Cattaniaria tripartita Rentz, & Su, 2025

Cattaniaria tripartita Rentz, & Su , sp. nov.

Figs 6A–D View FIG ; 10A View FIG ); Table 1: Map 2

Type material. Holotype male. Queensland. 1. “ 16049 ’50’S 145042 ’01E Cattana Wetlands (Smithfield) QLD Dunne Rd 12 m 28 September 2024 DCF Rentz Stop 12”. 2. “ ANIC database #9-006319”. Paratypes. Same locality and details, 1 female, ANIC). 16048.910 ’S 145041.185 ’E James Cook University, Smithfield, nr Bldg E2 carpark, 26 m, 20.ii.2020 (DCF Rentz, Stop 6, 4 males, ANIC). Same locality, 27.ii.2022 (DCF Rentz, M. Connors, Stop 8, 1, male, 1 female, ANIC). 16034.125 ’S 145030.200 ’E nr Mowbray, off Capt. Cook Highway, 27.v.2016 (DCF Rentz, B. Richardson, Stop 29, 7 males, ANIC). 17002.116 ’S 145002.380 ’E Mt Mulligan Rd, NW of Dimbulah, 10 km NNW of Leadingham Ck Rd., at Mt Mulligan Station sign, 557 m, 29.iv.2016 (DCF Rentz, Stop 24, 2 males, ANIC) Same locality, 19.iv.2025, 1 female, ANIC. 16046.660 ’S 145040.970 ’E Kewarra Beach Resort, 3m, 20.v.2017 (DCF Rentz, stop 28, 1 male, ANIC). 16047 ’28“S. 145040 ’16“E (phone) QLD. Kewarra Beach, nr Reefsedge Park., 5 July 2025 DCF Rentz Stop 9, 3 females, ANIC. 180168 ’S 143057.715 ’E Talaroo Sta., (hot springs) 344 m, 6-7.v.2016 (DCF Rentz, B Richardson, Stop 25, 11 males, 1 female, ANIC). 180088373 S 1430734149 E Talaroo Sta., (Long Hole) 438 m, 7.v.2016 (DCF Rentz, B Richardson, Stop 26, 1 male, ANIC). 160 48’S 145038 ’E Kuranda, (Top of the Range) 335 m, 1-15.vii.2016 (DCF Rentz, 1 male, may have been introduced, ANIC).

Differential diagnosis. Overall colour black. Frons black ( Fig. 6C View FIG ) this extending onto head; antennal sockets whitish in fresh specimens, eventually darkening, flagellum black, hirsute; median ocellus apparently absent, lateral ocelli large, light coloured ( Fig. 6C View FIG ). Pronotum ( Fig. 10 View FIG Ab) with margins white, margins colourless, translucent ( Fig. 10 View FIG Ab). Legs light coloured, straw brown. Tegmina black, veins darker; wings colourless, translucent, except anterior margin with veins darkened. Abdomen straw brown, dorsally, ventral surface with a broad stripe on each side; cerci uniformly dark brown. Male tenth tergite ( Fig. 6B View FIG ), subgenital plate bearing a tripartite style ( Figs 6A View FIG , 10 View FIG Ac), concealed genitalia ( Fig. 6B View FIG ).

Description. Male/female. Small to medium for the Blattellinae ( Table 1). Head dark brown to black occiput with faint light brown striping ( Fig. 6C View FIG ); lateral ocelli prominent, white ( Fig. 6C View FIG ); antennae with light brown in life, darkening in museum specimens; flagellum black, rather densely hirsute. Pronotum without sulci or carinae; anterior margin truncate, posterior margin feebly produced in the middle ( Fig. 10 View FIG Ab); lateral margins flanged, opaque, whitish; central portion of pronotum dark brown to black, lateral margins extending to edge of disk. Legs light coloured, dark brown only at base of each spine. Tegmen dark brown, lateral margins creamish white; wing translucent, anterior margin with veins dark brown, posterior portion with a few dark veins. Abdomen mostly dark brown, base of middle segments darker brown. Male tenth tergite unmodified; subgenital plate produced in the middle, with a single tripartite style ( Figs 6A View FIG , 10 View FIG Ac); no other style. Male concealed genitalia ( Fig. 6B View FIG ). Female abdomen with tenth tergite notched in the middle; subgenital plate feebly produced in the middle ( Fig. 6D View FIG ).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the 3-part style on the male subgenital plate.

Remarks. C. tripartita Rentz and Su , sp. nov. often occurs sympatrically with two other blattellines that are similar in general appearance. Quick recognition can be achieved by comparing the illustrations in the columns in Fig. 10. C View FIG . tripartita Rentz and Su, sp. nov., Fig. 10 View FIG Aa has the light outline of the pronotum and body dull and never intensely white, the antennae are light at the base and black with a few whitish annulations; b the posterior corners of the dark patch of the pronotum extend to the margin; c the male subgenital plate bears an elongate right style with 3 sharp projections. Johnrehnia concisa, Ba has the outline of the pronotum and tegmina bright white and the white margin of the pronotum is not entire but there is usually a short white line on the posterior margin of the pronotum, the antennae are light coloured; b the corners of the dark patch of the pronotum extend to the margin of the pronotum; c the male subgenital plate with a short, stout style on the right side bearing a sharp spine; Parasigmoidella atypicalis Ca , has the outline of the pronotum continuously white, b the posterior margins not approaching the margin of the disk and the antennae are uniformly black; c the male subgenital plate bears an elaborate right style, thickened, with at least 3 prongs. Comparison of the male subgenital plates and features of the male genitalia will confirm an identification.

C. tripartita Rentz and Su , sp nov. has a relatively broad geographic distribution compared with many other small cockroaches. The sole record from Kuranda may be the result of a specimen carried in the vehicle from the recent trip to Talaroo Station (see records above) where the species was collected.