Arachnopsita maya, Junta & Castro-Souza & Ferreira, 2022

Junta, Vitor Gabriel Pereira, Castro-Souza, Rodrigo Antônio & Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes, 2022, A new species of Arachnopsita (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Phalangopsidae) from caves in Guatemala, Zootaxa 5094 (3), pp. 409-434 : 412-418

Arachnopsita maya n. sp.

( Figures 2–7 , 8–14 , 15–18 , 19–23 , Table 1 )

Material examined. Holotype ♂, code ISLA 12418, Guatemala, Alta Verapaz, municipality of Raxruhá, Cúpula de los Murcielagos (15°52’58.71” N; 90°11’20.64” O), 26.vi.2017, Pacheco, G. S. M., leg. Paratypes, 7 ♂♂ ( ISLA 12410; 12411; 12412; 12413; 12414; 12416; 12419) and 2 ♀ ♀ ( ISLA 12415; 12417), same data of holotype .

Distribution. Cúpula de los Murcielagos, Cueva Blanca, Cueva el Rostro and Cueva del Venado caves, municipality of Raxruhá, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.

Etymology. Specific epithet “ maya ” refers to the Maya civilization, who inhabited the Mesoamerican region, mainly between A.D. 250 and A.D. 900, known as its Classical Period ( Saunders 2005).

Diagnosis. Combination of the following characters: pseudepiphallic ventral projection acute, triangular shaped, as a spine ( Figs 2, 4–6 , Ps.vp); C-sclerite ventral projection globular ( Fig. 4 , C-vp); C-sclerite laterobasal spine well developed, thin, hooked shape and projecting towards the Ps.P1 ( Figs 2–6 , C-lbs); C-sclerite basal plate broad, concave medially, inclining inward and reaching Ps.P2 ( Figs 3 and 4 , C-bp); copulatory papilla with the presence of a convex bulge towards at base, evident laterally ( Fig. 7 , b).

Description, male holotype ♂. Body color: dorsal head, pronotum and abdomen uniformly yellowish brown, and whitish ventrally ( Figs 10 and 11 ); entire legs brownish, whitish at its proximal portion ( Figs 15–18 ); cerci uniformly brown ( Fig. 12 ). Head: slightly pubescent and with long bristles at base of vertex (some which were lost probably in fixation), elongated at front view (3.132 and 2.612 mm, length and width respectively), fastigium extending the vertex in an inclined plane; gena with a darkened strip connecting the compound eyes to the mandible insertion, front yellowish brown, clypeus and labrum light greyish, mandibles yellowish brown and sclerotized at apex; all maxillary palpomeres pubescent and whitish brown, first two short and same size, last three are bigger and similar size, fifth palpomere claviform at apex and whitish at the tip ( Figs 8 and 9 ), all labial palpomeres pubescent and whitish brown, increasing in size, third palpomere claviform ( Figs 8 and 9 ); scape whitish at the base and dark brown next to the pedicel, pedicel dark brown, antennomeres uniformly dark brown ( Figs 8 and 9 ); compound eyes black, elongated, border of ommatidia lightly depigmented, ocelli absent ( Figs 8 and 9 ). Thorax: pronotum slightly pubescent, anterior, medial and posterior portion with less sclerotized regions (appearance of whitish spots) distributed along the sagittal axis in dorsal view ( Figs 10 and 11 ); dorsal disk broader than long, lateral lobes rounded, anterior and posterior margins sub-straight, anterior margin with long bristles, posterior and lateral margins with possibly lost bristles in fixation ( Fig. 10 ). Legs: In general, femur, tibia and tarsus pubescent; femur smaller than tibia in length (μ = 9.731 ± 0.790 mm; μ = 11.346 ± 1.127 mm, femur and tibia respectively, Leg III, n = 8) ( Figs 15–18 ). Leg I ( Figs 17 and 18 ): tibia armed with two same-sized ventral apical spurs, tympanum absent; first tarsomere ventrally serrated and twice longer than second and third together. Leg II ( Figs 17 and 18 ): tibia armed with two same-sized ventral apical spurs ( Fig. 17 ; ε and Fig. 18 ; ζ); first tarsomere ventrally serrated and twice longer than the second and third together. Leg III: femur dilated; tibia serrulated, armed with four subapical spurs on outer side ( Fig. 15 ; w, x, y, z), the distal being smaller ( Fig. 15 , z), and three on inner side ( Fig. 16 ; α, β, γ), three apical spurs on outer ( Fig. 15 ; a, b, c) and four on the inner side ( Fig. 16 ; d, e, f, g), the inner being the longest ( Fig. 16 , e); first tarsomere about twice longer than the second and third together, armed with two apical spurs ( Figs 15 and 16 ). Right Tegmen: absent ( Fig. 10 ). Abdomen: cerci long and pubescent, mainly in the base ( Fig. 12 ): sub-genital plate light yellowish brown, longer than wide, sub-quadrangular, pubescent, with long bristles in distal margin, proximal margin slightly wider ( Figs 12 and 13 ); supra-anal plate light yellowish brown, quadrangular, pubescent, proximal margin lightly V-shaped and with two lateral projections, concave distally in side margins, and with two small distal-lateral globular projections with long bristles ( Figs 12 and 14 ).

