Diestramima (Baculitettix) phytophylacis Feng & Zhao 2026, sp. nov.

Diestramima (Baculitettix) phytophylacis Feng & Zhao sp. nov. Figs 4, 5, 6 Chinese name. 植保突灶螽. Type material. Holotype: China • 1 ♂; Guizhou Province, Anshun City, Xixiu District, Jiaozishan Town; 24 Aug. 2025; Xueli Feng & Zhengxue Zhao leg.; ASU ZooD 20250812. Paratypes: China • 1 ♂; same data as holotype; ASU ZooD 202508121. • 10 ♀; same data as holotype; ASU ZooD 202508122 to ZooD 202508129, ZooD 2025081210, ZooD 2025081211. Diagnosis. Diestramima (Baculitettix) phytophylacis sp. nov. can be distinguished from congeners based on the morphological features of the posteromedian process of the seventh abdominal tergite. Although this new species is similar to Diestramima (Baculitettix) beybienkoi Qin, Wang, Liu & Li, 2016, it is readily differentiated by the following diagnostic traits: in D. (B.) phytophylacis sp. nov., the posteromedian process of the seventh abdominal tergite is of moderate length, with nearly parallel lateral margins, and its apex is slightly broadened, forming an arcuate projection. In contrast, the posteromedian process of D. (B.) beybienkoi is relatively narrow, and its apex is distinctly dilated. Moreover, the posterior margin of the apex in D. (B.) beybienkoi is furnished with three small protuberances: the lateral protuberances are angular, whereas the median one is nearly semicircular. Description. Male. Body medium-sized (22.16–23.14 mm, Fig. 4 A – C). Fastigium of vertex divided by longitudinal furrow into a pair of plate-like processes (Fig. 4 D). Eyes reniform, close to upper part of outer margin of antennal sockets (Fig. 4 D). Lateral ocelli oval, occupying approximately 3 / 4 of lateral margins of entire tubercles, situated at lateral base; median ocellus located between antennal sockets (Fig. 4 D). Anterior margin of pronotum extending forward, posterior margin protruding caudad, ventral margin arched (Fig. 4 E, F); posterior margin of mesonotum protruding caudad; posterior margin of metanotum protruding caudad (Fig. 4 F). Fore and mid legs slender, hind legs relatively long and robust. Forecoxae bearing small, medial projections. Fore femur about 2.2 times longer than pronotum, with ventral and dorsal sides unarmed, external genicular lobe with 1 long spine, and internal genicular lobe without spine; fore tibia ventrally with 2 inner and 2 outer spines; apex with 1 dorsal spine and 1 pair of ventral spines, and 1 small spine between the paired ventral spines. Middle femur ventral and dorsal sides unarmed; internal and external genicular lobes with 1 long spine respectively on the dorsal surface; ventral surface of mesotibiae with 2 spines on both the inner and outer sides, apex with 1 pair of small dorsal spines and 1 pair of ventral spines, and 1 small spine between paired ventral spines. Hind femur with 7 or 8 inner spines on ventral surface, internal genicular lobe with 1 small spine; external genicular lobe unarmed. Hind tibia dorsally with 27–29 inner and 29–31 outer spines; subapex with 1 pair of dorsal spines, and apex with 1 pair of dorsal spines and 2 pairs of ventral spines, with intero-dorsal spine slightly shorter than hind basitarsus; longest dorso-apical spine not exceeding dorso-apical spine of hind metatarsus. Hind metatarsus keeled beneath. Posterior margin of sixth abdominal tergite nearly straight. Posteromedian process of seventh abdominal tergite of medium length, with lateral margins nearly parallel; apex slightly broadened and forming an arcuate projection (Fig. 4 G, H). Basal half of paraproct expanded, tapering posteriorly, and with a blunt apex (Fig. 4 G). Female. General appearance similar to males (Fig. 5 A – C). Ovipositor length nearly equal to body length, with a broad base, narrowing to apex, pointed and slightly curved upwards, almost indistinct denticles on ventral edge of distal part of inferior valves (Fig. 5 G). Subgenital plate roughly triangular (Fig. 5 F). Colouration. Body blackish brown, mottled with dark-brown blotches. Head light brown, with a pair of dark vertical bands beneath eyes and at antennal sockets, dark dorsal spots posterior to eyes, and aclypeus bearing one dark spot on each side. Legs with light-brown annular stripes. Measurements. Body: ♂ 22.16–23.14 mm, ♀ 19.22–22.08 mm; pronotum: ♂ 6.00– 6.46 mm, ♀ 5.80–6.18 mm; fore femur: ♂ 12.5–14.30 mm, ♀ 12.00– 14.12 mm; hind femur: ♂ 24.04–25.80 mm, ♀ 23.54–25.00 mm; ovipositor: ♀ 16.48–20.90 mm. Distribution. Most species of this genus are distributed in southern China, including Hunan, Guangxi, Zhejiang, Yunnan, and Guizhou. Guangxi is a hotspot for Diestramima species, with 15 recorded (Fig. 6 A). This new species was collected from Guizhou Province (Fig. 6 A – C). Etymology. The specific epithet phytophylacis is a noun in the genitive singular, derived from the Greek roots phyton (meaning “ plant ”) and phylax (meaning “ protector ”). The name, meaning “ of the plant protector, ” is dedicated to the Plant Protection majors at the College of Agriculture, Anshun University, amd commemorates the discovery of the species during their field internship.