Micrornebius eclipsus Tan

Tan, Ming Kai, 2014, New species of small scaly crickets of genus Micrornebius (Orthoptera: Mogoplistidae; Mogoplistinae) from Singapore, Zootaxa 3895 (1), pp. 117-126 : 119-120

Micrornebius eclipsus Tan , new species

( Fig. 1 )

Material examined. Holotype (male): Singapore, near Central Catchment Nature Reserve, near Mandai Track 15, disturbed and young secondary forest, on tree bark, coll. M. K. Tan & H. Yeo, 16 May 2014 ( ZRC.ORT.1085, dry pinned). Paratypes: 7 males, 1 female. 1 male ( ZRC.ORT.1086, dry pinned), same data as holotype; 1 male ( ZRC.ORT.1145, in alcohol), 1 female ( ZRC.ORT.1146, in alcohol), same locality as holotype, on tree bark, coll. M. K. Tan & H. Yeo, 13 September 2014; 5 males ( ZRC.ORT. 1164–1166, dry pinned; ZRC.ORT.1167, 1168, in alcohol), same locality as holotype, on tree bark, coll. M. K. Tan & H. Yeo, 12 October 2014.

Diagnosis. Most similar to Micrornebius cylindricus Ingrisch, 2006 from Singapore by general appearance, shape and colouration of maxillary palps and shape of male supra-anal plate; similar in male phallic complex by medial valve elongated, but differs by male supra-anal plate with apical medial lobe less transverse, less than half the width of base (more transverse, more than half the width of base in M. cylindricus ), and not concave on both sides of lobe; by medial valve sclerotized completely (not mostly membranous in M. cylindricus ). Similar to Micrornebius malaya Tan & Nizam, 2013 by pronotum dorsal disc with a huge oval dark spot when alive but differs by anterior half of pronotal disc not yellow (forming only a crescent-shaped band); also differs by male phallic complex.

Description. Habitus typical of the genus ( Figs. 1 A, 1B, 1C). Frontal rostrum about 2.5 times (n = 3) broader than scapus. Maxillary palps with apical (fifth) segment elongated triangular, fourth segment with apical part slightly widened, third segment cylindrical; apical segment as long as third and fourth segments ( Fig. 1 D). Pronotum in male about 1.7 times (n = 8) longer than wide; with anterior dorsal margin slightly concave and posterior dorsal margin broadly rounded, covering tegmen almost completely. Hind femur about 2.0 times (n = 8) longer than hind tibia; hind tibia 2.6 times (n = 8) longer than hind metatarsus.

Male. Last abdominal tergite and epiproct partly fused to a supra-anal plate; transverse and truncated; with a small short lobe in middle (width at tip less than at base), apex of lobe truncated with long hairs, more at the apical edges ( Fig. 1 E). Phallic complex as shown in ( Figs. 1 F, 1G); phallus mostly membranous except towards apex; apex weakly sclerotized; medial valves elongated, completely sclerotized, basally with small V-shaped sclerite continuous with medial valve, tapering very gently towards a subacute apex.

Female. Subgenital plate hexagonal, about as long as wide, apical margin concave ( Fig. 1 H). Ovipositor with dorsal and ventral valves of same length; apices of dorsal and ventral valves blunt, with a few bristles ( Fig. 1 I).

Colouration. Generally black with some yellow variegation in fresh specimens. Head dorsally generally black with yellow (sometimes only variegated) posteriorly, eyes dark; scapus and basal antennal segments black with slight yellow variegation; maxillary palps mostly black, joints between segments pale ( Fig. 1 D). Pronotum variegated black and yellow; anterior region black with faint yellow variegation; a yellow crescent-shaped band slightly before middle of pronotum which continues along posterior-lateral and posterior margins to form an elliptical ring (when viewed dorsally) ( Figs. 1 A, 1B). Mesosternum and metasternum pale yellow. Legs, including tarsi, generally black with little yellow variegation; fore and mid femora rather black, sometimes with pale yellow band near knee; fore and mid tibiae black with two pale bands, one basally near knee and apically near tarsus each. Hind femora inner surface mostly black with slight yellow variegation, pale yellow at base; outer surface with basal half yellow and apical half black. Hind tibiae black with yellow variegation. Abdominal tergites mostly black, with yellow variegation on seventh and eighth tergite, forming a thick yellow band across tergite ( Figs. 1 A, 1B); abdominal sternites and subgenital plate black laterally and pale in the middle or yellow. Cerci black with some yellow variegation ( Fig. 1 B). Ovipositor brown ( Fig. 1 H).

Measurements. See Table 1 .

Etymology. This species name is derived from the Latin word eclipsis (= eclipse, feminine); in reference to the distinct colour patterns on pronotal disc, which resembles a solar eclipse.

Life history. This species was found on tree trunks, often hiding within crevices and beneath tree bark.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Micrornebius eclipsus sp. n.: male in-situ (A), male (alive) habitus in dorsal view (B), female habitus in dorsal view (C), maxillary palps in lateral view (D), male abdominal apex in dorsal view (E), male phallic complex in dorsal view (F, G), female subgenital plate and ovipositor in ventral view (H) and ovipositor in lateral view (I). Scale bars: 1 mm (B, C), 0.1 mm (D – I).