Mirhipipteryx pulicaria subsp. pulicaria, pulicaria

Baena-Bejarano, Nathalie, Heads, Sam W. & Taylor, Steven J., 2018, Comments on the neglected nymphs of mud crickets in the genus Mirhipipteryx (Caelifera: Tridactyloidea: Ripipterygidae), Zootaxa 4486 (2), pp. 180-188 : 186

Remarks on M. pulicaria pulicaria

The specimens studied from Belize are in the group of species “peruviana-pronotopunctata ” sensu Günther (1969) based on the uncus being strongly curved downward and with a simple hook. Mirhipipteryx pulicaria pulicaria from Belize is typical of this subspecies from elsewhere in the coloration pattern, and differs from M. pulicaria interposita in having fewer darker (black and brown) areas on the pronotum. However, M. pulicaria pulicaria from Belize is darker in antennal coloration, has white coloration restricted to the scape, pedicel and flagellomeres 1–5, sometimes 6, and flagellomeres 7 and 8 completely brown. Meanwhile M. pulicaria interposita has completely white flagellomeres 6–7 and M. pulicaria pulicaria has white spots from 1–6, and sometimes 7.

In reviewing the Belizean specimens, we found that the virga of the male extends beyond the membrane, whereas the original description of the species mentions that the virga does not reach the membrane in M. pulicaria pulicaria and M. pulicaria interposita . However, after reviewing the paralectotype of M. pulicaria pulicaria the MHN, we found the virga extending beyond the membrane. All subspecies of M. pulicaria and Belizean individuals share identical phallic complex shape; the margin of the female subgenital plate is similar in shape between the two subspecies with only slight differences in length of teeth, with females from Belize. and M. pulicaria interposita more alike in this character. However, in terms of pronotum coloration M. pulicaria pulicaria types and M. pulicaria pulicaria from Belize are more alike. Because we did not find any other characters from the terminalia or genitalia to differentiate these subspecies, in addition to a small sample size, we elected not to erect a new subspecies for the Belize specimens, anticipating that future research should shed more light on the potential status of subspecies.