Amphibologryllacris macrocera ( Walker, 1869 )

Hugel, Sylvain, 2009, Gryllacrididae and Tettigoniidae (Insecta, Orthoptera, Ensifera) from Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, Zoosystema 31 (3), pp. 525-576 : 534-538

Amphibologryllacris macrocera ( Walker, 1869) ( Figs 1A ; 2B, D, F, H ; 3 C-E; 4B)

Gryllacris macrocera Walker, 1869: 186 .

Amphibologryllacris macrocera – Karny 1937: 135.

Gryllacris poultoni Willemse, 1925: 518 .

Amphibologryllacris macrocera var. poultoni – Karny 1937: 135.

Amphibologryllacris poultoni – Otte 2000: 3.

TYPE MATERIAL. — [ Vanuatu] New Heb [rides] ; Type [green label] ; macrocera [ms]; E. coll (1830-73) W.W. Saunders. Purchased and pres. ‘73 by Mrs. F.W. Hope; Gryllacris macrocera Walker M Typus!; TYPE ORTH: 785 Gryllacris macrocera Walker. ♂ holotype ( UMO). Examined .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Southwestern Pacific, Vanuatu.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Type material of G. poultoni: Jan 12.1923., [ Vanuatu] N.Hebrides, 0-100 ft 3 m, E. of Esp. Santo I. Elephant I., open forest dd J. R. Backer, Percy Sladen Mem. Fd. 1923 ; [ Espiritu ] Santo ; 12 Jun 1923; TYPE F, Willemse. Gryllacris poultoni . Tr.Ent. Soc.L.,1925,p.518 .; Gryllacris Poultoni type nov.sp. F, D et. C. Willemse; Type [red label]; [label 1 fac simile]; TYPEORTH: 906, Gryllacris poultoni , Willemse’s. ♀ ( UMO). Examined .

Vanuatu. (9 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀), Sanma Province, Espiritu Santo Is., Big Bay, Matantas, Vatthé Conservation area , 15°20’S, 166°95’E, sous-bois, nuit, Exped. Santo 2006, 25.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 2 ♂♂ (SH-022, SH-023) (MNHN-ENSIF2167, 2168). — Big Bay , Matantas , Vatthé Lodge , forêt autour de la grotte, 15°10’48”S, 166°57’27”E, 30 m alt., sous-bois, nuit, Exped. Santo 2006, 27.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 2 ♂♂ (SH-009, SH-020) (MNHN-ENSIF2161, 2165) ; 1♀ (SH-014) ( MNHN- ENSIF2174 ) .

Peavot , 14°59’37”S, 166°47’04”E, 38 m alt., forêt secondaire, ancien jardin, nuit, Exped. Santo 2006, 20.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-015) ( MNHN- ENSIF2162 ) ; coll. T. Robillard, 1 ♀ (SH-010) ( MNHN- ENSIF2170 ). — Peavot , 14°59’37”S, 166°47’04”E, 38 m alt., forêt secondaire, ancien jardin, Exped. Santo 2006, 21.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-017) (MNHN-ENSIF2163) ; coll. T. Robillard, 1♂ (SH-018) (MNHN-ENSIF2164) ; coll. S. Hugel, 1♂ (SH-024) (MNHN-ENSIF2169); coll. S. Hugel, 4 ♀♀ (SH-012, SH-013, SH-016, SH-025) (MNHN-ENSIF2172, 2173, 2175, 2177). — Peavot , Mt Nouresororo, 14°59’26”S, 166°45’14”E, 636 m alt., forêt de brume, nuit, Exped. Santo 2006, 22.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♀ (SH-011) (MNHN-ENSIF2171) .

Penaoru, camp de base, Exped. Santo 2006, 19.X.2006, coll. E. Boitier, 1♀ (SH-019) ( MNHN- ENSIF2176).

Luganville, Site du CTRAV, [no precision], Exped. Santo 2006, 1 ♀ (SH-021) (MNHN-ENSIF2166).

DISTRIBUTION. — Vanuatu, Sanma Province: Elephant island (east of Espiritu Santo ) ; Espiritu Santo Isl. The holotype is from “New Heb”[rides] ( Vanuatu), without more precise locality data .

DIAGNOSIS. — Compared to other Amphibologryllacris species , A. macrocera displays important variations in coloration and in a lesser extent in morphology. Among Amphibologryllacris , the species is characterized by the following.

Size medium for the genus: FIII: 12.2-14.9 mm (10.2- 11.8 mm in A. butmasi n. sp.), FW: 17.5-21.7 mm (much less than 18 mm in A. oceanica ( Le Guillou, 1841) and 15.1-18.0 mm in A. butmasi n. sp.). Head: with black pattern, often very distinct (unlike A. ferruginea ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1888) and A. cyaneoterminata ( Karny, 1935) , which lack black pattern). Median and lateral ocelli clearly distinct, pink. Median ocellus wide, only slightly less wide than fastigium frontis ( Fig. 2F , unlike A. oceanica having a small ocellus and A. cyaneoterminata with no visible ocellus in ♀ holotype).

