Both the ML analyses and BI highly support that the clade Symploce evidens Wang and Che, 2013 plus one unknown species is the sister to the clade of Blattella + Episymploce (bs 100%, pp 1.0). Hind margin of subgenital plate with an obvious protrusion and with the right stylus located on it make them obviously distinguishable from other related genera. Therefore, we establish for them and some other taxonomic units the new genus Centrocolumna Jin and Che gen. nov. and also propose one new species and eight new combinations.

Symploce evidens Wang and Che, 2013, by present designation.

Male. Tegmina and hindwings fully developed or slightly reduced. Hindwings with RP branched near the middle, M simple and unbranched, CuA curved with 1–4 complete and 0–5 incomplete branches; apical triangle small or absent. Anteroventral margin of front femur usually Type A. Tergal specialization and medial setal tuft always present on T1, T7 and T10. Subgenital plate asymmetrical, hind margin with a prominent protrusion in the middle, and the right stylus arising upon the protrusion. Bases of two styli obtuse, apices tapering.

Centrocolumna, the combination of the Latin words centr- and columna, refers to the right stylus arising upon the protrusion. The gender of Centrocolumna is feminine.

This genus is similar to Symploce Hebard, 1916, but it can be distinguished from Symploce by the following characters: 1) T10 usually specialized with setal tuft at disk (absent in Symploce); 2) hind margin of subgenital plate with a prominent protrusion (absent in Symploce).

According to the generic diagnosis of Centrocolumna gen. nov., we transferred the following species of Symploce to this genus after our critical examination of the original literature, especially the grouping of species of Symploce collected from Taiwan and Japan in Asahina (1979b) and Roth (1987).

Holotype: CHINA • ♂; Chongqing, Qianjiang County, Zhuoshui Town; 19-26 June 2013; Shunhua Gui, Yan Shi leg. Paratypes: CHINA • 1 ♂, Fujian Prov., Mt. Wuyi, Tongmu Village; 8 July 2013; Shunhua Gui, Yan Shi leg. • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Guangxi Prov., Jinxiu County, Mt. Shengtang; 4–5 June 2014; Shunhua Gui, Xinran Li leg. • 2 ♂♂; Hunan Prov., Changde City, Taoyuan County, Wuyunjie, Tujindong; 19 June 2019; Rong Chen, Hao Xu leg.

Overall length: ♂ 20.6, ♀ 19.6; pronotum length × width: ♂ 4.3 × 4.9, ♀ 4.2 × 5.1; tegmina: ♂ 17.5, ♀ 16.4.

Male. Coloration: Body yellowish brown or brown (Fig. 2A, B). Ocelli pale yellow. Antennae yellowish brown with base pale yellow. Maxillary palps with fourth and fifth palpomeres yellow brown, others pale yellow (Fig. 2E). Pronotum yellowish brown, with a light-colored vertical stripe at disk (Fig. 2C, D). Head: Interocular space slightly less than ocelli width and distinctly narrower than width of antennal sockets. Third and fifth maxillary palpomeres about same length, and slightly longer than the fourth (Fig. 2E). Posterior margin of pronotum slightly convex in the middle (Fig. 2D). Tegmina and hindwings: Both fully developed, extending beyond end of abdomen (Fig. 2H, I). RP of hindwings with branches near the middle, CuA curved as “S” with 4 complete and 3 incomplete branches (Fig. 2I); apical triangle small. Legs: Anteroventral margin of front femur Type A₃ (Fig. 2F), pretarsal claws symmetrical and unspecialized. Abdominal tergites: T1 specialized with a setal tuft in the middle; T7 specialized with a pair of shallow fossae and a setal tuft in the middle, two dark brown spots on each side of the tuft (Fig. 2G). T10 with a median ridge, where a bunch of bristles is born, hind margin broadly and weakly concave. Paraprocts: Dissimilar, right one with a long spine and a cockscomb-like process, and left one with a shorter spine-like process distad (Fig. 2J). Subgenital plate: Asymmetrical, styli cone-shaped, the right one located on the apex of a protrusion arising from middle of hind margin, and left one slightly larger and near base of right one (Fig. 2N). Male genitalia: L3 on the left side with a subapical incision (Fig. 2K); proximal end of L2vm with an inconspicuous bifurcation, and the apex sharp (Fig. 2L); R2, R3 complex with a Y-shaped sclerite (Fig. 2M). — Female. Like male (except for postabdomen).

Figure 2. 

