Parapholidoptera euxina boluensis, Ünal, 2025

Ünal, Mustafa, 2025, Taxonomic notes on Phaneropterinae and Tettigoniinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from the Palaearctic Region, Zootaxa 5687 (1), pp. 1-77 : 51-52

Parapholidoptera euxina boluensis Ünal et Erden, ssp. nov.

( Figs. 282–289 , 297–303, 304d, 305d )

Type locality. Turkey: Bolu Prov., Kozlu Plateau , 1800 m .

Description. Male (Holotype). Fastigium of vertex and frontal groove wide. Fastigium of vertex 1.36 times wider than width of eye; 2.5 times wider antennal scape; 2.3 times wider than frontal groove. Width of eye 1.6 times wider than antennal scape. Antennal scape 1.1 times narrower than frontal groove. Pronotum ( Figs. 297, 298 ) stout, short and wide; cylindrical in prozona, slightly flattened in metazona; with smooth surface; metazona reaching to half of first abdominal tergite; 1.7 times longer than high (4.6 mm), 1.5 times longer than width of metazona (5.2 mm); shoulder incision distinct; anterior margin slightly concave, posterior margin broadly rounded. Tegmina ( Figs. 297, 298 ) brachypterous as in the genus, but relatively long, apical 2.5 mm part (almost half) visible in dorsal view, reaching to end of second abdominal tergite. Fore femur with one inner, mid femur with 1 inner and 1 outer spinules on genicular lobes; hind femur without spinules on genicular lobes. Femora without ventral spines. Hind femur ( Fig. 282 ) long, 2.75 times longer than pronotum. Last abdominal ( Fig. 286 ) tergite short and wide, extended posteriorly in the middle; posterior lobes wide and triangular, their small part of apices pointed and strongly downcurved, slightly outcurved; posterior incision between these lobes triangular, V-shaped, with a slit like longitudinal groove at base of this incision forward. Cercus ( Fig. 286 ) long (3 mm), 1.16 times shorter than width of last tergite (3.5 mm); straight with a large inner tooth near to base, which as long as width of cercus. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 301 ) as long wide; posterior incision as in the nominotypical subspecies; stylus as long as the distance between styli; with typical lateral dark bands on both sides ventrally. Titillator ( Figs. 287, 288 ) with asymmetrical apical arms as in nominotypical subspecies, turned to right or left side in paratypes; distal part of apical arms curved forward under right angle with 5 dorsal spinules.

Female (Allotype). Fastigium of vertex 1.4 times wider than width of eye; 2.3 times wider antennal scape; 2.7 times wider than frontal groove. Width of eye 1.6 times wider than antennal scape. Antennal scape 1.2 times wider than frontal groove. Pronotum ( Figs. 299, 300 ) as in male, but larger and more extended posteriorly; shoulder incision distinct, reaching almost half of first abdominal tergite; 1.7 times longer than high. Tegmina ( Figs. 299, 300 ) concealed under pronotum, but their costal and apical parts visible in dorsal and lateral views, reaching to 1/3–half of the first abdominal tergite. Legs as in male, but hind femur with 1 inner spinule on genicular lobe. Hind femur ( Fig. 284 ) 2.9 times longer than pronotum, shorter than body. Last tergite short and wide, slightly extended posteriorly, with a triangular posterior incision in the middle and two triangular posterior lobes which are as large as this incision. Cercus ( Fig. 303 ) spiniform, slightly incurved, with strongly acute apex. Subgenital plate ( Figs. 289 , 302 ) almost triangular, with two rounded posterior lobes and a narrow V-shaped posterior incision (not very deep). Ovipositor ( Fig. 303 ) slightly upcurved along its length; 2.4 times longer than pronotum and only 1.2 times shorter than hind femur.

