Vittiblatta Luo & Wang, 2023

Luo, Xin-Xing, Deng, Wen-Bo, Che, Yan-Li & Wang, Zong-Qing, 2023, Two new genera (Vittiblatta gen. nov. and Planiblatta gen. nov.) of Blattinae (Blattodea, Blattidae) from Southwest China and the discovery of chirally dimorphic male genitalia in Vittiblatta punctata sp. nov., ZooKeys 1187, pp. 401-421 : 401

Vittiblatta Luo & Wang gen. nov.

Type species.

Vittiblatta punctata Luo & Wang, sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

Some typical characteristics indicate that Vittiblatta gen. nov. belongs to the subfamily Blattinae (front femur of type A2, tarsi long and slender, cerci long and distinctly segmented, subgenital plate symmetrical). The new genus differs from the other genera of Blattinae as follows:

This sexually dimorphic genus can be distinguished from sexually monomorphic genera. Apterous: Apterisca Princis, 1963; Brinckella Princis, 1963; Macrostylopyga Anisyutkin, Anichkin & Thinh, 2013; Miostylopyga Princis, 1966. Micropterous: Afrostylopyga Anisyutkin, 2014; Henicotyle Rehn & Hebard, 1927; Neostylopyga Shelford, 1911. Macropterous: Dorylaea Stål, 1877; Eroblatta Shelford, 1910a; Hobbitoblatta Lucañas, 2023; Homalosilpha Stål, 1874; Mimosilpha Bey-Bienko, 1957; Nazgultaure Lucañas, 2023; Thyrsocera Burmeister, 1838.

This genus (tegmina and wings of male developed, tegmina of female only reaching the first tergite of abdomen) can be distinguished from the genera in which the female are apterous ( Archiblatta Snellen van Vollenhoven, 1862, Catara Walker, 1868, Deropeltis Burmeister, 1838) and micropterous ( Pseudoderopeltis Krauss, 1890; Blatta Linnaeus, 1758; Planiblatta Luo & Wang, gen. nov.).

Hind metatarsus of this genus is longer than or equal to the remaining tarsal segments combined and therefore different from Eumethana Princis, 1951 and Scabinopsis Bey-Bienko, 1969.

This genus has visible tergal gland and can be distinguished from Cartoblatta Shelford, 1910b, Periplaneta s.s., and Blatta .

In male genitalia, sclerites L4C and R1G can be used for distinguishing genera in Blattinae. L4C of this new genus is thin, ribbon-like and its basal part has densely spiny process; R1G of this genus has a curved spine. These characters are readily different from that of Archiblatta , Blatta , Bundoksia Lucañas, 2021, Catara , Hobbitoblatta , Homalosilpha , Mimosilpha , Nazgultaure , and Protagonista Shelford, 1908 ( Wang et al. 2016; Liao et al. 2021; Lucañas 2021; Li et al. 2022; Deng et al. 2023; Lucañas 2023; Luo et al. 2023). These two sclerites are similar between this genus and Periplaneta s.s., but the distal part of L4C of Periplaneta s.s. is expanded and the hind margin of L4C is nearly truncated.

Generic description.

Sexual dimorphism. Male. Interocular space wider than interocellar space, shorter than the distance between antennal sockets. Antennae longer than the body. Pronotum subelliptical. Tegmina and wings well developed, surpassing the tip of abdomen. Front femur of type A2; pulvilli present on 1-4 or 2-4 tarsal segments, claws symmetrical and unspecialized, arolium slightly smaller than other genera. The posterior-lateral angles of metanotum without or with small projections. First tergite of male abdomen with visible gland. Posterolateral corners of abdominal tergites V-VII not produced. The hind margin of supra-anal plate slightly concave. L1 of genitalia weakly sclerotized with pubescence; L3 unciform and the distal part bifurcated; L4C thin ribbon-like, with densely spiny process near basal inner margin. The basal part of R1H flat, inner margin with one or two small spines; the distal part of R1G with a curved spine inward. Female. Tegmina and wings reduced. Tegmina squamiform, only reaching the first tergite of abdmen; lateral margins of tegmina beveled, the outer corner rounded. Hind wings small and lobe-like. Pulvilli present on 1-4 or 2-4 tarsal segments, claws symmetrical and unspecialized, arolium small. Spermatheca with two branches, the leading duct short, the branching duct relatively long, and the end capsule rod-shaped.

Etymology.

The generic epithet is from two Latin words " vitta " and " blatta ", meaning that L4C is thin and ribbon-like. The gender of Vittiblatta is feminine.

Distribution.

China (Sichuan, Yunnan).