Parapholidoptera euxina, Ünal, 2025

Ünal, Mustafa, 2025, Taxonomic notes on Phaneropterinae and Tettigoniinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from the Palaearctic Region, Zootaxa 5687 (1), pp. 1-77 : 49-51

Parapholidoptera euxina Ünal, sp. nov.

( Figs. 274–281 , 290–296, 304c, 305c )

Type locality. Turkey: Kastamonu Prov., Devrekani Distr., Mt. Yaralıgöz , 1700 m .

Description. Male (Holotype). Fastigium of vertex 1.2 times wider than width of eye; 2.1 times wider antennal scape; 2.5 times wider than frontal groove. Width of eye 1.8 times wider than antennal scape. Antennal scape 1.2 times wider than frontal groove. Pronotum ( Figs. 290, 291 ) cylindrical in prozona, slightly flattened in metazona; with completely smooth surface; metazona reaching to half of second abdominal tergite; 1.86 times longer than high (4.3 mm), 1.7 times longer than width of metazona (4.6 mm); shoulder incision distinct; anterior margin straight, posterior margin broadly rounded. Tegmina ( Figs. 290, 291 ) brachypterous, most of it concealed under pronotum, apical 1.1 mm part visible, reaching to end of second abdominal tergite. Fore and mid femora with 1 inner and 1 outer spinule on genicular lobes; hind femur with one spinule on inner genicular lobe. Femora without ventral spines. Hind femur ( Fig. 274 ) long, 2.2 times longer than pronotum. Last abdominal tergite ( Fig. 278 ) short and wide, extended posteriorly in the middle, with 2 widely divergent posterior lobes which are thin and slightly downcurved; always with a wide V-shaped posterior incision between these lobes, but narrowly rounded at the bottom of this incision. Cercus ( Fig. 278 ) long (2.2 mm), 1.6 times shorter than width of last tergite (3.5 mm), very slightly incurved along its length, with a large inner tooth near to base, which slightly longer than width of cercus. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 294 ) slightly wider than long, with a shallow V-shaped posterior incision; styli slightly shorter than the distance between styli; with typical lateral dark bands on both sides ventrally. Titillators ( Figs. 279, 280 ) with a large hook shaped apical arms and with slender, shorter basal arms laterally; apical arms strongly downcurved in distal part like a question mark, with 5–6 dorsal spinules and pointed and downcurved spiniform apex; this curvature slightly more or less but downcurved in paratypes; apical arms turned to left or right sides.

Female (Allotype). Fastigium of vertex 1.3 times wider than width of eye; 2 times wider antennal scape; 2 times wider than frontal groove. Width of eye 1.6 times wider than antennal scape. Antennal scape almost as wide as frontal groove. Pronotum ( Figs. 292, 293 ) mainly cylindrical, 1.65 times longer than high; metazona slightly flattened; shoulder incision distinct; anterior and posterior margins as in male. Tegmina fully concealed under pronotum, reaching end of metanotum. Legs as in male, but spinules on genicular lobes more distinct. Hind femur ( Fig. 276 ) 2.4 times longer than pronotum, slightly shorter than body. Last tergite short and wide, but distinctly extended posteriorly, with a concave posterior incision in the middle. Cercus ( Fig. 296 ) spiniform, strongly tapering like a spine at apex; apical part slightly incurved. Subgenital plate ( Figs. 281 , 295 ) relatively small, slightly longer than wide; proximal part wide, sharply narrowed in distal part; posterior lobes incurved with a distinct rounded incision between two lobes, which formed apical part like a crest; basal pit distinct and narrow. Ovipositor ( Fig. 276 , 296 ) almost straight; 2.2 times longer than pronotum and only 1.1 times shorter than hind femur; slightly shorter than body.

Colouration. General colouration cataneaous, brownish with black and creamish spots and marks. Antennae light brown. Head ground yellowish cream. Face with 6 distinct rounded spots, two of them just below the antennal foramen; clypeus with 5 black spots; mandibles, labrum with a weak, short, vertical brown stripe in frontal view. Fastigium of vertex with 2 black spots, with a light stripe in the middle, reaching to pronotum; around of antennal foramen, behind of eye black and scapus partly black. Pronotum castaneous; paranota with a wide transversal black band curved along the shoulder incision; ventral margin with a wide typical light (yellowish cream) band in lateral view. Male tegmina with yellowish veins, intervenal fields mainly brown. Fire and mid femora brownish, with a large black spot at base dorsally and with some black spots on the outer side. Hind femur with a longitudinal large black band on outer and inner sides and a large black spot at base dorsally. Abdomen brown in male, castaneous in female. Ovipositor reddish brown. Male subgenital plate yellow, with a typical black band on the postero-outer margin. Female subgenital plate and sternites in both sexes yellow.

