Ultragryllacris Gorochov et Dawwrueng

Gorochov, Andrej V., Dawwrueng, Pattarawich & Artchawakom, Taksin, 2015, Study of Gryllacridinae (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae) from Thailand and adjacent countries: the genera Ultragryllacris gen. nov. and Capnogryllacris, Zootaxa 4021 (4), pp. 565-577 : 565-566

Genus Ultragryllacris Gorochov et Dawwrueng , gen. nov.

Type species Ultragryllacris pulchra sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Size and general shape of body more or less similar to those of some other large gryllacridines ( Gryllacris Audiner-Serville, 1831 ; Capnogryllacris Karny, 1937 ; Diaphanogryllacris Karny, 1937 ): head with very large and round median ocellus, much smaller and vertical lateral ocelli located on a pair of low vertical (almost keel-like) inflations between dorsal edges of antennal cavities (area between these inflations shallowly concave), and space between antennal cavities approximately twice as wide as scape; pronotum typical of this subfamily ( Figs 1–3, 8, 11–13 ); legs moderately long, strong, with 5 pairs of movable ventral spines on fore and middle tibiae (majority of these spines rather long, but one distal pair distinctly shorter), with moderately large but strong and unarticulated spine on each fore coxa, with rather numerous small unarticulated spines or denticles on both ventral keels of hind femur, and with somewhat more numerous dorsal unarticulated spines of hind tibia as well as 4 pairs of articulated but not long spines located on distal part of this tibia (6 apical spurs and a pair of subapical ventral spines); wings completely developed, long, with venation normal for large long-winged gryllacridines from above-mentioned genera ( Fig. 16 ). Abdomen without traces of femoro-abdominal apparatus; 9th abdominal tergite of male strongly specialized, i. e. with very large (long) dorsal projection occupied most part of this tergite and directed more or less backwards (this projection somewhat similar to crown of pharaonic Upper Egypt in shape; Figs 4, 5 ), with a pair of angular posteroventral lobules directed forwards and having heavily sclerotized ridge on each medial edge (this ridge also directed forwards; Figs 4, 5, 7 ), and with angular but not deep notch between these lobules ( Figs 5, 7 ); 10th abdominal tergite of male short, transversally triangular, with high but short median keel directed downwards, without distinct hooks or other processes, and completely covering epiproct ( Figs 4, 5, 7 ); paraprocts and cerci simple; male genital plate moderately small, transverse, with moderately long and simple styles, and with short and wide lobe between these styles ( Figs 5, 7 ); male genitalia completely membranous, with a pair of rather large lateral lobes, and with longer median lobe having a pair of narrow posterolateral lobules at apex ( Fig. 6 ); female abdomen with unspecialized tergites; female genital plate simple, having short (strongly transverse) proximal part sclerotized, larger middle part partly de-sclerotized (soft, with folds), and rest part with small notch at apex ( Fig. 9, 15 ); ovipositor long, straight, rather thin and with very narrowly rounded (almost acute) apex ( Fig. 10 ).

Included species. Type species only.

Comparison. The new genus differs from all the other genera of this subfamily in a very characteristic structure of the male abdominal apex: a very large and long projection of the 9th tergite; the presence of heavily sclerotized ridges (but not hooks) on the ventral edge of this tergite; short 10th tergite with a high median keel but without hooks or other processes; and completely membranous male genitalia.

Etymology. This generic name originates from the Latin prefix “ultra-“ (more) and generic name Gryllacris .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 15. Ultragryllacris gen. nov.: 1 – 10, U. pulchra sp. nov., male (1 – 7) and female (8 – 10); 11 – 15, U. p. alboclypeata subsp. nov., female. Head in front (1, 8, 11); head with pronotum from above (2, 12) and from side (3, 13); abdominal apex from side (4, 10) and from below (5), and its schematic picture from below (7); genitalia from above (6); dorsal surface of hind tibia (14); genital plate from below (9, 15).

FIGURES 16 – 20. Body of male from above (16 – 18, left wings spread): 16, Ultragryllacris pulchra gen. et sp. nov.; 17, Capnogryllacris khmerica Gor.; 18, C. thaica sp. nov.; 19, 20, C. sakaerat sp. nov. (19, holotype; 20, paratype).