Burttia caerulea Hemp, 2022

Hemp, Claudia & Rowell, C. H. F., 2022, A new species of Burttia Dirsh (Caelifera, Acridoidea, Acrididae, Catantopinae) from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, Journal of Orthoptera Research 31 (1), pp. 1-7 : 1

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/jor.31.70565
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F10F0A17-129E-4BA1-BDD4-6ECE4C79745E
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/631CC4C0-83E5-4A2B-94D2-1BA88CEDFA23
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:631CC4C0-83E5-4A2B-94D2-1BA88CEDFA23
treatment provided by	Journal of Orthoptera Research by Pensoft
scientific name	Burttia caerulea Hemp
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Burttia caerulea Hemp sp. nov.

Type material. -

Holotype: Tanzania • male; Nguru Mountains, montane forest above Ubiri, 1740 m; -6.044233°, 37.562823°; February 2021; CCH.

Paratypes: Tanzania • 3 males, 4 females; same data as holotype; CCH.

Diagnosis. -

Burttia caerulea sp. nov. is morphologically very similar to B. sylvatica and thus fits exactly the generic description given by Dirsh (1965). Even the coloration is similar, although males of B. caerulea n. sp. have brighter blue bases of the antennae (Fig. 1 View Fig. 1 ). Overall, B. caerulea sp. nov. is larger and stouter than B. sylvatica (Fig. 2 View Fig. 2 ). Both species have large, paired tubercles on the supra-anal plate, but while those of B. sylvatica are vertical and rounded, those of Burttia caerulea sp. nov. are pointed towards the rear and more acute. The male supra-anal plate of Burttia caerulea is proportionately shorter than that of Burttia sylvatica , and it has paired longitudinal depressions basally, unlike the single midline depression of Burttia sylvatica (Fig. 6A, B View Fig. 6 ). Other differences are found in the epiphallus (Fig. 5 View Fig. 5 ). B. sylvatica has a smaller epiphallus compared to B. caerulea sp. nov. with smaller lophi. On the shoulder between the lophi and the bridge in B. sylvatica , only small humps are present that are roundish and more pronounced in B. caerulea sp. nov. (compare Figs 5 View Fig. 5 , 6F, H View Fig. 6 ). B. sylvatica is endemic to the Uluguru Mountains while B. caerulea sp. nov. is only known from the montane zone in the Nguru Mountains. The linear distance between these mountain ranges is about 100 km.

Etymology. -

From Latin: - caeruleum = blue, because of the blue bases of the male antennae.

Description. -

Male. Body, part of face, and outer sides of knees of hind legs dark brown. Legs creamy to white except for black tarsi and greyish blue hind tibiae. With broad white fascia across face. Bases of antennae blue (Fig. 1A View Fig. 1 ). Antenna about 1.5 times longer than head and pronotum, compressed at base (Fig. 2A View Fig. 2 ). Eyes oval, prominent. Fastigium verticis angular, with apex forming a rostrum, as described for the genus. Frons strongly oblique (Fig. 1A View Fig. 1 ), upper part of frontal ridge strongly protruding in front of eyes, sulcate. Dorsum of pronotum with well-developed median carina (Fig. 3A View Fig. 3 ). Integument of whole body strongly wrinkled (Fig. 2 View Fig. 2 ). As described for the genus, prosternal process very pointed with a broad base. No trace of wings. Supra-anal plate elongate with two well-developed tubercles near middle of supra-anal plate (Figs 4A View Fig. 4 , 6B View Fig. 6 ). Subgenital plate upcurved, with obtuse apex (Figs 4A View Fig. 4 , 6B View Fig. 6 ). Epiphallus divided, with large complex lophi; ancorae small and inwardly directed (Fig. 5B View Fig. 5 ). Paired post-epiphallic sclerites present. Endophallic structures normal, aedeagus partly sheathed in ectophallic membrane (Fig. 6K View Fig. 6 ).

Female. Larger and stouter than male (Fig. 1A View Fig. 1 ), almost uniformly dark brown, without white fascia on face. As in male, with a median carina on the pronotum (Fig. 3B View Fig. 3 ). Supra-anal plate elongate with a median ridge (Fig. 7A View Fig. 7 ). Valves slender with curved apices, cerci short. Subgenital plate with slightly excurved posterior margin (Fig. 7B, C View Fig. 7 ).

Measurements (mm). -

Males (N = 4): Body length: 15.6-18.0; Medial length of pronotum: 3.1-3.4; length of hind femur: 10.1-10.3. Females (N = 4): Body length: 22.6-22.8; Medial length of pronotum: 4.3-4.5; length of hind femur: 13.0-14.4.

Habitat. -

Along forest edges and in understory vegetation of montane forest, often on the forest floor among litter.

Distribution. -

Tanzania, Nguru Mountains.