Observations in Paratypes. Male phallic sclerites (paratype ISLA 12414, Figs 2–6 ) Pseudepiphallus: arm long and slightly cambered inward ( Fig. 3 , Ps.arm); ventral projection acute, triangular shaped, as a spine ( Figs 2, 4–6 , Ps.vp); inner bars well sclerotized, curved inward forming a central acuminate projection ( Fig. 3 , Ps.ib); membranous shield broad and flat ( Figs 4 and 5 , Ps.ms); paramere 1 well developed, cone shaped frontally and globular dorsally, with a band less sclerotized, forming a smaller portion dorsally and a larger portion ventrally ( Figs 3–5 , Ps.P1); paramere 2 reduced and undeveloped, connected with Ps.P1, flattened and projecting towards C-sclerite basal plate (C-bp) ( Figs 3–5 , Ps.P2); A sclerite well sclerotized, starting from the Ps.arm, thin and involving the paramere 1, almost merging with this paramere ( Figs 3, 4 and 6 , A). C-sclerite: in general is the most sclerotized part of the sclerite; ventral projection globular ( Fig. 4 , C-vp); laterobasal spine well developed, thin, hooked shape and projecting towards the Ps.P1 ( Figs 2–6 , C-lbs); basal plate broad, concave medially, inclining inward and reaching Ps.P2 ( Figs 3 and 4 , C-bp). Ectophallic invagination: arc developed, upper and lower central part curved ( Fig. 2 , Ect.Arc); lateral bars elongated and projected inwards ( Fig. 2 , Ect.lb); apodemes developed, flatted, dilated and projected outwards of the sclerite, at dorsal and ventral view, with its distal portion acuminate at the apex ( Figs 3 and 6 , Ect.ap). Endophallus: endophallic fold small and V-shaped ( Figs 2, 5–6 , End.F); sclerotized extension of endophallic fold reduced and horizontally projected ( Figs 2 and 6 , End.s); apodemes curved dorsally and close to each other, apex dilated and less sclerotized ( Figs 3 and 6 , End.Ap).

Female: same appearance in relation to males, body size slightly bigger than male (♀ µ = 20.389 ± 2.044 mm, n = 2); apterous; femur always smaller than tibia; sub-genital plate light yellowish brown and pubescent, short, Vshaped, distal margin forked ( Fig. 19 ); supra-anal plate whitish brown and pubescent, distal margin rounded with long bristles, proximal with two small projections ( Fig. 20 ); ovipositor yellowish brown and elongated, sword shaped, with a constriction near the apex, pointed apex ( Figs 21–23 ). Female genitalia ( ISLA 12415, Fig. 7 ). Copulatory papilla elongated and flat ventrally, lateral margins sub-straight ventrally and dorsally, with the apex rounded and sharper than the base ( Fig. 7 , a and c); with the presence of a convex bulge towards at base, evident laterally ( Fig. 7 , b).

Arachnopsita maya n. sp.

Ecological Remarks: Individuals of Arachnopsita maya n. sp. were found in 4 caves in the Raxruhá municipality (Cúpula de los Murcielagos, Cueva Blanca, Cueva el Rostro and Cueva del Venado caves). Specimens were also preferentially observed in dark zones, as for A. cavicola and A. uncinata , although few specimens were found in twilight zones. The populational densities are very low, and immature specimens are more easily found. Cúpula de los Murcielagos ( Fig. 75 ) and Cueva Blanca ( Fig. 76 ) caves present some touristic activity, although only guided groups enter such caves. Furthermore, tourist activities are restricted to some areas of those caves, thus keeping other areas preserved. Cueva del Venado and Cueva el Rostro caves do not present touristic use. The higher densities were observed in the later caves, thus indicating that the presence of human visitors (even occasional) may drive specimens off those caves or eventually reduce their densities, although this is speculative, thus deserving further research. The specimens were observed in both speleothems and cave floor. The main organic resources observed in all caves was bat guano, although some vegetal debris (especially brought by wind) were also observed in some caves, mostly in areas closer to entrances. It is likely that A. maya n. sp. also feed in several organic debris, as for other cave crickets, being an opportunistic detritivore. The main predator of this species is also the phrynid amblypygid Paraphrynus williamsii Moreno, 1940 , observed in several caves in the area.

