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

Fig. 9, Table 3

Type material.

Holotype: • male, pinned, with genitalia in a separate microvial. Original label: “ Peru: Madre de Dios, Tambopata, Ecoaventuras Amazonicas, 12°30'20"S, 69°10'26"W [-12.505556, -69.173889], 29. vi. 2021 [29 June 2021], night on forest floor. hand coll. D. A. Evangelista leg ”. AUDE-PE-03-86. Paratypes. • 16 adult males: AUDE-PE-2-85, AUDE-PE-3-70, AUDE-PE-3-72, AUDE-PE-3-80, AUDE-PE-3-90, UIRB-PE-23-86, UIRB-PE-23-94, UIRB-PE-23-95, UIRB-PE-23-96, UIRB-PE-23-98, UIRB-PE-24-01, UIRB-PE-26-42, UIRB-PE-26-50, UIRB-PE-26-51, UIRB-PE-26-55, UIRB-PE-26-71. 5 adult females: UIRB-PE-26-41, UIRB-PE-26-43, UIRB-PE-26-49, UIRB-PE-26-52, UIRB-PE-26-72 (locality and other data for all specimens are given in Table 4).

Determination.

We identified this taxon as Epilampra based on the mottled coloration, medio-posterior lobe on pronotum, elongated cerci (compared to stout in most other Blaberidae), separated via and lve, and lack of a visible tergal gland in males. We could not associate any juveniles with adults based on morphology. We tentatively associated males and females based on some similarities in color pattern. Epilampra wandpero was determined to be in Roth (1970 d) ’ s subgroup B based on the large via covering most of L 10 ’.

Differential diagnosis.

The new taxon can be differentiated from all other Epilampra spp. treated by Roth (1970 d) by the shape of L 3 ’, in which the hook is enlarged, with a very large sub-apical incision, giving the hook a crab-claw-like appearance. In other Epilampra spp. with a robust hook, the smaller lip of the hook (i. e., the inner side of the sub-apical incision) is still slender. It is most closely related to E. campestris (Rocha e Silva and Auguiar 1978) based on the similarity of the SA plate, via, and L 10 ’. Yet, the two species differ strongly in the shape of L 3 ’, pronotal coloration, and head coloration.

Description of holotype.

Male (AUDE-PE-03-86). Head. Two ocelli flat and distinctly formed; vertex pale brown with small dark spots; frons pale brown with small dark spots in greater density between the antenna than under the antenna, darker brown band above the epicranial suture fading as it approaches the vertex, with a horizontal thin dark brown band connecting the inferior side of the ocelli; dark brown line in the epistomal and subgenal sulcus not meeting in the middle; labrum yellowish with pale brown areas in the lateral sides and its inferior side; maxillary palps yellowish: first segment with an apical pale-brown ring; second with a dark brown area in ventral side, third yellowish with dark brown ventral side, and fourth dark brown.

Thorax. Pronotum. Trapezoidal with a rounded anterior edge and a bell-curve shaped posterior edge (typical of Epilamprinae). Pale brown, scattered maculations, with a defined row of dark brown spots on the anterior edge. After the anterior-most quarter of the pronotum, two lateral lines strongly curved posteriorly towards the midline without intersecting and ending shortly after the curve. Two thin parallel dark brown lines in the center of the pronotum, anteriorly curved gently outward; beginning in the posterior quarter, the lines separate, and two parallel lines appear between them, resembling a fork. Mesothorax and metathorax are not visible from dorsal view. Thorax in ventral view pale brown with dark brown spots.

Legs. Forelegs: forecoxae with small dark brown spots, fore-femoral pale brown, dark brown lines in the edges, five large anteroventral spines towards the proximal side, followed by a row of 14 short spines and two longer spines; four posteroventral spines; one genicular spine. Foretibia pale brown, not uniformly slender, expanding distally, with setae in the anteroventral side, ten strong spines distributed around the tibia, anteroventral side dark brown, distal end with a dark brown ring. Tarsi with five tarsomeres, the first one elongated with a bulbous end, two rows of tiny spines in the anteroventral side, and one apical spine; the next three moniliform with a spine in the distal end, the second one with an apical spine. Mid-legs missing due to damage. Hind-legs: hind coxae with small dark brown spots; hind femoral pale brown with small dark brown spots, with lines along its dorsal and ventral edges; four spines in the anteroventral side and three in the posteroventral side. Foretibia, pale brown with dark brown ventral edge, thirteen large spines on the dorsal side, nine large spines at the ventral side, one large genicular spine, and one short apical spine, distal end with a dark brown ring. Tarsi with five tarsomeres; first and second tarsomeres cylindrical with two parallel rows of tiny spines on the ventral side, the first one the largest; third tarsomere shorter with two tiny spines on the ventral view; a couple of apical spines on each side of the distal border; and fourth tarsomere short without spines; the fifth tarsomere longer without spines. Claws simple, symmetrical, arolium present. Euplantulae present on all tarsomeres. Wings. Longer than the abdomen. Forewing dark-brown, pale brown in the costal area of the wing, a row of black dots roughly following the radial vein until midway towards the tip, marks a sudden transition to the darker tan.

Abdomen. Pale brown, covered with dark brown dots, increasing in density to the posterior side, a row of larger dark brown dots in the distal margin. No visible external tergal glands, supra-anal plate bilobed. Subgenital plate shape typical for Epilampra, with slender styli.

Genitalia. L 3 ’ long and slender, with tip strongly curved acutely with a very large sub-apical incision, with the inner portion truncated and bulbous, giving the appearance of a crab-like claw. via large and covering most of L 10 ’, similar to E. opaca, E. substrigata, and E. columbiana in Roth (1970 d). R’ phallomere like E. columbiana but narrower with cleft deeper.

Remarks.

Two paratype males with facial coloration pattern like the holotype. Three paratype males with the spots in the center of the frons extend from the inner edge of the eyes, almost meeting in the center. Paratypes show variation in color intensity and spot density on the pronotum.

Range.

We have no data for this species outside of Madre de Dios. Within the region, it was most common at Kawsay Biological Station, and present at all other sites except Finca Las Piedras Research Station.

Habitat.

Low hill forest and flooded alluvial forest.

Etymology.

The specific epithet means cockroach in Harakmbut, the language of the indigenous Harakbut ethnic people living in the Madre De Dios region.