Poecilimon helleri zeybek, Ünal, 2025

Ünal, Mustafa, 2025, Taxonomic notes on Phaneropterinae and Tettigoniinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from the Palaearctic Region, Zootaxa 5687 (1), pp. 1-77 : 21-22

Poecilimon helleri zeybek Ünal, ssp. nov.

( Figs. 81–93 , 317–318 )

Type locality. Turkey: Afyonkarahisar Prov., Sandıklı Distr., road to Şuhut , 1770 m .

Description. Male (Holotype). Fastigium of vertex only 1.2 times narrower than antennal scape, with a very weak dorsal fossa; rounded at apex. Pronotum ( Figs. 83, 84 ) cylindrical in prozona, strongly raised and widened in metazona; anterior margin almost straight, but with a small concavity in the middle, posterior margins slightly concave in dorsal view. Tegmina ( Figs. 83, 84 ) reaching slightly beyond the end of the first abdominal tergite. Hind femur without ventral spines. Supra anal plate slightly wider than long, posterior margin narrowly rounded. Cercus ( Figs. 85, 86 ) with wide proximal part, gradually narrowed towards the end of this part; apical third strongly incurved almost under right angle which forms it almost L-shaped, incurved part shaply and distinctly narrowed; apex somewhat blunt, pointed with an apical denticle near to upper (anterior) corner and shorter posterior (lower) corner of apex with 1–2 smaller denticles. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 87 ) long and narrow, 1.8 times longer than wide; with a very deep U-shaped posterior incision, its bottom broadly rounded; posterior lobes at both sides of this incision almost spiniform, very narrow and pointed at apex, slightly incurved.

Female (Allotype). Fastigium of vertex as in male, but more indistinct. Pronotum ( Fig. 90, 91 ) cylindrical and slightly compressed laterally in prozona; metazona weakly wider and raised; anterior margin of prozona slightly raised; anterior margin weakly concave, posterior margin weakly convex in dorsal view. Tegmina absent. Hind femur without ventral spines. Supra anal plate almost triangular, 1.5 times wider than long. Cercus stout, slightly narrowed backwards, slightly longer than the supra anal plate. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 92 ) wide and short, almost 3 times wider than long, rounded at apex. Ovipositor ( Fig. 93 ) relatively long, 1.9 times longer than pronotum; upper valve with 8, lower valve with 9 apical teeth; gonangulum almost D-shaped; basal fold of lower valve with a rounded, wide hole just below the gonangulum.

Colouration. Body green with black, brown, reddish, yellow marks, spots and stains ( Figs. 317, 318 ). In dry specimens green colour replaced with milky-brown. Face yellowish milky-brown. Antennae with very dense and wide black rings. Dorsal surface of head, prozona of pronotum, abdomen (especially in male and lateral sides) and all legs, with dense, small blackish or brown spots; Metazona of pronotum with 2 longitudinal, reddish bands on dorsal surface (anterior parts of these bands blackened in male). Male abdomen with 3 longitudinal blackish bands consists of denser black spots; the middle one consists of very close or partly fused double bands. Male subgenital plate reddish in the mid part with dense reddish brown spots. Lateral view of ovipositor reddish brown in the mid part, darkened apically; apical teeth with blackish brown tips.

Discussion. This new subspecies is distinguished from nominotypical P. helleri and the other species of the group by the structure of the male subgenital plate which is characterised by very narrow (spiniform) posterior lobes (in contrast, the male subgenital plates of other species have shorter, almost narrow triangular lobes) and a broadly rounded posterior incision. It is easily recognizable by the male cercus, pronotum, subgenital plates, and ovipositor in the species group. The male cercus is similar to that of P. helleri , but in the new subspecies, the distal part of the cercus is longer and less curved, the pronotum is more raised, the subgenital plate has narrower and longer posterior lobes and is very deep, with a U-shaped posterior incision (almost 1/3 of the plate). Comparing the other subspecies in the P. luschani group, the odd distribution of this new taxon from the nominotypical subspecies is remarkable and supports its distinct status.

Measurements (mm). Holotype (male). Length of body 19; pronotum 4.8; tegmina visible 2.2; hind femur 15. Allotype (female). Length of body 18.2; pronotum 4.7; hind femur 15; ovipositor 8.9. Paratypes. Length of body: male 17–19, female 17.9–20; pronotum: male 4.3–5.2, female 4.8–5.6; tegmina visible: male 1.8–2.6; hind femur: male 13.5–15, female 15.1–16.5; ovipositor: 8.2-9.7.

Material examined. TURKEY: Turkey: Afyonkarahisar Prov., Sandıklı Distr., road to Şuhut , 38.28.034 N, 30.22.329 E, 1770 m, 8.7.2015, 18 males (including holotype), 13 females (leg. M. Ünal ) ( AİBÜEM) .

Etymology. “Zeybek” is a folk dance that originates from the Aegean Region of Turkey. Slow movements, with a strong emphasis on balance, characterise this style. The dance resembles the movement patterns of this new subspecies found in the inner Aegean Region of Turkey.

Remarks. This new subspecies was found on Urtica sp. on the western slope of the Sandıklı Mountain ridge.

Figures

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 82–101. 82–93 Poecilimon helleri zeybek ssp. nov., 82 male habitus, dorsal view; 83 male head, pronotum and tegmina, lateral view; 84 ditto, dorsal view; 85 male end of abdomen, dorsal view; 86 male left cercus; 87 male subgenital plate, ventral view; 88 female habitus, lateral view; 89 ditto, dorsal view; 90 female head and pronotum, lateral view; 91 ditto, dorsal view; 92 female subgenital plate, ventral view; 93 ovipositor. 94–98 Poecilimon zimmeri, 94 labels; 95 male end of abdomen, dorsal view; 96 ditto, ventral view; 97 male dorso-lateral view; 98 female lateral view. 99–101 Poecilimon pala sp. nov., 99 male habitus, lateral view; 100 ditto, dorsal view; 101 male head, pronotum and tegmina, 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.