The external forests surrounding the caves are well preserved mainly over the “Mogotes” (steep-sided residual hills of carbonate rock surrounded by alluvial plains) and their immediate surroundings ( Fig. 74 ). In most of the areas in between the mogotes, there are crops or pastures. Considering that this species is troglophilic (as A. cavicola and A. uncinata ), external populations certainly do exist, being also advisable to both protect some caves as their surroundings.

Figures

FIGURES 2–7. Arachnopsita maya n. sp., Phallic sclerite of paratype ♂ (ISLA 12414). 2—ventral view; 3—dorsal view; 4—latero-frontal view; 5—frontal view; 6—lateral view. 7—copulatory papilla of paratype ♀ (ISLA 12415). a—ventral view; b—lateral view; c—dorsal view. Abbreviations: Male genitalia. Ps. arm, pseudepiphalic arm; Ps.vp, pseudepiphallic ventral projection; Ps.ib, pseudepiphallic inner bars; Ps.ms, pseudepiphallic membranous shield; Ps.P1, pseudepiphallic paramere 1; Ps.P2, pseudepiphallic paramere 2; C-vp, C-sclerite ventral projection; C-lbs, laterobasal spine of C-sclerite; C-bp, C-sclerite basal plate; A, A-sclerite; Ect.Arc, ectophallic arc; Ect.lb, ectophallic lateral bar; Ect.Ap, ectophallic apodeme; End.F, Endophallic fold; End.s, sclerotized extension of endophallic fold; End.Ap, Endophallic apodeme.

FIGURES 8–14. Arachnopsita maya n. sp., Holotype morphology. 8—head in frontal view; 9—head in lateral view; 10—head and pronotum in dorsal view; 11—pronotum in lateral view; 12—supra-anal and sub-genital plates in lateral view; 13—subgenital plate in ventral view; 14—supra-anal plate in dorsal view.

FIGURES 15–18. Arachnopsita maya n. sp., Holotype legs morphology. 15—right leg III and apical spurs, outer view; 16— right leg III and apical spurs, inner view; 17—right legs I and II, inner view; 18—right legs I and II, outer view.

FIGURES 19–23. Arachnopsita maya n. sp., ♀ ISLA 12417. 19—sub-genital plate; 20—supra-anal plate; 21—supra-anal and sub-genital plates in lateral view; 22 and 23—ovipositor, dorsal and lateral view.

FIGURES 74–76. 74—Carste in the region of Raxruhá; 75—Cupula de los Murcielagos inner chamber; 76—Cueva Blanca inner chamber.

Tables

TABLE 1. Arachnopsita maya n. sp., adult male (n = 8) and female (n = 2) morphological measurements (mm), mean (Med.) and stand deviation (D.P.).

♂	12410	12411	12412	12413	12414	12416	12418	12419	Med.	D.P.
Head width	2.355	2.581	2.974	2.827	2.655	2.470	2.612	2.796	2.659	0.201
Head length	2.968	3.202	3.523	3.482	3.045	3.160	3.132	3.335	3.231	0.199
Intraocular	1.662	2.041	2.407	2.247	2.161	2.019	2.040	2.148	2.091	0.216
Femur III	7.992	9.771	9.821	10.173	9.850	9.855	9.606	10.777	9.731	0.790
Tibia III	9.023	10.864	11.387	12.817	11.532	11.145	11.723	12.280	11.346	1.127
Body	11.849	13.356	15.177	17.172	12.867	14.031	13.565	11.797	13.727	1.782
Pronotum width	2.107	2.201	2.744	2.791	2.787	2.485	2.199	2.622	2.492	0.287
Pronotum length	1.943	2.087	2.399	2.311	2.048	1.853	1.874	1.993	2.064	0.198
♀	12415	12417	Med.	D.P.
Head width	3.593	3.619	3.606	0.018
Head length	4.494	4.662	4.578	0.119
Intraocular	2.784	2.851	2.818	0.047
Femur III	13.215	12.361	12.788	0.604
Tibia III	15.585	15.507	15.546	0.055
Body	18.943	21.834	20.389	2.044
Pronotum width	3.240	3.316	3.278	0.054
Pronotum length	2.494	2.581	2.538	0.062
Ovipositor	9.778	9.108	9.443	0.474