Philmontis flexus Ingrisch 2022, sp. nov.

Philmontis flexus sp. nov.

Figs. 1F, 2L–N, 4H, 5E, 6J, 7K–L

Holotype (male): Schraderberg, elev. 2100 m (4°53’S, 144°13’E), 22–31.v.1913, leg. Bürgers (KAE 350)— Depository: Museum für Naturkunde (formerly Zoologisches Museum) Berlin (ZMB).

Material studied: Papua New Guinea: East Sepik, Hauptlager bei Malu, (4°14’S, 142°51’E), 30–31.iii.1913, leg. Bürgers (KAE 309)— 1 male (ZMB); Schraderberg, 2100 m (4°53’S, 144°13’E), 22–31.v.1913, leg. Bürgers — 13 females, 18 males (KAE 339, 340, 341, 342, 344) (ZMB); same locality, 1–4.vi.1913, leg. Bürgers 5 females, 7 males (KAE 343, 345, 346, 347) (ZMB); same locality, 5–13.vi.1913, leg. Bürgers — 11 females, 16 males (KAE 350, 351, 353, 355, 356) (ZMB).

Diagnosis. The new species resembles P. nigrofasciatus and similar species, especially P. angustus sp. nov. with which it shares the long in-curved apical area of the cercus. It differs however by the very strong excavation of the internal surface of the male cercus behind the basal area while in P. angustus an excavation is only weakly or moderately expressed; it differs also by the modification of the in-curved apical area, which is dorsally elevated around mid-length in P. flexus sp. nov. while substraight in P. angustus, and the ventral margin is provided with a distinct conus with acute tip in P. flexus while unarmed in P. angustus. The new species has the apical area of the stridulatory file on underside of left male tegmen strongly reduced. A character that P. flexus shares with P. angulatus sp. nov., P. spinosus sp. nov., P. profusus sp. nov. and P. murmur sp. nov. However, the files of the latter two species have the teeth narrower and denser packed than in P. flexus, and from P. angulatus and P. spinosus, the new species differs by completely different cerci. The female subgenital plate of P. flexus resembles that of the P. nigrofasciatus and similar species, but in P. flexus it is rather wide and provided with a pair of grooves in the central area, missing in all other species; the subbasal lateral extensions are markedly projecting laterally as in P. angustus, but the apical extensions are running nearly straight behind, not converging as in P. angustus.

Description. Pronotum elongate; disc with anterior margin faintly concave, posterior margin broadly rounded (Fig. 1F). Prosternal spines short, in few specimens very short; mesosternal lobes obtuse; metasternal lobes rounded, with or without angle at hind margin. Femora with the following number of spines on ventral margins: (1) 4-7 / 5-7; (2) 5-8 / 0-3; (3) 6-13 / 0 (64x) or 1 (6x), 2 (5x), 5 (1 x) (n = 76 legs); hind knee lobes unispinose.

Male stridulatory file total length 1.06 mm; area with countable teeth 0.60 mm with 34 teeth; from base to end of distinct area 0.53 mm with 28 teeth; area with distinctly spaced, including largest teeth 0.44 mm with 24 teeth (Fig. 4H). Tenth abdominal tergite wider than long, anterior margin concave, hind margin wide-roundly excised in middle for about one third the length of the tergite, obtuse angularly projecting on both sides of excision (Figs 2L–M). Epiproct triangular with rounded end, surface about in middle with a pit followed by a faint furrow behind. Male cerci in about basal third straight with proximal area cylindrical, afterward compressed with concave internal surface that is roundly projecting ventrad, thereafter compressed area narrowed and curved mediad and little proximad; that recurved area becomes swollen and provided with a distinct spine from ventral surface; tip of cercus parallel-sided, little dorso-ventrally compressed and at truncate tip provided with two small spines (Figs 2L–N). Titillators forming a pair of oval plates at base, afterward narrow, elongate, laterally compressed, strongly curved in about mid-length and afterward gradually narrowing toward end which carries a small, compressed rounded disc twisted in a rectangle against apical arm of titillator (Fig. 5E).

Female subgenital plate at base moderately wide with sloping lateral margins; in about mid-length of disc with compressed lateral expansions with obtuse tip; disc behind lateral expansions in some but not all specimens little depressed forming a pair of shallow impressions; afterward central disc gives rise to a pair of long, rounded, sinusoidal apical projections (Fig. 7K–L); in lateral view basal area appears smooth but little wavy due to depressions in anterior and central areas.

Measurements (27 males, 22 females).—Body w/wings: male 25–29, female 27–30; body w/o wings: male 21–27, female 20–27; pronotum: male 7.8–8.8, female 6.5–7.5; tegmen: male 16.5–19.5, female 19–21; hind femur: male 16.0–18.5, female 16.5–18.5; antenna: male 85–100, female 65–95; ovipositor: female 11.0– 12.5 mm.

Etymology. The new species is named for the curved apical projections of the female subgenital plate; from Latin flexus flexure, curve; noun in apposition.