Lucihormetica subcincta

1. Size & General Form

• Body length: Approximately 22–26 mm from head apex to abdominal tip.
• Shape: Broadly oval and somewhat flattened dorsoventrally; widest across the tegmina.
• Coloration: Overall cuticle glossy black to very dark brown, with contrasting yellow‑orange bioluminescent spots on the pronotum.

2. Head & Antennae

• Head capsule: Slightly prognathous, covered by a shield‑like pronotum when at rest. Surface finely punctate under magnification.
• Eyes: Large, reniform (kidney‑shaped), occupying much of the lateral head margin.
• Antennae: Filiform, composed of ~25–30 slender segments; pale brown basally, gradually darkening toward the apex.

3. Pronotum & Glowspots

• Pronotum shape: Broadly semicircular, with a distinct marginal rim.
• Glowspots: Two oval to slightly elongate patches set symmetrically just behind the anterior margin. In life (or under low‐light), these harbor bioluminescent symbionts that emit a soft yellow‑green glow.
• Surface texture: Finely punctate; each puncture surrounded by a subtle halo that can catch light at oblique angles.

4. Wings & Tegmina

• Tegmina (forewings): Fully developed, overlapping along the midline and covering the entire abdomen. Dark brown to black, with slightly translucent margins near the costal and posterior edges.
• Hind wings: Well‑folded beneath the tegmina but not visible externally; present but too delicate for sustained flight.

5. Legs

• Coxae & Trochanters: Glossy, matching the body color.
• Femora: Robust, especially the front pair, each bearing two rows of stout spines on the ventral face.
• Tibiae: Slender, with a pair of apical spurs and several smaller spines along the inner margin.
• Tarsi: Five‑segmented; the claw segment ends in symmetrical, curved claws and an arolium (adhesive pad) between them.

6. Ventral Surface & Genitalia

• Sternites: Smooth and glossy; intersegmental membranes pale tan.
• Subgenital plate: Broad at base, tapering posteriorly into two slender lobes; the central region bears a shallow median groove.
• Styli: A pair of slender, curved appendages just posterior to the subgenital plate—typical of male cockroach genitalia.
• Cerci: Short, filiform, composed of ~8–10 segments; oriented posteriorly and slightly divergent.

7. Habitat & Behavior

• Habitat: Humid montane and lower‐montane forests, often under loose bark or within leaf litter.
• Activity: Nocturnal and relatively slow‐moving; the male may flash its glowspots when disturbed, presumably as an aposematic or intraspecific signal.

1. Size & Overall Shape

• Body length: Approximately 24–28 mm (slightly larger on average than males).
• Form: Broadly oval, dorsoventrally flattened; maximum width across the tegmina.

2. Coloration & Surface Sculpturing

• Cuticle color: Glossy dark brown to black, with a subtle bronzy sheen under direct light.
• Punctation: Pronotum and tegmina bear fine, evenly spaced punctures; each puncture often surrounded by a faint halo, giving a delicately iridescent effect at oblique angles.

3. Head & Antennae

• Head: Largely concealed by the pronotum in dorsal view; surface smooth with very fine punctation.
• Eyes: Prominent, reniform, occupying much of the lateral margins of the head capsule.
• Antennae: Filiform, composed of ~25 segments; basal segments slightly paler than the distal segments, which are smoky brown.

4. Pronotum & Glowspots

• Shape: Broadly semicircular, with a distinct, slightly raised marginal rim.
• Glowspots: Two oval to elongate yellow‑orange patches set just posterior to the anterior margin. In life, these host bioluminescent symbionts that emit a soft greenish glow when disturbed or during courtship displays.

5. Wings & Tegmina

• Tegmina (forewings): Fully developed, overlapping along the midline and completely covering the abdomen. They are opaque dark brown with slightly translucent margins near the costal and posterior edges.
• Hind wings: Folded beneath tegmina, visible only when wings are spread; present but delicate—females generally fly poorly or not at all.

6. Legs

• Coxae & Trochanters: Glossy, matching the body’s dark hue.
• Femora: Robust, particularly on the middle and hind legs, each bearing a single row of stout ventral spines.
• Tibiae: Slender, with two apical spurs and several smaller spines along the inner margin.
• Tarsi: Five segments ending in paired claws with an arolium (adhesive pad) between them.

7. Ventral Features & Genitalia (typical female)

(Note: ventral structures are not known exactly for females of this species but are consistent across Lucihormetica females.)

• Sternites: Smooth, glossy, with pale intersegmental membranes.
• Subgenital plate: Broad, shield‑like, covering the genital chamber; lacks the paired styli found in males.
• Oothecal pouch: Well‑developed internally for carrying the ootheca (egg case) until deposition.
• Cerci: Short, filiform, composed of ~8 segments; oriented straight posteriorly.

8. Sexual Dimorphism & Behavior

• Glowspot intensity: Females may glow more steadily than males, potentially as a deterrent to nocturnal predators or as a mate‑attraction signal.
• Body robustness: Females often have a slightly broader abdomen to accommodate egg development.
• Flight: Generally weaker fliers than males; more inclined to scuttle under bark or leaf litter when disturbed.