Rhaphidophora jiaozishanensis Feng & Zhao 2026, sp. nov.

Rhaphidophora jiaozishanensis Feng & Zhao sp. nov. Figs 1, 2, 3 Chinese name. 轿子山驼螽. Type material. Holotype: China • 1 ♂; Guizhou Province, Anshun City, Xixiu District, Jiaozishan Town; 24 Aug. 2025; Xueli Feng & Zhengxue Zhao leg.; ASU ZooR 20250802. Paratype: China • 1 ♀; same data as holotype; ASU ZooR 202508021. Diagnosis. Rhaphidophora jiaozishanensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from congeners by the morphological characteristics of its epiproct. While this new species shares certain similarities with R. glenoides Qin, Wang & He, 2024, the former has an obtusely rounded apex with a median depression extending from the base to the apex, but the latter has a relatively acute apex, with the median depression reaching only one-third of the length from the base. Additionally, the two species diverge in body colour and size, and the number of hind tibial spines. The new species exhibits a dark-brown body, possesses 20 inner and 21 outer spines on the hind tibia, and is larger in body size (♂ 24.7 mm, ♀ 19.24 mm). In contrast, R. glenoides displays a reddish-brown body, bears 17 or 18 spinules on each side of the hind tibia, and features a distinctly smaller body size (15 mm). Description. Male. Body rather large (24.7 mm, Fig. 1 A – C). Fastigium of vertex divided by longitudinal furrow into pair of plate-like processes (Fig. 1 D). Eyes reniform, near upper portion of outer margin of antennal sockets (Fig. 1 D). Lateral ocelli oval, occupying approximately three-quarters of lateral margins of entire tubercles and situated at lateral base (Fig. 1 D). Anterior margin of pronotum straight; posterior margin protruding caudad; ventral margin arched (Fig. 1 E, F); posterior margin of mesonotum protruding caudad; posterior margin of metanotum protruding caudad (Fig. 1 F). Fore and mid legs slender; hind legs relatively long and robust. Dorsal surface of forecoxae bearing small spines. Fore femur about 1 / 2 times longer than pronotum, with ventral and dorsal sides unarmed; internal genicular lobe with 1 spine, and external genicular lobe without spine; fore tibia ventrally with 2 inner and 2 outer spines; apex with 1 pair of spines on ventral surface. Middle femur ventrally unarmed; internal and external genicular lobes with 1 long spine each on dorsal surface; dorsal surface of mesotibiae with 2 spines on both inner and outer sides, with 1 spine on each side of dorsal apex; ventral surface with 2 spines at middle and 1 spine on each side of ventral apex. Hind femur ventrally unarmed; internal genicular lobe with 1 spine; hind tibia dorsally with 20 inner and 21 outer spines, apex with 1 pair of long dorsal spines, 1 pair of long ventral spines, and 1 pair of small spines between paired ventral spines; the longest dorso-apical spine exceeds dorso-apical spine on hind metatarsus. Hind metatarsus keeled beneath. Abdominal tergites without processes. Posterior margin of tenth abdominal tergite concave; abdominal sternites bearing oval ventral processes (Fig. 1 C, I). Epiproct simple, approximately triangular, with a rounded apex and overall symmetry; base concave in an arcuate manner, with each lateral side of the base possessing an elliptical structure densely covered by fine setae. Epiproct with a longitudinal structure along midline, defined by raised margins on either side and a central depression, similarly densely adorned with setae (Fig. 1 G, H). Female. General appearance similar to that of male (Fig. 2 A – C), with distribution and quantity of leg spines consistent with male counterpart. Ovipositor longer than ½ length of hind femur; base of ovipositor broad, narrowing to apex; apex pointed and distinctly curved upwards; ventral edge of distal part of inferior valves bearing 12 distinct denticles (Fig. 2 G). Subgenital plate furnished with 3 nearly triangular lobes; median lobe relatively large, with lateral margins parallel at basal fifth; paired lateral lobes smaller (Fig. 2 F). Colouration. Body nearly unicolour, dark brown, and tergites shining. Face reddish brown, without distinct stripes. Legs with light-brown annular stripes. Measurements. Body: ♂ 24.7 mm, ♀ 19.24 mm; pronotum: ♂ 6.88 mm, ♀ 6.50 mm; fore femur: ♂ 8.10 mm, ♀ 7.72 mm; hind femur: ♂ 18.44 mm, ♀ 18.30 mm; hind tibia: ♂ 17.14 mm, ♀ 17.00 mm; ovipositor: ♀ 11.18 mm. Distribution. In China, most species of the genus Rhaphidophora are distributed south of the Yangtze River in the provinces of Hunan, Guangxi, and Yunnan. Among these, Yunnan is a distribution hotspot, with 11 recorded species (Fig. 3 A). This new species was collected in Guizhou Province (Fig. 3 A – C). Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the Jiaozishan Town where this species occurs.