Ajorama chelatoides, Daguplo & Mondejar & Tan, 2025

Ajorama chelatoides sp. nov.

( Figs 1–3 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 )

Specimen examined. Holotype. PHILIPPINES. ♂; Mindanao, Lanao del Norte, Iligan City, Barangay Rogongon, Sitio Lawlawon, Sikyop Agriculture Cooperative ; N8.24550, E124.42183, 327 m. a.s.l.; on Piper aduncum ; November 19, 2024; coll. J. Daguplo; PNM. GoogleMaps

Etymology. The species is named after its characteristics chelated pseudepiphallic lophi [posterolateral epiphallic lobes]; chelatoides = chelate/ claw-like.

Diagnosis. The new species is characterized by the pseudepiphallic lophi [posterolateral epiphallic lobe] chelate (crab-like) with its apex more acute (instead of finger-like with apex obtuse in A. balatukanis , and A. siargaoensis ); and pseudoepiphallic posteromedial lophi [posteromedial epiphallic lobe] having its posterior process more acute and slenderer with a subacute apex (instead of having a truncated apex), and the having its anterior (dorsal) process more acute than A. balatukanis but not hooked (as in A. siargaoensis ).

Description. Typical of the genus, body dorso-ventrally compressed and fairly densely pubescent ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Head dorsum pubescent. Rostrum finely pubescent, about as wide as scapus, with apex truncated ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Face in anterior view wider than tall; with lateral ocelli posterior of scapus oval, median ocellus between scapus small circular ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ). Maxillary palpi with apical segment elongated, somewhat rectangular, with heterocercal rounded apex; with subapical segment shorter and faintly expanding apically; third segment slightly longer than subapical segment ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ). Pronotum transverse, wider than long; with row of setae along posterior and anterior margins; disc with anterior margin at middle feebly concave and posterior margin at middle feebly convex ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Pronotal lateral lobe longer than tall, anterior half taller than posterior half with ventral margin rising posteriorly ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 ). TI with inner tympanum small and oval, but without outer tympanum ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ). TIII inner and outer margins with four stout articulated spurs (also known as movable spines) on each dorsal side; and seven inner and outer basal spines, much smaller; inner margin with two long dorsal and one ventral apical spurs, outer margin with one shorter dorsal and two ventral apical spurs. Hind basitarsus with two rows of dorsal spines (each row with five spines) and three inner denticles.

FW extending to eighth abdominal tergite, dorsal field slightly longer than lateral field; with five harp veins, anterior three veins converge near basal end of stridulatory file, posterior ones also converge with one another ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Mirror area diagonally rectangular, separated by dividing vein; dividing vein broadly rounded, at middle straight; posterior part much smaller than anterior part ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Anal area short, with apical margin diagonallyroundly obtuse. Lateral field wide, with three longitudinal veins substraight ( Figs 2D, 2E View FIGURE 2 ). Hind wings reduced, reaching second abdominal tergite ( Fig. 2G View FIGURE 2 ). Metanotal gland sophisticated; with anterior depression large, transverse (wider than long) and deep anterior margin strongly folded, fold at middle emarginated, along anterior fold medially with a row of strong setae; posterior fold, setose; posterior depression less wide, rounded, shallower, divided by longitudinal elevation; elevation at middle with narrow longitudinal groove ( Fig. 2G View FIGURE 2 ).

Tenth abdominal tergite transverse ( Fig. 2H View FIGURE 2 ). Anal plate broadly triangular, at middle slightly depressed, apex subtruncated; apical margin with some stout hairs ( Fig. 2H View FIGURE 2 ). Subgenital plate elongated, triangular, with apex subacute. Male genitalia as shown in Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 . Pseudepiphallus [epiphallus] deeply notched, internal margin of the notch concave; anterior part not curved upwards but protruding anteriorly. Pseudepiphallic lobe [posterolateral epiphallic lobe], in dorsal and ventral views chelated; inner margin at middle with stout triangular lobe pointing dorsad; posterior of lobe at apical third with smaller blunt lobe pointing ventrad; pseudepiphallic lobe with apical half curved, outer margins with setae very stout and strong; with apex acute and somewhat hooked. Pseudepiphallic lobe in lateral view, stout and pointing dorso-posteriorly. Pseudepiphallic posteromedial lophi [posteromedial epiphallic lobe] typical of genus; in dorsal view posterior process elongated, tongue-shaped, presented by separated sclerites directed away from each other, apex with subacute; in lateral view, with anterior (dorsal process) triangular, as tall as apical half of lophi, apex acute, faintly directed anteriorly. Ectophallic fold [rachis (= guiding rod)] elongated, not surpassing pseudepiphallic posteromedial lophi. Each ectophallic apodeme [endoparameral apodeme] forked posteriorly, and together with its long anterior apodeme forming a Y-shape structure; inner branch shorter and with truncated apex, outer branch longer (reaching bottom of epiphallic notch), and with truncated apex. Endophallic sclerite [formula (= mold of spermatophore attachment plate)] elongated; narrow anteriorly (when viewed dorsally); flattened and raised posteriorly with apex of anterior apodeme obtuse (when viewed laterally). Rami not fused together by the anterior ends, but nearly touching one another.

Female. Not known.

Coloration. Generally dark, red brown or brown ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ). Head brown, two dark narrow longitudinal bands in the middle connecting to dark rostrum; antennae and scapus light brown ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Gena, maxillary palpi and clypeus pale ( Figs 2B, 2C View FIGURE 2 ). Pronotum dark brown ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ); pronotal lobe with ventral half light brown, dark margin ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 ). FW red brown, some parts dark and transparent ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ); lateral field with ventral part pale transparent, dorsal dark red ( Figs 2D, 2E View FIGURE 2 ). Coxae pale brown, femora and tibiae yellow brown with dark and brown setae. FIII mostly light brown, but red brown near knee and with a pale band at apical third; TIII is yellow-brown, except along spines where it is dark brown; TaIII yellow brown; spines on TIII and TaIII brown with black tips. Thoracic segments, including meta- and mesosterna, except for pronotum, pale yellow brown. Abdominal tergites dark red brown, male anal plate, and subgenital plate brown ( Fig. 2H View FIGURE 2 ).

Measurements of dried-pinned specimens (in mm). BL = 11.1; HL = 1.9; PL = 2.0; PW = 2.9; TL = 5.2; HFL = 7.2; HTL = 4.4.

Habitat. Specimen were collected in agroecosystem dominated by Piper aduncum , Ficus spp. , and Coffea arabica , where it was found hiding in a cavity on the branches of Piper aduncum ( Fig 7 View FIGURE 7 ).