Paratettix nigrescens Sjöstedt, 1921

Damien, Niko Kasalo, Laure, Damien Brouste, Christophe, Laure Desutter-Grandcolas, Domagoj, Christophe Hervé, Josip, Domagoj Bogić & Skejo, Josip, 2025, Atlas of New Caledonian Tetrigidae with preliminary suprageneric classification of Batrachideinae, Zoosystema 47 (18), pp. 327-397 : 364

Paratettix nigrescens Sjöstedt, 1921

( Figs 30-32)

Paratettix nigrescens Sjöstedt, 1921: 15 ; 1932: 1 (included in a catalog); 1936: 10 (taxonomic notes). — Rehn 1952: 152 (taxonomic notes). — Steinmann 1970: 162 (included in a catalog). — Key 1981: 53 (lectotype designation). — Podgornaya 1983: 81 (included in a catalog). — Blackith 1992: 81 (included in a catalog). — Tumbrinck 2018: 32 (taxonomic notes).

Paratettix infelix Günther, 1938c: 39 .

Paratettix longipennis Sjöstedt, 1936: 11 .

Paratettix parvus Sjöstedt, 1921: 15 .

Paratettix vexator Günther, 1938c: 36 .

TYPE MATERIAL. — Australia • 1 ♂ lectotype; Queensland, Malanda ; NHRS NRM-ORTH 9255 .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Queensland, Malanda.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia, Province Sud • 1 ♀; Bois de Sud; 22°9’57”S, 166°45’57”E; 200 m a.s.l.; 23-24.IV.2005 ;

Monteith leg.; QM • 1 ♀; Aoupinié , 20 km NE Poya; 21°11’20”S, 165°18’7”E; 650 m a.s.l.; 18-19.V.1984; Monteith, Cook leg.; QM • 1 ♂; Tiakan Beach ; -21.030, 165.400; 5 m a.s.l.; 30.IV.2005; Monteith leg.; QM • 3♀; Rivière Bleue ; 22°5’49”S, 166°40’40”E; 250 m a.s.l.; 17-19-XI.2001; Monteith G. B., Monteith S. R. leg.; QM • 1 ♀; Farino refuge; 21°38’59”S, 165°46’58”E; 300 m a.s.l.; 13-17.XI.2002; Wright leg.; QM • 1 ♀; Farino refuge; 21°38’59”S, 165°46’58”E; 300 m a.s.l.; 3.V.2005; Monteith leg.; QM • 1 N; 3 km WNW Col d’Amieu ; 21°34’44”S, 165°45’32”E; 420 m a.s.l.; 10.V.2008; T. Robillard, F. Muller leg.; MNHN-EO-CAELIF10870 • 1♀; La Foa ; 21°43’0”S, 165°49’0”E; 29.XII.1999; C. Mille leg.; MNHN-EO-CAELIF10885 .

DISTRIBUTION. — According to Tumbrinck (2018): From Waigeo and the Kai Islands in the West, through the whole of New Guinea (including Supiori and Biak Islands), Manus Island and North Australia, the Bismarck Archipelago, Bougainville and Solomon Islands (Lavongai, Guadalcanal, Rennell Island, Tulagi), Vanuatu, New Caledonia.

HABITAT. — On rocky river banks.

DIAGNOSIS. — Similar to Kanakacris illiesi ( Günther, 1972) n. comb. Differs by: 1) straight anterior margin of vertex (indrawn in K. illiesi n. comb.); 2) in dorsal view, anterior margin of vertex wider than half of eye (no wider than half of eye in K. illiesi n. comb.); 3) median carina usually not reaching anterior margin of pronotum; 4) visible small hump in anterior part of pronotum; 5) middle femur robust and wavy; 6) smaller than K. illiesi n. comb. in all observed cases.

REMARK

Tumbrinck (2018) noted that P. nigrescens is an incredibly variable species, including the variability in size, coloration, and length of pronotum and wings. Additionally, it is widespread in the region and across the elevational gradient. All this makes it difficult to confidently define and recognize the species, which is a problem that is even more apparent at the generic level. Molecular studies will be necessary to resolve the phylogeny of this group.