Podismopsis kristini Kočárek, Marhoul, Vlk & Holuša, 2026, sp. nov.

Podismopsis kristini sp. nov. Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 –10 Material examined. Holotype: • ♂, Slovakia: Western Tatras Mts., Žiar Valley, 49.1931278°N, 19.7475797°E, 1,850 m a. s. l., 09. IX. 2022, R. Vlk, P. Marhoul, J. Holuša and P. Kočárek leg.; Holotype, Podismopsis kristini sp. nov., R. Vlk, P. Marhoul, J. Holuša and P. Kočárek det. 2026 [red label] (coll. NMPC). Paratypes: • 11 ♂♂ / 10 ♀♀, Slovakia: same data as in holotype; Paratype, Podismopsis kristini sp. nov., R. Vlk, P. Marhoul, J. Holuša and P. Kočárek det. 2026 [red label] (3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ coll. NMPC, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ coll. PKCO, 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ coll. PMCO, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ coll. JHCO, 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ coll. RVCO). Diagnosis. Podismopsis kristini sp. nov. resembles the other European species P. frontalis, P. keisti, P. relicta, P. styriaca, and P. transsylvanica. Podismopsis poppiusi, which extends its distribution into eastern Europe, differs from all the above-mentioned species by a distinctly longer and more slender hind femur in females (at least 5 × as long as its maximum width) and, in males, by the tegmen having a conspicuously narrow subcostal field, ~ 1 / 3 as wide as the costal field, and a longer pronotum prozona, which is at least 1.5 × as long as the metazona. P. frontalis, in which only females are known, differs from females of all other European congeners by a wide vertex, which is 3 × as wide as the width of frontal ridge between antennae. Males of P. relicta and P. transsylvanica differ from those of P. kristini sp. nov., P. styriaca, and P. keisti in antennal length; the antennae are conspicuously shorter in P. relicta and P. transsylvanica, being only 1.2–1.3 × as long as the combined length of the head and pronotum (vs ~ 1.5 × in the remaining species). Males of P. kristini sp. nov. differ from males of P. styriaca in the relative width of the tegmen costal and subcostal fields (Fig. 8). The costal field of P. kristini sp. nov. and P. keisti is 1.3–1.7 × as broad as the subcostal field in the distal third of the tegmen, whereas in P. styriaca this ratio is 1.9–2.0. The tegmina of P. kristini sp. nov. are, in contrast to those of P. styriaca and P. keisti, typically truncated apically, with the truncated margin distinctly emarginated (Fig. 8). Based on the examined material, we observed differences in the presence and number of spurious veins in the radial field of the tegmina among species. Although the formation of spurious veins shows considerable variability, certain arrangements predominate within each species. In P. kristini sp. nov. and P. relicta (Fig. 8 a, c), the presence of two clearly distinguishable spurious veins in the radial field predominates, whereas in P. transsylvanica and P. styriaca, a single spurious vein positioned medially in the radial field is most common. In P. keisti, the greatest variability was observed: in some individuals two spurious veins are present, in others one, and in a large proportion of individuals no spurious vein is distinctly formed (Fig. 8 d). Males of the European Podismopsis species differ in tegmina length and pronotum length (Fig. 4). Pronotum length along the median line is ≥ 3.1 mm in all examined specimens of P. styriaca and P. transsylvanica, whereas it is <3.1 mm in all examined specimens of P. kristini sp. nov. Tegmina length is ≤ 8.6 mm in all measured specimens of P. kristini sp. nov. and> 8.6 mm in all measured specimens of P. keisti (Fig. 4). The genitalia of the European alpine Podismopsis species are very similar to one another. As their soft parts can be easily deformed during processing, it is important to examine the individual parts of the epiphallus from various angles when interpreting them. The phallic complex of P. relicta (Fig. 10 c) differs from that of other European alpine species in having shorter, wider ancorae and short, robust lophi. P. kristini sp. nov. (Fig. 10 a) shares with P. styriaca and P. transsylvanica a wide central lophus portion with a distinctly concave proximal part. This feature differs from the condition in P. keisti (Fig. 10 d), which has a narrower, flatter central lophus portion. The proximal lophus projection is wider and more robust in P. styriaca (Fig. 10 e) and P. transsylvanica than in P. kristini sp. nov. (Fig. 10 a). Although the apical valves are variable in shape, which may also vary depending on the angle of view, two visually distinct types can be distinguished within the European alpine Podismopsis species. P. keisti and P. kristini sp. nov. (Fig. 10 f) have apical valves that are very thin, apically narrowed, and more widely spaced apart in the middle. The other species, P. transsylvanica, P. relicta, and P. styriaca (Fig. 10 g), have the apical valves more robust, less widely spaced, and less sharply pointed. In females, the tegmina of P. kristini sp. nov. extend distally into a conspicuous