Centrocolumna ericea gen. et sp. nov., male: A holotype, dorsal view; B holotype, ventral view; C head, ventral view; D pronotum; E maxillary palp; F front femur, ventral view; G seventh abdominal tergite; H tegmen; I wing; J supra-anal plate, ventral view; K left phallomere; L median phallomere; M right phallomere; N subgenital plate, dorsal view. Scale bars: 10 mm (A, B), 1 mm (C, D), 2 mm (H, I), 0.5 mm (E–G, J–N).

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word ericeus, referring to the right paraproct scattered with spines.

Centrocolumna ericea Jin and Che sp. nov. resembles Centrocolumna striata striata comb. nov., but differs from it as follows: 1) the former with a setal tuft on T1, but the latter without; 2) the former with the left stylus larger than right one, but the latter with the right stylus larger than left one. Furthermore, the general color differs greatly among specimens of the new species collected in different provinces: specimens from Chongqing and Fujian are generally yellowish brown, specimens from Hunan are brown, and specimens from Guangxi are dark brown. In terms of paraprocts, there are some minor differences exhibited in the cockscomb-like process of right paraproct, the teeth usually ranging from 2 to 8.

China (Chongqing, Fujian, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan, Hunan).

In this genus, with the type species S. hebardi Princis, 1969 (not included in our analyses), we establish two new species mainly according to the morphological characters. In addition, inferred from our phylogenetic analyses (Fig. 1), Episymploce maxima Li, Liu, Qiu and Yue is grouped together with other Symploce species; thus, we propose one new combination.

CHINA • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Guangxi Prov, Guiping City, Longtan National Forest Park; 386 m; 2 June 2014; Shunhua Gui, Xinran Li leg. • 1 ♂, Guizhou Prov., Qiannan Dushan County, Mawei Town; 9 June 2019; Lu Qiu, Wenbo Deng leg. • 1 ♂, Guizhou, Prov., Leishan County, Changbei Village; 8 June 2013; Guiqiang Huang, Xiangxiang Zhang leg.

Li et al. (2020) established Episymploce maxima, but we transfer this species (Fig. 3) to Symploce based on the following reasons: 1) in morphology, body size large (Fig. 3A–D), T9 unspecialized, and no incrassate or crimping on the posterior margin of the subgenital plate (Fig. 3N); 2) in phylogenetic analysis, Episymploce maxima Li, Liu, Qiu and Yue was placed as the sister of Symploce sphaerica with a high support value (Fig. 1, supplementary material Fig. S1), forming a clade together with other Symploce species. In addition, different individuals of this species exhibit some variations in body color, especially on the pronotum: the sample from Duwei County are black brown (Fig. 3A, B), others from Leishan County are yellowish brown (Fig. 3C, D).

Figure 3. 

Symploce maxima (Li et al, 2020) comb. nov., male: A, B Duwei County, Guizhou: A dorsal view; B ventral view; C, D Leishan County, Guizhou: C dorsal view; D ventral view; E maxillary palp; F front femur, ventral view; G seventh abdominal tergite; H tegmen; I wing; J supra-anal plate, ventral view; K left phallomere; L median phallomere; M right phallomere; N subgenital plate, dorsal view. Scale bars: 10 mm (A–D), 2 mm (H, I), 0.5 mm (E–G, J–N).

China (Guangxi, Guizhou).

Holotype: CHINA • ♂; Hainan Prov., Ledong County, Mt. Jianfengling; 26–28 June 2014; Bing Liu leg.; light traps. Paratypes: CHINA • 2 ♂♂, same data as for holotype.

Overall length: ♂ 21.5; pronotum length × width: ♂ 4.6 × 6.0; tegmina: ♂ 18.5.