Colouration. General colouration greyish brown, with dark brown spots and marks. Antennae light brown, darker in apical part. Head greyish cream in male, yellowish cream in female. Face with 6 distinct brown spots, upper two contiguous with darkened antennal foramen; clypeus with 4 brown spots in male, 2 in female. Fastigium of vertex surrounded with a thin brown band; antennal scape partly brown; behind of eyes with a dark brown band which continues on paranota, just above this band with a thin light line between the eye and pronotum. Pronotum mainly greyish brown; paranotal dark band distinct; ventral margin with a typical creamish light band in lateral view. Tegmina with cream veins, intervenal fields brown; anal part darker than costal part in both sexes. Legs as in body colour, without any distinct dark band or stripes; with some irregular small brownish spots. Hind femur with several rounded brown spots at base of dorsal side in male, indistinct in female; outer surface without dark band; anterior part of inner surface yellowish cream, remaining part greyish brown as in body, without any dark band; in some paratypes outer and inner surface of hind femur with a narrow dark band, but not very distinct. Last abdominal tergite and cercus in male greyish milky brown. Male subgenital plate yellow, with a typical longitudinal dark (brown) band at postero-lateral margin. Ovipositor as in body. Female subgenital plate and all sternites yellowish cream.

Discussion. This new subspecies is separated from the nominotypical subspecies, P. euxina euxina ssp. nov. by the wider fastigium of vertex, the greater ratios of the fastigium of vertex with scapus and eye in both sexes, the stouter pronotum with more truncate posterior margin and less distinct shoulder incision, the longer tegmina in both sexes (While apical 2.5 mm part visible in male of P. euxina boluensis , and reaching half of first abdominal tergite in female, 1.1 mm visible in male of nominotypical subspecies and reaching to end of metanotum in female), the longer male last tergite (0.8 mm) (compare Figs. 286 and 278 ), with wider posterior lobes and with shorter downcurved apices [in P. euxina euxina , last tergite shorter (0.6 mm), with thin posterior lobes slightly downcurved but strongly outcurved], the longer male cercus (3 mm) (compare Figs. 286 and 278 ), 1.1 times shorter than width of last tergite (3.5 mm) [in P. euxina euxina , male cercus (2.2 mm) 1.6 times shorter than width of last tergite (3.5 mm)], the shape of titillator (compare Figs. 287–288 and 279–280 ), with distal part of apical arms directed forewards (in P. euxina euxina , distinctly downcurved like a question mark), the shape of female subgenital plate (compare Figs. 289 , 302 and 281 , 295 ) with shallow and narrow V-shaped posterior incision (in P. euxina euxina , posterior incision broadly rounded in typical form), and the larger size. It is different from P. spinulosa (compare Figs. 282–289 with 266–273) by the distinct larger size, the stouter pronotum, the longer tegmina, the shape of titillators, the last abdominal tergite in male, the female subgenital plate, and colouration. Differs from P. belen (compare Figs. 282–289 with 258–265) by the shape of stouter pronotum, the shape of stouter titillator with dorsal spinules, female subgenital plate, and the colouration.

Compare four taxa, P. belen , P. spinulosa , P. euxina sp. nov., and P. euxina boluensis ssp. nov., in the same frame of photograph ( Figs. 304 males, 305 females).

Measurements (mm). Holotype (male). Length of body 23.9; pronotum 7.8; tegmina visible 2.5; hind femur 21.5. Allotype (female). Length of body 27; pronotum 8.6; hind femur 24.7; ovipositor 20.5. Paratypes. Length of body: male 25–26.4, female 25–27.6; pronotum: male 7.7–8.7, female 7.7–9.5; tegmina visible: male 1.9–2.9; hind femur: male 21.3–22.5, female 22.3–26; ovipositor: 22–24.

