Zophiuma gitauae Soulier-Perkins & Le Cesne 2021, sp. nov.

Zophiuma gitauae Soulier-Perkins & Le Cesne sp. nov.

(Figs 13–26)

Zophiuma pupillata (Stål) [sic]: Gitau et al. 2011a: 88 (Figs 6–8)

Type material. Male holotype: [Papouasie Nelle Guinée, province de Madang, Wanang 3, 180 m, 5°13’40’’S 145°4’47’’E] [Museum Paris, PL camp, 29-XI-21012, A. Soulier-Perkins] MNHN (EH) 24524 (MNHN). Paratypes: [Papouasie Nelle Guinée, province de Madang, Wanang 3, 180 m, 5°13’40’’S 145°4’47’’E], PL camp, A. Soulier-Perkins, 1♂: 1-XII-2012, MNHN (EH) 24526; 2♂: 2-XII-21012, MNHN (EH) 24527–24528; 1♀: 14-XI-2012, MNHN (EH) 24525 and 1♀: 24-XI-2012, MNHN (EH) 24529 (MNHN).

Examined material. 1♂ [New Guinea NE Madang 5m, Oct. 28, 1958] [Palm] [J. L. Gressitt collector] [Zophiuma doreyensis Dist. Det. Fennah] (BPBM). 1♀ [New Guinea NE. Madang, Oct. 28, 1958], [Palm], [J. L. Gressitt collector] (BPBM)

Distribution. Madang Province (Papua New Guinea)

Diagnosis. The male anal tube, presenting a cut out in apical lobes and the female colouration of tegmina, reddish at base and brownish toward apex with a hyaline lunula in between are characteristic for this species.

Description. Total length of male holotype: 2.11 cm (incl. tegmina).

Head in dorsal view, vertex 1.16 larger than long in midline, lateral margins parallel, anterior and posterior margins regularly curved, vertex surface flat without median carina (Fig. 13). In frontal view, frons 1.14 wider across widest part than long in midline, fronto-vertex margin slightly rounded and convex followed by lateral margins slightly diverging on half their length then sharply curved and reaching a frontoclypeal suture concave and slightly v-shaped, frons tree carinate, sublateral carinae joining dorsally and delineating an ovoid disc in middle, median carina straight and clearly visible (Fig. 15). In lateral view, ocellus present, located bellow compound eye and anteriorly to antenna. Ocellar carina present and genal carina absent (Fig. 14). Prothorax larger than head, 4.65 larger than long in midline, mesothorax bearing 1 double median carina and 2 sublateral, strongly curved anteriorly. Tegmen 3.6 longer than wide, ScP+R(+MA) and MP forking almost at same level, then CuA, all forking before end of clavus, presence of anastomosis between CuA1 and MP(3+4). Metatibiae bearing 3 lateral spines and 9 apical spines organised in a v shaped line, first metatarsal segment bearing a series of 11 apical spines organised in a triangular area, longer than cumulative length of second and third metatarsal segment, second segment reduced to a lobe without any spine (Fig. 15).

Male terminalia. In lateral view, first half-length of anal tube narrower than second half due to apical lobes development, lobe with cut out in middle (Fig. 21). Pygofer with dorsal margin having a clear step down in middle, ventral margin very regular, almost straight like posterior margin. Gonostylus with dorsal margin regular up to dorsal process oriented antero-dorsally, ventral and posterior margins curving regularly (Fig. 22). Dorsal periandrium developed in a dorsal extension rounded apically, followed laterally by a process with sharp tip and a structure covering partially the two other structures and with its apex duck head shaped (Figs 23–24). Ventral periandrium developed dorsally into a narrowing shape bearing a series of small teeth posteriorly, most posterior part of periandrium membranous (Fig. 26). Aedeagus bearing only a ventral process, PvaA long regularly curved, oriented anteriorly and with a pointed apically. Apex of aedeagus developed in an ovoid structure and a two teeth sclerified structure partially covering ovoid structure along its anterior and posterior margins (Fig. 25).

Colour. Males and females are of different colours. Male (Figs 13–15), mostly light yellowish, darker brownish zones can be observed on thorax in dorsal view and on tegmina, tips of spines on metatibia and first metatarsal segment are dark brown, a white dot surrounded by a roundish dark brown area is located at tip of tegmina. Female (Figs 17–19), mostly reddish, lighter colorations can be observed on vertex, frons and rostrum, over half of tegmina is red then a hyaline lunula can be observed followed by different pattern of brownish colour in which a white dot within a black circle can be observed at apex (Fig. 17).

Etymology. The species is named for Catherine Gitau who first took some images and made drawings of the genitalia for this species.