Papuogryllacris rugifrons, 2018

Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2018, New taxa and records of Gryllacrididae (Orthoptera, Stenopelmatoidea) from South East Asia and New Guinea with a key to the genera, Zootaxa 4510 (1), pp. 1-278 : 262-263

Papuogryllacris rugifrons sp. nov.

Figs. 94 C–D, 95I, 96D–F

Material examined. Papua New Guinea: Madang, Laing Island , 1–31.iii.1976, leg. A. Capart— 1 female (holotype) (Brussels RBINS) .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar P. diluta and its subspecies in general shape. It differs by the distinctly rugose frons provided with large impressed dots. The female subgenital plate is similar to that of P. diluta huoniana but but with rather widely rounded apical margin. The female seventh abdominal sternite is very short and shorter than in P. diluta huoniana and there are no pits surrounded by sclerotised rims in the intersegmental membrane between last sternite and subgenital plate. The female subgenital plate is also similar to that of P. dimidiata neuhaussi (Griffini, 1911) but relatively longer with lateral margins approaching nearly from base and with apical margin narrower rounded, while in P. dimidiata neuhaussi it is has subparallel margins in basal area followed by a wide rounded apical margin. Moreover, P. rugifrons is smaller and has distinctly shorter wings (tegmen length 32.5 against 42 mm).

Description. Medium large species. Head: Face wide ovoid; forehead in middle rugose with large impressed dots and fine transverse riffles, towards genae nearly smooth; fastigium verticis little wider than scapus, separated by a fine transverse suture from fastigium frontis; ocelli distinct; subocular furrows distinct ( Fig. 94D ). Abdominal tergites two and three each with two rows of stridulatory pegs (3, 10; 8, 13; n = 1; Fig. 95I ).

Wings surpassing hind knees and reaching about middle of stretched hind tibiae ( Fig. 94C ). Tegmen: Radius releases RS behind mid length of tegmen, both branches forked in apical area. Media anterior free from base; cubitus anterior at base with a single branch that forks into two veins, the anterior branch makes a curvature and receives an oblique connection vein from MA and shortly after divides again into two parallel branches, MP and CuA1, while the posterior branch (CuA2) does not divide further; cubitus posterior undivided, free throughout; with 4 anal veins, the last two with common base.

Legs: Fore coxa with a spine at fore margin; fore and mid femora unarmed; fore and mid tibiae with 3 pairs of large ventral spines and 1 pair of smaller ventral spurs; hind femur with 8–10 external and 14–15 internal spines on ventral margins; hind tibia with spaced spines on both dorsal margins, ventral margins without pre-apical spine; with 3 apical spurs on both sides.

Coloration. General color uniformly yellowish brown; pronotum with blackish hind margin. Face rather uniformly medium brown; ocelli white; lower part of clypeus and upper part or labrum of lighter color (yellowish to whitish), palpi yellowish brown. Tegmen yellowish semi-transparent, darker towards base; veins and veinlets yellow; hind wing semi-transparent white; veins yellow, towards base brown; cross-veins greyish.

Male unknown.

Female. Seventh abdominal sternite shorter than preceding sternites, otherwise of normal shape. Subgenital plate cap-shaped, with upcurved margins; lateral margins convex, apical margin rounded ( Figs. 96 E–F). Ovipositor long, slightly upcurved; tip subacute ( Fig. 96D ).

Measurements (1 female).—body w/wings: 43; body w/o wings: 30; pronotum: 6.6; tegmen: 32.5; tegmen width: 11; hind femur: 17; ovipositor: 22.5 mm.

Etymology. Named for the rugose face; from Latin rugosus (rugose).

Figures

FIGURE 94. Genus Papuogryllacris: A–B, P. diluta baiteta ssp. nov. female holotype; C–D, P. rugifrons sp. nov. female holotype; E, P. leeuweni (Karny, 1930) male "allotype"; F–G, P. diluta huoniana (Griffini, 1909) female; H–I, P. ligata bundi ssp. nov. male holotype. The arrow in H marks the point where a branch from MA and CuA touch each other but do not fuse (insert image).—Habitus dorsal view (A, C, E, F, H), face (B, D, G, I). Scales 10 mm (body) or 5 mm (face).

FIGURE 95. Genus Papuogryllacris: A–D, P. ligata bundi ssp. nov. holotype; E–F, P. diluta huoniana (Griffini, 1909); G, P. t. trianguligera (Griffini, 1911); H, P. leeuweni (Karny, 1930); I, P. rugifrons sp. nov. holotype.—Male abdominal apex in about ventral or oblique ventral view (A–C, E, G–H; C in higher magnification), stridulatory pegs on second and third abdominal tergites, front is left (D, F, I).

FIGURE 96. Genus Papuogryllacris: A–C, P. diluta baiteta ssp. nov. holotype; D–F, P. rugifrons sp. nov. holotype; G–I, P. diluta huoniana (Griffini, 1909); J, P. diluta diluta (Griffini, 1909) paratype.—Female habitus lateral view (A, D), female end of abdomen with seventh sternite, subgenital plate and base of ovipositor in lateral (B, E, H) and in ventral view (C, F, I–J), ovipositor (G). Scales 10 mm.