Kuzicus mirabilis Tan & Wahab 2018, new species
Creators: name: Tan, Ming Kai
name: Wahab, Rodzay Bin Haji Abdul
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Orthoptera
Tettigoniidae
Kuzicus
Kuzicus mirabilis

description: Kuzicus mirabilis, new species
(Figs. 1–2)
http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:502557
Material examined. Holotype (male, KB.17.93): Brunei Darussalam, Ulu Temburong National Park, Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre along Ashton Trail, primary ridge dipterocarp forest, N4.54595, E115.15700, 126.2± 9.4 m.a.s.l., under foliage of tree, 27 July 2017, 2120 hours, coll. M. K. Tan (dried pinned, IBER).
Generic status. This species exhibits the deep posteromedian notch of the last male tergite characteristics of Xiphidiopsis Redtenbacher, 1891 but differs by the presence of sclerotized yoke-like epiphallus (typically membranous with small sclerites in Xiphidiopsis [Gorochov, 1993]). Along with yoke-like epiphallus, this species also has a paired process at the posterior of tenth abdominal tergite, typical of Kuzicus (Gorochov, 1993).
Diagnosis. This species differs from all known male congeners by the shape of the tenth abdominal tergite, cercus, and epiphallus.
Description. Male (holotype). Relatively large-sized Meconematini with habitus typical for the genus (Fig. 1). Eyes globular and distinctly protruding laterally (Figs. 2A, 2B). Frontal rostrum conical, small (shorter and much narrower than scapus), with median sulcus distinct (Fig. 2B). Fifth (apical) segment of maxillary palpus longer than fourth (subapical) and third segments; slender, gently widened apically and obtusely truncated at the apex (Fig. 2C). Fourth and third segments subequal length, both longer than second segment (Fig. 2C). Pronotum covering the base of mirror of tegmen, dorsal disc bent into lateral lobes but lateral keel not distinct, transverse sulcus slightly visible; pronotum slightly raised after the posterior half (when viewed in profile) (Figs. 2A, 2B). Anterior margin of pronotal disc convex, posterior margin rounded (Fig. 2B). Humeral sinus indistinct (Fig. 2A). Ventral margin of pronotal lateral lobe rounded (Fig. 2A). Thoracic auditory spiracle (= thoracic foramen) very large, elongated; barely covered by pronotal lateral lobe (Fig. 2A). Macropterous, tegmen extending well behind the hind knees, hindwing distinctly extending beyond tegmen (Fig. 1). Coxal spur of fore leg stout and slightly curved with apex subacute (Fig. 2A). Both tympana oval and open. Fore tibia with 5 outer and 4 inner subapical spines. Middle tibia with 5 outer and 5 inner subapical spines. Inner and outer knees of hind femur with obtuse lobe with spinule. Hind tibia ventrally and dorsally with numerous outer and inner spines as well as 2 ventral and 1 dorsal apical spurs on each side. Tenth abdominal tergite with posterior margin deeply notched in the middle, in the middle produced into a flat rectangular lobe (Fig. 2D); apex of rectangular lobe with two lateral stout processes (Figs. 2D, 2E); lateral margins of lobe feebly converge posteriorly, posterior margin truncated (Fig. 2D). Epiproct small, concealed under the rectangular lobe of tenth abdominal tergite. Cerci symmetrical, stout and strongly curved (Figs. 2D–H); basal third of cercus swollen, with many pores (Figs. 2E, 2G, 2H), laterally produced into a triangular ventral lobe pointing externally (Figs. 2E, 2G, 2H); then tapers to a narrower apical remaining; with a small flattened ventral internal lobe at the apex of basal third (Figs. 2E, 2G); remaining of cercus laterally flattened and curved inwards when extended (Fig. 2H), curved dorsad than anteriorly when in concealed position (Figs. 2E–G); apex of cercus somewhat truncated, sinuate into a flattened apical lobe pointing internally when viewed posteriorly (Fig. 2E). Subgenital plate hexagonal, longer than broad; apical margin truncated between styli; styli stout with obtuse apex (Fig. 2K). Genitalia with elongated sclerotized epiphallus; lateral margin with a lobe at the middle and ventroposterior end; lateral lobes produced into acute spine-like processes (Figs. 2F, 2I, 2J).
Colouration (Fig. 1). Dirty green with numerous black and brown patterns when alive; yellow (discoloured) in alcohol. Head pale green; frontal rostrum black at apex, with black lateral margins. Black lateral margin continues along margin adjacent to eyes to end of head; dorsum of head with a ∏-shaped black pattern. Eyes red brown. Scapus dark grey dorsally and black ventrally, pedicel black, antennal segment yellow brown with apex black. Pronotal disc dirty green on the anterior half, with two lateral black stripes; lateral stripes converge in the apical third into a black spot; apical third brown, with two less distinct black lateral stripes reaching posterior margin. Pronotal lateral lobe light green with some dark green patterns, margins dark green. Tegmen yellow green; anterior margin brown; with numerous large black spots about the size of the cells; apex black. Hind wing transparent, exposed apex with similar patterns to tegmen. Fore and middle femora pale, with knee dark. Fore and middle tibiae black basally (middle tibia with basal half black); ventral spurs black. Hind femur pale green, with a dorsal oblique black strip at the basal third; with a faint white ring preceding a black ring at the apex; knee black. Very base of hind tibia red brown; spines black; apex black. Thoracic segments green to yellow green.
Female. Unknown.
Measurement (in mm). BL = 10.4, BWL = 24.7, PL = 4.2, TL = 17.9, HWT = 0.4, HFL = 12.7, HTL = 13.8.
Etymology. This species name refers to mysterious yet wondrous (= mirabilis in Latin) forest of Ulu Temburong National Park.
description: Published as part of Tan, Ming Kai & Wahab, Rodzay Bin Haji Abdul, 2018, New taxa and notes of katydids from the tribe Meconematini (Orthoptera: Meconematinae) from Brunei Darussalam (Part 2), pp. 582-590 in Zootaxa 4407 (4) on pages 583-586, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4407.4.10, http://zenodo.org/record/1221034