Brasidas malaki, Hennemann, 2023

Brasidas malaki View in CoL n. sp.

( Fig. 15)

ZooBank: https://zoobank.org/ 906ECB2F-F7C1-4404-810C-4CF31A3102BD

HT, ♂: Coll. I.R.Sc. N.B., Philippines, Samar 2009, leg. R. Cabale [ RBINS] .

Differentiation. – The ♂ of this distinctive species (the only sex known) comes morphologically closest to that of B. manobo n. sp. from Mindanao with which it shares the large posterior meso- and metanotals as well as meso- and metapleurals. It may however be separated by the characteristic and rather uniformly green colour with only the abdomen brown ( Fig. 15 A-B), somewhat stockier shape, different terminalia and having the posterior meso- and metanotals and supra-coxals of the meso- and metapleurae comparatively much stronger and conical in shape Fig. 15H). The distinctive colouration and rather shallow, semi-cingulate metasternal pseudo-foramina ( Fig. 15J) also separate this species from the ♂ of all other known congenerics.

Etymology. – The name ( malaki Filipino = big) refers to the fairly large size and stocky shape of the ♂ of this distinctive new species. Neuter.

Description

The following description is based on the unique dried holotype, which however seems to have the colour very well preserved. Unfortunately, the specimen lacks both antennae except for the right scapus as well as the left scapus and pedicellus.

♂ ( Fig. 15)

Form and colouration. – Size large (body length 70.0 mm) and form rather stocky for the genus with the elements of armature poorly developed but the posterior meso- and metanotals as well as meso- and metapleurals very strong if compared to congenerics; body surface unevenly granular and rugulose. Head and thorax dark green dorsally, abdomen fuscous; ventral body surface ochraceous but the mesosternum with a greenish wash ( Fig. 15C). Largest elements of armature tipped with apple green. Limbs mid brown with a slight olive wash dorsally and laterally and a rusty hue ventrally.

Head. – Subquadrate, slightly narrowing towards the posterior ( Fig. 15G) with vertex rather flattened; whole surface unevenly tuberculose ( Fig. 15H). Supra-antennals small, the supra-orbitals more pronounced and conical and vertex with a row of about six unequal small supra-orbitals as well as four slightly enlarged, conical occipital medials. The median and lateral coronals more pronounced than all other cephalic tubercles, obtusely conical in shape and the lateral coronals the largest of all tubercles. Genae with four small and unequal gulars. Eyes projecting more than hemispherical and their diameter corresponding to a little less than half the length of genae. Scapus compressed dorsoventrally, broad and subrectangular in outline, pedicellus cylindrical and notably shorter.

Thorax. – Pronotum about as long but slightly wider than head and with the anterior margin somewhat deflexed, the pre-median portion slightly narrowed and the posterior margin rounded; notably longer than wide ( Fig. 15G). Transverse median sulcus curved and distinctly impressed; anterior margin with weakly developed, low anterior mesals and somewhat more conical antero-lateral tubercles; the anterior portion only with low and indistinct anterior and posterior mesals and anteriors and the posterior portion with a pair of strong, roundly conical but rather low posteriors ( Fig. 15H). Mesothorax roughly parallel-sided with the posterior one-quarter strongly widened and inflated; about 2.8x longer than prothorax. Mesonotum unevenly and sparsely granular; close to anterior margin with a low and obtusely conical pair of anterior mesonotals; the poster mesonotals very strong, conical, acute and projecting by about the height of notum ( Fig. 15H); at the base surrounded by 3-4 small tubercles and accompanied by a more pronounced spiniform tubercle intero-posteriorly. Posterior metanotals similar but slightly larger and with the intero-posterior tubercle more pronounced ( Fig. 15H); metanotum otherwise unarmed and molariform in outline. Mesopleurae with a moderate conical antero-lateral, and about six widely spaced low and obtuse tubercles; the mesopleural very prominent and basically similar in size and shape to posterior mesonotals. Metapleurae roundly deflexed and armed with six short and rather obtuse spines; the metapleural large and slenderer than mesopleurals. Sensory areas of prosternum distinct; probasisternum with some scattered node-like granules. Mesosternum finely transversely sulcate and smooth except for five rather low and tuberculate mesosternals as well as a few intercalated granules along lateral margins. Metasternum only with three small tuberculiform metasternals; the foramina rather large, moderately deep, open interiorly and oval in shape ( Fig. 15J).

Abdomen. – Median segment narrow, almost semi-circular in shape and set with about ten node-like swellings that are positioned along the anterior and lateral margins; a very low pair of medial granules present. Segments II-IV slightly increasing and narrowing, V-VII decreasing in length and slightly widening; V narrowest, roughly parallel-sided and about 1.5x longer than wide. All terga with a low medio-longitudinal bulge, II-IV each with two pairs of low medial granules and VII-IX each with a row of low posterior tubercles. Sterna II-VII smooth. Terga VIII and IX distinctly transverse. Anal segment with anterior portion roundly deflexed and the posterior portion notably narrowed; posterior margin bilobed with a narrow median indention; dorsal surface with a small pair of median impressions and a large, transverse depression near each posterolateral angle ( Fig. 15E); the anterior portion with some scattered granules and the lower surface of the posterior margin with several black denticulations. Epiproct triangular and scarcely projecting beyond posteromedian indention of anal segment. Cerci small, narrowing towards the apex and somewhat flattened laterally. Vomer with a fairly long, slender and just weakly arched black terminal hook. Poculum fairly large, bulgy with the posterior margin broadly rounded, labiate and almost reaching to tip of anal segment ( Fig. 15F).

Legs. – Fairly slender but the femora slightly inflated, basal flexure of profemora weak. All femora only with a few minute dentations dorsally, the meso- and metafemora with a few small, widely spaced – A. Habitus, dorsal view. – B. Habitus, dorsolateral view. – C. Habitus, ventral view. – D. Terminalia in lateral view. – E. Terminalia in dorsal view. – F. Terminalia in ventral view. – G. Dorsal view of head and pronotum. – H. Lateral view of head and thorax. – J. Ventral view of head and thorax.

teeth. Profemora with three moderately distinct spiniform teeth in apical half of two ventral carinae; dorsal carinae with a few small dentations; ventral teeth more pronounced in metafemora with the two apical teeth rather spiniform in shape. Medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora low and set with 8-10 small spiniform tubercles. Tibiae unarmed except for a few minute dentations in apical portion of two outer ventral carinae. Probasitarsus slender and about equal in length to proceeding three joints taken together, meso- and metabasitarsus somewhat shorter.

Measurements [mm]. – Body 70.0, pronotum 4.5, mesonotum 14.9, metanotum 7.1, median segment 2.5, profemora 17.4, mesofemora 16.1, metafemora 21.6, protibiae 18.0, mesotibiae 14.2, metatibiae 21.2.

Remarks. – Females and eggs unknown.

Distribution. – Samar, endemic.