Male. Coloration: Body chestnut brown (Fig. 4A, B). Vertex black, lower half of face chestnut brown. Ocelli milky. Base of antenna yellowish brown, the rest dark brown (Fig. 4C). Maxillary palps brown (Fig. 4E). Pronotum chestnut brown, posterior and narrow lateral borders shiny black (Fig. 4D). Tegmina anterior edge black, the rest blackish brown (Fig. 4H). Legs with tibiae and tarsi dark brown, remainder chestnut brown (Fig. 4B). Head: Interocular space shorter than the distance between ocelli and slightly less than the width of an antennal socket. Third maxillary palpomere as long as the fourth, slightly longer than the fifth (Fig. 4E). Posterior margin of pronotum slightly convex (Fig. 4D). Tegmina and hindwings: Both fully developed, extending beyond the end of abdomen (Fig. 4H, I). Hind wings with RP branched after the midpoint, the apical region of M with a bifurcation, CuA slightly curved with 5 complete and 3 incomplete branches (Fig. 4I). Legs: Front femur Type A₃ (Fig. 4F), pretarsal claws symmetrical and unspecialized, pulvillus present. Abdominal tergites: T1 specialized as a ridge scattered with a cluster of setae. T7 also specialized with a pair of unobvious fossae in the middle (Fig. 4G). T10 symmetrical, posterior margin rounded. Paraprocts: Dissimilar, the right one bifurcate with one apex enlarged, left one with a curved finger-like process (Fig. 4J). Subgenital plate: Slightly asymmetrical, middle part of posterior margin distinctly convex with tiny bristles, two styli similar and cylindrical with tiny bristles; right middle area with a large spine-like protrusion pointed to supra-anal plate (Fig. 4N). Male genitalia: L3 on the left side and the apex with an incision (Fig. 4K); L2vm rod-like, the apex acute (Fig. 4L); R3 complex, a part of the sclerites rake-shaped (Fig. 4M). — Female. Unknown.

Figure 4. 

Symploce nigra sp. nov., male: A holotype, dorsal view; B holotype, ventral view; C head, ventral view; D pronotum; E maxillary palp; F front femur, ventral view; G seventh abdominal tergite; H tegmen; I wing; J supra-anal plate, ventral view; K left phallomere; L median phallomere; M right phallomere; N subgenital plate, dorsal view. Scale bars: 10 mm (A, B), 1 mm (C, D), 2 mm (H, I), 0.5 mm (E–G, J–N).

The Latin word niger, meaning black, refers to the posterior and lateral border areas of pronotum being black.

Symploce nigra Jin and Che sp. nov. is similar to Centrocolumna evidens comb. nov. in general morphology, however, they can be distinguished by the following characteristics: 1) pronotum of the former chestnut brown, posterior and narrow lateral borders shiny black, but lateral region of the pronotum of the latter species yellowish brown with dark U-shaped maculae at disc; 2) supra-anal plate of the former specialized with setal tuft near the posterior margin, but the latter without; 3) two styli similar and cylindrical, both situated at the posterior margin of subgenital plate, while the right stylus of the latter, arising at the protrusion of subgenital plate.

China (Hainan).

Holotype: CHINA • ♂, Guangxi Prov., Jinxiu County, Mt. Shengtang; 4–5 June 2014; Shunhua Gui, Xinran Li leg. Paratypes: CHINA • 2 ♂♂, Guangxi Prov., Wuming County, Mt. Daming; 3 July 2015, Lu Qiu and Qikun Bai leg. • 1 ♀, Guangxi Prov., Jinxiu County, Yinshan Park; 16–17 July 2015; Lu Qiu, Qikun Bai leg.

Overall length: ♂ 25.0, ♀ 23.0; pronotum length × width: ♂ 5.4 × 6.2, ♀ 5.5 × 6.4; tegmina: ♂ 22.5, ♀ 18.7.

Male. Coloration: Large body, yellowish-brown to dark brown (Fig. 5A, B), face brown, ocelli milky (Fig. 5C). Maxillary palps brown (Fig. 5E). The base of antenna yellowish brown, the rest dark brown. Pronotum yellowish-brown with posterior border black brown (Fig. 5D). Head: Interocular distance obviously less than the distance between antennal sockets. Third segment of maxillary palps as long as the fifth segment, slightly longer than the fourth (Fig. 5E). Posterior margin of pronotum obviously convex (Fig. 5D). Tegmina and hindwings: Both fully developed, extending beyond the end of abdomen (Fig. 5H, I). Hind wings with RP bifurcated near the midpoint; the apex of M branched; CuA curved with 5–6 complete branches and 3 incomplete branches (Fig. 5I). Legs: Front femur Type A₃ (Fig. 5F), pretarsal claws with pulvillus symmetrical and unspecialized. Abdominal tergites: Center of T1 ridged with a cluster of setae, T7 with a pair of obvious depressions and a tubercular process, where some bristles are present in the middle (Fig. 5G). T10 symmetrical, posterior margin slightly concave, and anterior margin with a cluster of setae. Paraprocts: Dissimilar, the right one with a curved and spine-like process at base, left one with 3 spine-like processes of variable size (Fig. 5J). Subgenital plate: Hind margin asymmetrical, left stylus arising at posterior margin with some spinules; right stylus crooked and irregular (Fig. 5N). Male genitalia: L3 on the left side, of which the apex has an incision (Fig. 5K); L2vm rod-like and with branches at apex (Fig. 5L); R2, R3 made up of several sclerites (Fig. 5M).

