Rhicnogryllus, Chopard, 1925

Tan, Ming Kai, Baroga-Barbecho, Jessica B., Japir, Razy, Chung, Arthur Y. C., Wahab, Rodzay Bin Haji Abdul & Yap, Sheryl A., 2020, A taxonomic study on the Bornean and Philippines Sword-tailed Crickets in the genus Rhicnogryllus Chopard, 1925 (Orthoptera: Trgonidiidae; Trigonidiinae), Zootaxa 4763 (2), pp. 217-230 : 224-228

Rhicnogryllus ? paetensis Tan , Yap & Baroga-Barbecho, new species

Figs. 4–6

Material examined. Male holotype (UPLB.19.20), Philippines, Luzon Island, Paete , Brgy Ilaya Norte , UP Land Grant , N14.39968, E121.54356, 353.9± 7.5 m.a.s.l., 1046 hours, 12 May 2019, coll. M. K. Tan, S. A. Yap, & J. B. Baroga-Barbecho, det. M. K. Tan ( UPLBMNH).

Female allotype (UPLB.19.17), Philippines, same locality as holotype, N14.39994, E121.54324, 362.2± 7.5 m.a.s.l., 1032 hours, 12 May 2019, coll. M. K. Tan, S. A. Yap, & J. B. Baroga-Barbecho, det. M. K. Tan ( UPLBMNH).

Paratypes: 3 males and 1 female (UPLB.19.22–25), Philippines, same locality as holotype, N14.39963 – 14.39965, E121.54362 –121.54385, 352.3–353.1± 8.1–8.4 m.a.s.l., 1049–1058 hours, 12 May 2019, coll. M. K. Tan, S. A. Yap, & J. B. Baroga-Barbecho, det. M. K. Tan ( UPLBMNH and ZRC).

Diagnosis. This species differs from all congeners by the unique shape of lophi at the posterior apex of pseudepiphallus.

Remarks. This new species has an external morphology that is nearly indistinguishable from Rhicnogryllus . The male genitalia also has typical characteristics of Rhicnogryllus : pseudepiphallus separated into two lateral parts joined by an anterior sclerotized bridge; posterior apex of pseudepiphallus forming flattened lophi with inner margins dentated; pseudepiphallic parameres elongated rather than transverse, also variable in shape, but never exceeding posterior apex of pseudepiphallus; virga long with acute apex; ectophallic apodeme usually weakly sclerotized, but long. However, owing to the unique shape of lophi at the posterior apex of pseudepiphallus, it may be probable that this species belongs to another genus. We refrain from describing a new genus at the moment to avoid adding confusion to the generic taxonomy of Trigonidiinae and tentatively place this species under question in Rhicnogryllus .

Distribution. Philippines: Luzon Island: Laguna

Description. Habitus typical of Rhicnogryllus ( Figs. 4 , 5 A–E). Tegminal dorsal field with seven elevated veins; first and second anal-most veins fused at the apex, which then fuse with the third (faintly) and fourth veins; without cross-vein, not pubescent. Tegminal lateral field with four less-elevated and faintly sinuous veins. Hind wing absent. Without visible metanotal gland.

Male: Anal plate trapezoidal, apex narrow and truncated. Subgenital plate longer than broad, with apex roundly excised. Cerci simple, tapering and long surpassing hind femora. Male genitalia ( Figs. 6 D–E): Pseudepiphallus separated into two lateral parts joined by an anterior sclerotized bridge situated somewhere along the middle of the length of rami; sclerotized bridge narrow and strongly curved. Posterior edges of pseudepiphallic sclerite without lobule in the middle. Posterior apex of pseudepiphallus forming flattened lophi; lophus triangular, with inner margin dentated, with apex subacute, angularly emarginated (indented) at the inner margin at the base. Pseudepiphallic parameres elongated, not exceeding apex of pseudepiphallic lophus, falcate, posteriorly tapers into an obtuse apex with a small tooth. Ectophallic fold weakly sclerotized, elongated, with a short weakly sclerotized virga with acute apex. Ectophallic apodeme weakly sclerotized, but long. Ramus slender, surpassing anterior of ectophallic apodeme. Endophallic sclerite thin and relatively short, with lamella of apodemes also thing but longer.

Female: Habitus similar to males ( Figs. 5C, 5D ). Tegminal venation on dorsal field similar to males. Supra-anal plate with tenth abdominal tergite trapezoidal, apical end narrower and truncated, epiproct elongated with apex producing into two stout lobules. Subgenital plate about as long as wide, tapering, apex angularly concave and narrowly excised in the middle. Ovipositor not surpassing cerci; basal third with margins smooth, nearly straight; apical third with dorsal margin faintly denticulated ( Fig. 5F ). Ventral valves distinctly longer than dorsal valves ( Fig. 5F ).

Colouration: Males and females generally yellow but exhibit sexual dimorphism ( Fig. 4 ). In living males, head (including scapus) yellow, with setae on dorsum brown. In living females, head and pronotum orange; dorsum of tergites dark brown. Face pale yellow, without any markings. Palpi with segments light yellow, apical segment sometimes slightly darker. Pronotum yellow, with brown setae. Tegmina in males nearly transparent, shiny yellow, with apical area on both dorsal and lateral field with tint of dark; longitudinal veins dark. In females, tegmen dark throughout (except basal area which is lighter). Legs yellow, without patterns; distal half of femora and tibiae darker. Hind femur with two black irregularly shaped bands, one near the base, another thicker one in the middle, delimiting the darker and lighter shades of yellow brown. In females, dark bands on hind femur are thicker and more with regular margin. Hind tibia yellow brown, spurs sometimes darker. Thoracic sternites in males and females pale yellow. In males, abdominal tergites and sternites pale yellow; supra-anal plate black; cerci with pale yellow brown, darkens apically. In females, abdominal tergites (except epiproct) dark. Male subgenital plate yellow with some black markings, yellow in females. Ovipositor pale basally, red brown thereafter.

Measurements (in mm). Male holotype: BL 4.0; HW 1.5; PL 1.0; PW 1.2; TL 2.4. Female allotype: BL 4.1; HW 1.6; PL 1.0; PW 1.3; TL 2.8; HFL 1.0; HTL 1.0; OL 1.7.

Etymology. The species is named after the type locality, Paete.

Natural history. This species, also tends to be found among foliage of shrubs or low-lying vegetation in the understory, seems to be most active in the morning, during which all the specimens were collected. We did not find individuals during survey in the afternoon and evening.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Live habitus of Rhicnogryllus paetensis n. sp. males (A, B), and female (C) from Luzon, Philippines.

FIGURE 5. Rhicnogryllus paetensis n. sp. male (A, B) and female (C, D) in dorsal (A, C) and lateral (B, D) views; face in anterior view (E); female ovipositor in lateral view (F). Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 6. Male genitalia of Rhicnogryllus bipunctatus (A–C) and Rhicnogryllus paetensis n. sp. (D–F) in dorsal (A, D), ventral (B, E) and lateral (C, F) views.