Armadillagraeciini
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.279833 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6178725 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/EF35DD5F-7D07-FFF2-FF03-F9FDFE1AFB6D |
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treatment provided by |
Plazi |
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scientific name |
Armadillagraeciini |
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Armadillagraeciini View in CoL Rentz, Su, Ueshima new tribe
We propose a new tribe to accommodate three genera: Armadillagraecia Rentz, Su, Ueshima and Robinson , Kapalgagraecia Rentz, Su, Ueshima and Robinson and the genus described below. Armadillagraeciini Rentz, Su, Ueshima, trib. nov. may be defined by the following set of characters: micropterous; pronotum highly saddleshaped, spined peripherally; eye round, protruding, positioned high on head, fastigium of vertex spiniform, legs relatively short, male genitalia with titillators well developed. Ovipositor elongate, unarmed. All known genera are from northern Australia.
Lichenagraecia 1 Rentz, Su, Ueshima, gen. nov. Lichen-mimicking Katydids
Type species: Lichenagraecia cataphracta Rentz, Su, Ueshima , gen. et sp. nov., here designated.
This genus is proposed to include a single incredible species known from a few localities in northern Queensland. The appearance of the species ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ) may define its rarity. It has a strong resemblance to lichens and it may live high in treetops amongst lichen-covered twigs and branches. If it were common, at least in the understorey, many more specimens would have come to light before now because it is known from an area that receives intensive entomological investigation.
This genus appears to be related to the recently described agraeciine genera from the Northern Territory, Armadillagraecia Rentz, Su and Ueshima and Kapalgagraecia Rentz, Su and Ueshima. The shape of the pronotum ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A–C) of Lichenagraecia Rentz, Su and Ueshima gen. nov. when the exaggerated spination is ignored, is very much like that of those genera. Similarly when the gentialia of both sexes of these genera are examined, they are found to be very similar. Lichenagraecia Rentz, Su, Ueshima , sp. nov. seems to be a highly derived taxon with extreme modification towards camouflage in a lichen-covered habitat.
Differential diagnosis. Male/Female. Readily placed in the Conocephalinae . Lichenagraecia Rentz, Su and Ueshima is distinguished by its overall appearance, the shape, texture and spination of the pronotum and its short tegmina and wings that seem far too short and flimsy to propel such a robust katydid. The spination of the legs is unique for an Australian katydid ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 D–F). But when the spiny adornment is ignored and the shape of the pronotum and the genitalia are considered, this genus seems quite similar to the recently described Northern Territory genera Armadillagraecia Rentz, Su, Ueshima and Robinson and Kapalgagraecia Rentz, Su, Ueshima and Robinson , see Rentz et al. (2010).
General. Size moderate for tribe, form robust, limbs heavy; both sexes with tegmina extending slightly beyond apex of hind tibiae at rest; dorsal spines of all tibiae and all spines of all femora fused and triangular in shape ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 D–F), but in a smaller number tubular in form.
1. Named with regard to the external appearance of the katydid; feminine gender.
Head. Head large, round, well seated in pronotum ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ); frons tuberculate above fronto-clypeal suture, no frontal fastigium; fastigium of vertex ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C) recurved, surface feebly sulcate; scrobes of antenna weak, mostly defined by colour; scape and pedicel not modified, the latter only slightly longer than the former; flagellum slightly longer than body, strongly banded.
Thorax. Thoracic auditory structure a small elongate opening not concealed by lateral pronotal lobe. Pronotum ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A, B), surface armed with a pair of divergent spines along cephalic margin in male, with an additional small pair in females; lateral margin with stout spines, more elongate in female; posterior margin with a series of spines ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 B); surface with tubercles and ridges as in ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C). Prosternum in male armed with a pair of widely spaced short spines; meso- and metasternum unarmed; female spines reduced to a pair of minute tubercles.
Legs. Legs robust, spiny; fore coxa with a short, stout spine on cephalic margin, caudal margin with a series of spine-like tubercles; trochanters, middle and hind coxae armed outwardly with small tubercles; trochanters unmodified. Fore legs short, stout; tibial auditory structure closed, area swollen, indented distad; tibiae cylindrical in the middle, quadrate distally; ventral surface armed with normal spines on each side; femur with dorsal surface raised, strongly tuberculate, ventral surface flat, unarmed, later margins armed with 2–3 spines on anterior margin, 4 spines on posterior. Middle legs slightly longer than fore legs; tibiae similar in shape to fore tibia, dorsal surface armed with a variable number of triangular, fused spines ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D), ventral surface flat, unarmed; femur with anterior surface tuberculate, ventral margin armed with 3 stout spines on anterior margin, preceded by a much smaller spine. Hind legs short ( Table 1 View TABLE 1 ); tibia bearing close-set fixed spines dorsally on both margins ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D), ventral surface bearing more normal spines; apex armed with a pair of spurs on ventral surface and a single pair of spurs dorsally; femur with external surface strongly tuberculate ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 E), tibia with dorsal surface with elongate tubercles, ventral surface armed with a series of elongate triangular spines ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 F). Genicular lobes of fore and middle femora armed with a single spine on each side. Hind femur armed on each side with a pair of spines No trace of basal pulvillus or plantula.
