Prophalangopsis obscura Walker 1869

Prophalangopsis obscura (Walker, 1869)

(Figs. 1–5, plate 1–A)

Tarraga obscura Walker, 1869. Cat. Derm. Salt. Brit. Mus., 1: 100

Prophalangopsis obscura Walker, 1870. Cat. Derm. Salt. Brit. Mus., 5, suppl.: 116 Tarraga obscura Saussure, 1898. Rev. Suisse Zool., 5: 244.

Prophalangopsis obscura Caudell, 1911. Gen. Ins. Fasc., 120: 6.

Prophalangopsis obscura Karny, 1929. Lingnaan Sci. Journ., 7: 747.

Prophalangopsis obscura Zeuner, 1935. Stylops, Journ. Taxon. Ent., 4: 104 Prophalangopsis obscura Hubbel, 1936. Univ. Florda Pub. Biol. Sci. Ser., 2(1): 25 Prophalangopsis obscura Karny, 1937. Gen. Ins. Fasc., 206: 213.

Prophalangopsis obscura Zeuner, 1939. Fossil Orth. Ens., 156.

Prophalangopsis obscura Gorochov, 1986. Trudy Zool. Inst. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 143: 96. Prophalangopsis obscura Otte, 1997. Orth. Spec. File., 7: 315.

Prophalangopsis obscura Gorochov, 2001. Journ. Orth. Rese., 10(2): 364.

Prophalangopsis obscura Desutter-Grandcolas, 2003. Zool. Scripta, 32(6): 538.

Walker (1869) described P. obscura based on a single male specimen collected from northeastern India. Since then, no additional material has been discovered. In this study, we report two female specimens collected from Motuo, Tibet. In general appearance, they resemble the male of P. obscura. We believe they are females of the elusive of P. o b s c u r a. They are described below.

Diagnosis. Female. Large size, robust. Fore femora without ventral spinules, fore tibiae with 1 external spur and 2 internal spurs on dorsal surface, ventral surface armed with 5 pairs of spurs. Mid femora with about 3–4 external ventral spinules, mid tibiae with 3 pairs dorsal spurs and 5 pairs of ventral spurs. Hind femora with about 7–8 ventral spinules on each side, hind tibiae armed with 6 external dorsal spines and 9 internal dorsal spines, with 3 apical spurs on each side. Venation of fore tegmina as in fig.1. Ra of tegmina with 4–5 branches near apex, Rs arising before the middle, forked; MP+CuA with 7 branches. Ra of hind wings with 4–5 branches, Rs arising before the middle, forked. Epiproct rounded and apparently fused to tenth abdominal tergite, paraprocts produced somewhat posteriorly. Cerci short and solid, conical. Subgenital plate short, transverse. Ovipositor reduced, upper valva with segmented appendages.

FIGURES 1–5. Prophalangopsis obscura (Walker, 1869). 1. Tegmina and wing of female; 2. Pronotum of female, dorsal view; 3. Hind tarsus, lateral view; 4. End of female abdomen, dorsal view; 5. End of female abdomen, ventral view.

Coloration of body brown varied with yellowish white. Occiput with 5 irregular light lines, prozona of pronotum light testaceous and translucent, with two rows of blackish median spots and each bearing a large black marking. All femora obliquely striated with blackish brown on external face. Tegmina pale brown, with yellowish veins. Wings translucent.

Measurements (mm). Length of body Female: 34.0, length of pronotum, 10.0, length of tegmina, 45.0, length of hind femora, 20.0.

Material studied. 2 fermales: Aniqiao, alt. 1100m, Motuo County, Xizang (Tibet), 16–18.VIII.2005, leg. Tang –Liang.

Distribution. China (Xizang) and India.