triangular projection, the ventral surface of which is deeply concave (Fig. 9 a – d), whereas in the remaining European species, the distal part of the tegmina is shaped differently (Fig. 9 e – h). The ventral margin of the tegmen of P. kristini sp. nov. forms an angle of 39–42 ° with the radial vein, similarly to P. keisti. In contrast, this angle is smaller (~ 35 °) in P. transsylvanica and P. relicta, and considerably larger (~ 60 °) in P. styriaca. The species can be distinguished by a combination of the characters listed above. The calling song of Podismopsis kristini sp. nov. does not differ substantially from those of other European congeners in its basic characteristics, including echeme duration, number of syllables per echeme, and the gradual increase in sound intensity within an echeme (see also Discussion). Description. Male (Figs 1 a, 2, 3 a – d). Body of small size for genus Podismopsis, above olive green with black lateral stripe from eyes to apex of abdomen, below olive green to yellow green (Fig. 1 a). Antennae unicoloured, brown with slightly blackish apex. Lateral carina of pronotum with pale margin; paranota blackish in dorsal two-thirds and olive green in ventral third. Tegmina unicolour, pale brown. Hind femora yellowish brown, lower side of femora yellow, upper side olive green; knees black; hind tibiae yellow with blackish base; spines yellow with black apex. Metric characters summarised in Table 1. Head (Fig. 2 a – c) short; face in profile oblique. Frontal costa converging upward, narrow, the vertex is 1.7 × as wide as the basal part of the frontal costa, and the vertex between eyes is 3.3 × as wide as the upper part of frontal costa (Fig. 2 c). Median ocellus below line connecting lower edges of eyes. Depression of vertex with distinct median carinula. Foveolae absent. Eyes oval, slightly longer than wide (Fig. 2 a – c); vertical diameter of eye 0.5–0.8 × as long as subocular furrow; interocular space 1.4–1.5 × as wide as maximal width of eye in dorsal view. Antennae filiform, 19–21 - segmented, reaching base of hind femora; mid segments of antennae 1.7–2.1 × as long as wide. Pronotum (Fig. 2 a, b) crossed by main transverse furrow; prozona 1.3–1.4 × as long as metazona; anterior margin of prozona rounded; posterior margin of metazona weakly excised near median carina; lateral carinae in prozona slightly and regularly concave; lateral carinae in metazona slightly convex; widest part of pronotum 1.5 × as wide as narrowest part (Fig. 2 b). Lateral lobes of pronotum 1.2–1.3 × as long as high. Prosternal process absent. Mesosternal lobes 1.2–1.4 × as wide as mesosternal interspace; mesosternal interspace transversal, 1.5–1.7 × as wide as long; base of mesosternal interspace 1.5–1.6 × as wide as width of metasternal interspace. Metasternal interspace square (Fig. 2 e). Tegmina not reaching apex of abdomen, 2.7–2.9 × as long as pronotum and 2.6–2.8 × as long as wide; width of costal field 1.3–1.7 × as wide as subcostal field in distal third of tegmen. Hind wings vestigial, narrow, 0.7–2.0 mm long. Macropterous form unknown. Hind femora 4.3 × (4.1–4.5) as long as maximal width; inner lower keel with 87–136 stridulatory pegs; apex of knee lobe circular. Hind tibiae with 10 or 11 outer and 10 inner dorsal spines; apically two larger hooked spines on outer and inner margin. First tarsal segment as long as combined length of second and third segments (Fig. 2 f). Arolium broad, reaching two-thirds of length of claws. Tympanum large, oval (Fig. 2 d). Tenth abdominal tergite roundly incised medially, without furculae. Supraanal plate triangular with deep median longitudinal sulcus. Cerci conical, 2.8–3.3 × as long as wide near base (Fig. 2 h, i); subgenital plate as long as wide in ventral view (Fig. 2 j). Male genitalia (Fig. 3 a – c). Epiphallus bridge-shaped; bridge narrow, arch-like; ancorae conical, almost reaching anterior projections; posterior projections wide, triangular; lophi large, kidney-shaped, narrowed in apical third and shallowly incised along inner margin. Cingulum sclerotised, consisting of broad arched apodemes, zygoma, and rami; zygoma broadly rounded apically. Valves of cingulum narrow, divided, apically pointed. Apical valves of penis narrow, with pointed apex curved inward; apical valves as long as cingular valves; basal and apical penis valves connected by curved, unbroken flexure. Female (Figs 1 b – e, 3 e – i). Larger than male; colouration more variable. Body dorsally dark brown, grey-brown, or bronze-brown, ventrally olive green to yellowish; laterally with black or blackish lateral stripe from vertex to apex of abdomen; lateral colouration sometimes absent and body unicolour. Antennae brown with blackish apex. Lateral carina of pronotum with pale margin; paranota blackish in dorsal two-thirds. Tegmina grey-brown or bronze-brown. Hind femora in body colour; lower side of femora yellow; inner side with longitudinal black stripe near base; knees blackish brown. Hind tibiae yellow-orange; spines yellow with black apex. Ovipositor brown. Erythrism also recorded (Fig. 1 e). Metric characters summarised in Table 1. Head as in