Melanabropsis nightfury Yin, 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Yin, Zi-Xu
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Orthoptera
Anostostomatidae
Melanabropsis
Melanabropsis nightfury

description: Melanabropsis nightfury sp. nov.
夜ª乌ȁñ
Figs. 1–6, 10 AB
Holotype. ♂, China, Hainan Province, Ledong Li Autonomous County, Jianfengling National Forest Park, Mingfenggu, Alt. 900 m, 2-VIII-2022, coll. Michael Lee and Zeyi Lyu.
Paratype. ♀, same location as in holotype, 20-VIII-2020, coll. Yunhu Mo.
Description. Body size small. Fastigium of vertex narrow, about half the width of the first antennal segment, without longitudinal furrow above (Fig. 1 AC). Occiput with a faint longitudinal median suture (Fig. 1A). Anterior margin of pronotum nearly straight, posterior margin broadly rounded (Fig. 1A). Disc of pronotum with a distinct flat hind part, with a faint longitudinal median suture and a distinct transverse sulcus (Fig. 1 AB). Prosternum unarmed, meso- and metasternum with widely tuberculous lobes (Fig. 1E). Tegmen extending far beyond abdominal apex (Fig. 1D). Veins of tegmen as in Fig. 4 AC.
Fore and mid coxae with a spine (Fig. 1E). Genicular lobes of all femora without spines (Figs. 1E, 2 AB, 3AB). External surface of hind femur with distinct chevron ridges (Fig. 1E). Distal one third of fore and mid tibiae distinctly slender than other parts (Figs. 2 AB, 3AB). Tympana absent on fore tibiae (Fig. 2 AB). Fore femur ventrally with 0~2 internal spinules; mid femur with 2~4 external spinules; hind femur with 0~3 internal spinules, with 6~10 external spinules. Fore tibia dorsally with 1 pair of spurs, ventrally with 4 pairs of moveable spines and 1 pair of spurs, both pairs of spurs with inner one longer (Fig. 2 AB); mid tibia dorsally with 1~2 internal and 1 external moveable spines, ventrally with 3 internal and 4 external moveable spines, and apically with 1 pair of dorsal and 1 pair of ventral spurs of roughly equal length except internal dorsal one (Fig. 3 AB); hind tibia dorsally with 8~10 internal and 7~9 external spines, and apically bearing 4 pairs of spurs; length of the 4 pairs of spurs: the second highest pair> the highest pair = the third highest pair> the lowest pair (Fig. 4B).
Male ninth abdominal tergite prolonged and decurved at central posterior margin, width of this lobe almost equal to the distance between paired barbs which plate dorsal surface of tenth abdominal tergite, the area between these hooks collapsed downwards and extended backwards at middle of hind margin which is emarginate (Fig. 5 ABD). Epiproct rounded triangular (Fig. 5C); each paraprocts with a setose, elongate and upcurve portion, which exhibits a truncate apex and presents a small spine (Fig. 5 AB). Cerci cylindrical, rugose and setose, gradually narrowing towards apex, longer than length of pronotum (Figs. 5 ABC). Male subgenital plate gradually narrows towards the apex, hind margin concave; styli large, compressed at base and swollen at distal part when alive, and deflated after preserved in ethanol (Fig. 5 ABCD). Female ovipositor arcuate-upcurved, gradually tapering towards the apex, dorsal valves are longer (Fig. 5E).
Coloration. Body generally brown above and white underneath (Fig. 1 ABE). Face, antennas and wings brown (Fig. 1 ABC). Pronotum and compound eyes black (Fig. 1 AB). Distal part of tibiae and proximal part of femora light grey but changed gradually (Figs. 1D, 2 AB, 3AB).
Measurements (mm). Body length (with wings): ♂ 27.2, ♀ 31.4; length of pronotum: ♂ 6.4, ♀ 7.0; length of tegmina: ♂ 18.5, ♀ 21.3; length of fore femur: ♂ 7.8~8.0, ♀ 7.9~8.0; length of mid femur: ♂ 7.9~8.0, ♀ 9.2~9.3; length of hind femur: ♂ 17.4~17.8, ♀ 20.2~20.6; length of fore tibia: ♂ 8.2~8.4, ♀ 8.4~8.5; length of mid tibia: ♂ 8.6~8.7, ♀ 9.5~9.6; length of hind tibia: ♂ 15.7~15.8, ♀ 18.4~18.6; length of ovipositor: 10.5.
Notes. Melanabropsis nightfury is unique, currently the only known macropterous species of the genus. It differs from all other known species of Melanabropsis by the large scale of wings. Based on the observation photo records from Taiwan Island (Tab. 1), the unknown species found on Taiwan Island bears a closer resemblance M. nightfury compared to other species.
Etymology. This species is named after Night fury, a prominent character in the fantasy film series How to Train Your Dragon. The name is chosen to symbolize the male protagonist's efforts in altering humanity's perception of dragons, demonstrating that humans and nature can coexist in a state of harmony. Despite being small and insignificant compared to nature, humans are capable of showing respect and kindness towards nature, which will in turn reward us with benevolence.
Distribution. China (Hainan Island).
description: Published as part of Yin, Zi-Xu, 2024, Distribution of the mysterious Chevron Crickets Melanabropsis Wang & Liu, 2020, with a remarkable new species from Hainan, China (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae: Anabropsini), pp. 81-93 in Zootaxa 5474 (1) on pages 82-86, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5474.1.8, http://zenodo.org/record/12527085