Phlesirtes elgonensis Hemp, n. sp.

Phlesirtes elgonensis Hemp n. sp.

(Fig. 2; Fig. 4 E, F; Fig. B; Fig. 6; Fig. 16)

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:496061

Holotype male. Kenya, Mt Elgon, southern slopes, National Park 3100 m, montane grasslands, November 2011. Depository MfN.

Paratypes. 1 female, same data as holotype. Depository MfN. 1 male, 1 female, same data as holotype. Depository EDNMK. 1 male, 1 female, same data as holotype. Depository BMNH.

Additional paratype material. 14 males, 6 females, same data as holotype; 6 males, 18 females, 2 females nymphs, Kenya, Mt Elgon National Park, montane grassland, 2950 m, November 2011; 5 females, 2 nymphs, Kenya, Mt Elgon National Park, grassy forest clearing, 2400 m, November 2011. Collection C. Hemp.

Description. Male. Colour pattern. Medially on abdomen broad creamy to light brown fascia bordered by dark brown fascia laterally along length. Otherwise typical Phlesirtes colour pattern with partly green legs and pronotal lobes and brown pronotum and abdomen (Fig. 7 A). Abdomen. Last abdominal tergite medially acutely incised, lateral processes rather stout, as in Fig. 5 E. Most individuals with pair of dark patches. Cerci with outer branch stout, tip blunt conical, inner branch comparatively short, slightly curved (Fig. 4 F).

Female. Colour pattern as in male but more brownish (Fig. 6 B). Ovipositor brown, little up-curved, slender, typical for the genus. Subgenital plate as in Fig. 5 B.

Diagnosis. Morphologically and molecularly related to P. limuru n. sp. from the lower slopes of the Aberdare Range. Both species have a similar colour pattern. The male cerci consist of a stout and comparatively blunt outer branch and comparatively short little curved inner branch. The 10th tergite has a pair of dark patches in both species. In P. limuru n. sp. however, the processes of the 10th tergite are shorter and the incision is not as acute as in P. elgonensis n. sp.

Measurements male (mm) (N=6). Length of body 9.2–9.5, length of pronotum 4.4–4.7, length of anterior femur 2.1–2.2, length of posterior femur 9.2–9.5, visible part of elytra from above 0.7–1.0.

Measurements female (mm) (N=6). Length of body 10–13, length of pronotum 3.7–4.0, length of anterior femur 2.4–2.5, length of posterior femur 11.2–11.5, ovipositor 10.0–10.6.

Habitat and distribution. Kenya, Mt Elgon. At present only known from the montane zone on the southern slopes of Mt Elgon on forest clearings and montane grasslands between 2400–3100 m.