Gryllotalpa tamessei Kekeunou & Simeu-Noutchom, 2024

Simeu-Noutchom, Alain, Kekeunou, Sevilor, Wandji, Alain Christel, Nzike, Marcelle Mbadjoun & Nkwala, Alfiery Laurel Djomnang, 2024, Description of two new species of mole crickets from the genus Gryllotalpa (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) in Cameroon, with a key to the Afrotropical parva group species, Zootaxa 5432 (3), pp. 425-435 : 431-432

Gryllotalpa tamessei Kekeunou & Simeu-Noutchom sp. nov. ( Figs. 4 g –l )

Material examined. Holotype: 1 ♂, type locality: Tombel, 04° 45'S, 009° 39’E, crop field, Mar. 2017; coll. Alain SIMEU-NOUTCHOM and Sévilor KEKEUNOU; Pitfall trap; Depository: "Grigore Antipa", National Museum of Natural History : 182528.

Diagnosis. Forewings not reaching the fourth abdominal segment ( Fig. 4g ), average length of 6.25 mm, anal area slightly concave; stridulatory file with 50 teeth on average, fairly spaced, averaging 30 per millimeter. Cell c1 bigger, with triangular shape, and Cell c2 smaller, almost rounded. Fusiform apical part of cu1 vein; vestigial hindwing. Ectophallus internal process quite short, and transverse sclerite very thin.

Etymology. Gryllotalpa tamessei Kekeunou & Simeu-Noutchom sp. nov. is a commemorative name, to honor Professor TAMESSE Joseph Lebel for his research work on Insects. The Latinization of the specific epithet is done according to the prescriptions of the Fourth Edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Description. Body cylindrical shape, robust, brown to black, covered with numerous fine setae, 29.08 mm long ( Fig. 4g ). Blackhead, little rounded, orthognathous, 2 times longer than wide; antenna multi-articulated, as long as the pronotum, with numerous setae; compound eyes rounded, and black, IOD about 1.84 mm; ocelli quite clear. Pronotum developed, 1.4 times longer than broad, concave at its anterior margin and convex at its posterior margin, ventrally carrying foreleg. Foreleg bears four strongly sclerotized dactyls, slightly curved and covering three dactyl-tarsals of different sizes, the smaller one bears two spines; mesothoracic legs heavily covered with setae on tibia. Forewings micropterous, nearly rounded, 6.25 mm long, not reaching the fourth abdominal segment, anal part slightly concave ( Fig. 4h ); subcostal vein with 6 branches: Sc1, Sc2, Sc3, Sc4, Sc5, Sc6; stridulatory file (Cu2) with 50 teeth ( Fig. 4.i ); radial vein and median vein fuse posteriorly to one vein. Hindwing vestigial. Cerci 1.2 times longer than antennal length. Male genitalia made up of two main structures: the epiphallus, and ectophallus. Epiphallus consisting of transverse sclerites and medial prolongation; transverse sclerites very thin, distally truncated with an "L" shape, and ventrally and symmetrically connected to the center of epiphallus. Median prolongation triangular and tubular in form at the base, rounded at the apex and bearing symmetrically two growths. Ectophallus with two non-fused parameres, symmetrical lobe shape, dorsally prolonged by two straight internal processes, upward pointed, rather short and not reaching the base of the median prolongation ( Fig.4 k, l ).

Distribution. This new species is distributed in Tombel, South-West region of Cameroon, and has been found only in crop fields.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Morphology of Gryllotalpa tamessei sp. nov.: (g) general morphology, (h) male fore wing, (i) stridulatory file, (j) fusiform vein, (e) ventral view of phallic complex, (f) dorsal view of phallic complex. Scale bars 1 mm.