Six specimens collected in the Admiralty Islands have been examined and are described as 2 new species. Four of these are named Megacrania vickeri. The other 2 specimens are described as M. Artus. They are compared with the most closely related species of Megacrania.
Introduction
The genus Megacrania Kaup 1871 has long presented a systematic problem because of the lack of recent literature and insufficient specimens. Hsiung (1991) presented a key for 6 known species. They are Megacrania alpheus (Westwood), M. tsuda (Shiraki), M. batesii Kirby, M. wegneri (Willems), M. phelaus (Westwood), and M. nigrosulfurea Redtenbacher. Two more (new) species, M. brocki Hsiung and M. rentzi Hsiung (Hsiung 2001), were added from the Indonesian region. Hsiung and Yany (2000) confirmed that the Australian Megacrania species is M. batesii. Species of Megacrania are distributed along the western Pacific Ocean from the northeast of Australia to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Indonesia, the Philippines, extending to Micronesia and the southern coast of Taiwan.
The author has studied most collections of the genus Megacrania from various museums and found that 3 specimens from Los Negrus, Admiralty Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, in the collection of the Bishop Museum, are more like the lectotype of M. alpheus than other species. There are, however, many distinct morphological differences that distinguish these from M. alpheus and others of the genus. This taxon is here described as a new species (Table 1).
One female and 1 male specimen were collected on Pak Il. Admiralty Ils. The female has been compared with specimens from New Pommern of Bismarck Ils, Los Negros of Admiralty Ils, Borneom Kalau of NE New Guinea and the lectotype of M. batesii (Solomon Ils).
The author discovered that the specimen from Pak Il., Admiralty Ils is very different from the specimen collected in Los Negros of the same islands. It does not appear exactly like any from the above localities, but more closely resembles the species M. batesii of Sumuna, Bismarck Il. and Kiniganang, New Pommern (Tables 2–7).
Megacrania vickeri Hsiung, new species
Holotype.—♀ (Fig. 1)
Description.—Head: oval, slightly porrect, longer than broad.
Thorax: pronotum slightly shorter than broad, slightly narrowed at its anterolateral angles; dorsal surface uneven with strongly defined margins; mesonotum much longer than broad, about 2.2× length of pronotum, its surface with numerous distinct, nearly oval, granules and with 2 nearly parallel rows of weak spines near lateral margins which rows gradually run inward posteriorad, but without meeting.
Wing: tegmina elongate-ovate, slightly longer than mesonotum; hind wings about 1.9× as long as tegmina, reaching half of the 4th abdominal segment.
Legs: anterior femora about 1.57× as long as mesonotum; all femora ridged with a few spines visible in ventral view; 2 distinct spines on each front femur; 2 to 3 and 1 to 2 distinct spines on median and hind femora respectively; tibiae of all legs without spines; first tarsal article of front leg as long as the following 3 articles together; the first tarsal article of middle legs slightly longer than the following 3 articles and those 3 articles of equal length, the 5th elongate, its apex expanded; first 3 tarsal articles of hind legs of equal length, 4th smaller, 5th also elongate, its apex expanded.
Abdomen: elongate; about 2.6× as long as the mesonotum; segment II to IV slightly wider than the remaining ones, which are gradually narrowed toward the extremity of the abdomen; posterior margin of anal segment nearly round with tiny split in center; cerci broad, lamellate, apices rounded; subgenital plate slightly longer than mesonotum, margins gradually narrowing apically, just reaching to extremities of cerci; center of ventral surface with longitudinal ridge.
Coloration.—General color brownish-testaceous; the head, anterior part of pronotum and tegmina more dark brown.
Measurements.—(Holotype) lengths (mm). Body: 113.0; median length of pronotum: 8.5; median length of mesonotum: 19.0; length of tegmen: 42.5; length of femora: anterior 30.0, middle 17.5 and posterior 20.0; length of tibiae: anterior 27.0, middle 16.0 and posterior 19.0.
Type material.—Holotype ♀, bearing 3 labels: 1. Los Negros, Admiralty Ils, XI -45; 2. W. Wagner, D. Greether collectors; 3. Bishop Museum Collection #113. Allotype ♂, also bearing 3 labels, 1 and 2 same as in holotype; 3. Bishop Museum Collection #112. Paratype 3, ♂, ♀, labels 1 And 2 same as in holotype; 3. Bishop Museum Collection #144. Paratype ♀, labels 1 and 2 same as holotypes; 3. Bishop Museum collection #60; 4. 45 (black ink hand-writing). The types are deposited in the Bishop Museum, Honolulu.
Allotype.—♂ (Fig. 2). Agrees generally with the holotype, but smaller, differing as follows: about 60 very distinct granules on surface of mesonotum; hind wings reach to anterior margin of 5th abdominal segment; coloration brown; all femora with a few more spines visible in ventral view; anterior with 5 on the left and right; middle with 4 on left, 2 on right; posterior 5 on left, 4 on right.