Figure 5. 

Symploce tubercularis sp. nov., male: A holotype, dorsal view; B holotype, ventral view; C head, ventral view; D pronotum; E maxillary palp; F front femur, ventral view; G seventh abdominal tergite; H tegmen; I wing; J supra-anal plate, ventral view; K left phallomere; L median phallomere; M right phallomere; N subgenital plate, dorsal view. Scale bars: 10 mm (A, B), 1 mm (C, D), 2 mm (H, I), 0.5 mm (E–G, J–N).

The Latin word tubercularis indicates T7 with a tubercular process in the middle.

Symploce tubercularis Jin and Che sp. nov. is closely related to Symploce maxima (Li et al. 2020) comb. nov., however, they can be distinguished by the following characteristics: 1) the former with a tubercular process in the middle of T7 that is absent in the latter; 2) the former with the right stylus crooked and irregular, while the latter has two small and simple styli; 3) the former with a setal tuft on supra-anal plate, but the latter without.

China (Guangxi).

In our phylogenetic analysis (the type species Episymploce paradoxura Bey-Bienko, 1950 not included), Symploce torchaceus Feng and Woo, 1999 and Symploce wulingensis Feng and Woo, 1993 were recovered as sister taxa and deeply embedded within the clade of Episymploce. 2 new combinations were set up accordingly, and 1 synonymy was proposed as follows.

CHINA • 1 ♂ (holotype of S. torchaceus); Fujian Prov., Mt. Wuyi; 10 July 1982; Feng Xia leg. • 1 ♂ (paratype of S. torchaceus); Hainan Prov., Mt. Jianfengling; 21 March 1983; Shaoying Liang leg. • 2 ♂♂; Hainan Prov., Linshui County, Mt. Diaoluo; 3 May 2013; Shunhua Gui leg.

Symploce torchaceus Feng and Woo, 1999 was established based on the samples form Mt. Wuyi and Mt. Jianfengling, which was redescribed by Wang and Che (2013) where the detailed information on genitalia was provided for the first time. Herein, we transfer this species to genus Episymploce on basis of characteristics as follows: body medium-sized; posterior margin of subgenital plate slightly thickened and setaceous. And in our ML and BI inferences Symploce torchaceus Feng and Woo, 1999 was grouped together with other Episymploce members forming a monophyletic group (Fig. 1, supplementary material Fig. S1).

CHINA • 1 ♂ (holotype of S. stellatus); Fujian Prov., Mt. Wuyi; 10–18 June 1980; Shiyang Xia leg. • 1 ♂ (paratype of S. stellatus); Fujian Prov., Sangang; 15 June 1981; Jingying Liu leg. • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Hainan Prov., Lingshi, Mt. Diaoluo; 3 May 2013; Yan Shi leg. • 1 ♂; Guangxi Prov., Jinxiu County, Mt. Shengtang; 900–1200 m; 28 June 2000; Jian Yao leg.

Overall length: ♂ 17.7–18.0; pronotum length × width: ♂ 3.8 × 4.2; tegmina: ♂ 15.0–15.2.

Male. Coloration: Medium body, yellowish brown (Fig. 6A, B). Ocelli pale yellow; base of antenna brown, the rest dark brown (Fig. 6C). The fourth and fifth maxillary palps dark brown, the rest yellow brown (Fig. 6E). Pronotum yellowish with a pair of reddish-brown V-shaped stripes, and lateral border yellowish brown (Fig. 6D). Head: Interocular space less than the distance between ocelli and narrower than width of antennal sockets (Fig. 6C). First three segments of maxillary palps almost the same length (Fig. 6E). Pronotum subelliptical, hind margin slightly convex in the middle (Fig. 6D). Tegmina and hindwings: Both fully developed, extending beyond the end of abdomen (Fig. 6H, I). RP of hindwings with branches near the middle; M simple and unbranched; CuA with 3 complete branches and many small incomplete branches, apical triangle small but visible (Fig. 6I). Legs: Front femur Type A₃ (Fig. 6F), pretarsal claws symmetrical and unspecialized, pulvillus present. Abdominal tergites: T1 unspecialized, T7 specialized with a pair of shallow fossae (Fig. 6G), lateral plates of T9 similar. T10 symmetrical and trapezoidal. Paraprocts: Dissimilar, base of right one with a curved and long spine-like process; left one with a curved finger-like process on which three small thorns are situated (Fig. 6J). Subgenital plate: Asymmetrical, both margins curly and covered with thin thorns. Left stylus bifurcated and obtuse angle present; right stylus near the left one, with 2 or 3 branches near the apex (Fig. 6N). Male genitalia: L3 on left side, and apex with a deep incision (Fig. 6K); L2vm rod-shaped and apex branched (Fig. 6L); R2, R3 consisting of several irregular sclerites (Fig. 6M). — Female. Unknown.

