Kuzicus pakthongchai Tan, Dawwrueng, Artchawakom

Tan, Ming Kai, Dawwrueng, Pattarawich & Artchawakom, Taksin, 2015, Taxonomic review of Kuzicus Gorochov, 1993 (Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae), with two new species from Thailand and key to species, Zootaxa 3999 (2), pp. 279-290 : 283-286

Kuzicus pakthongchai Tan, Dawwrueng, Artchawakom , new species

Figs. 5 , 6

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:470490

Material examined. Holotype (male): Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima, Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, open area with light trap, N14.50765, E101.92772, 446.7± 9.7 m, dry evergreen forest, attracted to light trap, coll. M. K. Tan, H. Yeo & S. T. Toh, 27 June 2014, 2220 hours ( SERS.14.113) ( ZRC).

Paratypes: 2 female: same locality as holotype, headquarter, N14.51039, E101.93057, 445.9± 8.5 m, mix vegetation, attracted to light, coll. M. K. Tan, H. Yeo & S. T. Toh, 29 June 2014, 2330 hours ( SERS.14.131); open area with light trap, N14.50763, E101.92760, 424.0± 4.1 m, dry evergreen forest, attracted to light trap, coll. M. K. Tan, H. Yeo & S. T. Toh, 2 July 2014, 2300 hours ( SERS.14.164) (all ZRC).

Diagnosis. This species is similar to the type species Kuzicus uvarovi by its colouration, yellow green with small brown spots on tegmen and one large spot at stridulatory field. This species differs from K. uvarovi by male tenth abdominal tergite with lateral lobes obtuse apically (instead of tapering); male epiphallus with a pair of tongue-shaped lateral (slightly sclerotized) processes pointing anteriorly at the apex (instead of pointing posteriorly); with posterior margin producing into a trilobous (also slightly sclerotized) plate in the middle (instead of rounded).

Description. Rather large-sized Meconematini but habitus typical of the genus ( Figs. 5 A, 5B). Eyes globular and protruding. Fastigium verticis conical, small (about slightly shorter than scapus length), with very weak median sulcus ( Fig. 6 A). Last (apical) segment of maxillary palpus equal in length to the fourth (subapical) segment, slightly widened apically. Pronotum covering the base of mirror of tegmen, discus curved into lateral lobe, transverse sulcus in mid length ( Fig. 6 B). Anterior margin of pronotal disc slightly convex, posterior margin triangularly rounded ( Fig. 6 A). Margin of lateral lobes of pronotum slightly undulated, humeral sinus very weak. Ventral margin of pronotal lateral lobe broadly rounded ( Fig. 6 B). Thoracic auditory spiracle (= thoracic foramen) large and oval-shaped ( Fig. 6 B). Parapterous, tegmen extending behind the hind knees, hindwings distinctly longer. Procoxal spur short and slender. Both tympana open. Protibiae with 5 outer and 4 inner subapical spines and 1 pair of apical spurs. Mesotibiae with 4 outer and 3 inner subapical spines and 1 pair of apical spurs. Metatibiae ventrally and dorsally with numerous outer and inner spines as well as 2 ventral and 1 dorsal pairs of apical spurs.

Male. Tenth abdominal tergite with a pair of median lobes and a pair of lateral lobes. Median lobes slender basally with margin between lobes truncated; after basal third, expanded abruptly (about 90°) along external margin to form a plate which bent ventrad laterally; plate tapers apically and rotate from a horizontal to a vertical plate ( Fig. 6 C). At the apex, median lobes bent ventrad and turned slightly anteriorly and internally; forming two sclerotized teeth ventrally ( Figs. 6 C–6G). Median lobes remain widely spaced throughout, particularly setose along internal margin ( Fig. 6 C). Lateral lobes of tenth abdominal tergite flattened, shorter and smaller with apex obtuse ( Figs. 6 C, 6E). Epiproct concealed under tenth abdominal tergite. Cerci stout and short; basally slightly swollen, with a short and blunt basal tooth externally; slightly narrower in the middle, slightly swollen and bent internally after middle ( Figs. 6 E, 6G). Interiorly, cerci with a sclerotized process in the middle: longer and flattened, bladelike and bent basally ( Fig. 6 G). At the apex, cerci with a short acute sclerotized tooth along dorso-inner margin ( Figs. 6 G). Yoke-like epiphallus typical of the genus, but with distal appendages only ( Figs. 6 F, 6G). Epiphallus transverse at the base, with a short shaft that widens posteriorly; at the apex with a pair of tongue-shaped lateral (slightly sclerotized) processes pointing anteriorly, with posterior margin producing into a trilobous (also slightly sclerotized) plate in the middle ( Fig. 6 G). Subgenital plate with styli relatively long and slender, gently curved inwards ( Fig. 6 F).

Female. Tenth abdominal tergite with posterior margin distinctly concave in the middle, truncated laterally ( Fig. 6 H). Epiproct small and triangular ( Fig. 6 H). Cerci slender and short, slightly swollen in the middle before tapering to an acute apex ( Fig. 6 H). Subgenital plate transverse, much wider than long; with posterior margin feebly notched in the middle ( Fig. 6 I). Ovipositor long with base slightly swollen; feebly sinuated ( Fig. 6 J). Valves smooth with acute apex; ventral valve forming a small hook at the apex ( Fig. 6 J). At the base, with two small sclerotized tooth ventrally ( Fig. 6 I).

Colouration. Green when alive; white to ochre in alcohol ( Figs. 5 A, 5B). Fastigium darken yellow brown with margin along vertex black; median sulcus distinctly pale ( Fig. 6 A). Scapus with inner half yellow brown; pedicel with anterior and posterior margin black ( Fig. 6 A). Antennae yellow brown with some segments black ( Fig. 6 A). Dorsal disc of pronotum darkened yellow in the middle, darker in the anterior half than posterior half of disc; anterior of transverse sulcus with two elongated black spot diverging anteriorly; disc with anterior and posterior margin black in the middle ( Fig. 6 A). Tegmen with one large spot at stridulatory field; with some small rounded infumated brown spots throughout, randomly and widely distributed; with cells near posterior margin infumated dark.

Measurements. See Table 1 .

Etymology. This species is named after Pak Thong Chai District in which Sakaerat Environmental Research Station spans.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Kuzicus pakthongchai sp. n. lateral habitus: male holotype (SERS. 14.113) (A) and female paratype (SERS. 14.131) (B). Scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURE 6. Kuzicus pakthongchai sp. n.: head and pronotum in dorsal (A) and lateral (B) views; male tenth abdominal tergite in dorsal view (C), male abdominal apex in lateral (D, E) and ventral (F, G) views; female abdominal apex in dorsal (H), ventral (I) and lateral (J) views. Scale bar = 1 mm. c = cercus, ml = median lobe of tenth abdominal tergite, ll = lateral lobe of tenth abdominal tergite, ep = male epiphallus, sg = subgenital plate.