Pauropsalta blackdownensis POPPLE 2013, sp. nov.

Pauropsalta blackdownensis sp. nov.

(Figs: 2F, 4G, 5G, 18C–D, 19, 22A, 23–24)

Types: Holotype: ♂ [Stony Creek car park] ‘ Blackdown Tableland’, ‘ 13–20.x.1985 ’, ‘ J. Moss & A. Ewart’, ‘ QM Reg. T 156323’ (QM); Paratypes: QUEENSLAND: 7♂ 12♀ [Stony Creek car park], Blackdown Tableland, 13– 20.x.1985, Moss & Ewart (AE); 1♂ 1♀ same data as previous (LWP); 1♂ 1♀ same data as previous (MSM); 1♀ same data as previous (QM).

Diagnosis (Figs 4G, 5G, 18C–D, 22A). Refer to the description of P. annulata above. This species differs as follows. Eyes red (live specimens) to brown (dried specimens), never white or grey. Mesonotum brown to reddishbrown across medial, dorsolateral and lateral surface; submedian and lateral sigilla, and area surrounding scutal depressions, black. Abdominal sternites mainly black with thin areas of medium brown to dark brown colouration on extreme lateral margins of sternites II–V. Females similar in appearance to males, with fasciae on the mesonotum fused medially in all known specimens. Ovipositor sheath extends approximately 2.0 mm beyond the apex of the abdomen.

Distinguishing features. The combination of prominent brown to reddish brown colouration surrounding the submedian and lateral sigilla on the mesonotum and almost entirely black abdominal sternites distinguish males of this species from all others in the P. annulata group, with the exception of P. tremula. Males can be distinguished from P. tremula by the apex of the theca, which has conspicuous dorsal and ventral posterior projections, in addition to fine ornamentation laterally and medium sized spine ornamentation posteriorly. Females may be distinguished from all species in the P. annulata group, apart from P. rubristrigata, by having an ovipositor that extends approximately 2 mm past the apex of the abdomen. They can be distinguished from P. rubristrigata by having a fore wing length of significantly less than 20 mm. Similarly to male specimens, females also have the unique combination of conspicuous dorsolateral and lateral thoracic fasciae and abdominal sternites that mostly black, except for the posterior lateral edges.

Measurements. N= 10 ♂ 15 ♀. Ranges and means (in parentheses), mm; BL: ♂ 11.5–14.6 (13.6); ♀ 12.9–16.1 (15.1); FWL: ♂ 15.7–17.5 (16.8); ♀ 14.8–19.0 (17.3); FWB: ♂ 5.3–6.2 (5.7); ♀ 5.5–6.1 (5.7); HW: ♂ 4.1–4.4 (4.3); ♀ 4.0–4.8 (4.5); PW: ♂ 3.2–3.7 (3.5); ♀ 3.3–3.9 (3.6); AW: ♂ 3.6–4.1 (3.9); ♀ 3.1–4.1 (3.7); OL: ♀ 5.2–7.0 (6.2).

Etymology: The species is named in reference to Blackdown Tableland in central Queensland, the only locality from which specimens have been collected to date.

Distribution and Ecology (Figure 19). This species occurs on the northern slopes and the central plateau of the Blackdown Tableland, the Dawson Range west of Banana, Eleven Mile Creek east of the Expedition Range and north of Rubyvale; all in central Queensland. Males call from high on the main trunks and upper branches of eucalypts in dry sclerophyll forest.

Geological and Pedological Associations. This species occurs in shallow stony sandy loams, derived from sandstone, on plateaus and ranges.

Calling Song (Figs 2F, 23–24). Based upon the observations and recordings obtained so far, this species produces only a lilting component in its calling song. The simple, repeated phrases comprise a long echeme (4–5 syllables, 0.040 –0.070 s) followed by a silence (0.035 –0.063 s), then a short echeme (3 syllables, 0.030 –0.040 s) and a long silence (0.133 –0.165 s) (all statistics, n=6 individuals). The drawn out silences and echemes of alternating duration give the calling song a slow, maraca-like quality. It has a phrase repetition rate of 0.250 –0.320 s, syllable repetition rate of 80–100 Hz, frequency plateau between 7.5–12.0 kHz and a highest amplitude dominant frequency of 8.1–9.5 kHz. No cases of male–female duets have been recorded for this species.