Shelfordina kuranda Rentz & Su, 2024

Rentz, David Cf, Field, Ashley Raymond & Su, You Ning, 2024, New species of the genus Shelfordina Hebard with taxonomic and ecological notes and a key to the known Australian species (Blattodea: Ectobiidae: Pseudophyllodromiinae), Zootaxa 5529 (1), pp. 110-122 : 117-119

Shelfordina kuranda Rentz & Su , sp. nov.

Figures 7A–H

Type material. Holotype male. Label 1. “ 16°50’S 145°38’E (GE) 3 Mason Rd., Kuranda, Qld., 57 m, 8 OCT 2013 DCF Rentz, B. Richardson” 2. “ ANIC database #9-006307” . Allotype female. Same data as for holotype except 13 JAN. 2016 DCF Rentz collector . Topotypes: Same data as for holotype except following dates: 18 MAR 2013 2 males ; 18 JUN 2015 1 male ; 21 APR 2016 1 male ; 6 NOV 2016 1 female ; 17 NOV 2011 1 male, 1 female ; 18 JUN 2015 1 female ; 13 JAN. 2016 DCF Rentz collector 1 male, 1 female ; 28 MAR. 2016 1 female ; 22 JAN 2020 1 female .

Other Paratypes: Queensland: 16°48’S 145°38’E (GPS) Kuranda, QLD. (Top of the Range) 19 Butler Dr 1–15 MAR, 2022 DCF Rentz, 1 male .

Etymology. Named with reference to the village of Kuranda in north Queensland where the species occurs.

Differential diagnosis. Both sexes with distinctive colour patterns on antennae and cerci. Males with unique accessory styles on subgenital plate and distinctive concealed genitalia.

Description. As for the generic description with the following additions. Overall colour tawny brown, not distinctive ( Fig. 7A ). Head without distinctive marking, usually straw coloured but infrequently darkened. Antennae unmodified, straw-coloured, flagellum without annulations. Frons without distinctive markings, usually darkened. Pronotum conspicuously flanged ( Fig. 7A ), surface plain, with very faint, indistinct markings ( Fig. 7A ). Legs unmarked; Fore femur with A 2 spinal pattern ( Fig. 7C ); claws with internal margins smooth. Thorax plain, without markings. Tegmina and wings. Tegmen ( Fig. 7H ) with costal margin with many evenly spaced diagonal, unbranched veins except towards the apex where some branching occurs. Wings with prominent thickened diagonal veins in the costal region ( Fig. 7H ), these darkened and brown in life, the darkening often continued between the veins themselves ( Fig. 7A ); apical triangle short, but distinct, cut by a single weak vein. Abdomen dorsally with the tergites unmodified ( Fig. 7G ); internal genitalia with several sclerotised bits ( Figs 7G, F ) and long rods; genital hook minute, positioned on the right side, a prominent, very thin hook on the left side ( Fig. 7G ); subgenital plate with the styles prominent, almost as long as accessory styles ( Fig. 7D ), accessory styles dissimilar in size, the left one much smaller than the right but similar in structure ( Figs 7D, E ). Cercus dark brown, apical segment contrastingly darker ( Figs 7F, G ).

Female more robust than male, tegmina and wings only slightly surpassing apex of abdomen.Abdomen dorsally with distal portion of each tergite darkened, ventral surface with dark brown markings laterally on each tergite; subgenital plate with apex dark brown in median portion, basal portion and apex brown ( Fig. 7D ).

Measurements (in mm). Holotype measurement (in parenthesis) precedes other males. Males paratopotypes; Length body 1 (10) 12.8–13.1; pronotum length (2.2) 2.4–2.5, pronotum width (3.6) 3.5–3.9; tegmen (9.8) 10.8– 13.0; opened wing (9.6) 10.6. Top of the Range: length body, 14.0; length pronotum 2.2, width pronotum 3.5–3.9; length tegmen 11.6. Females paratopotypes: length body 10.2–12.8; length pronotum 2.5–2.8, width 3.5–4.0; length tegmen 8.3–11.5; length wing 6.8.

Distribution. Known from two localities in Kuranda.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Shelfordina kuranda Rentz & Su, sp. nov. A, adult male abroad at night. B, lateral view of abdomen. Note colour pattern and pustules. C, left foreleg. Note spinal pattern on ventral surface of femur. D, male subgenital plate. Note accessory styles and normal styles. E, male subgenital plate, lateral view. F, tip of male abdomen, ventral view. Note margin of tenth tergite and extruded median phallomere. G, tip of male abdomen, dorsal view. Note margin of tenth tergite, hook-like right phallomere and elongate median phallomere. H, left tegmen and wing, male.