Two new genera (Vittiblatta gen. nov. and Planiblatta gen. nov.) of Blattinae (Blattodea, Blattidae) from Southwest China and the discovery of chirally dimorphic male genitalia in Vittiblattapunctata sp. nov

Xin-Xing Luo; Wen-Bo Deng; Yan-Li Che; Zong-Qing Wang

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1187.113403

Two new genera (Vittiblatta gen. nov. and Planiblatta gen. nov.) of Blattinae (Blattodea, Blattidae) from Southwest China and the discovery of chirally dimorphic male genitalia in Vittiblattapunctata sp. nov

Zookeys. 2023 Dec 28:1187:401-421. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1187.113403. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Xin-Xing Luo¹, Wen-Bo Deng¹, Yan-Li Che¹, Zong-Qing Wang¹

Affiliation

¹ College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China Southwest University Chongqing China.

Abstract

This study examines Blattinae samples from Southwest China collected in recent years. Based on morphological characters, we establish two genera, Vittiblattagen. nov. and Planiblattagen. nov., and describe four new species, Vittiblattapunctata Luo & Wang, sp. nov., Vittiblattaferruginea Luo & Wang, sp. nov., Vittiblattaundulata Luo & Wang, sp. nov., and Planiblattacrassispina Luo & Wang, sp. nov. These two new genera resemble Periplaneta s.s., but are easily distinguished from it and other genera of Blattinae by morphological characters (genital sclerite L4C). Our results indicate that sclerites L4C and R1G of male genitalia might be important in species delimitation of Blattinae. In addition, chiral dimorphism is found in male genitalia of Vittiblattapunctata sp. nov.

Keywords: Chiral dimorphism; male genitalia; new species.

Xin-Xing Luo, Wen-Bo Deng, Yan-Li Che, Zong-Qing Wang.

Grants and funding

the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No. 32170458) and a Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (2022FY202100).