FW: usually with 4 or 5 precostal veins ( Fig. 4B ; unlike A. butmasi n. sp. having 2 or 3 precostal veins); M neither fused with Rs (unlike A. ferruginea , Fig. 4C ) nor fused with Cu (unlike A. painei ( Karny, 1935) , Fig. 4D ); M usually simple, Cu usually with 3 branches (2 bifurcations).

Legs: TI and TII not darkened, neither at the middle (unlike A. oceanica ) nor near the knee (unlike in A. dubia and A. cyaneoterminata ).

Male appendices cerciferae long, lying head-to-tail, side by side ( Fig. 3C ; the processes are short in A. ferruginea ( Fig. 5C ) and according to Karny (1935) similar to A. ferruginea in A. painei ). Male SGP with a shallow, but distinct emargination ( Fig. 5C ; no emargination in A. ferruginea and A. painei , deeper emargination in A. butmasi n. sp.: Fig. 5A ). Female with the sternite preceding the SPG ( VII) forming a protrusion with an oval apex ( Fig. 3D ; sometimes bulging but never protruding in A. dubia , A. ferruginea and A. cyaneoterminata ). Ovipositor 11.8- 13.7 mm (9.3-10.4 mm in A. butmasi n. sp.).

MEASUREMENTS. — See Table 1.

ms s mt s

REDESCRIPTION

In addition to generic characters. Body length: size medium for the genus. Head ( Fig. 2F ): as broad or slightly broader than the thorax; fastigium frontis distinctly wider than scapus; face maximal width (in frontal view, below the eyes) 3.8 times (min: 3.5; max: 4.1; holotype: 3.5; ♀ described as A. poultoni holotype: 3.8) as wide as fastigium frontis (measured above median ocellus); median and lateral ocelli clearly distinct, median ocellus oval, wider than half fastigium frontis width.

Thorax. Pronotum: maximal width 1.1 times (min: 0.9; max: 1.1; holotype: 1.0; ♀ described as A. poultoni holotype 1.1) wider than maximal length; anterior margin convex (in dorsal view), arched; posterior margin strait (in dorsal view), almost horizontal; anterior sulcus deep on lateral lobes and well distinct on discus; posterior sulcus shallower and less distinct on discus; both sulci converging on lateral lobes; prozona elevated; metazona narrower than pronotum anterior part, flattened; lateral lobe/ discus angle sub acute (frontal view). Sternum (see Amphibologryllacris diagnosis and Figure 1A ): spines on mesosternum lateral lobes long with blunt apex, spines on metasternum much shorter, blunt.

Wings. FW ( Fig. 4B ): with 4 precostal veins, rarely 5 (2/ 19 specimens) or 3 (2/19) and then usually on one FW only); R divided in 4 veins (3 bifurcations); M simple (not divided); M rarely (3/19) contacting punctually Rs; Cu usually divided in 3 veins (2 bifurcations), rarely divided in 2 secondary veins (usually on one FW only); 6 A veins, sometimes 7 (5/19), rarely 8 (1/19, only one FW). HW exceeding slightly FW.

Legs. Forelegs and mid legs with usual spurs formula (4 pairs of subapical + 1 pair of apical spurs ventrally, and one single apical spur on TII dorsally); subapical spurs of usual length (longer than T width). Hind legs ( Fig. 2D ): femora 3.4 times as long as wide (range: 3.1-3.6 holotype: 3.5; A. poultoni holotype: 3.2); FIII with 13-17 ventral inner spines (usually 15-16; holotype: 14-15; A. poultoni holotype: 15); FIII with 8-13 spines (usually 10-12; holotype: 8-11; A. poultoni holotype: 9); TIII with 6 -7 dorsal inner spines (holotype: 6; A. poultoni holotype:7); with 6-7 ventral outer spines (holotype 6-7; A. poultoni holotype: 7).

