S7)

Holotype NEW ZEALAND • ♂, adult; Central Otago (CO), Remarkables Ski-field Access Road ; 45.02651° S, 168.79748° E; 1220 m a.s.l.; 12 May 2017; D. Hegg leg.; under boulders in road escarpment; night search + insect net; NMNZ AI.052296 (prev. MPN CW3528).

Paratype NEW ZEALAND • 1 ♀, adult; Central Otago (CO), Two Mile Hut, Hector Mountains ; 45.17392° S, 168.80270° E; 1460 m a.s.l.; 26 Apr. 2019; D. Hegg leg.; on large boulders; night search + insect net; NMNZ AI.052297 (prev. MPN CW4394) .

Other material

NEW ZEALAND – Central Otago (CO) • 2 ♂♂; Remarkables North ridge ; 45.0413° S, 168.7977° E; 1600 m a.s.l.; Jan. 2013; T. Jewell leg.; in cracks in rock bluffs; GenBank: OM293682 , OM293683 ; MPN CW2587 , CW2589 • 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; MPN CW2588 , CW2590 to CW2594 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; GenBank: OM293701 ; MPN CW3509 • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 5 nymphs; same collection data as for holotype; MPN CW3510 to CW3513 , CW3524 to CW3527 , CW3529 to CW3531 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for paratype; GenBank: OM293716 ; MPN CW4391 • 2 ♂♂, 1 nymph; same collection data as for paratype; MPN CW4392 , CW4393 , CW4500 .

Description

MEASUREMENTS. See Table 1.

HEAD. As per generic description. Eyes grey/blue. Antennae brown.

THORAX. As per generic description.

LEGS. The hind tibiae are approx. 10% Shorter than the body in females, equally long as body in males. Fore femora always armed at the apex with one prolateral spine in males, occasionally also in females. Mid femora armed with one retrolateral spine at the apex; prolateral apical spine absent. The first hind tarsus segment is armed with a variable number of linear spines above (up to eight); the second hind tarsus segment is only rarely armed with dorsal linear spines.

ABDOMEN. Tergites glabrous or sparsely tomentose ( Fig. 8H ), coloured chequered brown in nymphs, chequered turquois/grey in adults ( Fig. 15C ). A thin, pale median line along the whole length of the insect is generally present.

MALE TERMINALIA. Subgenital plate unmistakeable, elongated, the vertex of the spoon acuminate, shallow when seen from the side ( Fig. 10J–L ).

FEMALE TERMINALIA. Subgenital plate small, narrow at the base and widening at the vertex, bilobed, the two rounded, narrow lobes very hairy ( Fig. 12J ). Ovipositor relatively short, on average 60% of body length, gently curving upwards; lower valve with 5 to 7 teeth below at the apex ( Fig. 12K–L ).

Figures

Fig. 1. A. Genetic relationships of cave wētā support monophyly of the genus Pharmacus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893. Gene tree from mtDNA sequences (~1500 bp of COI) using Maximum Likelihood with 1000 bootstraps and Macropathus filifer Walker, 1869 to root the tree. B. Map of South Island of New Zealand, showing locations of Pharmacus specimens used in phylogenetic analyses (Figs 1A, 2). Colours correspond to different species. Two letter codes indicate the New Zealand entomological regions (Crosby et al. 1998). These codes are reported in the Material examined section for each species.

Fig. 2. Gene tree for the eight morphologically identified species of Pharmacus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893 using Maximum Likelihood analysis of ~850 bp of mtDNA (COI) from 60 specimens ofPharmacus.

Fig. 6. Known distribution of cave wētā in the genus Pharmacus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893 in the south of the South Island, New Zealand.

Fig. 8. Dorsal views of adult ♂ cave wētā in the genus Pharmacus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893. Notice loss of natural pigmentation of pale body parts due to preservation in ethanol. A–B. Pharmacus montanus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893 A. Mt Annette, Sealy Range, Mt Cook (MPN CW3302). B. Lake Anna, Mt Franklin, Arthur’s Pass (MPN CW3989). C. Pharmacus senex sp. nov., Old Woman Range, Central Otago (MPN CW4387). D. Pharmacus cochleatus cochleatus (Karny, 1935) comb. nov., Topheavy, Mt Brewster, Haast Pass (MPN CW3324). E. Pharmacus cochleatus rawhiti subsp. nov., Mt Tūwhakarōria, Hector Mountains (NMNZ AI.052290). F. Pharmacus cristatus sp. nov., Skippers Range, South Westland (MPN CW4562). G. Pharmacus vallestris sp. nov., Matukituki River West Branch (MPN CW3700). H. Pharmacus notabilis sp. nov., Remarkables ski-field access road (NMNZ AI.052296). I. Pharmacus concinnus sp. nov., Eyre Peak, Eyre Mountains (MPN CW4482). J. Pharmacus perfidus sp. nov., Spence Peak, Takitimu Mountains (MPN CW4494). Scale bar = 10 mm.