Measurements.—(mm) Length of body: 82.0, median length of pronotum: 6.5; median length of mesonotum: 8.0; length of tegmen: 38.0; length of femora: anterior 22.0, middle 13.0, posterior 16.0; length of tibiae: anterior 23.5, middle 12.5, hind 15.0.
The paratype ♀ agrees with the description of the holotype, but is slightly smaller; hind femora with more spines, 6 on left and 4 on right. The paratype ♂ agrees with the description of the allotype.
Measurements.—(mm) paratype ♀: Length of body: 103.5; median length of pronotum: 8.5; median length of mesonotum: 18.5; length of tegmen: 20.0; length of femora: front and middle femora missing, hind 18.5; length of tibiae: front and middle tibiae missing, hind 18.0. Paratype ♂: Length of body: 83.0; median length of pronotum: 6.1; median length of mesonotum: 12.1; length of tegmen: 45.8; length of femora: anterior 22.2, middle 14.2, posterior 16.0; length of tibia: anterior 20.0, middle 12.5, posterior 15.5.
Distribution.—Known only from the Admiralty Ils.
Etymology.—This new species is named after V.R. Vickery for his long-term support of this project and his contribution to orthopteroid study.
Megacrania artus Hsiung, new species
Holotype.—♀ (Fig. 3)
Description.—Head: Oval, slightly porrect, longer than broad.
Thorax: Pronotum as long as broad, slightly narrowed at its anterolateral angles; dorsal surface uneven with defined smooth margins. Mesonotum much longer than broad, 2.8× length of pronotum, its surface with numerous, very narrow and elongate granules which are quite evenly distributed, and with 2 nearly parallel rows of triangular spines which are very dull near the lateral margins; the first spine sharper and larger.
Wing: Hind wings quite long, 1.7× as long as tegmina, nearly reaching posterior margin of 3rd abdominal tergum.
Abdomen: Elongate; segments II–IV slightly wider than remaining ones, which are gradually narrowed towards the extremity of abdomen. Posterior margin of anal segment nearly round, central margin slightly sharp without split. Cerci quite broad at base, apices narrow, nearly triangular. Subgenital plate surpassing extremities of cerci; center of ventral surface with longitudinal ridge.
Coloration: General color brownish-testaceous.
Legs: Anterior femora about 1.46× longer than mesonotum; all femora with ridge having a few spines visible in ventral view. Tibia of all legs without spines; first tarsal article of anterior leg as long as the following 3 articles together; the first 3 tarsal articles of middle and hind legs of equal length, the 4th smaller, 4th elongate, its apex expanded.
Measurements.—Length (mm). Body: 117.0; pronotum: 8.0; mesotum: 22.5; tegmina: 22.5; hind wing: 38.0; front femur: 33.0; median femur: 21.0; hind femur: 24.0; anterior tibia: 30.5, median tibia: 16.0, hind tibia: 19.0.
Type material.—Holotype ♀, bearing 5 labels: 1. Admiralitäts-Inseln; Pak Insel 1909, Kpt. Martens leg; ded 17. 12. 1908; 2. K. Günther determ, Versand nr. 21, 1930; Pub.: Mttlg. Zoologg. Muss. Berlin Bd. 17H.6; 3. Megacrania batesi Kirby (hand written label); 4. Z.M. H. Hamburg ; 5. M. batesi.
Allotype ♂, bearing 5 labels: same as in holotype.
Measurements.—(mm) Length of body: 82.0; median length of pronotum: 9.0; median length of mesonotum: 14.0; length of tegmen: 19.0; length of femora: anterior 24.0, middle 15.0, posterior 18.0; length of tibia: anterior 24.0, middle 13.0, posterior 16.0.
Etymology.—This new species is named, based on its unique morphological character: the granules of the mesonotum are narrow, small and elongate.
Acknowledgments
The author is indebted to Dr. V.R. Vickery for a critical review of the manuscript. Thanks are also due to Miss Stéphane Boucher for her assistance on the computer and Mr. Gordon M. Nishida (Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii) for the loan of specimens.
Literature cited
Table 1.
Morphological differences between M. alpheus (lectotype — Ceylon [mislabled]) and M. vickeri (holotype — Los Negros, Admiralty Il.)
Table 2.
Morphological differences between Megacrania batesii (Sumuna, Bismarck Archepelago) and Megacrania artus (Pak Il., Admiralty Ils).
Table 3.
Morphological differences between M. batesii (Kiniganang, Neu Pommern, New Britain Il.) and M. artus (Pak Il., Admiralty Ils).
Table 4.
Morphological differences between M. vickeri Hsiung (Los Negros, Admiralty Ils) and M. artus (Pak Il., Admiralty Ils).
Table 5.
Morphological differences between M. rentzi Hsiung (Borneo) and specimen from M. artus (Pak Is., Admiralty Iss).
Table 6.
Morphological differences between M. batesii (Kalalu, N.E. New Guinea) and M. artus (Pak Il., Admiralty Ils).
Table 7.
Morphological differences between lectotype of M. batesii and M. artus (Pak Il., Admirality Ils).
