Timbarragraecia Rentz, Su and Ueshima 2021, Gen. et sp. nov.

Timbarragraecia Rentz, Su and Ueshima Gen. et sp. nov.

ANIC number Gen. Nov. 30, sp. 3

Common name. Grass Tree Katydids.

Type of the genus: Timbarragraecia samneilli Rentz, Su & Ueshima gen. et sp. nov., here designated.

Timbarragraecia, gen. nov. is a monotypic taxon recognised basis of the presence of a pair of elongate, widely spaced prosternal spines, the peculiar armature of the mesothorax and the armature of the fore and middle femora. This is quite different from the same structures described for the two known species of Cooloolagraecia gen. nov. In addition, the ovipositor of Timbarragraecia gen. nov. is elongate, subfalcate and unusually thickened dorso-ventrally. The tenth tergite of males is a scoop-like, decurved projection. On this basis, the species cannot be included in any other described taxon.

Generic characters. Size moderate for tribe, form robust. Males and female brachypterous. Head strongly slanting, jaws not abnormally developed; frons shining but minutely, irregularly wrinkled; genae with surface similar to that of frons; median ocellus minute, but distinct, lateral ocelli slightly larger than median ocellus, positioned at base of fastigium of vertex. Eye ovoid, moderately bulging; frontal fastigium a minute ridge or tubercle positioned dorsad to median ocellus, surface not sulcate; antenna with scape quadrate, dorso-internal corner produced, toothlike about 2.5 times the length of pedicel; flagellum 1.25 times the length of body, concolourous. Pronotum sellate, longer than broad, without prominent carinae or sulci; surface of disk rough, with minute wrinkles, a transverse median sulcus faintly indicated; lateral lobe shallow, surface irregularly punctate, ventral margin truncate; posterior margin feebly produced over thoracic auditory foramen; anterior margin of disk straight, posterior margin convex. Tegmina of males and females produced, extending to base of sixth tergite, female tegmina divergent, tips obtuse. Stridulatory file short, costa prominent, curving apically; subcosta and radius parallel but curving apically; cells of tegmen small, reticulate. Prothorax with 2 widely spaced elongate spines; mesothorax with outer external margins angulate; metathorax with a tooth on outer corner of cephalic margin; meso- and metathorax divided by a deep pit. Legs of normal length. Fore leg with femur slightly laterally compressed, armed on both margins of ventral surface; tibia cylindrical, unarmed dorsally, ventral surface armed on both sides, auditory slit with both sides similar. Middle leg with femur slightly laterally compressed, armed ventrally on both sides; tibia unarmed dorsally, ventral surface with many spines on both margins. Thoracic auditory foramen small, elongate, completely concealed by pronotum. Hind leg with femur slightly laterally compressed, armed on both sides of ventral surface; tibia armed dorsally with a pair of apical spurs, ventral surface with 4 apical spurs. Genicular lobes of fore and middle femora armed or unarmed with a minute tooth; hind femur with a very elongate spine internally margin, externally with a much smaller spine, positioned ventrally. Abdomen elongate, without any modifications. Male tenth tergite produced, decurved and sulcate; no paraprocts; titillators with arms heavy, produced basally, apex minutely acute, base with lightly sclerotised membranes; cercus elongate, with a minute tooth opposing a blunt projection; subgenital plate short, broad, style short, in length shorter than length of one side of median incision. Female with tenth tergite with a moderately broad median incision; cercus relatively stout, apex abruptly narrowed; subgenital plate with median carina, apex deeply divided. Ovipositor subfalcate, elongate, unarmed.

24 An aboriginal name for Grass Trees, Xanthorrhoea spp, a host for katydids of this genus; feminine gender.