Material examined. Turkey: Bolu Prov., Kozlu Yaylası, 1800 m, 10.9.2000, 5 males (including holotype), 5 females; 5.10.2000, 1 male, 2 females (leg. M. Ünal ); Bolu Prov., Kozlu Yaylası, 1776 m, 40°48.536´N, 31°35.304´E, 5.8.2021, 6 males, 5 females in alcohol (leg. A. Erden); Bolu Prov., Topardıç, 30.8.1997, 1 male (leg. M. Ünal ). Bolu Prov., Mudurnu, Aynalıkaya Geçidi, 1210 m, 21.9.2000, 1 male (leg. M. Ünal ). Bolu Prov., Feruz Yaylası, 1503 m, 40°35.271´N, 31°20.507´E, 21.8.2021, 1 female (leg. A. Erden); Bolu Prov., Gövem Yaylası, 1360–1400 m, 10.8.2021, 1 male, 1 female (leg. M. Ünal ); Zonguldak Prov., Ereğli, 25 km. Doğu, 28.7.2000, 1 male (leg. M. Ünal ). Zonguldak Prov., Ereğli, Soğanlı Köyü , 460 m, 41°45.352´N, 31°78.937´E, 1 male (leg. M. Ünal & A. Erden). Karabük Prov., Keltepe, 1750–1990 m, 16.8.2001, 18 males, 10 females (leg. M. Ünal ). Karabük Prov., Keltepe, Sipahiler Köyü, 930 m, 16.8.2001, 1 male, 1 female (leg. M. Ünal ); Bolu, İkitepe, 1880 m, 27.8.2004, 3 females, in alcohol; Bolu, Ardıç Tepesi yolu, 1750 m, 4.10.2015, 1 male, 2 females, in alcohol (leg. M. Ünal ) (all at AİBÜEM).

Etymology. “ Bolu ” Province is the type locality of this new subspecies.

Remarks. This new subspecies was listed as P. spinulosa by the author ( Ünal 2006, 2018). Previous records of P. spinulosa from Bolu, Zonguldak, and the western part of Karabük Province (Keltepe and environs) belong to this new taxon. The eastern part of Karabük Province (Eflani and environs) is replaced with the nominotypical subspecies, P. euxina euxina ssp. nov. (see above).

Figures

FIGURES 274–289. 274–281 Parapholidoptera euxina sp. nov., 274 male habitus, lateral view; 275 ditto, dorsal view; 276 female habitus, lateral view; 277 ditto, dorsal view; 278 male end of abdomen, dorsal view; 279 titillator, lateral view; 280 ditto, anterior view; 281 female subgenital plate, ventral view. 282–289 Parapholidoptera euxina boluensis ssp. nov., 282 male habitus, lateral view; 283 ditto, dorsal view; 284 female habitus, lateral view; 285 ditto, dorsal view; 286 male end of abdomen, dorsal view; 287 titillator, lateral view; 288 ditto, anterior view; 289 female subgenital plate, ventral view.

FIGURES 290–310. 290–296 Parapholidoptera euxina sp. nov., 290 male head, pronotum and tegmina, lateral view; 291 ditto, dorsal view; 292 female head and pronotum, lateral view; 293 ditto, dorsal view; 294 male subgenital plate, ventral view; 295 female subgenital plate, lateral view; 296 ovipositor. 297–303 Parapholidoptera euxina boluensis ssp. nov., 297 male head, pronotum and tegmina, lateral view; 298 ditto, dorsal view; 299 female head, pronotum and tegmina, lateral view; 300 ditto, dorsal view; 301 male subgenital plate, ventral view; 302 female subgenital plate, lateral view; 303 ovipositor. 304–305 Four species of Parapholidoptera spp. in the same frame, dorso-lateral views, 304 males, 305 females: 304a, 305a Parapholidoptera belen; 304b, 305b Parapholidoptera spinulosa; 304c, 305c Parapholidoptera euxina sp. nov.; 304d, 305d Parapholidoptera euxina boluensis ssp. nov. 306 Eupholidoptera prasina, male titillator, anterior view. 307 Eupholidoptera karabagi, male titillator, anterior view. 308–310 Eupholidoptera tauricola, 308 male end of abdomen, dorsal view; 309 ditto, ventral view; 310 male tip of posterior lobe of subgenital plate with inner spine.