Colour

As in many gryllacridids,coloration strongly variable, particularly the presence and extent of black patterns which are sometimes almost lacking. Whereas the male holotype displays few such patterns, these are well developed in the female described as A. poultoni holotype (considered here as a simple variety of A. macrocera ). Head: face with pale dark to black patterns: paired spots on the face, the clypeus and around the median ocellus; stripe above the clypeus (usually interrupted on the middle); stripe on the antennal socket ventral margin; whole socket black; circular stripe surrounding the eyes posteriorly and converging in front of the occiput, without covering the occiput. Ocelli pinkish. Scapus not darkened, except sometimes a lateral macula.Pronotum usually (16/ 19 specimens) poorly darkened, with only few dark or black spots on the sulci and depressions;rarely (3/ 19 specimens) the fine margin surrounding the whole pronotum is black. FW with pale yellowish veins; usually with some smoked cells, rarely none (3/ 19 specimens including the holotype) or most (3/ 19 specimens including A.poultoni holotype).HW usually smoked (except around transverse veinlets where it is hyaline), extent of this darkening variable; in few specimens (3/19 including the holotype) darkening inconspicuous. Legs usually uniformly brown/yellowish; rarely (3/ 19 specimens including A. poultoni holotype) with black on femora ventral margin. Abdominal tergites usually brown/yellowish; rarely (4/ 19 specimens including A. poultoni holotype) abdominal tergites darkened.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM

Apart from primary sexual characters, ♂♂ are slightly smaller than ♀♀ (TIII length 13.2 ± 0.2 mm, n = 10 vs. 13.6 ± 0.2 mm, n = 9).

Male

Genitalia ( Fig. 3C ) of Brunner’s type A ( Brunner von Wattenwyl 1888). Tergite VIII not modified compared to preceding tergites. Tergite IX not extended; end of tergite bent backwards/downwards, with a minute median emargination on posterior margin.Appendices cerciferae base enclaved between tergite IX lateral lobes and tergite end; appendices cerciferae with a process forming a long coiled spur with an acute apex, the spur bent at the base; on dead specimens, both appendices cerciferae processes lying head-to-tail, side by side; length and angle of process bent variable within the species without discrete classes. SGP with a shallow emargination ( Fig. 2H ); styli not thickened (length: 1.35 ± 0.02 mm).

Female ( Figs 2B ; 3D )

Sternite before SGP ( VII): bearing a long process on sternite anterior margin, directed backwards; reaching usually SGP base (depending on stuffing); process base weakly sclerotized, flat; process apex ladle-shaped with the concavity directed ventrally (the curvature depends on the preservation), the dorsal part strongly sclerotized.

REMARKS

Karny (1937) synonymised A.poultoni with A. macrocera as a variety (not as a subspecies as stated in Otte [2000]), and Otte (2000) implicitly rose A. macrocera var. poultoni to species (without the usual statement “2000 Otte, this work”). The numerous specimens collected in Santo allow to confirm Karny (1937) in considering the female specimen described by Willemse (1925) under Gryllacris poultoni as a melanised morph of A. macrocera .

Figures

FIG. 1. — Amphibologryllacris Karny, 1937, sternum: A, A. macrocera (Walker, 1869), left side view, note the pointing lateral lobes (arrows); B, C, A. butmasi n. sp., left side (B) and ventral (C) views. Abbreviations: see text. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 2. — Amphibologryllacris Karny, 1937 from Espiritu Santo: A, C, E, G, A. butmasi n. sp.; B, D, F, H, A. macrocera (Walker, 1869); A, B, ovipositor,right side view;C, D, left femur III side view;E, F, face;G, H, ventral views of male subgenital plate showing intraspecific variation (the four specimens on the right side are alcohol preserved). Scale bars: A-D, 10 mm; E-H, 1 mm.

FIG. 3.— Amphibologryllacris Karny,1937 from Espiritu Santo:A, B, F, G, A.butmasi n.sp.;C, D, A.macrocera (Walker,1869);A, C, ventral view of male terminalia; B, D, ventral view of female terminalia; E, distribution of male forewing widthas a function of femur III length, note the discontinuous measurement distribution on both species; F, male terminalia in posterior view (the subgenital plate removed),the right appendice cercifera is flipped downwards;G, ventral views of left appendice cercifera from two specimens,note the strong variation in shape.Abbreviations: see text. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 4. — Amphibologryllacris Karny, 1937, forewing: A, A. butmasi n. sp.; B, A. macrocera (Walker, 1869), holotype; C, A. ferruginea (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1888), holotype (NHW); D, A. painei (Karny, 1935) (after Karny 1935). The grey dotted lines correspond to the claval fold. Scale bars: 10 mm.

FIG. 5. — Amphibologryllacris Karny, 1937: A-C, A. ferruginea (Brunner von Wattenwyl,1888),typespecimens (NHW);D-F, A.dubia (Le Guillou, 1841), non type female from Fiji Islands, identified by Karny (Vana-Levu, Jalave, 1926, ZMUH); A, ventral view of male holotype terminalia; B, ventral view of female terminalia; C, lateral view of male holotype left femur III; D, ventral view of female terminalia;E, right side view of female subgenital plate and ovipositor; F, lateral view of left femur III.Scale bars:A,B,D, 1 mm; C, E, F, 10 mm.