Assamacris splendida, Mao & Niu & Huang, 2021

Mao, Ben-Yong, Niu, Yao & Huang, Jian-Hua, 2021, Taxonomic review of the genus Assamacris (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Catantopinae) with a new species and a newly discovered female, Zootaxa 4985 (4), pp. 542-556 : 553-555

Assamacris splendida sp. nov. ( Figs 8–9 )

Material. Holotype: male, CHINA: Yunnan: Yingjiang, Xima , 24°47’ N, 97°42’ E, 1679 m, 2009-X-23, coll. Ben-Yong MAO . Paratypes: 1 male, CHINA: Yunnan: Mangshi , 24°30’ N, 98°36’ E, 1063 m, 2009-IX-27, coll. Ben-Yong MAO ; 1 female, same data as holotype. Above specimens are deposited in BMDU . Paratypes: 2 males, 2 females, CHINA: Yunnan : Yingjiang, Xima, Menglai River, 1400 m, 2003-X-18–20, coll. Xiao-Hong OU, deposited in the Faculty of Conservation Biology , Southwest Forestry University ( SWFU), Yunnan Province , China.

Diagnosis. The new species is closely related to A. bidentata Mao, Ren & Ou, 2007 , but differs from the latter in: 1) the details of male cercus apex, namely dorsal branch compresso-cylindrical (triangular in the latter), ventral branch clearly longer than dorsal branch, about 2.2 times (slightly longer than dorsal branch, about 1.3 times in the latter); 2) epiphallus with lophi rounded in posterior view (quadrangular in the latter); 3) posterior margin of subgenital plate of female angularly convex in middle (with two obtuse teeth in the latter).

Etymology. The name refers to the colorful body colouration.

Description. Body sized medium in both genders, but stouter in female.

Head almost as long as prozona in two genders. Fastigium prominent forwards and downwards, without foveola. Vertex with interocular distance as wide as frontal ridge between antennae in both genders, median longitudinal carina of vertex weak. Face foveolate, in profile remarkably oblique in both sexes; frontal ridge prominent between antennae with margins somewhat parallel and raised, longitudinal sulcus shallow; subobsolete below transverse facial sulcus; lateral facial carinae interrupted in middle by foveolae. Antennae narrow, reaching 1/5 of hind femur in male or hind margin of pronotum in female, 9 th –11 th segment 3.7 times longer than wide in both sexes. Eyes long oval, longitudinal diameter 1.4 times as long as horizontal one or subocular furrow in two sexes. Pronotum cylindrical; surface dotted and rugose; anterior margin broadly rounded, shallowly concave in middle; posterior margin roundly angular; median carina faint, distinctly intersected by three sulci; lateral carinae absent; prozona 1.5 (male) or 1.2 (female) times as long as metazona. Prosternal spine conical with apex subacute. Tegmina developmental, nearly reaching 10 th (male) or 6 th (female) abdominal tergite, or 3/5 of hind femur in two sexes. Mesosternal lobes nearly as long as wide in both sexes; mesosternal interspace 2.0 (male) or 1.0 (female) times as long as minimum width; lateral lobes of metasterum contiguous in male, separate in female. Hind femur 5.0 (male) or 4.4 (female) times longer than wide; upper carina weakly serrate, terminating in a short spine; lower genicular lobes roundly angular. Hind tibia with 7–9 spines on both dorsal margins; inner spines longer than outer spines, outer apical spur absent. Hind tarsi with 1 st and 2 nd segments nearly as long as 3 rd segment; arolium a little shorter than length of claw. Tympana opening oval.

Male genitalia. 10 th abdominal tergite excised but contiguous in middle, with distinct small furculae. Supra-anal plate tongue-shaped with median area somewhat raised and shallowly furrowed from base to apex; with a weak, transverse, median fold; lateral margins somewhat raised with base constricted; posterior margin roundly rectangular. Cerci compressed and stout, reaching beyond apex of supra-anal plate; apex bilobate, dorsal brach compressocylindrical, ventral branch fingle shaped and decurved, 2.2 times as long as dorsal one. Subgenital plate short conical, apex obtuse. Epiphallus with round lophi projecting in a 90° angle from bridge, width as large as length; anchorae hooked, narrow, pointing entad and apicad. Phallic complex: cingular valves triangular with sharp apex, apical penis valves finger-shaped with subacute apex in lateral view.

Female genitalia. Supra-anal plate almost triangular with lateral areas sloping; with a broad and shallow median longitudinal furrow, interrupted by a transverse fold in middle. Cerci conical; apex obtuse. Valves of ovipositor narrow, without teeth along margins; apices hooked. Posterior margin of subgenital plate nearly straight and triangularly convex in middle.

Coloration. Body Olivaceous brown. Vertex with two light greenish-yellow bands along lateral margins, contiguous between eyes, separating backwards to occiput, continuing as lateral bands on disc of pronotum and dorsal area of tegmina; vertex and occiput with a deep brown band between light ones, continuing as brown median band on pronotum and dorsal area of tegmina; postocular bands brown, continuing along dorsal area of lateral lobes of pronotum and lateral areas of tegmina; all three brown bands black-marginated. Antennae with scape greenish yellow, apical six segments black, others yellowish brown. Fore and middle legs greenish yellow; femora with three series of dark spots. Hind femur olivaceous brown but lower side red, with three irregularly black-margined greenish yellow maculas (including ring-like one before knee) on outer and upper sides, basal one on upper side with a black spot in middle; knee black. Hind tibia greenish yellow, but black at base, middle and apex; spines black. Abdominal tergites yellowish green, with some irregular black spots; supra-anal plate with median longitudinal furrow black, lateral area in base with a black spot; cerci apically black.

Measurements (mm)

Length between fastigium and hind knee: male 23.5, female 27.5; length of pronotum: male 5.0, female 6.2; length of tegmen: male 11.5, female 13.5; length of hind femur: male 12.4, female 14.4; length of antenna: male 13.6, female 11.2; length of eye: male 2.5, female 2.7; interocular distance: male 0.4, female 0.6.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Assamacris splendida sp. nov. A–B. Holotype, male habitus, lateral and dorsal views; C–D. Paratype, female habitus, lateral and dorsal views.

FIGURE 9. Assamacris splendida sp. nov. A–B. Male terminalia, dorsal and lateral views; C. male circus, external view; D. Male mesosternum and metasternum; E–H. Epiphallus, dorsal, posterior, anterior and lateral views; I. Phallic complex, lateral views. J. Subgenital plate and ovipositor, ventral view. scale bars = 1mm.