Discussion. This new species is recognizable by the titillator with mainly downcurved apical arm. The apical arm is almost hook-shaped, but its curvature and length are less in some specimens; by the male last tergite with divergent posterior lobes, their curvature is less in some specimens; by the female subgenital plate with a rounded posterior incision, which is smaller and narrower in some specimens. It is near to P. spinulosa Karabağ as indicated by the asymmetrical titillator, directed right or left, with several dorsal spines on apical arms. But it is easily separated from it by the shape of titillator with strongly downcurved distal part of apical arms, like a hook (in P. spinulosa , Figs. 271, 272 , distal part of apical arms curved under an obtuse angle, its apex almost straight and directed to forewards or slightly upwards), the male last tergite with 2 short, strongly divergent laterally and slightly downcurved posterior lobes, with a large V-shaped posterior incision (in P. spinulosa , male last tergite, Fig. 270 , with 2 close, slender, long, strongly downcurved, almost parallel posterior lobes of which apices sometimes slightly curved laterally in posterior view, with a very narrow, deep posterior incision), by the female subgenital plate with narrow, incurved posterior lobes, with a broadly rounded incision (in P. spinulosa , Fig. 273 , posterior lobes wider and posterior incision narrower and elliptical). This new species is also similar to P. belen Ünal by the asymmetrical titillator and somewhat male last tergite with divergent lobes. But, the shape of titillator with strongly downcurved distal part of apical arms, and dorsal spinules (in P. belen , titillator, Figs. 263, 264 , slender, distal part of apical arms longer and directed forewards, without dorsal spinules), the female subgenital plate (compare Figs. 265 and 281 ), the posterior lobes of male last tergite (compare Figs. 262 and 278 ) and lighter colouration are different.

This new species shows some degree of variation along its distributional area; however, none of them is included in P. spinulosa and P. belen . The intraspecific variations of this new species in eastern populations (from Kastamonu to Giresun Provinces in the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey) do not show stability. However, its western populations in Bolu, Zonguldak, and western Karabük Provinces are distinctly separated from the nominotypical taxon as given below.

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 23.2; pronotum 8; tegmina visible 1.1; hind femur 17.8. Allotype (female). Length of body 22.8; pronotum 8.6; hind femur 20.3; ovipositor 19.2. Paratypes. Length of body: male 20.3–23, female 20.1–25.4; pronotum: male 7.2–8.1, female 6.9–8.8; tegmina visible: male 1–2.3; hind femur: male 18.4–19.5, female 19–22.3; ovipositor: 18–21.

Material examined. Turkey: Kastamonu Prov., Devrekani, Yaralıgöz Dağı , 1700 m, 41°46.275´N, 34°04.330´E , 15.8.2003, 9 males (including holotype), 12 females; Kastamonu Prov., Ilgaz yolu, Kırık Köyü , 1180 m, 16.7.2002, 5 males, 3 females ; Kastamonu Prov., Devrekani, Çatalzeytin yolu, Hacıhasan Köyü , 1107 m, 41°21.356´N, 33°42.236´E , 16.7.2012, 1 female in alcohol; Sinop Prov., Gerze, Dranaz Geçidi , 910 m, 19.7.2002, 3 males, 3 females , 1350 m, 1 male, 2 females (all leg. M. Ünal ) ( AİBÜEM).

Etymology. “Euxine Sea” is the archaic name of the Black Sea. “Euxine” is also used for the western part of the Euro-Siberian phytogeographical region in northern Turkey. This species is found in the Western and Central Black Sea (Karadeniz) Regions of Turkey, which is within the Euxine part of the Euro-Siberian Region.

Remarks. Karabağ identified some specimens (examined) of this species at the NHM as a likely subspecies of P. spinulosa . But it has never been published. I have been aware of the different status of this species for a long while. However, some typical specimens of P. spinulosa were needed from the eastern part of the Mediterranean Region of Turkey. I had a series of specimens from KahramanmaraŞ Province (Göksun) ( Ünal 2018), but the specimens were not in good condition. considerable material of typical P. spinulosa from its main distributional area was collected last two years (not listed all here). Thus, the difference of the new species has been revealed.

This new species is widely distributed from the eastern part of Karabük Province to Giresun Province, mainly along the Western and Central Black Sea Regions of Turkey (Euxine region). All previous records of P. spinulosa consist of many specimens (examined again) ( Ünal 2006, 2018) from this region (Eastern Karabük, Kastamonu, Çankırı, Samsun, Amasya, Çorum, Tokat, Ordu, Giresun Provinces) belong to this new taxon.

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.

FIGURES 258–273. 258–265 Parapholidoptera belen, (paratypes at AİBÜEM) 258 male habitus, lateral view; 259 ditto, dorsal view; 260 female habitus, lateral view; 261 ditto, dorsal view; 262 male end of abdomen, dorsal view; 263 titillator, lateral view; 264 ditto, anterior view; 265 female subgenital plate, ventral view. 266–273 Parapholidoptera spinulosa, (from Bakırdağ) 266 male habitus, lateral view; 267 ditto, dorsal view; 268 female habitus, lateral view; 269 ditto, dorsal view; 270 male end of abdomen, dorsal view; 271 titillator, lateral view; 272 ditto, anterior view; 273 female subgenital plate, ventral view.