Pseudoteratura ( Pseudoteratura ) bifurcata, Tan & Damit & Japir & Chung & Robillard, 2025

Pseudoteratura ( Pseudoteratura) bifurcata View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs 9 View FIGURE 9 , 10A, 10E, 10I View FIGURE 10 )

Material examined. Holotype: EAST MALAYSIA; Sabah State • ♂; forest near Meligan village ; N4.67986 E115.68787, 863 m (24SA16); 24 November 2024, night; on plant; coll. T. Robillard; TR24-200 ( FRC). GoogleMaps

Diagnosis. The new species is characterised by the male epiproct having a slender and elongated process at the posterior end with apex widened and flattened and posterior margin somewhat emarginated; the male cercus with strongly bifurcated apex and at middle having a triangular inner lobule; the apical dorsal lobe at the apex of cercus much longer and more than half the entire length of cercus, apical ventral lobe shorter and further bifurcated into two lobules; dorsal lobule longer than ventral lobule; male subgenitial plate long and tapering into narrow and subacute apex; the pronotal disc at the posterior end with a red spot without white or black spot.

Pseudoteratura ( P.) bifurcata is most similar to Pseudoteratura ( P.) tridenta Liu, 2020 from Sarawak (female paratypes are also found in Sabah but it is not clear if the females correspond to the male holotype from Sarawak) by the epiproct having an elongated and slender process with apex widened; cercus with strongly bifurcated apex and the ventral lobe shorter and further bifurcated into two lobules; the pronotal disc with posterior end not having black spot. It differs from P. ( P.) tridenta by epiproct at the apex of the process not as strongly emarginated to form two lateral apical lobules; the cercus with the dorsal lobe much longer (instead of less than half the length of cercus); the tegmen having many more black spots.

It is similar to Pseudoteratura ( Pseudoteratura) bella Gorochov, 2008 from Mount Trus Madi, Sabah, and Pseudoteratura ( Pseudoteratura) spinea Gorochov, 2014 and Pseudoteratura ( Pseudoteratura) sundaica (Kästner, 1932) from Sumatra by the male cercus having a strongly bifurcated apex and the bifurcated lobes in lateral view long and slender with dorsal lobe longer. The male cercus differs from these three species by the bifurcated ventral lobe forked into two lobules.

It is also similar to P. ( P.) bella by the pronotal disc with a red median band that broadens near the posterior margin not having a black spot, and the subgenital plate having subacute apex; but differs by the epiproct with an elongated process slender and widened at apex (instead of somewhat rectangular); the cercus at middle having a more distinct and triangular inner lobule; the subgenital more elongated and slender.

It differs from P. ( P.) spinea by the epiproct having a process distinctly slender and elongating (instead of stout with pair of posterolateral spine-like projections and a pair of rounded tubercles under these projections); the cercus at middle having a triangular inner lobule (instead of spine-like); the pronotal disc with posterior end not having black spot.

It is also similar to Pseudoteratura ( Pseudoteratura) picta (Karny, 1924) from Java by the epiproct having an elongated and slender process with apex widened and the cercus bifurcated at apex; but differs by the epiproct with the apex of process less wide and not as strongly emarginated; the cercus having bifurcated process much longer and slenderer; and the dorsal disc of pronotum without a black spot at the posterior end.

Etymology. The species name refers to the characteristic bifurcations of the cercus and ventral lobes of the male cercus, as well as at the basal part of the epiproct.

