Epilampra yompori Vanker, Medina-Espinoza, & Evangelista sp. nov.

Figs 4, 5, Table 3

Type material.

Holotype: • male, pinned, with genitalia in a separate microvial. Original label: “ Trails in forest, near station at night. -12.2285, -69.1143, 265 M. elev. Finca Las Piedras Res. Station, Madre de Dios. 13 - Jul- 2024. Coll. E. Emmy F. Medina E., Jared Martin, Johanna Schwartz, Dominic A. Evangelista ” “ UIRB-PE-23-76 ”. Paratypes. • 1 adult female: UIRB-PE-25-42. 9 juveniles: AUDE-PE-3-76, UIRB-PE-23-93, UIRB-PE-25-35, UIRB-PE-25-36, UIRB-PE-25-78, UIRB-PE-26-23, UIRB-PE-26-25, UIRB-PE-26-38, UIRB-PE-31-51 (locality and other data for all specimens are given in Table 4).

Determination.

This specimen was identified as Epilampra (vs Poeciloderrhis) based on presence of the following characters: the absence of medial tergal modifications on T 1 and T 2 (present in Poeciloderrhis), hooked phallomere (L 3 ’) with a subapical incision (incision absent in Poeciloderrhis), and R’ phallomere cleft not fused (vs fused in Poeciloderrhis).

Differential diagnosis.

The species may be differentiated from other Epilampra spp. by a unique combination of the following characters. The pronotal coloration and via + L 10 ’ morphology are most similar to species in the abdomennigrum group. However, the species lacks a setal brush on R’ phallomere, placing it in the burmeisteri group. Roth (1970 d) separated subgroups A and B of the burmeisteri group based on the size of via compared to L 10 ’ (via small in subgroup A, and large in subgroup B). By relative size, this species would fall in subgroup A. However, L 10 ’ is elongated (as in E. grisea – abdomennigrum group), so via may appear small relative to L 10 ’ when in fact it is normally sized when compared to lve. Among the species in the burmeistei group, the L 10 ’ and via shape are most similar to E. opaca or E. columbiana. The species differs strongly from E. opaca in the following characteristics: males 26 mm long (vs 20.5 mm in E. opaca (Evangelista et al. 2015)), central region of pronotum fuscous as in E. taira (speckled with a symmetrical pattern in E. opaca and E. columbiana), and L 10 ’ elongated like in E. grisea (vs mostly rounded in E. opaca and E. columbiana).

Remarks.

Roth (1970 d) also noted the similarity in via and L 10 ’ between various species in the abdomennigrum and burmeisteri groups. It is possible that these are close relatives, or that one is nested within the other. Hence, we refrain from placing E. yompori in either group or creating a new one for it.

Description of holotype.

Male (UIRB-PE-23-76). Head. Partially visible from dorsal side. Face predominantly pale brown with a dark brown or blackish interocular space ending at the anterior end of the ocelli, except for a circular pale patch in the interocellar space. Ocelli are circular, flat, slightly impressed, and adjacent to the anterior-medial corners of antennal sockets.

Thorax. Pronotum. Subtrapezoidal anteriorly and with an elongated medial point posteriorly (typical of Epilampra spp.). Coloration pale brown near the lateral borders, but mainly dark brown with speckled coloration toward the lateral, and posterior margins. The middle of the pronotum is more solidly dark brown. The thorax in the ventral view is pale brown. Legs. Primarily pale brown but with medium brown (or slightly reddish brown) stripes on the femora, with darker shaded spines on the femora and tibiae. The forefemur AV margin spination is type B 2 with four large spines proximal to a row of short spines (16 on the right leg). On the posteroventral margin, there are four large spines, one of which is an apical spine. Foretibia has seven dorsal and five ventral spines and is darker than the femur. All tarsi have five tarsomeres and euplantulae, simple symmetrical claws with arolia. Foretarsus has longer first and fifth tarsomeres, with two rows small proximal spines on ventral side of the first tarsomere. Midfemur with four anteroventral spines, one of which is apical, one anterodorsal apical spine, and four posteroventral spines. The mid-tibia has 15 dorsal spines, two of which are apical, and 12 ventral spines, including one apical spine considerably longer than the other spines on the midtibia. First tarsomere of the middle leg considerably longer than the others with a row of small spines on the ventral side, and two short anterior spines and one short posterior spine. Second tarsomere also has two linear rows of short ventral spines. The first, second, and third tarsomeres have small apical spines on either side of the euplantulae. Hind femur with the same coloration and spination as middle leg. Hind tibia with ten dorsal spines, two of which are apical, and eight ventral spines. Hind tarsus with the first tarsomere slightly larger than all other tarsomeres combined and has two parallel rows of short spines along length of ventral margin and a shorter, more spaced-out row of short spines on the anterior margin. Second tarsomere has two parallel rows of short spines on ventral margin and apical spines around the euplantulae. The third tarsomere also has spines on either side of the euplantulae. Macropterous with tegmina terminating much posterior to the end of the cerci.

Abdomen. Base coloration similar to the legs, but with some scant speckled and larger brown spots laterally and a rusty brown region towards the posterior end on the ventral side. Dorsal side without distinctive markings and lacking any tergal specializations. SA plate semi-circular with a short medial division. SG plate with typical Epilampra shape (slightly asymmetrical, concave on the right side, with pin-like styli). L 3 ’ strongly curved and narrow, with a very noticeable subapical incision.

Range.

We have no data from this species anywhere other than Madre De Dios, where it is widespread.

Habitat.

Low hill forest and flooded alluvial forest.

Etymology.

The specific epithet yompori means “ forest spirit ” in Piro, an indigenous language in southwestern Amazonia, spoken by communities in Madre de Dios and Ucayali. The language is widespread, as is the cockroach.