Genus Pallidoplectron n g

Body clothed with numerous short setae Legs long and slender. Antennae very long and tapering, almost touching at their bases; scape about four times as large as pedicel, which is narrower than scape, but broader than other segments; from fourth segment onwards segments subequal, although steadily decreasing in size A single anterior, white, median ocellus only. Fastigium rising abruptly and truncated apically. Apical spines on femora, tibiae, first and second proximal segments of hind tarsi constant in number. Fore femur bears two apical spines beneath, one prolateral and one retrolateral; fore tibia bears four apical spines, one above and one beneath, both prolaterally and retrolaterally; fore tarsus unarmed. Middle femur bears two apical spines beneath, one prolateral and the other retrolateral; middle tibia bears four apical spines, one above and one beneath, both prolaterally and retrolaterally; middle tarsus unarmed Hind femur bears one apical spine prolaterally; hind tibia bears a pair of long apical spurs above, a pair of subapical spines above, a pair of short apical spurs beneath, and a pair of subapical spines beneath, one from each pair being prolateral and the other retrolateral; two proximal segments of hind tarsus each bear two apical spines above, one prolateral and one retrolateral; the other two segments unarmed. Subgenital plate of female bearing two small tubercles fused together. Subgenital plate of male triangular, as wide as long; sides slightly lobed proximally, concave distally tapering to a rounded apex, medianly it bears a well-developed keel; ventral surface with lateral margins curved back over plate. Latero-medianly the plate bears two long styli, one to each side.

Type species for the genus: Pallidoplectron turneri n. sp.

Apart from superficial resemblances, this genus does not appear to have any close affinities with any other genera in the Rhaphidophoridae so far described.

Pallidoplectron turneri n. sp. Text-figure 3. Figs. 1–7.

Colour Basic colour ochrous, with anterior and posterior borders of pronotum and posterior borders of mesonotum, metanotum and abdominal terga light brown; lateral borders of pronotum and mesonotum light brown; nota and abdominal terga irregularly mottled with light brown and deep ochrous, femora and tibiae banded with light brown and deep and pale ochrous, light brown at junction of hind femur and tibia; tarsi pale ochrous; antennae light brown with narrow bands of ochrous; ovipositor ochrous, pale reddish-brown at tip and along edges of dorsal and ventral valves.

Body Length up to 18 mm; average length 16 mm. Ovipositor 0.8 as long as body. Antennae in male 8.7–9.2 times as long as body, and in female 8–8.3 times as long as body. Fastigium, Figs. 6, 7, twice as long as high, with base touching scape of antennae. Maxillary palpi with third joint 0.2 times longer than fourth. Pronotum and mesonotum distinctly margined laterally and posteriorly.

Antennae As in generic description. Third segment on dorsal aspect narrower than pedicel, but 0.25 as long again, and on ventral aspect equal or subequal in length with pedicel. All segments thickly clothed with short golden setae. Sexual dimorphism very poorly developed, antennae of male slightly longer than those of female; no spines present on flagellum of male or female.