Conocephalus (Xiphidion) magdalenae Naskrecki, sp. n.

Conocephalus (Xiphidion) magdalenae Naskrecki, sp. n.

Figs. 1 F, 2B, 2G, 39C, 40A, Map 3

Type locality: Costa Rica, Guanacaste Prov., Finca Jenny, 31 km N Liberia, elev. 300 m; type depository: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia – holotype male

Diagnostic description.— General characteristics as described above; all individuals collected so far macropterous. Stridulatory file of male 1.70-1.72 mm long, with 54- 58 teeth, maximum width of file 69-72 μm (Fig. 40 A); teeth of file thick, peg-like, nearly uniformly arranged along entire length of file. Left (upper) mirror of stridulatory apparatus as in Fig. 1 F, at least 1.5 times longer than eye diameter. Fastigium of vertex about as wide as scapus, its sides slightly diverging towards apex. Outer ventral edge of hind femur unarmed. Male cercus as in Fig. 39 C; ovipositor short (ratio ovipositor/hind femur 0.56-0.64), straight (Fig. 2 B).

Coloration.— General coloration green but abdomen strikingly marked with dark brown and yellow longitudinal, parallel stripes on its dorsal surface; dark brown band on dorsal surface of head and pronotum bordered with thin, yellow stripes.

Measurements.— Table 2.

Bioacoustics.— Typical of the genus, the call of C. magdalenae is high duty and low Q. It consists of a regular series of paired buzzes (pulse train groups) produced every 0.26- 0.96 s (avrg. 0.43± 0.18 s, n=26) at 34°C (Fig. 51 C-D). Each pair lasts 0.44- 0.86 s (avrg. 0.68± 0.09 s, n=60). The first pulse train group in a pair is usually longer (avrg.0.34± 0.06 s, n=20) than the second one (avrg.0.27± 0.05 s, n=20). The audible part of the call has most of its energy allocated between 8 and 16 kHz.

Distribution.— In Costa Rica C. magdalenae is so far known only from Guanacaste Prov. (Map 3) but it also has been collected in several southern states of Mexico (Jalisco, Oaxaca, Veracruz), and it is not unlikely that this species will be eventually found also in Guatemala and Nicaragua.

Remarks.— This new species is easily recognizable among other Costa Rican species of the genus by its larger size, unique shape of male cerci, large (compared to the diameter of eyes) mirror on the left tegmen, and the relatively very short ovipositor. C. magdalenae seems to be most closely related to C. occidentalis (Morse) from California and C. strictus (Scudder) from the eastern USA. Males of C. magdalenae differ from both species in the shape and size of the mirror of left tegmen (mirror shorter or at most as long as eye diameter and proportionately wider in C. occidentalis and strictus) and the shape of cerci. Females differ in the length of the ovipositor, which is much shorter than in these two species. All three species share similar shape of the male cerci and fastigium of vertex, the absence of spines on the outer ventral edge of hind femora, and a very similar pattern of coloration.

Material examined.— COSTA RICA: Guanacaste Prov., Cerro El Hacha, 12 km SE Las Cruz, elev. 300 m, 1 - 30 September 1991 (coll. E. Lopez and R. Espinoza) - 1 female (paratype) (INBio); Finca Jenny, 30 km N Liberia, elev. 240 m, 1 - 30 September 1997 (coll. F. Araya) - 2 females (allotype and paratype) (ANSP and INBio); Finca Jenny, 31 km N Liberia, elev. 300 m, 15 September 1988 (coll. GNP Biodiversity Survey) - 1 male (holotype) (ANSP); Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Santa Rosa National Park, 21 - 24 August 1999 (coll. P. Naskrecki, D. Otte, G. Morris) - 1 male, 2 females (PN collection); MEXICO: Jalisco, 59 mi NE Autlan, oak woodland with grasses and shrubs, 11 September 1981 (coll. Otte) - 1 female (paratype) (ANSP); Autlan, oak woodland with grasses and shrubs, 11 September 1981 (coll. Otte) - 1 female (paratype) (ANSP); N side Río Verde (N Guadalajara) on rd to Zacatecas, 12 September 1981 (coll. Otte) - 1 female (paratype) (ANSP); Oaxaca, 7 mi S Oaxaca Rd. to Pto. Ángel, short grass and shrub clumps, 1 September 1981 (coll. Otte, Azuma, Newlin) - 1 female (paratype) (ANSP); 46 mi W Jalapa del Marquez, at Portillo Nejapam pass, pine and oak woodland, 31 October 1981 (coll. Otte, Azuma, Newlin) - 1 male, 1 female (paratypes) (ANSP); Veracruz, few mi N jct 105-127 near Tempoalp, palm and secondary forest, 21 October 1981 (coll. Otte, Azuma, Newlin) - 1 male (paratype) (ANSP).

Etymology.— Named after my sister Magdalena Naskrecka, an ardent insect collector and a great companion during some of my earliest entomological endeavors.