Phlesirtes nou Hemp

Hemp, Claudia & Heller, Klaus-Gerhard, 2017, The genus Phlesirtes Bolivar, 1922 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae, Conocephalini; Karniellina), a review of the genus with data on its bioacoustics and the description of new species, Zootaxa 4244 (4), pp. 451-477 : 474

Phlesirtes nou Hemp n. sp.

( Fig. 5 M; Fig. 13 I, J; Fig. 16 )

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:496076

Holotype male. Tanzania, Manyara Escarpment, Nou Forest , forest clearing, 2100 m February 2005. Depository MfN.

Paratypes. 1 female, same data as holotype. Depository MfN . 1 male, 1 female, same data as holotype. Depository EDNMK . 1 male, 1 female, same data as holotype. Depository BMNH .

Additional paratype material. 19 males, 12 females, 6 nymphs, same data as holotype. Collection C. Hemp.

Description. Male. Mix of green and brown and black colours. Abdomen. The space between the processes of the 10th abdominal tergite is u-shaped with a median indentation ( Fig. 15 I). The processes are thin and straight. The inner branch of the male cercus is thick and then abruptly narrowed into an acute tip ( Fig. 15 J).

Female. Ovipositor typical for Phlesirtes , nearly the length of the body. Subgenital plate as in Fig. 5 M.

Measurements male (mm) (N=10). Length of body 8.7–10.2, length of pronotum 4.1–4.6, length of anterior femur 2.0–2.2, length of posterior femur 8.8–9.2, visible part of elytra from above 0.6–1.2.

Measurements female (mm) (N=10). Length of body 9.5–12.0, length of pronotum 3.1–3.5, length of anterior femur 2.1–2.4, length of posterior femur 9.0–9.8, ovipositor 9.2–10.0.

Diagnosis. P. ngorongoroensis n. sp. and P. latifrons also have modified inner branches of the male cerci, in P. ngorongoroensis n. sp. slightly inflated. In P. nou n. sp. the inner cercal branch is round and suddenly narrowed to form an acute apex. In P. ngorongoroensis n. sp. the space between the processes of the 10th abdominal tergite is rhombic while it is u-shaped in P. nou n. sp. with a median indentation. In P. latifrons the space between the processes of the 10th abdominal tergite is evenly and broadly rounded.

Habitat and distribution. Tanzania, Manyara escarpment, Nou Forest Reserve, grassy patches along forest edge and on forest clearings, 2100 m.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Subgenital plates of female Phlesirtes species A – N and O. Lateral view on ovipositor of P. gladiolus n. sp. A. P. chyuluensis n. sp. B. P. elgonensis n. sp. C. P. gladiolus n. sp. D. P. hanangensis n. sp. E. P. keniensis n. sp. F. P. kinangopa n. sp. G. P. laikipiaensis n. sp. H. P. limuru n. sp. I. P. melanocercus n. sp. J. P. merumontanus, northern Kilimanjaro K. P. ngongensis n. sp. L. P. ngorongoroensis n. sp. M. P. nou n. sp. N. P. timboroa n. sp.

FIGURE 13. Detail images of last abdominal tergites and cerci of male Phlesirtes species. A, B. P. melanocercus n. sp. C, D. P. merumontanus, Monduli Range E, F. P. ngongensis n. sp. G, H. P. ngorongoroensis n. sp. I, J. P. nou n. sp. K, L. P. timboroa n. sp.

FIGURE 15. Male (A, B) and female (C) Phlesirtes ngongensis n. sp. D. Crest of the Ngong Hills near Nairobi, Kenya with remnants of heavily degraded montane forests and grazed grasslands.

FIGURE 16. Distribution of Phlesirtes species in East Africa with major mountains and mountain ranges indicated.