Cattaniaria Rentz, & Su, 2025

Cattaniaria Rentz, & Su , gen. nov.

Type species: Cattaniaria tripartita Rentz and Su sp nov., here designated.

Cattaniaria Rentz, & Su , gen. nov. is known from a single small species from several localities in the dry woodlands and Tablelands of north Queensland (Map 1). This common, small, black cockroach ( Fig. 10 View FIG Aa) resembles some species of Johnrehnia View in CoL but is distinctive from that genus in that males have an asymmetrical subgenital plate with a single, tripartite style positioned in the middle ( Figs 6A View FIG , 10 View FIG Ac). The cockroaches frequently are attracted to the light sheet along with the very similarly appearing Johnrehnia concisa Roth View in CoL and Parasigmoidella atypicalis Roth. Careful View in CoL examination of the genitalia easily reveals the respective species. Fig. 10 View FIG distinguishes the species.

Differential Diagnosis. Overall colour dark brown to black ( Fig. 10 View FIG Aa), frons black, the lateral ocelli large and contrasting ( Fig. 6C View FIG ); antenna with scape and pedicel light brown, contrasting with flagellum ( Fig. 10 View FIG Aa); flagellum black, densely setose. Pronotum mostly black, lateral margins whitish; central portion with lateral angles extending to margin of disk. Male tenth tergite ( Fig. 6B View FIG ), bearing a tripartite style ( Fig. 10 View FIG Ac). The concealed genitalia are complex ( Fig. 6B View FIG ). Females are robust and fully winged, capable of flight, the tegmina extending well beyond the apex of the abdomen. Both sexes are mostly black with the pronotum with a large central black blotch, the outer posterior margins of which extend to the edge of the pronotum ( Fig. 10 View FIG Aa). Female abdomen with tenth tergite notched in the middle; subgenital plate feebly produced in the middle ( Fig. 6D View FIG ).

Description. Male/female. Size small to medium for Blattellinae , form slender. Overall colour black, frons black, the antennal sockets white in fresh specimens ( Fig. 6C View FIG ), lateral ocelli large, light coloured; occiput black, somewhat lighter on some specimens; antenna with scape, pedicel and flagellum dark brown to black ( Fig. 10 View FIG Aa), annulate. Pronotum mostly black, central area with a distinctive blotch margined by faint frosty white ( Fig. 10 View FIG Ab). Legs light straw brown, hind coxa with a narrow faint dark brown stripe on outer margin. Abdomen straw brown, dorsally, ventral surface with a broad stripe on each side; cerci uniformly dark brown. Male tenth tergite ( Fig. 6A View FIG ), subgenital plate bearing a tripartite style ( Fig. 10 View FIG Ac), concealed genitalia ( Fig. 6B View FIG ).

Etymology. Named in apposition after the Cattana Wetlands, Smithfield, Queensland, one of several localities inhabited by the species; female gender.