Figure 6. 

Episymploce wulingensis (Feng et Woo, 1993) comb. nov., male: A dorsal view; B ventral view; C head, ventral view; D pronotum; E maxillary palp; F front femur, ventral view; G seventh abdominal tergite; H tegmen; I wing; J supra-anal plate, ventral view; K left phallomere; L median phallomere; M right phallomere; N subgenital plate, dorsal view. Scale bars: 10 mm (A, B), 1 mm (C, D), 2 mm (H, I), 0.5 mm (E–G, J–N).

Wang and Che (2013) suggested that Symploce wulingensis Feng and Woo, 1993 should be transferred to Episymploce according to the morphological characters. In this paper, we also consider it more appropriate to move this species to Episymploce on basis of the morphological information: body size medium, T7 specialized with a pair of shallow fossae without setae, subgenital plates lightly incrassate and setaceous. Our phylogenetic analysis also supports this view (Fig. 1, supplementary material Fig. S1): Symploce wulingensis Feng and Woo was placed as the sister of Episymploce torchaceus, which together were deeply embedded within the clade of Episymploce.

China (Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Chongqing).

CHINA • 1 ♂ (holotype of S. quadrispinis); Yunnan Prov., Lushui City, Liuku Town, 12 June 1981, Jianmin Zhao leg. • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Yunnan Prov., Kunming City; 13 June 1986; Pingzhang Feng leg. • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Sichuan Prov., Leshan City, Jinhekou County; 26–27 May 2011, Keliang Wu leg.

Episymploce kunmingi was published by Bey-Bienko in Symploce and was transferred to Episymploce by Roth (1985b) based on the asymmetric T10. After examination of Episymploce kunmingi (Bey-Bienko, 1969) and comparison with the holotype of Symploce quadrispinis Woo and Feng, 1992, we found that there was no difference in their external morphology and male genitalia. So we regard Symploce quadrispinis as a synonym of Episymploce kunmingi (Bey-Bienko, 1969).

In our molecular analyses, Symploce ligulata (Bey-Bienko, 1957) and the brachypterous Blattellidae species are clustered together with Blattella samples to form a monophyly with high support values. Therefore, we proposed one new combination and assign the brachypterous species into the genus Blattella.

CHINA • 1 ♂, 3 ♀; Yunnan Prov., Xishuangbanna, Dadugang; 3 May 2013; Zongqing Wang leg. • 2 ♂♂; Yunnan Prov., Xishuangbanna, Naban River Reserve; 4 July 2020; Yishu Wang leg. • 3 ♂♂; Yunnan Prov., Xishuangbanna, Mengban Town; 8 July 2020; Duting Jin leg.

Blattella ligulata (Bey-Bienko, 1957) comb. nov. (Fig. 7), originally in the genus Episymploce, was transferred to Symploce by (Roth 1985c) because of the symmetrical T10. However, both morphological and molecular data analysis support that this species should be in the genus Blattella. Blattella ligulata (Bey-Bienko, 1957) comb. nov. shares some characteristics with Blattella: male T10 tongue-shaped (Fig. 7J) and T7 specialized with a pair of large pouch-like depressions with a setal tuft between them (Fig. 7G). In our phylogenetic analysis, Blattella ligulata (Bey-Bienko, 1957) forms the basal clade of Blattella, being the sister of all other Blattella samples (Fig. 1, supplementary material Fig. S1).

Figure 7. 

Blattella ligulata (Bey-Bienko, 1957) comb. nov., male: A dorsal view; B ventral view; C head, ventral view; D pronotum; E maxillary palp; F front femur, ventral view; G seventh abdominal tergite; H tegmen; I wing; J supra-anal plate, ventral view; K left phallomere L median phallomere; M right phallomere; N subgenital plate, dorsal view. Scale bars: 10 mm (A, B), 1 mm (C, D), 2 mm (H, I), 0.5 mm (E–G, J–N).

