Neoconocephalus gaucho Piza, 1969

Neoconocephalus gaucho Piza, 1969 View in CoL

( Figs. 7 View FIGURE 7 , 17 View FIGURE 17 )

Neoconocephalus gaucho Piza, 1969 View in CoL . Piza Jr. (1969): 39 [Description]; Paschoal & Barros (1977): 241 [Catalog]; Chamorro-Rengifo & Braun (2010): 43 [Catalog].

Neoconocephalus creusae Piza, 1970 View in CoL . Piza Jr. (1970): 127 [Description]; Paschoal & Barros (1977): 241 [Catalog]; Chamorro-Rengifo & Braun (2010): 43 [Catalog]. syn. nov. ( Fig. 7J–P View FIGURE 7 )

Type locality. Santa Maria , Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil .

Diagnosis. Thinner appearance ( Figs. 7A, B, J, K View FIGURE 7 ); head conical in frontal view ( Figs. 7E, N View FIGURE 7 ); fastigium of vertex conical in frontal view, two times longer than scapus length, base two times wider than scapus width ( Figs. 7C, D, E, L, M, N View FIGURE 7 ); and lateral lobe of pronotum slightly longer than wide ( Figs. 7C, L View FIGURE 7 )

Redescription. Head: Conical in frontal view ( Figs. 7E, N View FIGURE 7 ); fastigium of vertex conical in frontal view, two times longer than scapus length, base two times wider than scapus width, tooth weakly projected in the basal portion of fastigium ( Figs. 7C, D, E, L, M, N View FIGURE 7 ); fastigium of frons little projected, rounded ( Figs. 7E, N View FIGURE 7 ). Thorax: Pronotum anterior margin almost straight and posterior margin almost convex ( Figs. 7D, J View FIGURE 7 ); lateral lobe slightly longer than wide, anterior margin of lateral lobe almost straight followed by a smooth curve with lower margin almost straight, margin of humeral sinus rounded, invagination of humeral sinus weakly concave ( Figs. 7C, L View FIGURE 7 ). Wings: Tegmen with basal and apical region equally wide ( Figs. 7B, K View FIGURE 7 ). Legs: Foreleg femur with six pairs of ventral spines, genicular lobe little developed, triangular and with acute apex, tympanum with three distinct regions: proximal one circular and closed, median one with a pair of open longitudinal slits, and apical one closed; midleg genicular lobe triangular with inner side with acuminate apex and outer side little developed and with rounded apex, tibia with six pairs of spines; hindleg femur with 11 pairs of small ventral spines, genicular lobe little developed and slightly curved, tibia dorsally with 22 internal spines and 21 external spines, in addition to two pairs of spurs, ventrally with approximately nine pairs of small alternating spines. Color : Type and additional specimen (holotype of N. creusae ) light brown; black maculae on ventral surface of tarsi.

Description of male. Tegmen: Stridulatory area with two distinct slightly elevated transverse regions, anterior one long and posterior one almost half of tegmen length ( Fig. 7F View FIGURE 7 ). Cercus : Dorsal lobe with spine measuring at least more than half the length of lobe, ventral lobe two times of dorsal lobe ( Fig. 7G, H View FIGURE 7 ).

Description of female. Subgenital plate: Posterior margin concave and with pair of small triangular projections ( Fig. 7O View FIGURE 7 ). Ovipositor: almost reaching tegmen apex ( Fig. 7K View FIGURE 7 ).

Measurements: Male holotype: BdL 29.7(32.0); FL 1.5; PdL 8.1(8.0); TegL 36.0(36.0); FlegL 6.0; HlegL 15.9(16.0). Females (n=2): BdL 29.0–31.1; FL 2.2–2.3; PdL 6.8–7.0; TegL 41–5–42.1; FlegL 6.0–6.2; HlegL 17.1– 17.3; OvL 22.1–22.4.

Distribution. Brazil: Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo [new record] states.

Taxonomic notes. This species is most similar with N. americanus ( Karny, 1907) , N. globifrons ( Karny, 1907) , N. restrictus ( Walker, 1869) , and N. testaceus ( Redtenbacher, 1891) . Nevertheless, N. gaucho can be distinguished from N. americanus and N. globifrons by the fastigium of vertex basal tooth weakly projected ( Fig. 7C, L View FIGURE 7 ) (well projected in N. americanus and N. globifrons ), from N. restrictus by the pronotum lateral lobe with border not demarcated ( Fig. 7C, L View FIGURE 7 ) and tegmen apex almost oblique ( Fig. 7B, K View FIGURE 7 ) (pronotum lateral lobe with border strongly demarcated and tegmen apex almost straight in N. restrictus ) and from N. testaceus by its fastigium apex 1/3 of fastigium base width ( Fig. 7D, E, M, N View FIGURE 7 ) and invagination of humeral sinus weakly concave ( Fig. 7C View FIGURE 7 , KL (fastigium apex 2/3 of fastigium base width and invagination of humeral sinus deeply concave in N. testaceus ).

The female holotype of N. creusae syn. nov. is herein considered conspecific to N. gaucho , mainly by the size of fastigium of vertex base width ( Fig. 7D, M View FIGURE 7 ); fastigium of vertex length ( Fig. 7D, M View FIGURE 7 ); and wings with basal and apical region equally wide ( Fig. 7B, K View FIGURE 7 ). Additionally, a female of N. gaucho collected at the type locality, deposited at MELQ was also studied, and based on the study of this specimen, the similarity of N. gaucho with the female holotype of N. creusae syn. nov. became even clearer.

Type material. Neoconocephalus gaucho : male holotype “Sta. Maria, R. S, D. Link leg.; 12.2.68” [ MELQ]. Neoconocephalus creusae syn. nov.: female holotype “ A. Zamith; Araçatuba; 1-1970” [ MELQ] .

Additional material. Females: One female “Sta. Maria; 16.III.72; A. Lang leg.” “ Alótipo não descrito” [ MELQ] .