Poecilimon allegro, Ünal, 2025

Ünal, Mustafa, 2025, Taxonomic notes on Phaneropterinae and Tettigoniinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from the Palaearctic Region, Zootaxa 5687 (1), pp. 1-77 : 17-18

Poecilimon allegro Ünal, sp. nov.

( Figs. 49–64 , 311–313 )

Type locality. Turkey: Antalya Prov., Alanya Distr., Gökbel Plateau, Akdağ , 2050 m .

Description. Male (Holotype). Fastigium of vertex ( Fig. 49 ) very narrow, 1.5 times narrower than antennal scape, dorsal fossa indistinct but distinguishable by the light color; anterior end rounded. Pronotum ( Figs. 50, 51 ) relatively long, 1.8 times longer than high; anterior margin and metazona raised in lateral margin; metazona roundly elevated and descended at hind margin; paranota, just behind the third sulcus, distinctly expanded downwards; anterior margin slightly concave, posterior margin with a small concavity in the middle in dorsal view, but in paratypes almost straight. Tegmina ( Figs. 50, 51 ) almost fully concealed under pronotum, only the tips visible in lateral and dorsal views, but in some paratypes fully covered by pronotum, reaching to half of the first abdominal tergite. Hind femur without ventral spines. Last abdominal tergite rectangular, posterior margin straight. Supra anal plate almost semicircle, 1.4 times wider than long, in some paratypes slightly shorter; parabolic or rounded. Cercus ( Fig. 56 ) stout, short, strongly widened at base, narrowed towards the end of proximal part; apical part strongly and sharply incurved under at right angle; base of the incurved part wider than previous section; with 3 posterior denticles, apex pointed and downcurved, with a small apical denticle; posterior view of cerci S-shaped ( Fig. 57 ); in paratypes posterior margin with 2–4 denticles; distal part typically black. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 55 ) 1.4 times longer than wide; posterior margin quite wide and truncate.

Female (Allotype). Fastigium of vertex as in male, 1.7 times narrower than antennal scape, dorsal fossa very weak as in male. Pronotum ( Figs. 61, 62 ) long, anterior margin and metazona weakly raised in lateral view; posterior margin descended; paranora as in male; anterior margin straight, posterior margin broadly rounded. Tegmina present, contiguous at dorsum; fully concealed under pronotum. Hind femur as in male. Last abdominal tergite narrowed posteriorly, hind margin slightly concave. Supra anal plate almost semicircular, two times wider than long. Cercus simple, conical, slightly longer than pura anal plate. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 63 ) almost twice as wide as long, with a distinct longitudinal median carina, broadly rounded at hind margin, but with an indistinct projection in the middle. Ovipositor ( Fig. 64 ) short, only 1.4 times longer than pronotum and 1.7 times shorter than hind femur; with 9 upper and 12 lower apical teeth, but in paratypes number of apical teeth lower; gonangulum and basal fold of lower valve as in Fig. 64 .

Colouration. Body green, very typically with numerous black spots, and black and orange stains ( Figs. 311, 312 ). In most of the dry specimens green colour replaced with yellowish cream. Face yellow or yellowish green. Scapus greenish yellow, inner side black. Antennae black, with sparse light rings. Dorsal surface of head, prozona of pronotum except anterior margin, all legs, dorsal surface of abdomen with mainly rounded dense black spots. Apical ends of femora black. Anterior margins of abdominal tergites (especially in males) with transversal, irregular black band, which is distinct in 5–8 tergites, also in females. Anterior margin of pronotum, metazona and last 2 abdominal tergites distinctly orange. Lateral sides of pronotum, green-yellowish green. Ventral part of abdomen in lateral view and ventral appearance of body, including subgenital plates yellow. Male cercus yellow, but typically the distal part black. Basal part of ovipositor yellowish, turns to green towards the serrated apex; apical teeth dark brown.

Discussion. This unique species is a member of the P. brunneri species group ( Ünal 2010). It is easily recognizable as a member of the genus by the shape of pronotum, tegmina, subgenital plates, male cercus, and ovipositor with gonangulum and basal fold. It is most closely related to P. bilgeri as suggested by the sharply incurved apical part of male cercus and the female subgenital plate with a distinct median carina. But it is very different in the shapes of male cercus, pronotum in both sexes, subgenital plates, the basal fold of ventral valve of ovipositor and colouration.