Description. Male ( holotype). Relatively small and very slender Meconematini with habitus typical of this genus ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ). Eyes globular and slightly protruding ( Figs 10A, 10E View FIGURE 10 ). Frontal rostrum conical, moderately small with apex somewhat blunt, with dorsomedian sulcus ( Fig. 10E View FIGURE 10 ). Fifth (apical) segment of maxillary palpus slender but slightly and obliquely widened apically. Fifth, fourth and third segments of subequal length, all longer than second segment. Pronotum covering tegminal mirror ( Fig. 10E View FIGURE 10 ). Dorsal disc roundly turned into lateral lobes, without distinct transverse sulcus ( Fig. 10E View FIGURE 10 ); pronotum barely inflated in posterior half (when viewed in profile) ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ); anterior margin of pronotal disc straight, posterior margin broadly rounded ( Fig. 10E View FIGURE 10 ); humeral sinus indistinct ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ); ventral margin of pronotal lateral lobe mostly straight ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ). Thoracic auditory spiracle (= thoracic foramen) large, ovular, anterior margin slightly emarginated at middle, ventral end slightly narrower than dorsal end ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ). Macropterous; tegmen extending well behind hind knees; hindwing distinctly extending beyond tegmina. Coxal spur of foreleg relatively short and small. Fore tibia with both tympana elongated oval and open; inner tympanum slightly larger than outer tympanum; fore tibiae each with 4 outer and 4 inner subapical spines; middle tibiae each with 4 outer and 4 inner subapical spines.

Tenth abdominal tergite ( 10th) with posterior margin deeply and triangularly emarginated widely in median part ( Figs 9B, 9C View FIGURE 9 ). Epiproct ( ep) large and somewhat complex: basal part somewhat fused with tenth abdominal tergite, tongue-shaped with median furrow that diverge at posterior end of basal part; this basal part not reaching posterior end of tenth abdominal tergite; beyond this basal part, a narrow process extend between bifurcated furrow; this process long and slender, surpassing tenth abdominal tergite, at posterior third widens and fan-shaped, posterior margin truncated ( Figs 9B, 9C View FIGURE 9 ). Cercus generally flattened, but complex ( Figs 9D–G View FIGURE 9 ). Cercus with basal half robust but laterally compressed; along dorso-inner margin at middle of cercus with triangular flattened lobe pointing internally ( ibl); thereafter, cercus bifurcated into two lobes; dorsal lobe ( dl) very long, longer than half the length of cercus, laterally compressed, pointing dorso-posteriorly, apex obtuse and slightly curved inwards; ventral lobe ( vl) shorter, further bifurcated into two lobules; dorsal lobule compressed, longer, pointing dorso-posteriorly with apex obtuse; ventral lobule distinctly more robust, rounded and swollen and pointing somewhat ventrad. Subgenital plate elongate, basal area broad, thereafter strongly narrow and shaft-like with lateral margins more or less parallel; apically tapering into narrow and obtuse apex; with styli short and stout, inserted on each side of the obtuse apex ( Fig. 9G View FIGURE 9 ). Genitalia ( Figs 9D–G View FIGURE 9 ) weakly sclerotized; with lamellar dorsal plate ( pd), forming two triangular lateral lobes; elongated shaft ( vs) ventrad of dorsad plate, surpassing dorsal plate, relatively simple, without lobes or projections or processes; at middle bent dorsad, apical margin roundly truncated.

Female. Unknown.

Colouration. Green when alive; yellow (discoloured) in alcohol ( Fig. 9A View FIGURE 9 ). Head dorsum, including fastigium, orange at middle, apex of fastigium black ( Fig. 10E View FIGURE 10 ); otherwise, pale coloured ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ). Scapus with inner side black; pedicel with basal half orange and apical half black ( Fig. 10E View FIGURE 10 ); antennae yellow brown with intermittent black rings. Apical part of apical segment slightly darkened ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ). Pronotal disc with orange longitudinal median stripe, without black or white spot at posterior end; this stripe at prozona slightly wider and margins parallel, at metazona narrower and faintly widen towards apex ( Fig. 10E View FIGURE 10 ). Tegmen with numerous large black infumated dots; anal tegminal margin orange ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ). Exposed apical part of hindwing with two and three round black spots moderately spaced together ( Fig. 10I View FIGURE 10 ). Legs generally very pale green; apical half of tarsus black; ventral spines not differently coloured as rest of legs. Fore tibia with tympanum not different coloured. Abdomen generally pale green.

Measurements (in mm). See Table 1.