China (Yunnan).

Holotype. CHINA • ♂; Sichuan Prov., Panzhihua City, Wuben Town; 8 June 2014; Xinran Li leg. Paratypes: CHINA • 2 ♂, 2 ♀, same data as for holotype.

Overall length: ♂ 7.7–7.8, ♀ 7.7–10.2; pronotum length × width: ♂ 1.9–2.1 × 2.9–3.2, ♀ 2.0–2.5 × 3.4–3.7; tegmina: ♂ 1.6–1.7, ♀ 1.7–1.9.

Male. Coloration: Body blackish brown with yellowish brown lateral border (Fig. 8A, B, E, F). Pronotum blackish brown with a pair of large black stripes, which are separated or contiguous near the anterior margin, lateral borders and disc yellowish brown (Fig. 8L); mesonotum and metanotum blackish brown with disc yellowish brown (Fig. 8A, E). Head yellowish brown with a black patch at vertex, antenna brown with a black spot near outer margin of antennal sockets respectively or forming a T-shaped stripe on the face (Fig. 8M). Legs yellowish brown with some irregular blackish brown stripes (Fig. 8A, E). Head: Interocular space slightly less than ocelli width and distinctly narrower than width of antennal sockets (Fig. 8M). The third and fifth of maxillary palps about the same length, and slightly longer than the fourth (Fig. 8I). Pronotum trapezoidal (Fig. 8L). Tegmina and hindwings: Both scaly and strongly reduced, only extending to about the end of mesonotum and metanotum, respectively (Fig. 8N, O). Legs: Anteroventral margin of front femur Type B₃ (Fig. 8J), pretarsal claws symmetrical and unspecialized. Abdominal tergites: Middle of T7 slightly raised with setal tuft, and a pair of inconspicuous fossae on either side (Fig. 8K). T10 flat with anterior border concave and hind margin also slightly concave in the middle. Paraprocts: Dissimilar, the right one with a strongly curved and slender process, the left one bifurcated with apices rounded (Fig. 8P). Subgenital plate: Distinctly asymmetrical, the left posterior margin broadly and concavely excavated; styli nearly conical and arising from the right posterior angle, the right one slightly larger than the left one (Fig. 8T). Male genitalia: L3 on the left side (Fig. 8Q); L2vm rod-shaped (Fig. 8R); R2, R3 consisting of several sclerites (Fig. 8S). — Female. Similar to the male but body larger (Fig. 8C, D, G, H).

Figure 8. 

Blattella foliolata sp. nov., A, B male, adult: A holotype, dorsal view; B holotype, ventral view; C, D female, adult: C paratype, dorsal view; D paratype, ventral view; E, F male, nymph: E dorsal view; F ventral view; G, H female, nymph: G dorsal view; H ventral view; I maxillary palp; J front femur, ventral view; K seventh abdominal tergite; L pronotum; M head, ventral view; N tegmen; O wing; P supra-anal plate, ventral view; Q left phallomere; R median phallomere; S right phallomere; T subgenital plate, dorsal view. Scale bars: 5 mm (A–H), 1 mm (K–O), 0.5 mm (I, J, P–T).

Blattella foliolata Jin and Che sp. nov. is similar to Ignabolivaria bilobata Chopard, 1929 because of nearly identical scale-shaped tegmina and wings. However, they can be distinguished by the following: 1) the former with black markings on the face, but the latter entirely dark brown; 2) abdominal T7 longer than the previous tergites in the former, but shorter than most of previous tergites in the latter; 3) styli close to each other in the former, but separated by a distance of about the length of one stylus in the latter. Meanwhile, this species is easily recognized and distinguished from other macropterous Blattella species owing to the strongly reduced wings, but it is very challenging to distinguish them from the nymphs of Blattella bisignata (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893) in the wild. Like most species of Blattella, the brachypterous Blattella foliolata Jin and Che sp. nov. has a small body, pronotum blackish brown with a pair of large black stripes, a symmetrical T10, and an asymmetrical subgenital plate with a concave excavation on the left posterior margin. Moreover, Blattella foliolata Jin and Che sp. nov. was deeply embedded within the clade of Blattella in our phylogenetic analysis, and is retrieved as the sister group of B. bisignata + B. nipponica + B. germanica + B. parilis comb. nov.

The Latin word foliolatus refers to the tegmina and hindwings strongly reduced as a lobule.

China (Sichuan).