Wings. Male and female tegmina similar ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 G); stridulatory area well defined. Stridulatory file ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 D); apex of tegmen truncate and undulating ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 G).
Abdomen. Abdomen elongate, slender, distal margin or each tergite scalloped; male tenth tergite with a shallow, U-shaped incision; supra-anal plate triangulate un modified; female tenth tergite feebly indented; supra-anal plate triangulate, unmodified, subgenital plate distinctive ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 B); male cercus robust ( Figs. 3 View FIGURE 3 A–D), ventral surface concave, with internal tooth ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 D); female cercus very elongate, somewhat directed dorsad. Male concealed genitalia with titillators strongly C-shaped ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 E), subgenital plate scoop-shaped, with shallow U-shaped median incision, style simple, less than length of one side of incision; ventral surface of abdomen unmodified. Ovipositor short, falcate, without tubercles or serration.
Coloration. Colour and pattern as in Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 .
Discussion. No other katydid presents the combination of characters described above.
Map 1. Known distribution of Lichenagraecia cataphracta Rentz, Su, Ueshima gen. et sp. nov.
Lichenagraecia cataphracta 2 Rentz, Su, Ueshima, sp. nov., Queensland Lichen-mimicking Katydid
Figs. 1–4 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 , Table 1 View TABLE 1 , Map 1
Holotype male. Label 1. “ 17.26S 145.49E Atherton, Qld. 28 Nov. 2006 J. Drinnan” Holotype in Australian National Insect Collection, ( CSIRO), Canberra.
The holotype is pinned and has the left cercus and genitalia detached and pinned alongside.
Type locality. The type was collected in the garden of the collector.
Differential diagnosis. In addition to the descriptive notes above, the titillators ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 E) would be considered typical of the Agraeciini . The male and female cercus, tenth tergite and subgenital plate are most likely species distinctive.
Head. Fastigium of vertex slender, erect on holotype but more elongate and recurved on some of the other specimens. Surface appearing sulcate, but this indicated solely by colour.
Legs. Dorsal surface of fore tibia with 4 spines positioned over auditory slit, a further pair of spines positioned opposite one another in the middle, apex with a single “normal” spine on posterior surface, ventral surface with 6 normal spines on each margin, several shorter than the others. Dorsal surface of middle tibia armed with 4 triangulate spines on anterior margin, 3 on posterior with a single normal spine at apex, ventral surface with 6–7 spines on anterior margin, 4–6 on posterior, these spines of varying lengths with at least 3 positioned near distal end of leg. Hind tibia dorsally with a single, short conical spine at base on outer margin.
Wings. Stridulatory file ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 D).
Abdomen. Shape of cercus with main portion concealing slender internal tooth; apex slender, digitiform on
2. This species is named with reference to its spiny-clad appearance.
holotype, more blunt on some other specimens. Titillator ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 E) with arms boomerang-shaped, without armature.
Female. About the same size as male ( Table 1 View TABLE 1 ). Subgenital plate ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 C) broad basally, then narrowing and apically shallowly excavate. Ovipositor unarmed, strongly upcurved ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 A).
Coloration. Colour and pattern as in Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 . the pattern, colour and intensity is identical in the series before us.
Specimens examined. Paratypes: Queensland: Cardwell Range, Upper Broadwater Ck Valley, 700–800 m, 17–21.xii.1986 (R. F. Monteith, G. Thompson, - Hamlet, 1 female, QMUS). 17O25’50.32”S 145O45’05.85”E “Bulurru” Topaz, 232 Hughes Rd., 655m, 16.i.2007 (M. Breeden, 1 female, ANIC). Mt Lewis, 23.xii.1995 (P. Hasenpusch, 1 male, ANIC). 16O54’04”S 145O36’35”E Speewah, 655 m, 31.xii.2004 (P. Zborowski, 1 male, ANIC).
Measurements. See Table 1 View TABLE 1 .
tional; see text for details.
a. Measured from end of abdomen to tip of fastigium of vertex.
Discussion. This remarkable katydid has been found in habitats ranging from rainforest to mixed eucalypt-acacia woodland. It has been found in locations ranging from 450m (Speewah), 760 m (Atherton) and 800 m (Cardwell Range) elevation.
TABLE 1. Measurements (in mm) of Lichenagraecia camphracta Rentz, Su, Ueshima, gen. et sp. nov. Localities are nota-
| Species | Length Body | Length Pronotum | Width Pronotum | Length Tegmen | Length Length Hind Femur Ovipositor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males Holotype | 22.0a | 11.5 | 10.2 | 17.0 | 13.6 |
| Speewah Mt Lewis | 25.5 25.5 | 13.6 13.5 | 11.7 13.2 | 21.0 18.4 | 14.6 14.0 |
| Females Cardwell Ra Topaz | 20.5 23.0 | 10.6 10.0 | 11.5 10.6 | 22.0 21.4 | 13.8 11.2 -- 10.0 |
| CSIRO |
Australian National Fish Collection |
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