Measurements (mm). Holotype (male). Length of body 16; pronotum 4.8; tegmina 0.4; hind femur 12.3. Allotype (female). Length of body 16.8; pronotum 5.4; hind femur 13; ovipositor 7.5. Paratypes. Length of body: male 15.1–17.2, female 15.6–17.9; pronotum: male 4.9–5.6, female 5.3–5.6; tegmina visible: male 0–0.6; hind femur: male 12.1–13, female 12.9–13.8; ovipositor: 7.6-8.1.

Material examined. Turkey: Antalya Province, Alanya, Gökbel Yaylası, Akdağ , 36.40.648 N, 32.16.519 E, 2050 m, 16.7.2017, 15 males (including holotype), 11 females (leg. M. Ünal ) ( AIBÜEM) .

Etymology. The term “allegro ” in classical music refers to fast and cheerful pieces. Interestingly, the locomotion habits of this new species were surprisingly rapid, unlike the other members of its genus. When I approached, many specimens jumped from the host plant to the ground, trying to escape quickly down the steep slope. I thought it would make a nice combination to pair this fascinating behaviour with “The Dance of the Little Swans” by Tchaikovsky.

Remarks. This new species was discovered on Ferula sp. as a host plant on a dry, steep mountain slope with sparse vegetation, primarily consisting of Astragalus sp. and Acantholimon sp. , on the rocky ground ( Fig. 313 ).

Figures

FIGURES 33–54. 33–46 Isophya bozlak Ünal, sp. nov., 33 male fastigium of vertex and scapes; 34 male head, pronotum and tegmine, dorsal view; 35 male pronotum and tegmina, lateral view; 36 male habitus, lateral view; 37 ditto, dorsal view; 38 male cerci; 39 male subgenital plate, ventral view, right side posterior; 40 female fastigium of vertex and scapes; 41 female habitus, lateral view; 42 ditto, dorsal view; 43 female pronotum and tegmina, lateral view; 44 female head, pronotum and tegmina, dorsal view; 45 female subgenital plate; 46 ovipositor. 47 Poecilimon hamatus, male habitus, dorso-lateral view. 48 Poecilimon zonatus, male habitus, dorso-lateral view. 49–54 Poecilimon allegro sp. nov., 49 male fastigium of vertex and antennal scapes; 50 Male head, pronotum, tegmina, dorsal view; 51 ditto, lateral view; 52 male habitus, dorsal view; 53 ditto, lateral view; 54 ditto, dorso-lateral view.

FIGURES 55–81. 55–64 Poecilimon allegro sp. nov., 55 male subgenital plate; 56 male left cercus,dorsal view; 57 tips of male cerci, posterior view; 58 female habitus, lateral view; 59 ditto, dorsal view; 60 ditto, dorso-lateral view; 61 female headand pronotum, dorsal view; 62 ditto, lateral view; 63 female subgenital plate, ventral view; 64 ovipositor. 65 Fieber, under Poecilimon concinnus. 66 corresponding of Brunner von Wattenwyl (NMW), under Poecilimon concinnus. 67–80 Poecilimon luwi Ünal, sp. nov., 67 male fastigium of vertex and scapes; 68 male habitus, lateral view; 69 ditto, dorsal view; 70 male head, pronotum and tegmina, lateral view; 71 ditto, dorsal view; 72 male end of abdomen, dorsal view; 73 male left cercus; 74 male subgenital plate, ventral view; 75 female habitus, lateral view; 76 ditto, dorsal view; 77 female head and pronotum, lateral view; 78 ditto, dorsal view; 79 female subgenital plate, ventral view; 80 ovipositor. 81 Poecilimon helleri zeybek sp. nov., male habitus, lateral view.

FIGURES 311–318. 311–313 Poecilimon allegro sp. nov., 311 male; 312 female; 313 locality, Alanya, Akdağ. 314–316 Poecilimon luwi Ünal, sp. nov., 314 locality, Denizli, Bozdağ; 315 male; 316 female. 317–318 Poecilimon helleri zeybek ssp. nov., 317 male; 318 female.