Fig. 9. Left hind tibia of adult ♂ cave wētā in the genus Pharmacus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893, dorsal view. A. Pharmacus montanus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893, Lake Anna, Mt Franklin, Arthur’s Pass (MPN CW3989). B. Pharmacus cochleatus cochleatus (Karny, 1935) comb. nov., Gertrude Saddle, Darran Mountains (MPN CW3413). C. Pharmacus cochleatus rawhiti subsp. nov., Mt Tūwhakarōria, Hector Mountains (MPN CW4431). D. Pharmacus cristatus sp. nov., Skippers Range, South Westland (NMNZ AI.052292). E. Pharmacus notabilis sp. nov., Remarkables ski-field access road (NMNZ AI.052296). F. Pharmacus senex sp. nov., Obelisk, Old Man Range (NMNZ AI.052294). G. Pharmacus concinnus sp. nov., Eyre Peak, Eyre Mountains (MPN CW4480). H. Pharmacus perfidus sp. nov., Spence Peak, Takitimu Mountains (NMNZ AI.052300). I. Pharmacus vallestris sp. nov., Matukituki River West Branch (MPN CW3700). Scale bar = 5 mm.

Fig. 10. Adult male terminalia of cave wētā in the genus Pharmacus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893. Left column: dorsal view; central column: ventral view (subgenital plate); right column: lateral view. A–C. Pharmacus montanus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893, Mueller Hut Track, Sealy Range, Mt Cook (MPN CW3532). D–F. Pharmacus cochleatus (Karny, 1935) comb. nov. D–E. Humboldt Mountains (MPN CW3698). F. Blue Lake Creek, Garvie Mountains (MPN CW4462). G–I. Pharmacus cristatus sp. nov., Skippers Range High Point, South Westland (NMNZ AI.052292). J–L. Pharmacus notabilis sp. nov., Remarkables Ski-field access road (NMNZ AI.052296). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 12. Adult female terminalia of cave wētā in the genus Pharmacus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893. Left column: subgenital plate; central and right columns: ovipositor. A–C. Pharmacus montanus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893. A. Mt Annette, Sealy Range, Mt Cook (MPN CW3303). B–C. Mt Wakefield, Mount Cook Range (MPN CW3362). D–F. Pharmacus cochleatus (Karny, 1935) comb. nov., Lochnagar, Richardson Mountains (MPN CW4590). G–I. Pharmacus cristatus sp. nov., Skippers Range High Point, South Westland (NMNZ AI.052293). J–L. Pharmacus notabilis sp. nov., Two Mile Hut, Hector Mountains (NMNZ AI.052297). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 15. Live Pharmacus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893 in their natural environments. A–B. Pharmacus senex sp. nov. A. Adult ♂, Dunstan, Dunstan Mountains, 1670 m a.s.l. B. Adult ♂ and ♀. The Obelisk, Old Man Range, 1680 m a.s.l. C. Pharmacus notabilis sp. nov. Adult ♂, Remarkables Ski-field Access Road, Wakatipu, 1200 m a.s.l. D. Pharmacus concinnus sp. nov. Adult ♂, Symmetry Peaks, Eyre Mountains, 1500 m a.s.l. E. Pharmacus perfidus sp. nov. Adult ♀ and ♂, Spence Peak, Takitimu Mountains, 1450 m a.s.l. F. Pharmacus vallestris sp. nov. Adult ♀, French Ridge, Matukituki River West Branch, 1700 m a.s.l. (MPN CW5145).

Fig. 16. Habitat of Pharmacus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893.A. Sealy Range, Mount Cook.a–b. Collection localities of Pharmacus montanus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893. a. Mueller Hut Track, 1500 m a.s.l. (MPN CW3299, CW3300, CW3532–3535). b. Mount Annette, 2200 m a.s.l. (MPN CW3302, CW3303, CW3323). c. Mount Edgar Thomson, Ben Ohau Range, 2350 m a.s.l., collection locality of P. cochleatus cochleatus (Karny, 1935) comb. nov. (MPN CW3278). B. Lochnagar, Richardson Mountains. d. Rock bluffs at 2080 m a.s.l., collection locality of P. cochleatus cochleatus (Karny, 1935) comb. nov. (MPN CW4590). C. Matukituki River West Branch. e–f. Collection localities of P. vallestris sp. nov. e. Valley floor, dry creek bed at 1000 m a.s.l. (MPN CW3430, CW3700). f. French Ridge, 1650 m a.s.l. (MPN CW5145, CW5146, CW5213–5215). g–h. Collection localities of P. cochleatus cochleatus (Karny, 1935) comb. nov. g. French Ridge, 1800 m a.s.l. (MPN CW5207, CW5208). h. Bevan Col, 1850 m a.s.l. (OMNZ IV7927 and MPN CW5178 to 5180). D. The Remarkables, Queenstown. i–j. Collection localities of Pharmacus notabilis sp. nov. i. Remarkables Ski-field Access Road, 1220 m a.s.l. (NMNZ AI.052296). j. The Remarkables North ridge, 1600 m a.s.l. (MPN CW2588 – 2594). k. Lake Alta, 1820 m a.s.l., collection locality of Pharmacus cochleatus rawhiti subsp. nov. (MPN CW5219 – 5221).

Fig. 18. Map of South Island, New Zealand, showing the known distribution of cave wētā in the genus Pharmacus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893. A–B. Solid shapes indicate material collected as part of this study; empty circles indicate additional locations of material examined by Richards (1972). B. Shapes represent different subspecies: dark blue circle = Pharmacus cochleatus cochleatus; light blue circle = Pharmacus cochleatus nauclerus subsp. nov.; diamond = Pharmacus cochleatus fiordensis subsp. nov.; triangle = Pharmacus cochleatus rawhiti subsp. nov.